Submerging, Raising, Or Manipulating Line Of Pipe Or Cable In Or From Marine Environment Patents (Class 405/158)
  • Patent number: 11872608
    Abstract: A method of removing sludge from a drain pipe used for cleaning a drain pipe comprises a piling step, a platform setting step, a drilling path planning step, a coil deploying step, a conveying bracket lifting step, a guiding step, a drilling step, and a cleaning step. In the piling step, a plurality of supporting columns are provided around the opening of the drain pipe. In the platform setting step, a work platform is provided on the plurality of supporting columns. In the drilling path planning step, a drilling path is planned. In the coil deploying step, an induction coil group is placed above the drain pipe. In the conveying bracket lifting step, a conveying bracket is hung by lifting equipment so that the conveying bracket is aligned with the opening of the drain pipe. In the guiding step, the drill bit is guided to the opening of the drain pipe using the conveying bracket. In the drilling step, the drill bit is controlled to drill into the clogged bulk in the drain pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventors: Kuo-Chung Cheng, Mei-Liang Cheng
  • Patent number: 11492772
    Abstract: Described is a device for providing a sizeable, slender object having a longitudinal direction into an underwater bottom from a deck of a vessel. The device includes a lifting means configured to take up the object at a lifting point thereof and position it on the underwater bottom; an upending tool connected to an edge of the vessel and configured to engage a first circumferential part of the object suspended from the lifting means and provide a pivot around which the object can be upended; and a gripping tool connected to an edge of the vessel and configured to engage a second circumferential part of the object suspended from the lifting means, whereby the first and second circumferential parts are optionally spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the object. The gripping tool includes an actuator system configured to act on at least one of the upending tool and the gripping tool and control movements of at least one of the first and the second circumferential parts, relative to the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: DEME Offshore BE NV
    Inventors: Dieter Wim Rabaut, Kenneth Gerard Vannieuwenhuyse, Sven André Christiane De Bock
  • Patent number: 11215166
    Abstract: An assembly assisting device for assisting an assembling of at least two wind turbine components of a wind turbine is provided. The assembly assisting device includes at least one bolt magazine with at least one bolt magazine store unit for storing bolts for the assembling and at least one bolt magazine attaching unit for attaching the bolt magazine to at least one attaching structure of at least one of the wind turbine components. In addition, a method for assembling at least two wind turbine components of the wind turbine with following steps is provided: a) providing of the wind turbine components and providing of at least one assembly assisting device including bolts and b) assembling of the wind turbine components with the aid of the bolts of the bolt magazine store unit of the assembly assisting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventors: Joergen Klitgaard, Christian Nielsen
  • Patent number: 11204108
    Abstract: A portion of a line from a line laying vessel to a touchdown support point on or near to the seabed is imaged with a 3 dimensional sonar imaging system to produce coordinates of a series of touchdown points using a time sequence of sonar images, and the time series of touchdown points is recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: CODA OCTOPUS GROUP INC.
    Inventors: Alam Abbas Syed, Blair Cunningham
  • Patent number: 11108532
    Abstract: In a method of wireless communication, a UE receives a configuration to receive a CIF for a serving cell of a plurality of serving cells. In addition, the UE monitors a PDCCH on a primary cell of the plurality of serving cells. Said primary cell is different than said serving cell. Furthermore, the UE assumes information received in the PDCCH is for said primary cell when the received information has a common payload size and is in a common search space with a first CCE index in the common search space being equal to a first CCE index in a UE specific search space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Tao Luo, Wanshi Chen, Juan Montojo
  • Patent number: 11061136
    Abstract: Reflected sonar signals arising from one or more possible unknown objects are distinguished according to a first criterion, and possible shapes each having a defined unique associated point are assigned each of the possible unknown objects. Then the three dimensional points are tracked by the sonar system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: CODA OCTOPUS GROUP INC.
