Abstract: Wellhead completion apparatus includes a wellhead member (11) having an upper supporting shoulder (24) and a lower landing shoulder (26). A running tool (30) is releasably connected to a tubing hanger (36) for lowering and landing the tubing hanger (36) on the wellhead member (11). A fluid coupling (66, 68, 70) is provided between the running tool (30) and the tubing hanger (36). Another fluid coupling (17, 60, 84) is provided between the tubing hanger (36) and the wellhead member (11). The running tool (30) has a body (31) connected to the tubing hanger (36) and an outer sleeve (46) of the running tool (30) is adapted for initial seating on upper supporting shoulder (24) of the wellhead member (11). After the initial seating of sleeve (46) on upper supporting shoulder (24), running tool (30) and tubing hanger (36) are moved downwardly relative to external sleeve (46) for landing of the tubing hanger (36) onto the lower landing shoulder (26) of the wellhead member (11).

Abstract: A green wood treating process for treating wood in a green stage prior to curing for preventing or minimizing staining of the wood. The process includes the heating of green wood in a heating enclosure (30, 40) within a maximum time period after felling or cutting of the tree forming the wood while maintaining the moisture content in the wood after the tree is felled without any appreciable loss of moisture. After the logs are cut into lumber, the lumber is placed in bundles in the heating enclosure for heating preferably by steam within a predetermined time period. The wood is heated in the enclosure to a temperature over 120 F. for a predetermined time period generally over about two hours and sufficient to provide a generally uniform heating of the lumber. After heating of the wood to a predetermined temperature, a cooling fluid having a temperature substantially less than the temperature of the heating enclosure is applied to the heated wood for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: A seismic acquisition system and method utilizing an array of buried geophones storage devices or containers (16) each having a geophone (40) which may be permanently stored in container (16) in a fluid tight relation. The storage container (16) includes a base (26), a tubular cylindrical body (28), and an upper cap (32) threaded onto body (28). The storage container (16) is shown in FIG. 2 in an operable relation and in FIG. 3 with geophone (40), lead (52), and connector (54) in a stored relation. In the event an additional survey or shoot is conducted at a later time, such as a one year time interval, the buried storage containers (16) are utilized upon removal of outer caps (32) and withdrawing of geophone connectors (54) for connection in a mating relation to cable connectors (20).

Abstract: A monobore completion/intervention riser system for providing a conduit for communication fluids and wireline tools between a surface vessel and a subsea well having a tubing hanger located therein, the tubing hanger including a production bore and an annulus bore, wherein wireline tools may be lowered through a riser bore 48 to either the tubing hanger production bore 68 or the tubing hanger annulus bore 70 through operation of a bore selector 56, and fluids may be produced from the well to the surface vessel through the production bore 52, 60, 64, 68 and the riser bore 48 by sealing off the annulus bore 66, 70.

Abstract: A spread mooring arrangement is provided for use in deep water (greater than 200 meters) when it is advantageous to maximize the clearance between shuttle tankers used for product offloading and the anchor legs associated with a spread mooring of the permanently moored tanker. Mooring insert tubes are provided at the bow and stern of the vessel. Bow mooring lines extend from the sea floor, through an opening of the bottom of the hull of the vessel and via a bow mooring insert tube for securement on a chain pull-up deck. Stern mooring lines extend from the sea floor through an opening in the bottom of the hull of the vessel and via a stern mooring insert tube for securement on a chain pull-up deck.

Abstract: An adjustable roll and support mechanism for elongate objects having a round cross-sectional configuration has a support base having a pair of parallel upright tubular members having rigid or collapsible support legs. Elevation posts are positioned in movable telescoping relation within respective tubular members and support a roll positioning head having an internal roll positioning mechanism. A pair of roll assemblies are movably supported on the roll positioning head and have driven relation by the roll positioning mechanism and are moved toward one another or away from one another for selective positioning of the roll assemblies for rotatable support of round objects of differing dimension. The roll assemblies are connected to the roll positioning mechanism by quick disconnect mechanisms to permit the roll assemblies to be changed out to accommodate rotatable support of different types of objects.

