Abstract: A system and method of analysing drilling cuttings using image data output from a hyperspectral imaging device and at least one optical camera, includes generating a hyperspectral imaging data set including a plurality of lines of hyperspectral data derived from line images taken by the hyperspectral imaging device positioned along a drilling fluid cuttings path, obtaining tracking information in respect of particles of interest from the output of the at least one optical camera, correcting the position of pixels associated with particles of interest in the plurality of lines of hyperspectral imaging data based on the obtained tracking information to generate corrected hyperspectral imaging data, and analysing the corrected hyperspectral imaging data to characterise the cuttings.

Abstract: A method of assessing the effect of a production chemical on the stability of a water and oil emulsion, the emulsion comprising the production chemical, is provided. The method comprises: applying a potential difference across the emulsion at a detection site; measuring a current flowing through the emulsion due to the applied potential difference; and using this measured current to assess the effect of the production chemical. The step of using the measured current to assess the effect of the production chemical may comprise determining, based on the measured current, whether a critical potential of the emulsion has been reached or exceeded. The emulsion may be a crude oil emulsion. It may be a water-in-oil emulsion. The production chemical may be an emulsion breaker. Also provided is an apparatus for assessing the effect of a production chemical on a water and oil emulsion.

Abstract: In a jarring device and method for applying an impact to a casing of a wellbore in a subterranean or subsea formation, the jarring device includes a hammer and a driving means for driving the hammer between a first position in which the hammer is spaced from the casing, and a second position in which the hammer contacts the casing, such that the driving means is operable during use to drive the hammer from the first position to the second position so as to impact the casing. The hammer is reciprocated by the driving means.

Abstract: A wellhead load relief device for reducing riser system induced load effects on a subsea wellhead and a method of installing a subsea wellhead assembly onto a subsea wellhead using the wellhead load relief device. The wellhead load relief device includes: a receptacle for receiving well control equipment, wherein the receptacle has an open top to permit the well control equipment to be received in the receptacle; and an adjustable support mechanism for rigidly supporting well control equipment received in the receptacle. The adjustable support mechanism is located within the receptacle and the adjustable support mechanism has a lateral extent that is adjustable relative to the receptacle. The wellhead load relief device is for providing a load path for forces exerted on the well control equipment to the seabed without going via the subsea wellhead. A subsea wellhead assembly including the wellhead load relief device is also provided.

Abstract: A tubular for use in the creation or completion of, or production from, an oil and/or gas well. The tubular comprises; an elongate main body; a stab-in connector element located at an end of the main body; and a rotatable connection sleeve disposed coaxially around a first end portion of the main body at or near said end of the main body. The connection sleeve is configured to provide a mechanical coupling between the tubular and another tubular without requiring rotation of the main body, to thereby provide a stab-in connection between the stab-in connector element of the tubular and a complementary stab-in connector element of the other tubular for electrical power and/or data transmission.

Abstract: A method for determining an estimated flow rate of fluid flow in a pump comprises: obtaining measurements of the pressure and temperature of fluid at the intake to the pump, the pressure and temperature of the fluid at the discharge from the pump, and the electrical power supplied to the pump; determining values representing either the density of the fluid and the specific heat capacity of the fluid, or the specific fluid enthalpy based on measurements and/or historical data; and calculating an estimated efficiency of the pump and an estimated flow rate of the fluid based on the measured electrical power, the measured temperatures, the measured pressures, the determined value for density and the determined value for specific heat capacity or the determined value for specific fluid enthalpy.

Abstract: A system for surge protection of a riser adapted to transport gas from a hydrocarbon production well or for surge protection in a well, the system comprising: a flexible tubing, wherein a portion of the flexible tubing extends into the riser or into the well and wherein the tubing terminates inside the riser or inside the well; a pressure control system arranged to create a pressure differential within the flexible tubing such that liquid is drawn from the riser or the well into the flexible tubing if liquid is present in the riser or the well; wherein the length of said portion of the flexible tubing is variable depending on the amount of liquid drawn into the flexible tubing.

Abstract: Methods of monitoring for influx and/or loss events in a wellbore are disclosed. One method comprises: receiving a measurement relating to fluid entering or leaving the wellbore, wherein the measurement is selected from flow out rate and active volume; and comparing the measurement with an expected value for the measurement to provide a deviated measurement value. The method further comprises receiving a pump pressure value of a pump associated with the wellbore; and comparing the pump pressure value with an expected pump pressure value to provide a deviated pump pressure value. It is then established whether an influx event and/or it is established whether a loss event may have occurred based on at least the deviated measurement value and deviated pump pressure value. Systems configured to monitor for influx and/or loss events in a wellbore are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tubular for use in the creation or completion of, or production from, an oil and/or gas well. The tubular comprises; an elongate main body; a stab-in connector element located at an end of the main body; and a rotatable connection sleeve disposed coaxially around a first end portion of the main body at or near said end of the main body. The connection sleeve is configured to provide a mechanical coupling between the tubular and another tubular without requiring rotation of the main body, to thereby provide a stab-in connection between the stab-in connector element of the tubular and a complementary stab-in connector element of the other tubular for electrical power and/or data transmission.

Abstract: A method of installing a subsea pipeline for tie-in to a subsea structure includes laying, using a pipe laying vessel, an intermediate section of the pipeline on to a pipe restraint device, wherein the pipe restraint device is at or near the subsea structure, or is at or near a location at which a subsea structure will be installed, and the pipe restraint device restricts transverse movement of the pipeline. The intermediate section of the pipeline is configured to be tapped at or near the pipe restraint device for providing fluid communication between the pipeline and the subsea structure.

