Patents Assigned to Aker Solutions Inc.
  • Patent number: 11142965
    Abstract: A flexible deployment system is used to deploy subsea/downhole well equipment or modules from a multi-purpose vessel without requiring a moon pool and a derrick or tower. The deployment system may include the vessel and a deployment frame disposed on the vessel. The deployment frame includes a protruding section extending as a cantilever beyond an external edge of the vessel, and the protruding section includes an aperture formed therein to facilitate construction of the well equipment or modules through the protruding section. The deployment system also includes an actuation assembly coupled to the protruding section to selectively transition the protruding section to a collapsed, split, or retracted orientation out of a deployment path of the well equipment or modules. The system allows for controlled deployment of well equipment or modules including at least a string of downhole tools or tubulars coupled end to end from the side of the vessel in a single trip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Aker Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Lars Bay
  • Patent number: 11125041
    Abstract: A system including a subsea module, a tool hanger, and an in-well tool string coupled to and extending from a lower portion of the tool hanger is provided. The subsea module includes a subsea spool with a main bore formed therethrough, and the main bore includes a tool hanger interface. The subsea module also includes a connector for mounting the subsea module on a subsea component, wherein the connector includes a grip configured to engage the subsea component, and a first seal coupled to the connector and configured to seal the connector against the subsea component. The tool hanger is disposed within the main bore and coupled to the tool hanger interface via at least a second seal configured to seal the tool hanger against the main bore of the subsea spool. The in-well tool string is configured to couple the tool hanger to an in-well tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignees: Aker Solutions Inc., Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Lars Bay, Terry R. Bussear
  • Patent number: 10513903
    Abstract: Systems and methods providing a tree cap that allows power, signal, and/or hydraulic function connections to be established between an Electrical Submersible Pump and a vertical Christmas tree (VXT) control system are provided. The tree cap includes an Electrical Feed-through System (EFS) having an electro-hydraulic stinger configured to form a connection to an ESP hanger plug of the Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP). The tree cap is configured to lock onto the vertical Christmas tree (VXT) and provide a secondary seal barrier element to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: AKER SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Moacir Farias, Rodrigo Bernardes
  • Publication number: 20180283163
    Abstract: A subsea pump system includes a subsea pump, a fluid conditioner tank arranged upstream of the subsea pump, a liquid conservation tank arranged downstream of the subsea pump, a line arranged to recirculate a liquid from the liquid conservation tank to upstream of the subsea pump, an umbilical which provides power, a monitoring and a control, a first buoyancy element suspended in the fluid conditioner tank, a second buoyancy element suspended in the liquid conservation tank, optical fiber sensors which are arranged at least to a suspension of the first buoyancy element in the fluid conditioner tank and to a suspension of the second buoyancy element in the liquid conservation tank, and electronics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicants: AKER SOLUTIONS INC., BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: ROBIN SLATER, WILLIAM JOHNSTON, IAN MITCHELL, ALEXANDER BARRY
  • Publication number: 20180112484
    Abstract: A wellhead based well control arrangement including a pressure control head having a gripping element configured to grip an outside surface of a well head and a seal element configured to seal against an inside surface of the same well head, a perforating, packer, and circulation mandrel extending from the pressure control head. A method for controlling a well at a well head for plugging and abandonment operations including running an arrangement as above into engagement with a well head, engaging the gripping element to an outside surface of the wellhead, sealing the seal element to an inside surface of the well head, and setting a packer of the mandrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicants: Baker Hughes Incorporated, Aker Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Bussear, Lars Bay
  • Patent number: 9902472
    Abstract: A semi-submersible floating structure for the drilling and production of offshore oil and gas is provided. The semi-submersible floating structure includes a pontoon having a plurality of pontoon sections, an outer edge, and an inner edge, the pontoon sections defining an interior space. The semi-submersible floating structure further includes a plurality of columns extending vertically upward from the pontoon. Each column has an upper section having an upper column width; and a lower section. The lower section has a bottom end coupled to the pontoon and aligned with the outer edge of the pontoon, the bottom end having a lower column width greater than the upper column width, at least part of the bottom end protruding into the interior space. The lower section further has a flared portion between the upper section and the bottom end; the flared portion having a width that varies from the upper column width at the upper section to the lower column width at the bottom end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: AKER SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Tao Wang, Xiaofeng Jiang, Renjian Roger Lu, Rolf Eide, Henrik Hannus
