Abstract: A loading arm having an inner conduit section, an outer conduit section, and a manually operable arm extension, is disclosed. The entire arm assembly is rotatable about a vertical axis, and a motor is provided to raise and lower the inner conduit section about a horizontal axis. Two parallel rods are connected at one end to a fixed link at said horizontal axis and connected at the opposite end to the outer conduit section to maintain the outer conduit section in a fixed attitude at any position of the inner conduit section.

Abstract: A dry-break coupler, of the type used on a gasoline tank truck loading arm, is connectable with a standard A.P.I. adapter, that is located near the bottom of a truck tank, for loading fluid into the tank. The coupler and the adapter can be connected together or they can be separated, without the loss of fluid, while both fittings are continuously subjected to internal fluid pressure. The coupler has a tubular body that defines a central flow passage. Located within the tubular body is a movable valve closure element. This element opens and closes the flow passage of the coupler, and it also actuates a central valve of an adjacent adapter. An adapter latch and a first rotatable shaft that operates the adapter latch are pivotally mounted on the tubular body. A second rotatable shaft that operates the valve closure element is mounted within the tubular body. Portions of both the first and second rotatable shafts extend in substantially parallel relationship.

Abstract: A subsea riser system for conducting petroleum or other fluid from the ocean floor to a floating loading and storage terminal or other facility at the water surface. The bottom end of the riser is connected to a subsea base by a hydraulic connector, and the lower portion of the riser is supported in tension between the subsea base and a submerged tension leg platform. The portion of the riser between the submerged platform and the floating terminal is flexible to accommodate relative movement between the platform and terminal, this flexibility accomplished by means of a series of pipe swivel joints spaced along the riser.

Abstract: A marine loading arm jumper assembly especially suitable for use on a buoy or other offshore fluid transferring facility where tanker movements are large and space is limited. The assembly comprises a pair of articulated loading arms extending from a coaxial pipe swivel joint mounted on the buoy, and a terminal pipe swivel joint assembly including another coaxial swivel joint for connecting this dual arm system to a tanker manifold. A guide arm assembly also is provided to maintain the loading arm in proper alignment with the terminal swivel joint assembly while the arm is disconnected therefrom as during periods of very bad weather.

Abstract: A system for sensing the position in space of the outer end of an articulated fluid loading arm while it is connected to a marine tanker or other transport vessel, and sounding an alarm if the arm's operating envelope is exceeded. The sensing system includes means for determining various angles representative of the orientation of the booms or limbs of the arm, and means for deriving from these angles an indication of the spatial location of the arm's outer end.

Abstract: A fluid flow check valve with two disc closure elements pivotally mounted in the valve's body. A concave surface on the upstream side of each disc assists in stabilizing the discs against flutter during flow through the valve, and angular lugs on the downstream side of the discs cooperate with a stop shaft to further stabilize the assembly when the discs are fully open. The valve also includes a resilient seat with an annular sealing bead to facilitate a high unit load on the seat at low pressures, and with a large seal area to support the discs at high back pressures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing a length of underwater pipe, such as a petroleum flowline bundle, between two subsea stations, for example a subsea oil or gas wellhead and a subsea manifold to establish a fluid conduit between these stations. The flowline bundle is transported by a surface vessel to location where downhaul cables are then brought to the surface from the underwater stations by means of call-up buoys. A flowline mating vehicle is connected to each end of the flowline bundle, the downhaul cables are attached to powered winches contained in these vehicles, and the bundle is then hauled downward by the vehicles to the subsea stations where it is connected to the terminals of the flowlines at these stations by a remotely actuated clamping system. The flowline mating vehicles are then released from the flowline bundle and the stations to be retrieved at the surface for reuse.

Abstract: A well tool for running and landing underwater casing hangers. The tool includes a resilient split ring with external threads that engage complementary internal threads on the hanger, and an hydraulic system that is actuated through a control line at the surface, thereby facilitating release of the hanger from the tool by either hydraulic pressure or rotation of the running string to which the tool is attached.

Abstract: A marine loading arm equipped with an improved pipe swivel joint at the outer end of the arm's triple-swivel coupling assembly that functions to connect the outer end of the arm to the manifold flange of a marine tanker. The weight and axial dimension of this improved swivel joint are less than that of conventional swivel joints of the same pipe diameter, so that the coupling flange at the distal end of the triple-swivel assembly rests in a more vertical attitude, thereby easing the task of coupling the arm to the tanker's manifold flange and reducing the moment load imposed on that flange. The improved swivel joint also includes an arrangement for gaining quick and easy access to its packing chamber when replacing the packing between the joint's relatively rotatable elements becomes necessary.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for running a compression-type annulus packoff on a drill or other pipe string into an oil or gas well, setting the packoff without rotating the drill string, and then shifting the axial load of the drill string from the packoff to a casing hanger or other suitable well element so that the packoff can be pressure tested under conditions closely simulating normal service conditions. The apparatus comprises an hydraulically actuated well tool that functions both as a means for connecting the packoff to the drill string on which the tool and packoff are run as an assembly into the well, and also as a means for converting hydraulic pressure in the drill string into torque and then transmitting this torque to the packoff for rotating its seal-compressing element, thereby compressing its seal into fluid-tight engagement with the adjacent well elements.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for running a compression-type annulus packoff on a drill or other pipe string into an oil or gas well, setting the packoff without rotating the drill string, and then shifting the axial load of the drill string from the packoff to a casing hanger or other suitable well element so that the packoff can be pressure tested under conditions closely simulating normal service conditions. The apparatus comprises an hydraulically actuated well tool that functions both as a means for connecting the packoff to the drill string on which the tool and packoff are run as an assembly into the well, and also as a means for converting hydraulic pressure in the drill string into torque and then transmitting this torque to the packoff for rotating its seal-compressing element, thereby compressing its seal into fluid-tight engagement with the adjacent well elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for running, operating, and retrieving packoffs, bowl protectors, casing heads, casing hangers, and other well tools employed in drilling and completing subsea wells. Broadly considered, the method involves running the well tool and a special running and retrieving tool to which it is releasably connected into the well by means of a drill or other pipe string and then pressurizing the wellhead through the choke and kill lines to actuate the running and retrieving tool and release it from the well tool for subsequent retrieval and re-use. Various embodiments of the running and retrieving tool are described.

Abstract: A rotary valve for providing control of fluid flow throughout a wide range of pressures and temperatures. The valve includes a pressure sensitive and temperature responsive annular yieldable seat that cooperates with the valve's flow control element to establish a fluid seal, and a temperature responsive rigid energizer ring for maintaining both a radial and an axial load on the seat at all temperatures. The valve seat includes an annular, radially outwardly extending leg that is held in position against a radial surface of the valve's body by the energizer ring, and at least one pressure sensitive annular sealing lip that extends in a generally axial direction from the leg and in contact with the valve's flow control element when the valve is closed. The energizer ring has a generally wedge-shaped cross-sectional configuration and is held in position in the valve body by a retainer ring that is releasably secured, as by screws, to the valve body for quick and easy servicing of the seat.