Patents Assigned to Santa Fe International Corporation
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Patent number: 4150635Abstract: The derrick barge comprises a pair of laterally spaced elongated hulls having a plurality of upstanding columns spaced therealong supporting a working platform and a heavy duty derrick or crane in spaced relation above the hulls. The hulls buoyantly support the vessel including its deck load in the floating condition with the hulls having freeboard. The hulls have ballast compartments to submerge the hulls and portions of the stabilizing columns to a distance of approximately one-half the effective height of the stabilizing columns to maintain the vessel in a semisubmerged floating condition with the platform and derrick elevated above the waterline. However, the vessel also may be ballasted or deballasted to submerge or emerge to a greater or lesser extent from the semisubmerged condition such that the distance between the mean water surface and either the underside of the deck or top side of the hull is not less than 0.75 of the mean wave height.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 1976Date of Patent: April 24, 1979Assignee: Santa Fe International CorporationInventors: Samuel H. Lloyd, III, Yoram Goren
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Patent number: 4106335Abstract: The tow line system permits a determination of the direction and magnitude of tow line forces on the underwater tow. The response of the underwater tow to the tow line forces is also monitored. The system is adaptable to any system capable of measuring forces and angles remotely and transmitting these values to the surface by means of electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic signals. The underwater tow can be any object which responds to the force of gravity and which is directed by one or more tow lines. The system consists of symmetrically placed horizontal and vertical load cells, two each in number, at the base of an isosceles triangle formed by a chain or cable tow bridge, the vertex of which is connected by means of another cable or chain or combination thereof to the tow vessel which also houses the display console.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1976Date of Patent: August 15, 1978Assignee: Santa Fe International CorporationInventor: Harry H. Shatto
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Patent number: 4091760Abstract: The vessel comprises a pair of laterally spaced elongated hulls having a plurality of upstanding columns spaced therealong supporting a working platform in spaced relation above the hulls a distance slightly greater than the maximum anticipated wave height. The hulls buoyantly support the vessel in a low draft floating condition with the hulls having free-board. The hulls have ballast compartments to submerge the hulls and portions of the stabilizing columns to a distance of approximately half the effective height of the stabilizing columns which is slightly greater than maximum anticipated wave height, to maintain the vessel in a high draft floating condition with the platform elevated above the waterline. The columns stabilize the vessel in the high draft condition about roll and pitch axes. The working platform mounts either a drilling rig or a heavy duty crane or like operational equipment along the centerline of the vessel.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1976Date of Patent: May 30, 1978Assignee: Santa Fe International CorporationInventor: Samuel Harry Lloyd, III
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Patent number: 4064968Abstract: The invention involves working on a pipeline which is subject to movements relative to a base such as ground, the deck of a floating barge, and the like. A rollable scaffold is frictionally coupled to the pipeline so that workers carried by the scaffold can move relative to the base and, therefore, become stationary relative to the pipeline. The scaffold carries a lift means for raising and lowering a pipe support positionable under the pipeline. The scaffold therefore allows the workers to work on the pipeline without being disturbed by the relative movements between the pipeline and the base.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1976Date of Patent: December 27, 1977Assignee: Santa Fe International CorporationInventor: William B. Cook, Jr.
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Patent number: 3987640Abstract: The pipelaying barge comprises a pair of laterally spaced, elongated hulls having a plurality of upstanding columns spaced therealong supporting a working platform in spaced relation above the hulls and on which platform is carried a pipe section assembly line and one or more cranes movable longitudinally along the platform and capable of servicing the pipe section assembly line. The hulls have ballast compartments to submerge the hulls and portions of the stabilizing columns to a high draft condition with the mean waterline at a necessary and desirable locus intermediate the height of the stabilizing columns. A transition segment is connected to the stern of the barge for support of the "air length" segment of the pipeline between the stern of the barge and the point of entry of the pipeline into the water and preferably also supporting a short segment of pipeline in the water as the pipeline is payed out from the barge.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 1975Date of Patent: October 26, 1976Assignee: Santa Fe International CorporationInventors: Yoram Goren, Charles N. Springett
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Patent number: 3982402Abstract: This invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for use in laying a submarine pipeline from a pipe-laying vessel. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reel pipe-laying method for continuously laying a pipeline of up to 24-inch diameter without a stinger by (1) aligning a pipe portion as it is being paid out from the reel, (2) straightening the aligned pipe portion, (3) tensioning the pipe, (4) discharging the straightened pipe under tension into the body of water, and (5) changing for different water depths and pipe conditions the lift off angle of the pipe relative to the horizontal by pivoting a diverter about a horizontal pivot, the diverter supporting at least the straightener and the tensioner and extending from the horizontal pivot mounted near the aft end of the vessel, upwardly toward the reel.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 1975Date of Patent: September 28, 1976Assignee: Santa Fe International CorporationInventors: Alexander Craig Lang, Peter Alan Lunde
