Abstract: A riser tensioning system with an individual riser unit on an oil or gas platform. The platform has a traveling trolley structure with at least one trolley bearing and a centralizer. The trolley bearing is coupled to at least one guide rail configured to allow vertical movement of said traveling trolley structure. The traveling trolley structure is coupled to a riser collar configured to support a top of the riser. The riser tensioning system has at least one cylinder coupled to the traveling trolley structure on one end and secured on an opposite end such that the cylinder is adapted to push or pull the traveling trolley structure vertically.

Abstract: A device for the application of a preload between a subsea wellhead and a conductor housing comprises an activating member (1), a support housing (2), a locking member (3), and means (9) for securing the support housing relative to the wellhead. Movement of the activating member causes an inclined lateral movement of the locking member. The activating member carries a ratchet (7) comprising a multiplicity of serrations which have a regular pitch in the activating direction and the support housing (1, 2) carries at least two latches (19, 20) which allow the relative movement and can engage the ratchet to inhibit movement reverse to the activating direction. The discrete locking positions provided by one of the latches are positionally out of phase with the discrete locking positions provided by the other latch or latches.

Abstract: A running tool for use in the insertion of an object such as a casing hanger (4) into a subsea well comprises a body (2) and a hollow mandrel (8) moveable within the body. Engagement dogs (3) are supported within the body and are moveable to engage the object (4), the mandrel having a first part (9) and a transition part (10), the transition part being shaped to cause outward movement of the dogs when the mandrel is in a given position within the body and to allow movement of the dogs for positions of the mandrel spaced form the given position. The tool has an emergency release feature wherein the transition part (10) is releaseably attached to the first part by shear pins (13) which shear in response to a sufficient increase in pressure within the mandrel to allow the transition part to separate from the first part (9).

Abstract: A device for the application of a preload between a subsea wellhead and a conductor housing comprises an activating member (1), a support housing (2), a locking member (3), end means (9) for securing the support housing relative to the well-head. Movement of the activating member causes an inclined lateral movement of the locking member. The activating member carries a ratchet (7) comprising a multiplicity of serrations which have a regular pitch in the activating direction and the support housing (1, 2) cames at least two latches (19, 20) which allow the relative movement and can engage the ratchet to inhibit movement reverse to the activating direction. The discrete locking positions provided by one of the latches are positionally out of phase with the discrete locking positions provided by the other latch or latches.

Abstract: A screwed end connector assembly comprises a threaded connector (1) having a conical end portion (5) for the reception of a mating hose fitting. The connector has a flange (6) which includes at least one arcuate, circumferentially extending, slot (7). A nut (8) for threaded engagement with the connector, for securing a hose end fitting to the conical portion of the connector, has a polygonal exterior (10). A member (11) has an aperture for fitment over and irrotational engagement with the exterior of the nut and includes at least one hole positionable in axial register with the said slot.

Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring system and method for accumulator banks including at least two pressure accumulators, the accumulator bank is coupled to a device and being adapted to provide a pressurized fluid into the device at pressure reductions in said device. The monitoring system comprises at least one sensor for detecting a chosen parameter in the accumulator bank at chosen intervals of time, and a recording unit for recording the sampled measured parameters, a storage device for storing predetermined characteristic information related to the pressure development in the accumulator bank during pressure reductions at the device and representing different numbers of active accumulators in the accumulator bank, and calculation means for comparing the recorded measured parameters with the stored characteristic information, and determining from this comparison the number of active accumulators in the accumulator bank.

Abstract: A control valve includes a body including an internal passageway and is constituted at one end as a coupler that includes a valve poppet openable to allow fluid access to or from the passageway past the poppet. The body defines at least one lateral port. A valve spool is disposed within the body and is movable lengthwise of the body by a solenoid actuator, disposed at the other end of the body, to control fluid communication between the passageway and the lateral port.

Abstract: A subsea stab plate assembly includes a stab plate which has apertures each extending in an axial direction through the plate from a front face of the plate to a rear face of the plate. A subsea hydraulic coupler has a body with an internal longitudinal passageway including a valve operable to open the passageway on the mating of the coupler with a complementary coupler. The coupler is shaped for insertion through an aperture in either of two directions, having a circumferential groove and a flange assembly including an axially extending hub which fits into the groove and a shoulder for abutment against the front face of the plate. The flange assembly includes a plurality of separable segments, each of which constitutes part of the hub and part of the shoulder. The hub fits between the groove and the inside of the aperture.

Abstract: A wellhead assembly including a wellhead housing. The wellhead housing comprises a throughbore having a recessed sealing area and a tubing hanger positioned in the throughbore. A seal is positioned between the wellhead housing and the tubing hanger, the seal being positioned so as to form a gap between the seal and the wellhead housing. The wellhead assembly can further include a seal energizer capable of moving relative to the seal in a manner that forces the seal against the wellhead housing to bridge the gap. A method of installing a tubing hanger into a throughbore of a wellhead housing is also disclosed.

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 well-bay 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.