Abstract: A bidirectional indexing turret mechanism for machine tools having a housing for mounting to a machine tool, with a spline being fixed to the housing. An indexing shaft is mounted for rotation within the housing and has a rotary turret support fixed thereto for supporting a turret having machining tools for machining a workpiece. The rotary turret support is a rotary spline having spline teeth positioned for registry with the teeth of the fixed spline. A locking spline is positioned about the indexing shaft and is movable to a locking position for locking engagement with the fixed and rotary splines and is movable to an unlocked position permitting rotation of said rotary turret support and the indexing shaft. A shaft driver having splined engagement with the indexing shaft is in positioning engagement with the locking spline and is movable linearly and rotatably by a roller driver supporting a plurality of drive rollers.

Abstract: An improved vessel mooring system in which a storage vessel (10) weathervanes about a mooring base (16, 27) supported by the vessel for relative rotation. A plurality of flexible tubular dual function mooring lines (20) extend from the mooring base (27) to the sea floor (14) and thence to a subsea production facility (40). The dual function mooring lines (20) have collars (34) thereon which are anchored to the sea floor (14) by anchors (38). Product from a subsea production facility (40) is transported through the dual function mooring lines (20) to storage areas in the vessel (10).

Abstract: A high pressure poppet valve having a valve body defining inlet, outlet and vent passages, and with a valve cage in sealed relation within the valve body which defines an internal seat projection having spaced circular seat shoulders. A seal carrier, which may be a pilot pressure responsive piston, supports spaced seal glands each having a seal assembly composed of an elastomeric seal ring which is captured within a gland seal recess by a relatively hard, extrusion resistant seal ring defining a circular sealing corner. A spacer spool is interposed between the seal assemblies and maintains the seal assemblies within the respective gland seal recesses.

Abstract: A catalyst loading system for utilizing catalyst from a bulk supply located adjacent but not on the upper tube sheet of a catalytic reactor and for mechanized measuring of multiple identical quantities of catalyst and for mechanized loading of catalyst pellets into the reaction tubes of the reactor to achieve even drop rate, compaction and outage of the reaction tubes. From the bulk supply, multi-compartment catalyst charging hoppers are individually filled in rapid and accurately measured fashion by mechanized filling equipment having a predetermined sequence of operation that ensures accuracy of volumetric catalyst measurement. The charging hoppers are used for delivery of measured volumes of catalyst of a reactor tube loading mechanism which may take the form of a mobile cart framework being selectively positionable relative to the upper tube sheet and reaction tubes of a catalytic reactor to be charged with catalyst pellets.

Abstract: A system for mooring a floating storage vessel (10) in the open sea for remaining on station at all times without any disconnection of the vessel (10) from the mooring system. The mooring system includes a plurality of anchor legs (26) connected to a turret (20) in the well (18) of the vessel (10) with at least one submerged support buoy (28) for each anchor leg (26). The submerged support buoy (28), by supporting a substantial portion of the weight of the associated anchor leg (26), reduces the vertical loads on the turret bearings (46, 48) and permits the turret (20) to be easily rotated from the torque exerted by the anchor legs (26) without any separate turret drive means. The system includes in FIG. 5 an embodiment in which a plurality of support buoys (28A) are provided for each anchor leg (26A). The system includes in FIG. 6 an embodiment in which the floating storage vessel (10B) is permanently moored to a mooring buoy (25B) secured by a plurality by anchor legs (26B) to the sea bed (16B).

Abstract: A poppet check valve (20) in the embodiment of FIG. 1 has a valve body (30) with a fixed unyielding metal seat (38) for engaging in metal-to-metal sealing contact with a sealing surface (48) on poppet valve member (34) at relatively high fluid pressure ranges. The metal seats 38 and 48 may both be frusto-conical in shape or one frusto-conical and the other spherical. A compliant metal sealing member (42) engages sealing surface (48) in metal-to-metal sealing relation at low fluid pressures prior to engagement of sealing surface (48) with fixed metal seat (38) at high fluid pressures. Alternative embodiments are shown in FIGS. 3-7. The embodiment of FIG. 7 shows a poppet check valve with a pair of staged flexible metal sealing members (42D, 43D) which are integral with body (30D) for progressively engaging the sealing surface (48D) of poppet valve member (34D) prior to engagement of fixed metal seat (38D).