  • Publication number: 20170370206
    Abstract: A method for providing well safety control in a remedial electronic submersible pump (ESP) application including a making up an electric submersible pump (ESP) on a conduit with a primary well control capability; running the foregoing through a preexisting SCSSV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicants: Baker Hughes Incorporated, Aker Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Graeme Michael Kelbie, Terry Bussear, Lars Bay
  • Publication number: 20170174296
    Abstract: A semi-submersible floating structure for the drilling and production of offshore oil and gas is provided. The semi-submersible floating structure includes a pontoon having a plurality of pontoon sections, an outer edge, and an inner edge, the pontoon sections defining an interior space. The semi-submersible floating structure further includes a plurality of columns extending vertically upward from the pontoon. Each column has an upper section having an upper column width; and a lower section. The lower section has a bottom end coupled to the pontoon and aligned with the outer edge of the pontoon, the bottom end having a lower column width greater than the upper column width, at least part of the bottom end protruding into the interior space. The lower section further has a flared portion between the upper section and the bottom end; the flared portion having a width that varies from the upper column width at the upper section to the lower column width at the bottom end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: Aker Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tao WANG, Xiaofeng JIANG, Renjian LU, Rolf EIDE, Henrik HANNUS
  • Patent number: 9359850
    Abstract: A power triad of an umbilical may be rotated during multiple transition lengths to position each power cable of the power triad equally at radial orientation over the length of the umbilical. A first portion of the umbilical includes the triad in a first radial orientation, a second portion of the umbilical includes the triad in a second radial orientation, and a third portion of the umbilical includes the triad in a third radial orientation. The triad is rotated a first one hundred twenty degrees from the first radial orientation to the second radial orientation during a first transition length. The triad is rotated a second one hundred twenty degrees from the second radial orientation to the third radial orientation during a second transition length. The use of three radial orientations along the length of the umbilical may reduce imbalances between the power cables of the triad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: AKER SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: John T. Whiddon, David L. Hickman
  • Publication number: 20160002997
    Abstract: Systems and methods providing a tree cap that allows power, signal, and/or hydraulic function connections to be established between an Electrical Submersible Pump and a vertical Christmas tree (VXT) control system are provided. The tree cap includes an Electrical Feed-through System (EFS) having an electro-hydraulic stinger configured to form a connection to an ESP hanger plug of the Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP). The tree cap is configured to lock onto the vertical Christmas tree (VXT) and provide a secondary seal barrier element to the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Applicant: Aker Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Moacir FARIAS, Rodrigo BERNARDES
  • Patent number: 9205897
    Abstract: An offshore floating structure (10) for the drilling and production of oil and gas includes a generally circular toroidal, hollow pontoon (11) of substantially the same radial width throughout a perimeter of the pontoon. The offshore floating structure includes a plurality of columns (12) of substantially a same cross-sectional area, each coupled at a coupling point, on a bottom end thereof to the pontoon at an equidistant point along the perimeter of the pontoon, and adapted to be coupled on a top end to a deck structure. The diameter (23) from a center of the radial width of the pontoon is greater than a distance (21) from a center of one column to a center of an adjacent column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: AKER SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Tao Wang, Yijian Zeng
  • Patent number: 9091146
    Abstract: A subsea umbilical system can be provided for connecting a topside structure at a proximal end of the system to subsea equipment at a distal end of the system. The system can include an umbilical configured to allow one or more cables for powering or communicating with subsea equipment to be passed through at least a portion of the umbilical. The system can further include reinforcing elements radially surrounding a portion of the umbilical. The system can further include a breakout box disposed along the umbilical and configured to be positioned between the reinforcing element and the subsea equipment. The breakout box can include a breakout opening configured to allow one or more breakout cables to exit the umbilical and run along the outside of the reinforcing elements to the topside structure. Related methods of making and using such systems are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: AKER SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: John Whiddon, Heith Little
