Patents Assigned to Kvaerner Oilfield Products AS
  • Patent number: 7819950
    Abstract: A subsea compression system and method wherein a wellstream fluid is flowed through a flow line (12) from a reservoir (10) and into a separation vessel (16) for subsequent compression in a compressor (18; 18?, 18?) prior to export of gas. A recycle line (24; 24?, 24?) is fluidly connected at a first end to the compressed wellstream at the outlet side of the compressor (18; 18?, 18?) and at a second end to the wellstream at a location between the separation vessel (16) and the inlet side of the compressor (18; 18?, 18?), the recycle line being capable of controllably (32) feeding fluid due to surge back to the compressor inlet side and avoiding the need to feed the fluid into the separation vessel, because the re-circulated gas is dry both due to having been separated at seawater temperature, and then being heated during recirculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products A.S.
    Inventors: Kjell Olav Stinessen, Håkon Skofteland
  • Publication number: 20060157251
    Abstract: A subsea gas compressor module having a housing comprising a sealing element generally defining within the pressure housing a first compartment holding as compressor and a second compartment holding an electric motor, the compressor and motor being driveably connected by at least one shaft. The first compartment is connected to an inlet line and an outlet line for sealing hydro carbon gas and for discharging gas. The second compartment has magnetic bearings for supporting the at least one shaft, and a pressure and volume regulator is fluidly connected to the second compartment and a gas supply, and includes elements for sensing respective pressures in the inlet and outlet lines whereby, based on the magnitude of sensed pressure, the pressure and volume regulator controls the pressure at which gas is injected into the second compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Applicant: KVAERNER OILFIELD PRODUCTS A.S.
    Inventors: Kjell Stinessen, Hakon Skofteland
  • Patent number: 6997645
    Abstract: A subsea tool (10) designed to pull pipeline ends (PE1, PE2) towards each other is disclosed. The tool (10) comprises a first and a second main body (1, 2) that are able to be displaced to and from each other and have limited freedom of motion relative to each other. The first main body (1) comprises a frame construction (5) having means (11b) for guiding onto and fixed attachment to one of the pipeline ends (PE1). The second main body (2) comprises a frame structure (6) having means (18) for guiding onto and retaining the other pipeline end (PE2). A number of guiding means (15, 16) are provided on the first main body (1) for co-operation with complementary guiding elements (20, 21) provided on the second main body (2). A pulling device (3) is arranged between the first and second main body (1, 2) and is designed for pulling the main bodies (1, 2) including the respective pipeline ends (PE1, PE2) towards each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products As
    Inventors: Knut von Trepka, Sverre Caspersen
  • Patent number: 6988340
    Abstract: An end termination for a tension leg of non-metallic materials like composite material is disclosed. The tension leg is constructed of a number of strands which constitute the load carrying elements of the tension leg. The strands are twisted (laid) about the longitudinal axis of the tension leg by a predetermined laying length and in turn each strand is constructed of a plurality of rods of composite material having embedded strength fibres. The rods are in turn twisted about each other like in a wire rope. The strands terminate into a receiving body that forms fixing points for the respective strands. The end termination comprises an embracing element that is spaced apart from the receiving body and keeps the strands together. Intermediate the embracing element and the receiving body the strands extend less radial restriction and in a substantially natural direction towards and into apertures in the receiving body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products AS
    Inventors: Bjørn Paulshus, Morten Rengman Mørck
  • Patent number: 6957929
    Abstract: The flying lead deployment apparatus with one reel assembly is made of a frame assembly; a reel assembly with flying lead disposed in the frame assembly adapted to rotate to distribute the flying lead; a first ROV-flying lead interface connected to the frame assembly and one end of the flying lead; a second ROV-flying lead interface connected to the reel assembly and the other end of the flying end; a drive assembly connected to the reel assembly with a counting gear adapted to count the number of times the reel assembly rotates, an adjustable rack gear, and a locking mechanism connected to the adjustable rack gear and the reel assembly adapted to stop the reel assembly when the counting gear reaches a predetermined number; and a friction brake connected to the frame assembly and reel assembly adapted to apply friction to maintain constant tension on the flying lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Willie Dee Rachel, Michael Shane Fields, Richard D. Haun
  • Patent number: 6940054
    Abstract: A production/injection line including a production/injection tube and heating apparatus for heating of the production/injection tube. The line also includes insulation and heat conductive material to control the heat transfer from the heating apparatus towards the production/injection tube. A method is also described for supplying heat to a production/injection line in which cooling fluid from a process on an installation is supplied to transport channels extending along a production/injection tube. Methods are also described for manufacturing a production/injection line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products AS
    Inventor: Ole A. Heggdal
  • Patent number: 6868907
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for separating oil and water by means of a two-phase liquid/liquid separator. The oil phase and the water phase respectively are separated over a portion of the length of the separator from an upstream end to a downstream end. The oil phase and the water phase respectively are extracted gradually over a length of the separator, and each of the phases is conducted out of the separator separately. A method and an arrangement for orienting the separator in a well are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products AS
