Patents Assigned to MÆRSK DRILLING A/S
  • Patent number: 11482753
    Abstract: A fire-resistant energy storage device includes a fire-resistant chassis, one or more energy storage elements housed in the fire-resistant chassis, and a heat exchanger configured to (a) cool the one or more energy storage elements and (b) protect the one or more energy storage elements from a fire external to the fire-resistant energy storage device. An energy storage assembly includes (a) a plurality of physically separate fire-resistant energy storage devices, each of the plurality of physically separate fire-resistant energy storage devices being configured to protect one or more energy storage elements of the fire-resistant energy storage device from a fire external to the fire-resistant energy storage device, and (b) at least one power converter configured to electrically interface the plurality of physically separate fire-resistant energy storage devices with an electric power buss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: MAERSK DRILLING A/S
    Inventor: John Røn Pedersen
  • Publication number: 20220289345
    Abstract: An offshore drilling vessel includes a hull and at least one opening in the hull arranged to receive an end of at least one submersible cable. The offshore drilling vessel also comprises a cable capture mechanism configured to lift the end of the at least one submersible cable through the at least one opening from a submersed position to a raised position. A cable connector is configured to couple to the end of the at least one submersible cable when the end of the at least one submersible cable is in the raised position such that the offshore drilling vessel comprises an external data and/or power connection via the submersible cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: MAERSK DRILLING A/S
    Inventors: Mikkel Søndergaard PEDERSEN, John Røn PEDERSEN
  • Patent number: 11421503
    Abstract: A control system for controlling disconnection of riser system that extends between a vessel and a subsea location that comprises a wellbore, the riser system configured to receive a string in use, the control system being configured to disconnect the riser system according to a sequence of operations, the sequence of operations comprising disconnecting the riser system prior to or simultaneous with cutting the string and sealing the well bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: MAERSK DRILLING A/S
    Inventor: Allan McColl
  • Patent number: 11402638
    Abstract: An augmented reality apparatus for use in a hazardous area comprises a display unit for providing information within a user's field of view. The augmented reality apparatus also comprises a controller configured to control the display. The controller is configured modify the mode of operation of the display unit in dependence of location information indicating that the augmented reality apparatus is in the hazardous area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: MAERSK DRILLING A/S
    Inventors: Jakob Valentin Jensen, Andreas Tycho, Kristian Andreasen
  • Patent number: 11390365
    Abstract: A thruster electric power system includes one or more energy storage units configured to power an electric thruster of a mobile offshore drilling unit in response to one or more combustion generators of the mobile offshore drilling unit being unavailable to provide electric power to the electric thruster. A mobile offshore drilling unit capable of dynamic positioning includes one or more thruster enclosures, each thruster enclosure including: (a) one or more thruster converters configured to power respective electric thrusters, and (b) one or more energy storage units configured to power the respective electric thrusters of the one or more thruster converters in response to one or more combustion generators of the mobile offshore drilling unit being unavailable to provide electric power to the electric thrusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: MAERSK DRILLING A/S
    Inventor: John Røn Pedersen
  • Patent number: 11377913
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of an offshore drilling rig comprising: a drill floor (107) defining a well center (123); a hoisting system configured to advance a tubular string (128) downwards through the well center (123) and to the seafloor (124) and to apply a lifting force to a tubular string (128) extending through the well center (123) and to the seafloor (124), the lifting force being large enough to support at least a major part of an apparent weight of the tubular string (128); and an anti-recoil system (218) configured to cause, in case of a sudden reduction of a load suspended from the drilling rig, the hoisting system to raise the tubular string (128) while preventing damage to the hoisting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: MAERSK DRILLING A/S
    Inventor: William James McBeath
  • Patent number: 11364979
    Abstract: A drilling or work-over vessel (10) is disclosed comprising a number of operational equipment (300), wherein the drilling or work-over vessel comprises at least one operational control and/or state unit (100) comprising at least one processing unit (102), wherein the at least one operational control and/or state unit (100) comprises or are in connection with a memory and/or storage (103), and at least one sensor unit (200), wherein the at least one sensor unit (200) is adapted to obtain one or more measured physical values and to provide data representing the one or more measured physical values and/or derived values thereof to the at least one operational control and/or state unit (100), the memory and/or storage (103) comprises a data representation of a computational physics model of at least a part of the drilling or work-over rig, and the at least one processing unit (102) is adapted to derive data representing an estimation of one or more physical states (such as defined by limits of forces, relative mo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: MAERSK DRILLING A/S