  • Publication number: 20150144374
    Abstract: A power triad of an umbilical may be rotated during multiple transition lengths to position each power cable of the power triad equally at radial orientation over the length of the umbilical. A first portion of the umbilical includes the triad in a first radial orientation, a second portion of the umbilical includes the triad in a second radial orientation, and a third portion of the umbilical includes the triad in a third radial orientation. The triad is rotated a first one hundred twenty degrees from the first radial orientation to the second radial orientation during a first transition length. The triad is rotated a second one hundred twenty degrees from the second radial orientation to the third radial orientation during a second transition length. The use of three radial orientations along the length of the umbilical may reduce imbalances between the power cables of the triad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: AKER SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: John T. WHIDDON, David L. HICKMAN
  • Patent number: 8807874
    Abstract: A deep draft semi-submersible production and drilling platform unit with dry trees is described. The platform unit preferably comprises four columns, a ring pontoon, a two-axis symmetrical hull with draft in the range of 100 to 155 feet, top-tensioned risers with push or pull tensioners of preferred combined vertical stiffness of 10% to 30% of the platform water plane stiffness, a wellbay with a well spacing in the range of 12 to 18 feet, a riser guiding system supported by the pontoons or at an elevated level, topside facilities supported by a box type of deck structure, mooring lines, and catenary risers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Aker Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yijian Zeng, Leiv Gunnar Wanvik, Tao Wang, Stein Rasmussen, Renjian Lu
  • Patent number: 8720574
    Abstract: A subsea connector that includes a connector capable of selectively connecting to a spool body to form a connector assembly. The subsea connector may include an adapter ring that is capable of connecting the spool body to the connector. The connector assembly may be lowered onto a wellhead member and locked into place by a movable piston and split lock ring. While the connector assembly is in the unlocked state, the adapter ring may be rotated moving the connector up or down with respect to the spool body, which lands on the wellhead member. The movement of the connector may be used to vary the alignment of the connector locking means with respect to the locking profile of the wellhead member. This change in position may be used to modify the preload force applied to the connector when locked onto the wellhead member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Aker Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Glen H. Cuiper, Paulo C. S. Paulo
  • Patent number: 8668017
    Abstract: A variable buoyancy subsea running tool for use with subsea transportable devices, such as a tree cap. The buoyancy of the running tool may be varied through fluid or gas displacement in one or more containers. Alternatively, the running tool may be configured with a buoy that has static buoyancy, with the buoyancy of the running tool being varied through the addition of a counterweight. The running tool can be used to install or uninstall a tree cap on a subsea tree. Installation of a tree cap may be actuated by a remotely operated vehicle. Additionally, the running tool may be moved by a remotely operated vehicle and may have additional features such as a position locator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Aker Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Glen H. Cuiper, Paulo Cezar Silva Paulo
  • Publication number: 20130319314
    Abstract: An offshore floating structure (10) for the drilling and production of oil and gas includes a generally circular toroidal, hollow pontoon (11) of substantially the same radial width throughout a perimeter of the pontoon. The offshore floating structure includes a plurality of columns (12) of substantially a same cross-sectional area, each coupled at a coupling point, on a bottom end thereof to the pontoon at an equidistant point along the perimeter of the pontoon, and adapted to be coupled on a top end to a deck structure. The diameter (23) from a center of the radial width of the pontoon is greater than a distance (21) from a center of one column to a center of an adjacent column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: AKER SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Tao Wang, Yijian Zeng
  • Patent number: 8464795
    Abstract: An annulus isolation valve comprises a valve actuation bore and a flow passage capable of providing fluid communication between an upper annulus and a lower annulus. The flow passage comprises a first flow path and a portion of the valve actuation bore. Further, the first flow path has a second longitudinal axis that is different from a first longitudinal axis. The annulus isolation valve further includes a plug gate positioned in the valve actuation bore. The plug gate is configured so that in the open position it allows fluid communication between the upper annulus and the lower annulus. The annulus isolation valve further includes a biasing mechanism positioned in the valve actuation bore. The biasing mechanism is capable of forcing the plug gate into the closed position when the actuation force is not applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Aker Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Andy Dyson, Charles Li, Oystein Mogedal, Paulo Cezar Silva Paulo, Casey Russell, Nick Newlands