    Inventors: Gunder Homstvedt, Geir Inge Olsen, Bjørnar Danielsen
  • Patent number: 6810954
    Abstract: A christmas tree to control the production from a subsea oil or gas well is disclosed. The christmas tree design including a tree body having a first flow port and a tree cap; a tubing hanger landed within the tree body; an actuation mandrel landed within the tree body, the actuation mandrel having a flow port; and a flow diverter disposed within the tree cap to divert flow through the flow port. The christmas tree arrangement allows for dual barriers within the tree cap without placing or retrieving any plugs from within the tubing hanger, thereby reducing the number of downhole trips required to complete and/or service the subsea well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Garrett, Scott K. Beall, Rogelio Ortiz
  • Patent number: 6736012
    Abstract: The invention is a safety device for a trapped volume space for use as overpressure protection made of a housing forming a chamber within a trapped volume space having a incompressible fluid, a compressible material disposed in the chamber, and a pressure relief component in communication with the compressible material and the incompressible fluid, wherein the pressure relief component is adapted to break at a predetermined point thereby increasing the trapped volume space by compressing the compressible material and resulting in a reduced pressure in the trapped volume space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignees: Aker Kvaerner Oilfield Products, Inc., Statoil ASA
    Inventors: Scott Kennedy Beall, Lorents Reinas
  • Patent number: 6681852
    Abstract: A tubing hanger to facilitate production tubing annulus access including a tubing hanger body having a central bore, a shuttle valve slidably mounted to the tubing hanger body, and at least one annulus access bore through the tubing hanger permitting fluid communication between the central bore and an annulus defined between a production tubing string and a wellbore or casing via the tubing hanger body and the shuttle valve. The shuttle valve may be slidingly movable between an open and a closed position. The tubing hanger may further include a groove enclosed by a filler, the groove providing communication between a plurality of small annulus access bores and a large annulus access bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Baskett, Bhailal Parmar
  • Patent number: 6679330
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in a subsea well including a bore, wherein the apparatus has a tubing hanger body having an annulus therethrough, a ball valve in the annulus adapted for opening and closing the annulus, comprising a ball valve body within a valve chamber in the tubing hanger body which forms a continuation of the tubing hanger passageway at one end and is closed at its opposite end; a tubular valve housing for the ball valve; the ball valve body having a ball valve closure member substantially in the form of a spherical ball defining two annular valve seats concentric with the annulus for the ball valve; the spherical ball being longitudinally movable and rotatable extending transversely in alternating positions between spherical upstream and downstream valve seat preventing flow through the passage; and a remote source for hydraulically moving the spherical ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Dewey Craig Compton, Edwin R. Knerr
  • Patent number: 6644411
    Abstract: A tubing hanger including a tubing hanger body having a tubing string which is adapted to be supported in the bore of the wellhead housing wherein the apparatus comprises a flapper valve disposed in or below the tubing hanger, wherein the valve further comprises a flapper valve having a flapper valve closure member substantially in the form of a concave spherical segment defining an annular valve seat concentric with the tubing for the flapper valve; a flapper plate disposed in the valve chamber for rotatable movement from a valve position in which the flapper plate is removed from the annular valve seat to a valve position in which the flapper plate extends transversely across the flow passage for the flapper valve and forms a sealing engagement with the annular valve seat and the sealing surface is substantially in the form of a convex spherical segment, wherein the convex spherical segment is disposed intermediate between the first and second planar surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Dewey Craig Compton, Edwin R. Knerr
  • Patent number: 6644401
    Abstract: The invention relates to a slip type casing hanger assembly, having a hanger body with an annulus, a casing head disposed around casing for supporting and transferring weight of the casing string to the casing head. The slip type casing hanger assembly further includes (a) an adjustable isolation plate for sealing the annulus, further including a lower plate landing on a load shoulder, an upper plate adjoining the annulus, and a spacer separating the lower plate from the upper plates; (b) a plurality of fasteners for securing the spacer to the upper plate and the lower plate; (c) at least two slip segments, each comprising a plurality of teeth for engaging and suspend the casing string, with each slip segment having a top step and bottom step for engaging the hanger body; (d) at least one alignment ring for aligning the slip segments, and (e) locking apparatus for securing the isolation plate against the load shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Miller
  • Patent number: 6627081
    Abstract: A separator assembly for use “downhole” in an oil well, comprising an elongate body member including longitudinally extending oil and water passages, the elongate body member defining a longitudinally extending mounting face to which at least one hydrocyclone is secured, the hydrocyclone having its axis extending generally longitudinally of the elongate body, a first connecting union at the overflow end of the hydrocyclone whereby the overflow outlet of the hydrocyclone communicates with the oil passage of the body member, a second connecting union at the underflow end of the hydrocyclone whereby the underflow outlet of the hydrocyclone communicates with the water passage of the elongate body member, and, connecting means at opposite axial ends respectively of the elongate body member for establishing communication with the oil and water passages respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignees: Kvaerner Process Systems A.S., Kvaerner Oilfield Products A.S.