    Inventors: Syed Abbas, Blair Cunningham
  • Patent number: 10908310
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a helical conveyor for underwater seismic exploration. The system can include a case having a cylindrical portion. A cap is positioned adjacent to a first end of the case. A conveyor having a helix structure is provided within the case. The conveyor can receive an ocean bottom seismometer (“OBS”) unit at a first end of the conveyer and transport the OBS unit via the helix structure to a second end of the conveyor to provide the OBS unit on the seabed to acquire the seismic data. The system can include a propulsion system to receive an instruction and, responsive to the instruction, facilitate movement of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Magseis FF LLC
    Inventors: Roger L. Fyffe, Etienne Marc
  • Patent number: 10663086
    Abstract: A system and method for moving an elongate element from a first position towards a second position against an upright structure on a vessel are disclosed. The system includes a holding element for holding the elongate element in the first position; a first sliding member pivotally connected to an end region of the holding element, and moveable along a base, ground or deck surface; a further sliding member pivotally connected to a further end region of the holding element, and moveable along the upright structure; and a hoist system operably engaged with the upright structure, the end region of the holding element and the further end region of the holding element, for drawing the holding element towards the upright structure such that the elongate element is moved towards the second position, wherein the hoist system comprises a first portion and a further portion, the first portion arranged to exert a force in a first direction and the further portion arranged to exert a force in a further direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Royal IHC Limited
    Inventor: Michael James Smith
  • Patent number: 10648590
    Abstract: A marine pipelaying friction clamp device for frictionally retaining an offshore subsea pipeline to be launched into the sea includes a frame which includes a main frame structure that is adapted to be supported by the pipelaying vessel. The frame supports multiple annular arrays of clamping units adapted to simultaneously engage separate portions of the pipeline. The frame further includes one or more mobile subframes for one or more of said annular arrays of clamping units. Each of said one or more mobile subframes is movably supported by the main frame structure so as to be mobile relative to said main frame structure in said longitudinal direction of the clamp device, and each of said one or more mobile subframes is supported by a spring assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: ITREC B.V.
    Inventors: Jeroen Adrianus Joseph Donkers, Terence Willem August Vehmeijer, Stefan Cornells Van Ruyven, Joop Roodenburg, Wouter Johannes Slob
  • Patent number: 10451196
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of emptying an undersea fluid transport pipe (2) that is submerged and full of water, the method comprising pumping out at least a portion of the water present inside the submerged pipe by means of a submersible pump unit (6) connected to a point of the pipe, the volume of water pumped out from the inside of the pipe being compensated by a gas injected under pressure into the submerged pipe from a point (18) thereof that is situated higher than the connection point (12; 14) to the submersible pump unit. The invention also provides an installation for performing such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Saipem S.A.
    Inventor: Alexandre Bailey
  • Patent number: 10443764
    Abstract: A transfer mechanism (28) for providing linear vertical displacement of a fitting (46) on a flexible tubular conduit (48). The transfer mechanism includes a clamping mechanism (34) adapted to connect and secure a fitting (46) on a flexible tubular conduit (48) to the transfer mechanism (28); and a conveyor system (30) configured to linearly displace the clamping mechanism (34) from a first position towards a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventors: Andy Green, Cedric Mouchel
  • Patent number: 10435865
    Abstract: A trenching assembly lays a continuous pipeline in a trench dug in a bed with uneven bathymetry, the trenching assembly including a trench digging device having a main body; at least four ground contact units, each unit having a height adjustment device, to position each ground contact unit with respect to the main body independently. A trench cutting tool digs in the bed includes a cutting depth adjustment device, for positioning the cutting tool with respect to the main body. A detection device detects bed bathymetry. A control device simultaneously allows cooperation between the detection device, the height adjustment device of each ground contact unit, and the cutting depth adjustment device. A command device cooperates with the control device to adjustment each ground contact unit and the cutting depth adjustment device, to obtain a trench having a height difference lower than a predefined tolerance and a predetermined burial depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: SAIPEM S.P.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Bonel, Diego Lazzarin, Alberto Serena
  • Patent number: 10345462
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for data and/or power transfer to and from an ocean bottom seismic node are described. In an embodiment, an autonomous seismic node is configured with a bulkhead connector assembly that may be coupled to a plug assembly for data and/or power transfer and a pressure cap assembly when utilized subsea. A plurality of pins may be located on the bulkhead assembly in a substantially flat contact surface to obtain an external electrical connection to the node. The pins on the bulkhead assembly may form a flat circuit with an external device, such as a plug assembly or pressure cap assembly. One or more external devices may be coupled to the pressure cap assembly and/or bulkhead connector for increased functionality to the node. A quick release assembly and/or locking ring may be utilized to fasten any external device to the bulkhead connector assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Seabed Geosolutions B.V.
