Abstract: The present invention is a Coriolis mass flowmeter which comprises at least one flowtube through which a fluid to be measured is allowed to flow; a number of force drivers for vibrating the flowtube in at least one mode of vibration of the flowtube; the vibration of the flowtube causing a driven deflection of the flowtube and the fluid flowing through the vibrating flowtube generating Coriolis forces which cause a Coriolis deflection of the flowtube; a plurality of strain-sensing transducers connected to the flowtube for generating signals representative of the driven deflection of the flowtube and the Coriolis deflection of the flowtube; and a signal processing circuit connected to the strain-sensing transducers for producing an indication of the mass flow rate of the fluid from the signals generated by the strain-sensing transducers.

Abstract: A flow completion system for controlling the flow of fluid from a well bore, the flow completion system includes a tubing spool which includes a central bore that extends axially therethrough and a production outlet which communicates with the central bore. A tubing hanger includes a production bore that extends axially therethrough and a production passageway that communicates between the production bore and the production outlet and a first closure member which is positioned in the production bore above the production passageway. A first annular seal which is positioned between the tubing hanger and the central bore above the production passageway including first pressure-containing barrier between the well bore and a surrounding environment.

Abstract: A flow completion system for controlling the flow of fluid from a well bore, the flow completion system comprising a tubing spool, a tubing hanger supporting a tubing string which extends into the well bore and defines a tubing annulus surrounding the tubing string; a first closure member which is positioned in the production bore above the production passageway; a first annular seal wherein the first closure member and the first seal comprise a first pressure-containing barrier between the well bore and a surrounding environment; a second closure member which is positioned in the production bore above the first closure member; and a second annular seal wherein the second closure member and the second seal comprise a second pressure-containing barrier between the well bore and the environment; and wherein both the first and the second barriers are associated with the tubing hanger.

Abstract: A wellhead system for petroleum producing wells comprises a “stack-down” casing hanger configuration. In this stack-down system, the hanger for each successively smaller diameter casing string is landed or “nested” within the hanger for the next larger casing string. This approach allows the pack-off for each casing hanger to be retrieved independently, thus allowing fluid communication to be established with any of the casing annuli after all of the casing strings and hangers have been installed. Thus the pressure in each annulus may be monitored while the well is in production mode.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electromagnetic actuator for a device having a first component which is movable relative to a second component, the electromagnetic actuator comprising a coil which is coupled to the first component; a magnetically permeable core which is coupled to the second component and which comprises an annular pole having first and second ends, a cylindrical keeper positioned around the pole, and a base connecting the first end of the pole to an adjacent end of the keeper; wherein the inner diameter of the keeper is greater than the outer diameter of the pole and the coil is positioned between the keeper and the pole; a magnet which is magnetically coupled to the core and which produces a magnetic field having flux lines that flow through the keeper, the base and the pole and across the coil; wherein the pole comprises an inner annular surface which is tapered from the first end to the second end to reduce the inductance of the coil and thereby permit the actuator to generate a g

Abstract: A metallic sealing element comprises a generally tubular body having first and second opposed ends and a center section which is located between the first and second ends. In use the sealing element is compressible to bring the first and second ends towards one another to cause a center section to bulge transversely and sealingly engage a co-operating sealing surface.

Abstract: A gate valve for a component which includes an elongated body and a flow passage extending generally longitudinally through the body, the flow passage including a generally lateral first branch connected to a generally longitudinal second branch. The gate valve comprises a gate which is moveable generally longitudinally across the first branch between an open position in which a hole in the gate is aligned with the first branch and a closed position in which the hole is offset from the first branch; a conduit which extends through the body from the gate; an actuating mechanism positioned in the conduit for moving the gate from a first position to a second position; and a return biasing mechanism for moving the gate from the second position to the first position; wherein one of the first and second positions corresponds to the open position of the gate and the other position corresponds to the closed position of the gate; and wherein the conduit extends generally longitudinally through the body.

Abstract: The present invention is a wellhead system for use in completing at least two well bores from within a single conductor housing. The wellhead system comprises at least one wellhead housing which is supported on the conductor housing and which comprises a top portion that is adapted to be connected to a lower portion of a wellhead component, a casing hanger which is supported within the wellhead housing and from which a casing string is suspended, and a connector for securing the wellhead component to the wellhead housing. In accordance with the present invention, the connector is selected from the group consisting of a latch ring and a segmented clamp assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sealing sleeve which is disposed in a lateral fluid conduit that extends at least partially through a tubing hanger and a surrounding spool and which is slideable between a retracted position for running and retrieval of the tubing hanger and an extended position for sealing across the interface between the tubing hanger and the spool.

