Abstract: A hose clamp for supporting a vertically extending control line or hose from a position above water to subsea equipment below the water from a vertically extending vertical support such as a wire cable. The clamp includes a circular body with semi-circular halves pivotally connected at one side and having coacting locking means at their second sides for encircling the control line. The interior of the body includes a plurality of projections, preferably a plurality of vertically spaced circular rows of arcuate projections. The hose includes matching and coacting recesses on the exterior of the hose for mating with the projections on the body when the clamp is locked on the hose. Preferably, the recesses are formed by placing a heated clamp mold around the control line having heated projections similar to the projections on the body which will form the recesses by melting the exterior of the lines.

Abstract: A pressure reducing and regulating valve having a container with a plurality of openings for moving between first and second flow plates having a plurality of inlet ports and a plurality of outlet ports for providing multiple flow paths through the valve for providing maximum flow with a short regulating stroke. The valve may be actuated by a combination of a manual screw adjustment and/or a powered operated overdrive which utilize drive gear to provide a failsafe operation as the power overdrive maintains the regulated pressure even if the pilot source fails. Valve means and stop means control the extent of travel of the adjustment screw. An integral pilot operated bypass valve may be utilized for remotely controlling the actuation of the valve.

Abstract: An underwater connector for interconnecting a plurality of fluid power and control lines for controlling and actuating underwater equipment. The connector includes one or more members adapted to be positioned underwater some each of which includes a vertically positioned flat surface with a plurality of fluid passageways terminating at the flat surfaces of the members. Another member is adapted to engage and disengage from underwater members and also includes one or more vertically positioned flat surface for mating with the flat surfaces of the underwater members and includes a plurality of passageways terminating at the other member flat surface for sealingly mating with the passageways of the underwater members. Coacting cam means are provided between the underwater members and the retrievable member for horizontally moving the underwater members into a sealing relationship with the retrievable member as they move vertically together.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of compensating for the closing force on a blowout preventer caused by well pressure for reducing the wear on the blowout preventer sealing element when moving a drill string through a closed blowout preventer. A hydraulic opening force is applied to the blowout preventer which is actuated by and is proportional to the well pressure. A compensating line is connected between the blowout preventer fluid supply line and the blowout preventer opening line. A control valve is provided in the compensating lines for applying an opening force on the blowout preventer and a pilot control pressure regulator is provided in the compensating line for limiting the compensating pressure. The pilot control line is connected between the regulator and the well pressure in the blowout preventer whereby the output pressure is proportional to the well pressure for compensating for the closing force on the blowout preventer caused by the well pressure.

Abstract: An underwater fluid connector for interconnecting a plurality of fluid lines. A first male member or plurality of members are adapted to be positioned underwater including at least one upright position flat side with a plurality of fluid passageways terminating at said side. An inverted U-shaped retrievable female member having first and second flat interior faces and adapted to engage and disengage from the first member wherein the faces are positioned for alignment with but spaced from the first member flat side when engaged for providing a venting space therebetween and having a plurality of passageways terminating at the interior faces for axial alignment with the first member passageways. A metal valve seat is releasably connected to the first member flat sides about each of the first member passageways. A valve is positioned in each of the second member passageways having a movable element, a hydraulic supply port, and a pilot actuator connected to the valve element.

Abstract: A control and recorder system for a blowout preventer for providing a record of operation and status of the various components of the blowout control system at periodic times and after a function operation. The system monitors various functions such as whether the accumulator pump is running, the open and close status of the various rams, bypass, annular, flow line, kill line and choke line as well as various pressures, such as in the annular, the accumulator and the manifold, flow measurements of various fluids in the system and provides alarms for various parameter values. Control and status information may be transmitted through fiber optic cables between various control stations at the rig floor, accumulators and remote locations for avoiding interference by electrical noises or radio frequencies and providing a safety link through hazardous gas areas.

Abstract: An underwater connector for interconnecting a plurality of fluid power and control lines for controlling and actuating underwater equipment. The connector includes one or more members adapted to be positioned underwater some each of which includes a vertically positioned flat surface with a plurality of fluid passageways terminating at the flat surfaces of the members. Another member is adapted to engage and disengage from underwater members and also includes one or more vertically positioned flat surface for mating with the flat surfaces of the underwater members and includes a plurality of passageways terminating at the other member flat surface for sealingly mating with the passageways of the underwater members. Coacting cam means are provided between the underwater members and the retrievable member for horizontally moving the underwater members into a sealing relationship with the retrievable member as they move vertically together.

Abstract: A guided-float accumulator suitable for use with a hydraulic system for an oil well blowout preventer is provided with a wing shut-off valve. Radially inwardly directed outlet parts are aimed at the bottom of the valve wing to generate unbalanced reaction forces which oppose the bernoulli effect forces caused by rapid movement of fluid through the chamber of the shut-off valve, thus preventing premature closing of the valve.

Abstract: A guided-float accumulator suitable for use with a hydraulic system for an oil well blowout preventer is provided with a vented float movable along a transversely centered, normally vertical guide rod according to the level of the liquid fill within the vessel. The vent outlet for the float and a ballast weight for the float are positioned on opposite sides of the guide rod and the float is mounted for free turning around the guide rod. Whatever the degree of liquid fill of the vessel, sidewise tilting of the vessel will be accompained by rotation of the vent outlet to the then-high side of the guide rod to maintain the float directly vented to the ullage space of the vessel.

Abstract: A guided-float accumulator suitable for use with a hydraulic system for an oil well blowout preventer utilizes an array of float elements of syntactic foam material. The float elements are sequentially inserted into the pressure vessel which forms the accumulator proper, and are then manipulated from the exterior of the vessel to be interlocked into a float array.