    Inventors: Arne Henning Rokkan, Richard Edward Henman
  • Patent number: 10295083
    Abstract: A real-time analysis system for operation of working ship based on ship attitude measurement includes: a central processing unit (10); a position monitoring unit (20) for detecting and providing position-attitude information and heading information of the working ship at a predetermined time, and the position-attitude information and heading information of the working ship at a predetermined time is provided to the central processing unit (10); a manual data input unit (30) connected to the central processing unit (10) and capable of providing the pipeline model data to the central processing unit (10) in a manual input method; and a display unit (40) connected to the central processing unit (10) which displays the dynamic response data of the pipeline according to the processed data provided by the central processing unit (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignees: CHINA NATIONAL OFFSHORE OIL CORPORATION, OFFSHORE OIL ENGINEERING CO., LTD., COTEC, INC
    Inventors: Facheng Wang, Shuang Gao, Ke Tang, Zhigang Li, Yigong Zhang, Yong Luo, Jin Wang, Jun Wang, Weiwei Liu, Xiaohuan Zhu, Yang Li, Jiannan Li, Xiangwei Meng
  • Patent number: 10232919
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments disclosed herein is a method of transporting equipment between sea-surface and seafloor by providing a structure with a subsea equipment package mounted thereon. The structure is used for installation and recovery in a subsea environment by changing the buoyancy of the structure or ballasting the structure to effect a controlled sinking motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Safe Marine Transfer, LLC
    Inventors: James E. Chitwood, Art J. Schroeder, Jr., Jason C. Mailand, Timothy T. Krasin
  • Patent number: 10215341
    Abstract: Methods of remotely facilitating the transition between flooding and hydrotesting a subsea pipeline include a control unit of a subsea valve actuation system closing off fluid flow out of the pipeline at the receiving end thereof based at least partially upon one or more signals emitted by at least one intelligent pig that has passed through the pipeline during flooding and without the involvement of an external source at the surface, or a UV, at the pig receiving end of the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Barden, Luis Russo, Peter Dixon, Alastair Goodall
  • Patent number: 10125895
    Abstract: A marine pipeline installation vessel for laying a pipeline on the seabed, the vessel at least being adapted to carry out the reel lay method, wherein the vessel includes at least a first and a second storage reel for storage of the pipeline to be laid, which storage reels are positioned in or onto the vessel; a pipeline launch tower mounted to the vessel, which pipeline launch tower is adapted to launch the pipeline in a firing line along the tower; a pipeline guide which is mounted at an elevated position to the pipeline launch tower, which pipeline guide has a pipeline guide surface member providing an essentially circular or semi-circular pipeline guide surface, which pipeline guide is adapted to—in a primary pipelaying position thereof relative to the tower—guide a pipeline from a first storage reel over the pipeline guide into the firing line, the pipeline contacts the pipeline guide surface at a first contact point fore of the firing line and departs the surface at a first departure point into the firi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: ITREC B.V.