Abstract: A subsea well installation is provided, comprising a first pipeline comprising a first valve arrangement and a second pipeline comprising a second valve arrangement. The first valve arrangement is connected to a first subsea well and the second valve arrangement is connected to a second subsea well. The first valve arrangement is connected to the second valve arrangement. The installation is arranged such that fluid can be routed from the first well to any of the first pipeline and second pipeline. Each valve arrangement may comprise three two-way ball valves. Also provided is a method of installing the subsea well installation and a method of operating the subsea well installation.

Abstract: A connector for connecting two subsea well assembly components; wherein the connector is arranged such that it can be preloaded in both tension and compression concurrently. The connector includes a tension part which in use can be in tension and a compression part that in use can be in compression. The tension part has an adjustable length and/or the compression part has an adjustable length. There is also provided a subsea well assembly, that includes a first subsea well assembly component; and a second subsea well assembly component; wherein the first subsea well assembly component and the second subsea well assembly component are connected to each other to provide a well conduit therebetween. The first subsea well assembly component and the second subsea well assembly component are connected such that forces can be transmitted both in tension and compression between the two components without going through the well conduit.

Abstract: A system for hydrocarbon production comprising a host for receiving produced hydrocarbon; an offshore hydrocarbon production facility comprising: a production wellhead for connection to a subsea hydrocarbon reservoir; a production platform configured to receive produced fluid from the wellhead and being in fluid communication with the host via a long distance pipeline; wherein the wellhead is local to the production platform, and the production platform is configured to process the produced fluid to provide a semi-stable oil product suitable for exporting along the long distance pipeline to the host.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of calculating the radiogenic heat production (RHP) of a geophysical structure, wherein there is provided at least one geophysical parameter of the geophysical structure, the method including inverting the at least one geophysical parameter to estimate the RHP of the geophysical structure.

Abstract: A method of determining the electrical permittivity ?kf of a region of a subsurface formation surrounding a drilled borehole includes: obtaining an assumed electrical permittivity ?LWD; obtaining resistivity data comprising a first resistivity value Rp determined by analysing the phase delay d of an electromagnetic signal traversing said region and a second resistivity value Ra determined by analysing the attenuation ? of the electromagnetic signal traversing said region; and calculating the electrical permittivity of the region from the first and second resistivity values and the assumed electrical permittivity by applying a plane wave approximation to the propagation of said electromagnetic signal across said region.

Abstract: A floating platform, preferably of the spar type, for treating seawater to provide prepared water for injection into a well extending through the seabed. The platform includes an elongate hull structure vertically position-able in a body of water such that the majority of the hull structure is submerged in the body of water, a deck secured to the top of the hull structure so that the deck lies above a surface of the body of water, and a chamber located within or substantially, within the hull structure so that the chamber is also submerged in the body of water and including a water inlet at a lower end of the chamber and a treated water outlet at an upper end, the chamber containing one or more cells for performing an anti-bacterial treatment on water passing up through the chamber from the inlet to the outlet. The platform further includes a pump for pumping water through the chamber from the inlet to the outlet through the cell or cells. In one configuration, the platform may be a spar platform.

Abstract: A wellhead assembly and a method of installing a wellhead assembly. The method includes providing a well casing; providing a wellhead support structure; locating and fixing the well casing in a hole in the waterbed, wherein when the well casing is located and fixed in the hole the wellhead support structure is located a distance above the waterbed so as to leave a gap between the surface of the waterbed and the underside of the wellhead support structure; and fixing the wellhead support structure onto the surface of a waterbed with a settable material by putting the settable material into the gap when in a non-solid state to provide a rigid connection between the waterbed and the underside of the wellhead support structure. The assembly is arranged so that bending moments applied to the wellhead assembly can be at least partially transferred to the waterbed via the wellhead support structure.

Abstract: A method of plugging a well extending into a formation to facilitate temporary or permanent abandonment of the well. The method comprises conveying a plug placement and verification tool (PPVT) through the well, to a plug formation location, the PPVT comprising a stinger for delivering a plugging material into the well, an expandable packer disposed at one end of the stinger and a pressure sensor disposed below the expandable packer, and operating the expandable packer to form a seal in the well above the pressure sensor. The method further comprises delivering a plugging material from the stinger into a region of the well above the expandable packer, thereby forming a plug in the well, and thereafter creating a pressure change above the plug and verifying the integrity of the plug using the pressure sensor.

Abstract: An assembly for installing an object under water at a desired location, including a vessel arranged to carry the object; a submersible frame; and a connection between the object and the submersible frame. In use the vessel is spatially separated from the submersible frame along the direction of the water surface. The object, the connection and the submersible frame are arranged such that, when releasing the object from the vessel, the object becomes submerged and carries out a pendulum motion until the object is suspended from the submersible frame.

Abstract: There is provided a method of interconnecting a conduit and a plurality of subsea structures. The method comprises providing a first manifold header in-line of the conduit, where the first manifold header has at least one valve installed therein, A portion of the conduit is lowered to the sea bed such that the first manifold header is engaged with a first subsea structure, and a further portion of the conduit is lowered to the sea bed. A second manifold header, having at least one valve installed therein, is provided in-line of the conduit and engaged with a second subsea structure. The length of conduit provided on the sea bed between the first subsea structure and the second subsea structure is significantly greater than the distance between the first and second subsea structures.