    Inventors: Michael Hilditch, Martin Dennis Grewer, Geir Olsen
  • Patent number: 6612369
    Abstract: The invention is a subsea umbilical termination assembly (UTA) for use with a launch system mounted on a vessel, wherein the UTA involves a lift point, a guide surrounding a connector attached to the lift point, a housing with a mandrel for engaging the connector and at least one interface, numerous flying leads connected to the housing, a base for the housing, and an emergency quick disconnect connected to the mandrel, wherein the disconnect has a hydraulic connector that engages hydraulic pistons that can then disengage numerous locking dogs enabling the hydraulic connector to disengage from the UTA, and wherein the interface in the housing connects to an electrical umbilical, a fiber optic cable, or hydraulic umbilical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products
    Inventors: Ralph P. Rocha, Travis M. Bordman, Michael J. Galyen, Paul J. Drouet, John A. Sweeney, Mark B. Means
  • Patent number: 6612370
    Abstract: A composite riser for transporting fluids between a location on a seabed and an installation near or at the surface of the sea comprises an outer sheath of tubular form extending longitudinally in a lengthwise direction of the riser, a plurality of spacing members arranged within the outer sheath so as to define a plurality of longitudinally extending channels in the outer sheath from one end to an opposite end of the riser, and a plurality of fluid-carrying tubes disposed in the channels such that the tubes are freely movable in the lengthwise direction of the riser relative to the outer sheath, the tubes being constructed of fiber-reinforced plastic material. One or more tension members are disposed in the channel(s) and are freely movable relative to the outer sheath in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products AS
    Inventors: Ove F. Jahnsen, Per-Ola Baalerud
  • Patent number: 6568875
    Abstract: A connector in particular intended for use with a tension leg platform is disclosed. The connector comprises a male part (1) and a female part (2), which male part (1) is designed to engage in the female part (2) and the parts are able to engage with one another without any of the parts having to rotate in respect of the other. The female part (2) comprises an abutment ring having an internal continuous downward facing abutment shoulder (4) and the male part (1) has a discontinuous segmented ring (5). Each individual ring segment (8) is limitary independantly movable, both axially and radially, which segmented ring (5) lies slidably against a mandrel abutment (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products AS
    Inventors: Bjørn Paulshus, Willy Bjerke, Morten Rengman Mørck
  • Patent number: 6557644
    Abstract: The invention is an adjustable tubing hanger for suspending a tubular string from a wellhead. The adjustable tubing hanger has an upper body having a seal, a lower body attached to the upper body and the tubular string, a carrier assembly located between the upper body and the lower body providing at least one metal seal for an annulus, and a drive lock assembly attached to the lower body with a tension lock and numerous segments. Each segment has an outer diameter with a grooved profile forming a load bearing interlock for the drive lock assembly. The tension on the tubular string is adjustable depending on adjustments made to the interlock position of the grooved profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Miller, Ralph Anthony Alvarez
  • Patent number: 6474416
    Abstract: A remotely installed pressure containing closure having a slight negative buoyancy, and a method for assembly of a slight negative buoyancy remotely installed pressure containing closure, such as a tree cap, on a subsea assembly, having at least one fluid bore, and more preferably a production bore and an annulus bore, wherein the remotely installed pressure containing closure comprises: a guidance ring having a plurality of chambers; optionally, a plurality of orientation pins affixed to the guidance ring for aligning the guidance ring to a funnel; buoyant material disposed in the chambers of the guidance ring to assist in creating a slight negative buoyancy for the remotely installed pressure containing closure; a cylinder connected to the remotely installed pressure containing closure for engaging sealing means on a subsea assembly for sealing at least one seal of at least one fluid bore of said subsea assembly; a debris cover connected to said cylinder to house equipment and cover the fluid bore; a mandre
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products
    Inventors: Scott Kennedy Beall, Roy Ortiz
  • Patent number: 6409430
    Abstract: A drilling and production template for sub-sea wells comprises a plurality of individual limbs (1-4) each with a central hub (10-14) at one end of an arm (11-41) and a drilling receptable (12-42) on the other end of the arm. The hubs are of different diameters such that they fit within each other in a telescopic manner. They have cut-out (27, 37, 47) accommodate the arms of the other limbs when installed. The template may be deployed onto a pre-installed foundation with the arms stacked vertically above the other, in such manner as to pass through the moonpool of a drilling vessel. The complete assemblies are installed on a mechanical running tool attached to a drilling string. After the template is disposed on the foundation, the drilling string is rotated, causing the running tool to rotate the limbs (1-4) so that the hubs telescope into each other, providing a splayed multi-well drilling and production template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products Limited
    Inventor: Paul M Shepherd