    Inventors: Joop Roodenburg, Terence Willem August Vehmeijer, Stefan Cornelis Van Ruyven
  • Patent number: 10048397
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a helical conveyor for underwater seismic exploration. The system can include a case having a cylindrical portion. A cap is positioned adjacent to a first end of the case. A conveyor having a helix structure is provided within the case. The conveyor can receive an ocean bottom seismometer (“OBS”) unit at a first end of the conveyer and transport the OBS unit via the helix structure to a second end of the conveyor to provide the OBS unit on the seabed to acquire the seismic data. The system can include a propulsion system to receive an instruction and, responsive to the instruction, facilitate movement of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: FAIRFIELD INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Roger L. Fyffe, Etienne Marc
  • Patent number: 10017232
    Abstract: An underwater base handles an autonomous underwater vehicle. The underwater a support structure to be hooked to a cable, a storing part configured to store the AUVs, an inlet part located above the storing part and configured to control access of the plural AUVs to the storing part, and a control part configured to control a movement of the inlet part relative to the support structure. The control part is further configured to wirelessly guide the AUVs while approaching the inlet part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: CGG SERVICES SAS
    Inventors: Antoine Lelaurin, Thierry Brizard
  • Patent number: 10012328
    Abstract: A pipeline including an accessory such as a flowline end termination or an in-line tee is lowered to the seabed and a mudmat foundation is subsequently lowered toward the seabed for subsea docking with the accessory to provide a permanent foundation support for the accessory. Once docked and with a mudmat of the foundation landed on the seabed, weight loads of the accessory structure and the attached pipe are transferred to the mudmat to provide a permanent foundation for the accessory structure. Before and during installation of the mudmat foundation, the pipe may be allowed to become embedded in the seabed. Temporary interim support such as buoyancy may be provided to the accessory to limit embedment into the seabed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Acergy France SAS
    Inventors: Leire Ayestaran Basagoitia, Brice Viellard, Florent Menet
  • Patent number: 9874295
    Abstract: A pipe-laying vessel including a pipe-laying tower extending upwardly from the vessel, the vessel including a welding station for joining a new pipestring to an end of the pipeline held by the tower, a clamp assembly on the tower for engaging a pipestring with a lower end adjacent to the end of the pipeline held by the tower and with the pipestring extending upwardly from its lower end alongside the tower, wherein the clamp assembly includes a pipestring clamp that serves both the function of a transfer clamp for transferring the pipestring from a position alongside the tower but displaced from the pipe-laying path to a position approximately aligned with the pipe-laying path, and the function of a line-up clamp for lining up the pipestring with the end of the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: SAIPEM S.P.A.
    Inventors: Michel Pierre Armand Baylot, Yann Hajeri, Kimon Tullio Ardavanis, Stefano Bianchi
  • Patent number: 9701523
    Abstract: A damaged portion of a pipeline buried in a trench is gradually lifted from the trench to expose the damaged portion above water and provide easy access to the damaged portion. Inflatable roller bags are placed under the pipeline adjacent the damaged portion; the roller bags are then inflated in a controlled manner using a computer-based control unit. A control manifold is connected to the control unit and each of the roller bags by a separate air conduit allowing controlled bag-inflation and bag-deflation process for each roller bag. Once the pipeline is repaired, the roller bags are deflated, lowering the pipeline back to its original position in the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventor: James Pirtle
  • Patent number: 9645271
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus and method of transferring seismic equipment to and from a marine vessel and subsurface location. In one embodiment, a marine vessel is provided. The marine vessel includes a deck having a plurality of seismic sensor devices stored thereon, two remotely operated vehicles, each comprising a seismic sensor storage compartment, and a seismic sensor transfer device comprising a container for transfer of one or more of the seismic sensor devices from the vessel to the sensor storage compartment of at least one of the two remotely operated vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: FAIRFIELD INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Reagan Neil Woodward, Jr., James N. Thompson
  • Patent number: 9631742
    Abstract: A marine pipeline installation vessel for laying a pipeline on the seabed, the vessel at least being adapted to carry out the reel lay method, wherein the vessel includes at least a first and a second storage reel for storage of the pipeline to be laid, which storage reels are positioned in or onto the vessel; a pipeline launch tower mounted to the vessel, which pipeline launch tower is adapted to launch the pipeline in a firing line along said tower; a pipeline guide which is mounted at an elevated position to the pipeline launch tower, which pipeline guide has a pipeline guide surface member providing an essentially circular or semi-circular pipeline guide surface, which pipeline guide is adapted to—in a primary pipelaying position thereof relative to the tower guide a pipeline from a first storage reel over the pipeline guide into the firing line, wherein the pipeline contacts the pipeline guide surface at a first contact point fore of the firing line and departs the surface at a first departure point into
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: ITREC B.V.