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Patent number: 3967572Abstract: Disclosed is a chain stopper including a pair of side-by-side support plates pivotally connected to hanger plates which support the chain stopper from the vessel's structure. The support plates releasably engage about the anchor chain to support the anchor from the vessel's structure. To haul in the anchor line, the line is winched in such that the connection between the anchor cable and anchor chain lies above the chain stopper which is suspended from support structure on the vessel. The chain stopper is engaged about the anchor chain and the winch is relieved to transfer the weight of the anchor chain and anchor to the chain stopper. The anchor cable is then disconnected from the anchor chain. A secondary chain hanging from a wildcat is connected to the anchor chain and hauled in whereby the weight of the anchor chain and anchor is transferred from the chain stopper to the secondary chain and wildcat.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 1974Date of Patent: July 6, 1976Assignee: Santa Fe International CorporationInventor: Freeman Roderick Lea
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Patent number: 3940112Abstract: Disclosed is an open center crown block pivotally mounting a pair of sheaves on each of the opposite sides of the well centerline. On one side of the crown block, there is pivotally mounted a crossover sheave for transferring the drilling line from one side of the well centerline to the opposite side thereof. Opposite the crossover sheave is a fastline sheave for aligning the drilling line from the draw works vertically above the travelling block. On another side of the frame, there is provided a deadline sheave for transferring the drilling line from the crown block to an anchor point on the mast or substructure. The crossover, fastline and deadline sheaves are spaced from the well centerline leaving the central portion of the crown block clear for receiving motion compensators or other drilling equipment thereby rendering unnecessary any increase in height of the mast in order to receive the compensator or other tools.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 1973Date of Patent: February 24, 1976Assignee: Santa Fe International CorporationInventor: Freeman Roderick Lea
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Patent number: RE28922Abstract: The stinger includes a base structure having a plurality of upstanding stabilizing columns on opposite sides of its pitch and roll axes and carrying pipeline supports which permit translational movement of the pipeline relative to the stinger. The stinger is pivotably secured behind the pipelaying barge and is ballasted from a low draft condition with the base structure having freeboard to a high draft condition. The pipeline supports progressively decrease in height above the base structure from the end of the segment nearest the barge whereat the pipeline is supported in the air toward the opposite end whereat the aft pipeline support disposes the pipeline below the mean waterline. The pipeline centerline extending along the supports defines a radius of curvature at least equal to and preferably much greater than the minimum allowable radius of curvature for the pipeline.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 1974Date of Patent: August 3, 1976Assignee: Santa Fe International CorporationInventor: Samuel H. Lloyd, III
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Patent number: RE29167Abstract: The vessel comprises a pair of laterally spaced elongated hulls having a plurality of upstanding columns spaced therealong supporting a working platform in spaced relation above the hulls a distance slightly greater than the maximum anticipated wave height. The hulls buoyantly support the vessel in a low draft floating condition with the hulls having freeboard. The hulls have ballast compartments to submerge the hulls and portions of the stabilizing columns to a distance of approximately half the effective height of the stabilizing columns which is slightly greater than maximum anticipated wave height, to maintain the vessel in a high draft floating condition with the platform elevated above the waterline. The columns stabilize the vessel in the high draft condition about roll and pitch axes. The working platform mounts either a drilling rig or a heavy duty crane or like operational equipment along the centerline of the vessel..[.This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1975Date of Patent: April 5, 1977Assignee: Santa Fe International CorporationInventor: Samuel Harry Lloyd, III
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Patent number: RE29478Abstract: The vessel comprises a pair of laterally spaced elongated hulls having a plurality of upstanding columns spaced along outboard portions of the hulls. In the preferred form, a central column supports a working platform in spaced relation above the hulls. The hulls buoyantly support the vessel in a low draft condition with the hulls having freeboard. The hulls and outboard columns have ballast compartments for ballasting and deballasting the vessel to respectively submerge the hulls, outboard columns, and a portion of the central column to provide a high draft condition with the mean waterline located intermediate the height of the central column and between the platform and the upper ends of the outboard columns, and return the vessel to a low draft condition. The outboard columns provide stability to the vessel during the initial portion of its transition from the low draft condition to the high draft condition and in the final portion of its transition from the high to the low draft condition.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 1975Date of Patent: November 22, 1977Assignee: Santa Fe International CorporationInventors: Yoram Goren, Samuel H. Lloyd, III
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Patent number: RE29591Abstract: The stinger segment includes a base structure having a plurality of upstanding stabilizing columns on opposite sides of its pitch and roll axes and carrying pipeline supports which permit translational movement of the pipeline relative to the stinger segment. The stinger segment is pivotably secured behind the pipelaying barge and is ballasted from a low draft condition with the base structure having freeboard to a high draft condition with the mean waterline located at about one half the effective height of the stabilizing columns when in the pipeline supporting position. The pipeline supports progressively decrease in height above the base structure from the end of the segment nearest the barge toward the opposite end such that a line extending along the supports defines a radius of curvature at least equal to and preferably much greater than the minimum allowable radius of curvature for the pipeline.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 1976Date of Patent: March 28, 1978Assignee: Santa Fe International CorporationInventor: Samuel H. Lloyd