    Inventors: John Røn Pedersen, Jesper Holck
  • Patent number: 11339615
    Abstract: A hoisting system for a drilling rig, which has a crown block for attaching to a derrick, the crown block comprising a plurality of sheaves; a travelling block suspended from the crown block via a hoisting cable, the travelling block comprising a plurality of sheaves and being connectable with a payload, the travelling block being arranged to move along a workpath; the hoisting system further comprising: a floating block comprising a plurality of sheaves reeved on the hoisting cable; wherein the floating block is configured to move between: a first arrangement in which the floating block is fixed relative to the crown block; and a second arrangement in which the floating block is fixed relative to the travelling block; wherein the hoisting system is arranged such that, when the floating block is in one of the first or second arrangement, the sheaves of the floating block overlap a sheave of the crown block or travelling block in a direction of the workpath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: MAERSK DRILLING A/S
    Inventor: Jesper Holck
  • Patent number: 11299939
    Abstract: A support system (12; 12?) for providing horizontal support to a riser (32) extending downward from a cantilever (18) along a well centre and into a body of water comprising a riser interface (48; 48?) and a tether arrangement (50; 50?). The support system (12; 12?) is configured to permit asymmetric placement of the riser interface (48; 48?) relative to the cantilever (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: MAERSK DRILLING A/S
    Inventor: Nikolaj Golovinskij
  • Patent number: 11293236
    Abstract: A robotic apparatus for performing drill floor operations comprises a support arrangement and at least one manipulator arm. The at least one manipulator arm is configured to carry an end effector configured to manipulate one or more of tubing, tools and/or equipment on a drill floor or pipe deck of an oil and gas rig in order to perform a given drill floor operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: MAERSK DRILLING A/S
    Inventor: Jesper Holck
  • Patent number: 11264876
    Abstract: A flywheel system includes a rotor configured to rotate about a rotation axis. The flywheel system further includes a fixture and an active magnetic bearing module for actively stabilizing the rotor relative to the fixture. The active magnetic bearing module includes a plurality of first magnetizable elements mechanically coupled to or integrated in the rotor, and a plurality of electromagnets mechanically coupled to the fixture and configured to magnetically couple with the plurality of first magnetizable elements to actively stabilize the rotor relative to the fixture. Each of the first magnetizable elements is farther than each of the electromagnets from the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: MAERSK DRILLING A/S
    Inventors: John Røn Pedersen, Martin Speiermann, Jamshid Zamany
  • Patent number: 11075520
    Abstract: A method for operating a microgrid electric power generation system includes delivering energy to an electric power bus at least partially from one or more kinetic generators electrically coupled to the electric power bus, controlling the one or more kinetic generators in response to a change in a load such that a magnitude of a voltage on the electric power bus remains within a predetermined voltage range, and controlling one or more combustion generators electrically coupled to the electric power bus based at least in part on an operating state of the one or more kinetic generators. The one or more kinetic generators are capable of (a) delivering energy stored therein to the electric power bus, and (b) storing energy in kinetic form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: MAERSK DRILLING A/S
    Inventors: John Røn Pedersen, Martin Speiermann
  • Publication number: 20210072549
    Abstract: An augmented reality apparatus for use in a hazardous area comprises a display unit for providing information within a user's field of view. The augmented reality apparatus also comprises a controller configured to control the display. The controller is configured modify the mode of operation of the display unit in dependence of location information indicating that the augmented reality apparatus is in the hazardous area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: MAERSK DRILLING A/S
    Inventors: Jakob Valentin JENSEN, Andreas TYCHO, Kristian ANDREASEN
  • Patent number: 10941636
    Abstract: A drilling or work-over vessel (10) is disclosed comprising a number of operational equipment (300), wherein the drilling or work-over vessel comprises at least one operational control and/or state unit (100) comprising at least one processing unit (102), wherein the at least one operational control and/or state unit (100) comprises or are in connection with a memory and/or storage (103), and at least one sensor unit (200), wherein the at least one sensor unit (200) is adapted to obtain one or more measured physical values and to provide data representing the one or more measured physical values and/or derived values thereof to the at least one operational control and/or state unit (100), the memory and/or storage (103) comprises a data representation of a computational physics model of at least a part of the drilling or work-over rig, and the at least one processing unit (102) is adapted to derive data representing an estimation of one or more physical states (such as defined by limits of forces, relative mo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: MAERSK DRILLING A/S.