    Inventors: Joop Roodenburg, Terence Willem August Vehmeijer, Stefan Cornelis Van Ruyven
  • Patent number: 9625057
    Abstract: A pipe-laying vessel has a bow, a stern and a weather deck therebetween, with a moonpool passing through the weather deck. The vessel includes an S-lay pipe deployment facility located below the weather deck, having a main firing line extending along a centerline of the vessel and a pipe assembly factory for assembling single lengths of pipe to form pipe assemblies and introduce them into the firing line for deployment from the vessel. The vessel further includes a J-lay pipe deployment facility for deploying pipe through the moonpool, the J-lay pipe deployment facility including a tower located above the moon pool and pipe handling equipment for delivering pipe assemblies from the firing line to the tower. The moonpool is located to one side of the firing line. By virtue of this configuration a relatively compact structure can be achieved whereby minimal length and width dimensions for the vessel are achievable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Petrofac Ltd.
    Inventor: Yves Pierre Raymond Inbona
  • Patent number: 9581259
    Abstract: A method of installing an Emergency Flow Restrictor Device (EFRD) on a pipeline without stopping the flow of fluid through the pipeline includes the steps of: assembling first and second face plates on a pipeline such that the first and second sealing face are in face to face, spaced relation; assembling a cutting device between the first face plate and the second face plate; assembling a valve body that has an access opening on a length of pipeline such that the valve body encloses the first and second face plates and the cutting device; installing an access valve on the access opening; operating the cutting device to sever the pipeline between the first and second sealing faces; retracting the cutting device and severed section of pipeline; and attaching a valve gate member of the EFRD to the access opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Maverick Supervision Inc.
    Inventor: William Baker
  • Patent number: 9518366
    Abstract: An erosion control mat provides a plurality of concrete blocks. Each block has an upper portion with a plurality of upper inclined side walls. Each block has a lower portion with a plurality of inclined lower side walls. The block has an upper surface and a lower surface and a block periphery in the form of an edge where the upper and lower side walls meet. Cables or ropes connect the blocks together to form a block matrix and the erosion control mat. Each block has a boot affixed to the block lower portion, the boot having a plurality of inclined side panels. Each boot side panel has an upper edge. The boot has a lower panel, a boot interior surface and an interior that is receptive of at least part of the block lower portion. The boot inclined side panels engage the block inclined lower side walls. The boot lower panel engages the block lower surface. A plurality of anchor posts are attached to the interior surface of the boot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: WASKEY BRIDGES, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen G. Benton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9482367
    Abstract: A laying vessel configured to lay pipelines on the bed of a body of water has a floating structure; a laying tower hinged to the floating structure and configured to assemble and lay a pipeline on the bed of the body of water; and an A&R system configured to abandon and recover the pipeline; and wherein the A&R system has a haul line; and a sheave assembly configured to guide the haul line, and which is fitted to the floating structure to move between a work position at the laying tower, and a position away from the laying tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SAIPEM S.P.A.
    Inventors: Emmanuel Huot, Carlo Chiodini
  • Patent number: 9151794
    Abstract: A fault detection system for subsea pipeline direct electrical heating cables is provided. The fault detection system includes a first ammeter for measuring a first phase current, a second ammeter for measuring a second phase current, and a third ammeter for measuring a third phase current. The fault detection system also includes a first calculation unit for calculating a negative sequence current from the first phase current, the second phase current, and the third phase current, and a first detection unit for detecting a change in the negative sequence current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Damir Radan
  • Patent number: 9138130