Abstract: System and method for control of a subsea located cyclone for separating oil from water. The cyclone is arranged to receive water with oil contents through an inlet line, the oil is separated from the water and delivered through an oil outlet to an oil outlet line, and the water is delivered through a water outlet to a water outlet line. The system is comprising a control valve in the oil outlet or oil outlet line from the cyclone, a first differential pressure transducer arranged between the inlet line and the oil outlet from the cyclone, and a second differential pressure transducer arranged between the inlet line and the water outlet from the cyclone. The system is distinguished in that a sensor for measuring oil contents is arranged in the water outlet or water outlet line, and via a control means said sensor is operatively connected to the control valve.

Abstract: Cap (100) comprising a stinger adapted to be inserted into a bore (203) of a subsea well element (200), said stinger comprising locking means (101) for locking to an profile (207) in said bore, which locking means comprises a plurality of locking dogs (101) which exhibit a large inclination face (101a) and a small inclination face (101b, 101c), and which are adapted to be actuated in a radial direction by an actuation sleeve (109). The small inclination face is divided by a slot, in which slot the large inclination face is arranged, wherein a cam (131) arranged on the actuation sleeve is adapted to extend into said slot; or, the small inclination face is divided by a cam arranged on the locking dog, on which the large inclination face (131a) is arranged, which cam is adapted to extend into a slot in the actuation sleeve.

Abstract: An umbilical includes a number of fluid pipes, electric wires and/or optical conductors, filler material located at least partially around and between the fluid pipes and the wires/conductors, and they are collectively gathered in a twisted bundle by a laying operation. The umbilical further includes a protective jacket that encompasses the fluid pipes, the wires/conductors and the filler material, and at least one load carrying element located in the cross section of the umbilical. Optionally, one or more fluid pipes constitute load carrying elements. The fluid pipes, the wires/conductors, the filler material and the at least one load carrying element, are alternately laid, i.e. by continuously alternating direction, in the entire or part of the longitudinal extension of the umbilical.

Abstract: In a token bus system a node with the token can transmit on the bus a packet that contains two destination addresses. One address specifies the node that should receive the data component (payload) of the transmitted packet. The other address specifies the node that should receive the token. The network protocol specifies that a node with the token must immediately transmit a packet containing just the token or a packet with token and data if it has data to send. When no data is being passed from one node to another on the network, the token may be passed from one node to the next in order. Each node will pass the token to the next highest node number. If a node has the token has some data for sending it transmits a packet with the token for the next node and data for any of the nodes. The bus system requires every node to receive all packets and process them to determine whether the token or the data (or both) is destined for that node.

Abstract: A subsea electric actuator comprises an electric motor and a telescopic drive connection (8) from the motor to a drive unit (10, 11, 12) which can be moved to and fro and converts rotary motion of the connection to linear motion of an actuating stem (5). A return spring (14) is operable on the drive unit to urge the actuating stem towards a datum state. An electromagnetic latch (15) is operative when set to maintain the drive unit in a predetermined position so as to decouple the action of the return spring whereby the stem can be advanced and retracted relative to the drive unit free from the action of the return spring. De-energisation of the latch allows the return spring to operate on the drive unit to return the actuating stem to the datum state. Various forms of electromagnetic latch are described.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing seawater from penetrating into a compressor module during lowering to or retrieval from a compression plant on the seabed, with optional discharge of residual production fluids, as for instance hydrocarbons, from the compressor module prior to retrieval, wherein the compressor module comprises an electric motor (1) and a compressor (2) which are respectively connected via at least one shaft (8) and are arranged in a common pressure shell (3), an inlet pipe (5) and an outlet pipe (6) to and from the compressor module which respectively are provided with an isolation valve (7, 7?).

Abstract: A power umbilical is shown that comprises a number of power cables (4) to transfer large amounts of electric power, optionally electric wires and/or optical conductors (5), filler material (2, 3) in the form of rigid elongated plastic elements that are located at least partially around and between the power cables (4) and the optional wires/conductors (5), and they are collectively gathered in a twisted bundle by means of a laying operation. A protective jacket (1) encompasses the power cables (4), the optional wires/conductors (5), the filler material (2, 3), and at least one load carrying element (6) predetermined located in the cross section of the power umbilical. The power cables (4), the optional wires/conductors (5), the filler material (2, 3) and the at least one load carrying element (6), are alternately laid, i.e. by continuously alternating direction, in the entire or part of the longitudinal extension of the power umbilical.

Abstract: A tubing hanger for use in a wellhead. The wellhead includes a throughbore, a landing seat positioned in the throughbore, a landing groove positioned above the landing seat in the throughbore, and a locking groove in the throughbore. The tubing hanger comprises an expandable landing ring positioned on the tubing hanger for engaging the landing groove and a landing mechanism for expanding the landing ring radially outward from the tubing hanger. A locking ring for engaging the locking groove can be positioned on the tubing hanger. The tubing hanger can further include a locking mechanism for expanding the locking ring radially outward from the tubing hanger body and locking it into the locking groove.

Abstract: An integrated power umbilical (K1) is shown. The power umbilical includes at least one power cable to transfer vast amounts of electric energy/power and filler material in the form of stiff, elongated plastic elements, laying at least partly around and between the power cables. These elements are collectively collected by means of a laying and closing operation into a twisted bundle, which in turn is enclosed by a protective sheath. At least one of the surrounding elements, i.e. the filler material or the sheath, is made of a semiconducting material, said semiconducting material being able to drain off capacitive currents arising in the power umbilical (K1) when the at least one power cable conducts vast amounts of electric energy/power.

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.