Abstract: A flow completion apparatus comprises a wellhead housing installed at an upper end of a well bore and a tubing spool connected over the wellhead housing. The tubing spool includes a central bore extending axially therethrough, a production outlet communicating with the central bore and an annulus passageway communicating with the tubing annulus. A tubing hanger is supported in the central bore and includes a production bore extending axially therethrough and a production passageway communicating between the production bore and the production outlet. An annular seal is positioned between the tubing hanger and the central bore above the production passageway, and the tubing spool comprises a workover passageway extending between the annulus passageway and a portion of the central bore located above the seal. Furthermore, the tubing hanger comprises an annulus bore extending between the workover passageway and the top of the tubing hanger.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a compact and modular gate valve comprising an elongated body which comprises first and second ends, a hole which extends longitudinally between the first and second ends, a first opening which communicates with the hole proximate the first end, a second opening which communicates with the hole proximate the second end, and a bore which extends transversely through the body and intersects the hole; a first seat which is mounted in a first intersection of the bore with the hole and a second seat which is mounted in a second intersection of the bore with the hole, the first and second seats each including a passageway that aligns with the bore; a valve stem which is slidably positioned in the hole and which includes first and second piston portions that are separated by a gate portion, the stem being movable between an open position in which a hole in the gate portion is aligned with the passageways and a closed position in which the hole is offset from the passageways; and

Abstract: The invention is directed to a coiled tubing swivel for rotatably connecting a first conduit to a second conduit. The swivel comprises a swivel body having a cylindrical receptacle and a flowpath that communicates between the receptacle and the first conduit, a tubular mandrel having a first end that is received within the receptacle and a second end which communicates with the second conduit, and a bearing assembly positioned between the receptacle and the mandrel. The bearing assembly includes a central axis, a cylindrical outer sleeve having an inner surface and a number of annular inner grooves which are formed on the inner surface coaxially with the central axis, and a cylindrical inner sleeve having an outer surface and a number of annular outer grooves which are formed on the outer surface coaxially with the central axis.

Abstract: A preferably fiber optic line passes into a well interior through a pressure barrier such as a tree or wellhead housing, via a modified horizontal penetrator assembly. The penetrator assembly comprises double poppet valve assemblies arranged to open upon engagement of the penetrator with an interior well component such as a tubing hanger. Retraction of the penetrator closes the poppet valves, sealing the pressure barrier, severing the line and allowing the tubing hanger to be pulled. A replacement line is readily installed through the open poppet valve assemblies.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a gate valve assembly which comprises an elongated body having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough; a plurality of gates slidably disposed in the longitudinal bore across respective flow passages which each extend laterally through the body between corresponding inlet and outlet ports; each gate being movable between an open position wherein an opening in the gate is aligned with its respective flow passage and a closed position wherein the opening is offset from its respective flow passage; and an actuator for moving the gates simultaneously between a first position, wherein at least one of the gates is in its open position, and a second position, wherein the at least one gate is in its closed position.

Abstract: A heating device for a subsea oil and gas production equipment component comprises at least one heating cable which includes first and second generally parallel electrical conductors that are positioned in heat exchange relation with respect to a flow path through the component, a source of electrical power which is connected to the first and second electrical conductors and which when activated conducts a current between the conductors to generate heat, and an insulation layer which is disposed over the heating cable and the component. When the temperature of a well fluid in the component drops to a point below its flow temperature, the heating cable will generate heat that is transferred to the well fluid to maintain the temperature of the well fluid above its hydrate formation temperature.

Abstract: A breakaway joint for releasably connecting a first component to a second component, comprises a first member to which the first component is attached; a second member to which the second component is attached; a plurality of columnar members each having first and second ends, the first ends being coupled to the first member; and a mechanism engaged by both the second member and the second ends of the columnar members for latching the first member to the second member and for converting a tensile load acting between the first and second members into a compressive load acting on the columnar members; wherein when the tensile load reaches a predetermined level, the columnar members will buckle and the latching means will release the first member from the second member.

Abstract: A standard ROV/manual gate valve operating mechanism is used to move a bore selector between the production and annulus bores of a completion. The ROV operation could be via torsion or linear action. The positioning of the selector may be hydraulically linked to the functioning of retainer valves. Alternatively, the operating mechanism may be for one of the retainer valves, with a mechanical linkage for actuation of the bore selector.

Abstract: A wellhead isolation tool for use with a wellhead assembly from which a tubing string is suspended comprises a tubular mandrel which includes an axial passage that extends therethrough and lower end that is adapted to engage the tubing string, a pumping head which is connected over the wellhead assembly and which includes an internal chamber that is in fluid communication with the axial passage and a port that extends through the pumping head to the chamber, and an actuator which is connected over the pumping head for moving the mandrel axially through the pumping head and into engagement with the tubing string. When the mandrel is engaged with the tubing string, fluid may be communicated through the port, the chamber and the mandrel and into the tubing string.

Abstract: The concentric tubing completion system of the present invention comprises a surface Christmas tree which is located on a surface structure, a tieback connector which is secured to a mudline wellhead that is installed at the upper end of a subsea well bore, a mudline tubing hanger which is supported in the tieback connector, and a pair of concentric tubing strings which are suspended from corresponding tubing hangers in the surface Christmas tree and connected to the mudline tubing hanger. The annulus between the concentric tubing strings communicates with a number of passages in the mudline tubing hanger which are connected to the tubing annulus below the mudline tubing hanger. Thus, lift gas or other fluids may be communicated between the surface christmas tree and the tubing annulus through this annulus between the concentric tubing strings.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a plug valve comprising a body which includes an inlet port, an outlet port and a cavity that is connected between the inlet and outlet ports; first and second seal segments which are mounted in the cavity and which each comprise a through bore that is coaxial with the inlet and outlet ports; the through bores and the inlet and outlet ports defining a flow passage through the body; a plug member which is rotatably positioned between the first and second seal segments and which includes a hole that extends transversely therethrough; the plug member being rotatable between an open position in which the hole is aligned with the flow passage and a closed position in which the hole is offset from the flow passage; and at least a first booster spring which is positioned between the first seal segment and the body to bias the first seal segment against the plug member.