    Abstract: An assist assembly for propulsion of a tip device of an endoscope in a body cavity includes an attachment sleeve and a support sleeve. A deformable circulation device is disposed to extend over inner and outer surfaces of the support sleeve, for endlessly moving in an axial direction of the tip device. Plural rollers are disposed on the support sleeve in a rotatable manner, for pressing an inner surface of the circulation device. An alignment projection is formed on the inner surface of the circulation device to project at a height L1. A location offset prevention groove is formed in the rollers at a depth L2, for receiving the alignment projection, and satisfying a condition L1?L2, to prevent location offset of the circulation device from the rollers. Drive wheels tension the circulation device in cooperation with the rollers by deforming the alignment projection in the location offset prevention groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Nakamura, Tsuyoshi Ashida, Yasunori Ohta, Shinichi Yamakawa, Charles Alan Brantingham
  • Patent number: 9102390
    Abstract: Provided is an underwater elevating apparatus, wherein the cable is not paid out unexpectedly by self-buoyancy while waiting underwater, excessive paying out of the cable may be prevented by a latch unit having simple mechanisms, and electric power does not be used needlessly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: NiGK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisayoshi Kawahara, Tetsuya Nakamura, Jungo Ohta
  • Publication number: 20150139735
    Abstract: A packer apparatus includes an actuator disk in axial moveable relation with a mandrel, an elastomeric expansion boot arranged between the actuator disk and the mandrel, and a brake pivotally connected to the mandrel. The actuator disk is configured to be actuated by fluid pressure within a pipeline to move axially toward the mandrel from a first position to a second position. In the second position, the actuator disk is configured to cause the expansion boot to be compressed axially between the actuator disk and the mandrel and to be radially expanded into engagement with an inner surface of the pipeline, and the brake to pivot relative to the mandrel, which causes the brake to move radially outward into engagement with the inner surface of the pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Ray Lovett, Aimee Kathleen Greening
  • Patent number: 9004813
    Abstract: A containment apparatus can be used to contain fluids leaking through a tubular wall of the pipe from an interior of the pipe to an environment surrounding the pipe. The containment apparatus can include a fluid container that can be positioned on an exterior surface of the pipe. The containment apparatus includes a seal for sealingly engaging the diameter of the pipe. In embodiments, the seal can be inflated with a pressure media to form a tighter seal between the containment apparatus and the pipe. For subsea pipeline applications, the containment apparatus can include a riser extending to the surface of the sea, from which the leaking fluid can be collected. In embodiments, the containment apparatus can include a valve that can selectively permit leaking fluid to flow toward a collection receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Khaled A. Al-Buraik
  • Patent number: 8998534
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a marine tensioner (1) for handling an elongated article from an offshore vessel. The tensioner comprises a tensioner frame (11), multiple track units (20), wherein each track unit comprises an elongated chassis (30) and an endless track supported by said chassis, wherein between the chassis of each track unit and the tensioner frame a connecting structure (40,140) is provided that at least allows for lateral motion of the track unit with respect to the passage axis (26) so as to adapt the position of the track unit. For each track unit a group of hydraulic squeeze cylinders (50a, 50b, 50c) is provided between the tensioner frame and the chassis of the track unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Itrec B.V.
    Inventors: Joop Roodenburg, Ronny Lambertus Waltherus Nouwens
  • Patent number: 8998533
    Abstract: A method of laying pipeline from a vessel (10) is disclosed. The vessel (10) includes many pipe processing stations (36, 42), arranged across the width of the vessel. In one embodiment, there are two pipe processing areas (38, 40) separated along the length of the vessel. The pipe processing stations (36, 42) may be operable in two modes of operation, for example, a first mode of operation where the vessel produces triple joint pipe strings (from three lengths of pipe section welded together) and a second mode of operation where double joint pipe strings are produced, for example, from two single length pipe sections having a significantly greater length than the single length pipe sections used in the first mode of operation. In one embodiment, a triple joint pipe section is part welded in one pipe processing area (38), then moved along the length of the vessel (10) to a different pipe processing area, where further welding operations are performed on the triple joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Saipem S.p.A.