    Inventors: John Røn Pedersen, Jesper Holck
  • Patent number: 10787877
    Abstract: the present invention relates to a blowout preventer system comprising, a lower blowout preventer (BOP) stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package (LMRP) comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system, wherein the blowout preventer system further comprises at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system. In this way, an improved blowout preventer system is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: MAERSK DRILLING A/S
    Inventors: John Pedersen, Michal Bury, Kenneth Cameron Murphy
  • Patent number: 10738543
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of an offshore drilling rig comprising: a drill floor (107) defining a well center (123); a hoisting system configured to advance a tubular string (128) downwards through the well center (123) and to the seafloor (124) and to apply a lifting force to a tubular string (128) extending through the well center (123) and to the seafloor (124), the lifting force being large enough to support at least a major part of an apparent weight of the tubular string (128); and an anti-recoil system (218) configured to cause, in case of a sudden reduction of a load suspended from the drilling rig, the hoisting system to raise the tubular string (128) while preventing damage to the hoisting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: MAERSK DRILLING A/S
    Inventor: William James McBeath
  • Patent number: 10559957
    Abstract: A method for operating a microgrid electric power generation system includes delivering energy to an electric power bus at least partially from one or more kinetic generators electrically coupled to the electric power bus, controlling the one or more kinetic generators in response to a change in a load such that a magnitude of a voltage on the electric power bus remains within a predetermined voltage range, and controlling one or more combustion generators electrically coupled to the electric power bus based at least in part on an operating state of the one or more kinetic generators. The one or more kinetic generators are capable of (a) delivering energy stored therein to the electric power bus, and (b) storing energy in kinetic form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: MAERSK DRILLING A/S.
    Inventors: John Røn Pedersen, Martin Speiermann
  • Patent number: 10483765
    Abstract: A power generation and distribution system for a drilling rig includes (1) an AC bus and a DC bus, (2) an AC generator electrically connected to the AC bus, (3) an AC bus load electrically connected to the AC bus, (4) a first power transformer configured to convert a plurality of voltage phases of the AC bus into a plurality of corresponding secondary side voltage phases, (5) a first unidirectional AC-DC power converter connected between the secondary side voltage phases of the first power transformer and the DC bus, (6) one or more DC bus loads connected to the DC bus, and (7) a second AC-DC power converter connected between the DC bus and at least one of an auxiliary transformer winding of the first power transformer and a second power transformer for supplying power from the DC bus to the AC bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: MAERSK DRILLING A/S
    Inventor: John Røn Pedersen
  • Patent number: 10415315
    Abstract: A process for drilling a well into the seafloor at an offshore drilling location, in particular in arctic regions, the process comprising: drilling a top hole part of the well during a winter season where the water at the drilling location is at least partly covered by ice; and initiating drilling a lower part of the well extending into a hydrocarbon-bearing formation during a subsequent off-winter season where the water is less ice infested than during the winter season.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: MAERSK DRILLING A/S.
    Inventor: Jens Jørgen Madsen
  • Publication number: 20190169936
    Abstract: An offshore well-processing system includes a mobile offshore drilling unit and a remote well-processing device configured to be positioned on an offshore platform different from the mobile offshore drilling unit, the mobile offshore drilling unit defining at least one well centre and comprising at least one primary drill rig including at least one drill floor and at least one hoisting system for raising and lowering tubular equipment through the at least one well centre from/into a well in the seafloor. The mobile offshore drilling unit and the remote well-processing device are configured to be operationally coupled to each other; and the mobile offshore drilling unit is configured to assist in performing concurrent well-processing tasks on respective wells, including the first well processing task performed by the remote well-processing device on a first well and a second well-processing task concurrently performed by the offshore well-processing system on a second well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: MAERSK DRILLING A/S
    Inventor: Michael KANNEGAARD