Abstract: A pilot operated safety relief valve (14) has a main piston valve member (60) mounted for reciprocal movement between open and closed positions. The lower end of piston valve member (60) has a seat retainer (87) to retain an annular seat (89) therein. An interchangeable plug (93) is removably connected by bolt (97) to seat retainer (87) and piston valve member (60). Plug (93) extends within the inlet (50) to form a restriction within the inlet (50) defining an angular orifice (99) in the open position of the piston value member (60) for controlling discharge fluid flow. Different size plugs (93, 93A, 93B) as shown in FIG. 4 may be utilized in order to provide the desired orifice size for annular orifice 99 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Abstract: A catalyst loading system for utilizing catalyst from a bulk supply located adjacent but not on the upper tube sheet of a catalytic reactor and for mechanized measuring of multiple identical quantities of catalyst and for mechanized loading of catalyst pellets into the reaction tubes of the reactor to achieve even drop rate, compaction and outage of the reaction tubes. A pair of electronic vibrators are mounted to the cart framework and provide for support and vibratory movement of a vibratory tray having a catalyst feed hopper adapted to feed catalyst pellets to a plurality of generally parallel catalyst transfer troughs along which catalyst pellets are moved by vibration of the vibratory tray to a plurality of drop tubes. A compartmented hopper is fixed to the vibratory tray and controllably feeds catalyst pellets into respective catalyst transfer troughs.

Abstract: A combined washover and retrieval device (30, 30A) for connection to the lower end of a tubular string (14, 14A) including an outer washover pipe (22, 22A) and an inner retrieval tool (36, 36A). Retrieval tool (36, 36A) includes an upper sub (30, 30A) secured at its upper end to a tubular support (23, 23A). In a preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the sub (30) has a plurality of ports (35) to permit the upward flow of fluid with entrained soil and debris through the inner annulus (38) and ports (35) at the upper end of the annulus (38) to bypass the retrieval tool (36). Another embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4-7 has a plurality of shear pins (31A) connecting the washover pipe (22A) to the sub (30A). Pins (31A) are sheared upon washover pipe (22A) abutting the packer (16A) under a predetermined weight from the tubing string (14A) to permit downward relative movement of retrieval tool (36A) for connection to the fish (18A).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a soap bar from remnants of used soap bars. A molding base defining an internal molding cavity is provided with a pivotal closure also defining an internal die cavity. A forming die is movably supported by the closure and is movable from a retracted position out of the molding cavity to an extended position within said molding cavity where the forming die applies mechanical pressure to the soap fragments. The forming die is receivable within the die cavity at its retracted position and has a concave die surface of a configuration for forming a portion of the soap bar. A die actuator extends through the closure and may be provided with a spring for retraction of the die or for urging the die in a direction for continuous application of molding force to the forming die for a sufficient period of time for adhering and forming the soap bar fragments so as to define a resulting soap bar for subsequent conventional use.

Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricated squeeze packing type rotary shaft seal suitable for lubricant retention and environmental exclusion which incorporates one or more resilient protuberances which and cooperate with the gland walls to hold the seal straight in its installation groove in unpressurized and low pressure lubricant retention applications thereby preventing skew-induced wear caused by impingement of abrasive contaminants present in the environment, and which also serve as radial bearings to prevent tipping of the seal within its installation gland.

Abstract: A method and apparatus utilizing a tree running tool (120) for guiding a conventional or horizontal tree (150) for the purpose of connection to a subsea wellhead or wellhead system (110) without the use of guidelines or guide funnels as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4. The horizontal tree (150) has an orientation sleeve (154) projecting downwardly from tree body (150), and the tree running tool (120) has a lower stabbing extension or stinger (100) which extends below the orientation sleeve for guiding and aligning the orientation sleeve (154) into engagement with a high pressure wellhead housing (153) and associated production casing hanger (159) for connection of the tree body (150) to the high pressure wellhead housing (153).

Abstract: A disconnectable vessel mooring system including a storage vessel (10) with a turret (32) mounted therein so that the vessel is free to weathervane about an anchored turret. A spider buoy (44) in a docked position is received within the turret (32) with the upper part of the buoy at a position above the sea water level to permit dry servicing of the buoy (44). Anchor legs (68) in the docked position are secured to the turret (32) by securing means (71). Guide tubes (72) on the outer surface of the buoy (44) receive the anchor legs (68) therein for limited longitudinal travel. Selected anchor legs (68) may be disconnected from the buoy (44) when detached from the turret (32) for lowering onto the sea floor to reduce the weight of anchor legs supported by the buoy (44).