    Inventors: Cristian Scaini, Davide Rossin
  • Patent number: 8998535
    Abstract: Retriever systems for marine geophysical survey sensor streamers. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including attaching a retriever system to a sensor streamer by: wrapping a lifting bag assembly at least partially around the sensor streamer, the lifting bag assembly comprising a deflated lifting bag, a gas cylinder, and a depth trigger mechanism; and covering the lifting bag assembly with an outer cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Andre Stenzel, Youlin Hu, Troy L. McKey, III
  • Patent number: 8985904
    Abstract: A system and method of operating a sonar system is provided. The sonar system comprises a towed body, such as a depressor body, with a towed line array attached thereto configured to be towed behind a host vessel. A line feed mechanism is operative to recover and/or deploy the towed line array from the vessel while the towed line array remains attached to the towed body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas M. Canavan
  • Patent number: 8974148
    Abstract: A spool has a cylinder, a first flange coupled to a first end of the cylinder and a second flange coupled to a second end of the cylinder. A compressible material surrounds the cylinder and an optical fiber is wrapped around the compressible material. When tension is applied to the optical fiber the compressible material can be deformed to reduce the tension on the optical fiber. When submerged underwater the water pressure will not compress the compressible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Bluefin Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Graham Hawkes, Jonathan Epstein
  • Publication number: 20150063910
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mooring device that is suitable for use in water. The mooring device includes a pile configured to be embedded in a floor supporting the body of water, at least one arm configured to engage at least one entity; a joint configured to couple the pile and the at least one arm and permit rotation of the at least one arm relative to the pile, and joint locking means configured to lock the joint. The invention may further relate to a method of mounting the mooring device in water, a mooring system including multiple mooring devices and a system including the mooring devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Gennady Meltsov, David West
  • Publication number: 20150063915
    Abstract: A packer apparatus is configured to be arranged within and arrest a failure of a submerged pipeline. In one example, the packer apparatus includes first and second mandrels in axially moveable relation to one another, a brake connected to the second mandrel, and an elastomeric expansion boot circumferentially disposed around a portion of the first and second mandrels. The first mandrel is configured to move axially toward the second mandrel from a first position to a second position. In the second position, the first mandrel is configured to cause the expansion boot to be compressed axially between the first and second mandrels and expanded radially into engagement with an inner surface of the pipeline, and to cause the brake to move radially outward to engage the inner surface of the pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Ray Lovett, Aimee Kathleen Greening
  • Publication number: 20150063914
    Abstract: A packer apparatus includes a spindle including a pressure plate disposed adjacent a first end of the packer apparatus, a first end cap defining the second end of the packer apparatus; a seal plate disposed between the pressure plate and the first end cap; a mandrel and a brake disposed between the pressure and seal plates, and an elastomeric expansion boot disposed between the seal plate and the first end cap. The mandrel includes a tapered outer surface and the brake includes a tapered inner surface abutting the tapered inner surface of the mandrel. The pressure plate is configured to be actuated by fluid pressure within the pipeline to move the spindle axially toward the first end cap from a first position to a second position to cause the expansion boot and the brake to engage an inner surface of the pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc
    Inventors: Steven Ray Lovett, Aimee Kathleen Greening
  • Patent number: 8961069
    Abstract: A subsea hanging device comprises a hanging frame 1 adapted to support an assembly (such as a gooseneck 3 and a subsea connector 4 being used to attach a heavy pipe 7 to a pipe hub 11 on the seabed), a hanging eye 8 which slides on said frame when a shaft 10 threaded through it is axially rotated, and a ROV drive bucket 12 attached to one end of the shaft. A guide funnel 13, 16 pivoted to the frame and adapted to fit over a guide post 17 on the seabed actuates a pointer 15 which indicates on a scale 14 whether the hanging angle needs adjustment to enable the connector 4 to be engaged with the hub 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventor: Nicholas Long
  • Patent number: 8961071
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for protecting subsea pipeline from damage caused by excessive stress or fatigue loading caused by geo-hazards, and environmental and operating loads. The systems and methods utilize lifting buoyancy modules capable of being attached to a section of subsea pipeline to lift the subsea pipeline off the seabed to a predetermined height over a predetermined length upon being activated by a planned or unplanned triggering event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Antonio Carlos Falcao Critsinelis, Hugh Miller Thompson, Sid Ahmed Mebarkia, Edward Shintaro Nakajima, Estela Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 8950977
    Abstract: An elongate sling section is disclosed. The elongate sling is cooperable with like sling sections to form a sling for use in abandonment or recovery of a pipeline. The sling section includes end-pieces at five opposite ends and complementary connector formations associated with each respective end-piece. Each connector formation is cooperable, in use when forming a sling, with a complementary connector formation of a neighbouring sling section in the sling. The sling section further includes a tensile load-bearing sling element extending between the end-pieces and a sleeve around the sling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Subsea 7 Contracting (UK) Limited
    Inventor: John Duncan Cruickshank
  • Patent number: 8944724
    Abstract: A system and method for securely cradling a subsea pipeline is claimed that lands on one side of the pipeline, is embedded into the sea floor, reaches under the pipeline, positions the cradling structure, and then lifts the pipeline. The system typically comprises a gravity driven pile based device, comprising a pile tower, a roller carriage assembly, and a jacking assembly that engages the roller carriage assembly and pile tower rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Oceaneering International, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Gregory Restivo, Nikunj Patel, Kinton Lowell Lawler, Donald C. Nelson, Jason Ray Pollick
  • Patent number: 8939678
    Abstract: A method of laying underwater pipelines in the bed of a body of water, the method including laying an underwater pipeline along a given path on the bed of the body of water; breaking up a ground mass along the path to a given depth in the bed; and fluidifying the broken ground mass beneath the underwater pipeline to sink the underwater pipeline into the fluidified ground mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Saipem S.p.A.
    Inventors: Diego Lazzarin, Massimo Fontolan
  • Patent number: 8942059
    Abstract: Container systems used in storage, deployment or retrieval of a seismic cable array comprise a container, at least two coiling elements attached to a bottom side of the container, and storage means for allocating or accommodating, in an ordered arrangement, a number of seismic stations and/or a number of couplers/splices and/or other discontinuities which are being interconnected by sections of the seismic cable. Said storage means is arranged between said coiling elements and are attached to the bottom side of the container. The seismic cable is spooled or wound around said coiling elements. Corresponding methods of storing a seismic cable and deploying/retrieving the seismic cable are based on the use of at least two coiling elements and storage means for allocating or accommodating a number of seismic stations and/or a number of couplers/splices and/or a number of other discontinuities and arranged between said coiling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Optoplan AS
    Inventor: Roar Furuhaug
  • Patent number: 8915676
    Abstract: A clamp connector emergency release tool designed for subsea operations, when normal release of a subsea clamp connector (14) is not possible, is shown and described. The tool is adapted to be handled and operated remotely by a work class ROV tool. The tool includes a clamp connector (14) adapter housing (7) arranged to engage with and connect to the clamp connector (14) body, a rotatable hole saw (11) mounted on the housing (7), a rotary motor (1) in driving connection with the hole saw (11) and a piston (3) and cylinder assembly (4,5). The piston (3) and cylinder assembly (4,5) enables advancing the rotatable hole saw (11) into the clamp connector (14) body around its jack screw, in order to separate the jack screw together with a threaded portion of said clam connector (14) in order to separate the jack screw from the clamp connector (14) body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Aker Subsea AS
    Inventor: Thomas Wäseby
  • Publication number: 20140348590
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a marine vessel is provided. The vessel includes a cable storage device disposed on a deck of the vessel, a workstation disposed on the vessel, a ramp at least partially disposed on the deck, and a node storage and handling system disposed on the vessel. The node storage and handling system comprises a cable handler disposed between the cable storage device and the ramp, the cable handler having a cable disposed thereon and the cable defining a cable path passing over the workstation during a node deployment or retrieval operation, a node storage rack positioned between a bow and a stern of the vessel, and at least one conveyor belt to transfer nodes between the workstation and the node storage rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: James N. THOMPSON, Jerry L. LAWS, Larry E. BERGES
  • Patent number: 8851795
    Abstract: An apparatus for installing means to supply cold water from depth to a floating vessel comprises a template having a plurality of receptacles for receiving a plurality of vertically-oriented cold water pipes. A method for installing a plurality of cold water pipes at a floating, offshore ocean thermal energy conversion facility comprises: lowering such a template to the seafloor; inserting vertically-oriented pipes into the receptacles on the template; providing sufficient buoyancy near the top of the pipe to maintain the pipe in a generally vertical state; positioning a floating vessel having receptacles configured to engage the upper ends of the pipes over the template; raising the template with the inserted pipes from the seafloor until the upper ends of the pipes engage the receptacles; and, locking the pipes in the receptacles such that the pipes are in fluid communication with a cold water sump on the floating vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Seahorse Equipment Corp
    Inventors: Stephen E. Kibbee, Peimin Cao