Abstract: In a pipe joint where two pipe sections (14, 16) have threadably engaged end portions (17, 18), joint ends (32, 34) are substantially sealed to each other by a sealing surface (40, 50) on one pipe section that substantially abuts a sealing surface (42, 52) on the other pipe section. In one joint, a ring-shaped cutout (121, FIG. 7) is formed in a first pipe section and a ring-shaped spacer (120) is located in the cutout. The spacer is chosen from several that have slightly different lengths so the spacer end contacts the corresponding sealing surface (130). In a pipe string used to carry corrosive fluid, the inner surface (44) of adjacent pipe sections is covered with a corrosion resistant coating (70, 72). Where the sealing surface is connected to a rounded corner (82, 84), the coating extends to and along the sealing surfaces (40, 42). Where there are sharp corners (80) at the intersection of the inside surface (40) with the sealing surface (40B, 42B), the coating does not extend along the sealing surfaces.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mooring line connector assembly for connecting a mooring line to a floating structure, including: a tubular housing connectable to the floating structure, having a lower housing end and an upper housing end with an inner circumference; a connector body extending along a connector axis, having an upper connector body end and a lower connector body end connected to the mooring line; a guiding body rotatably arranged on the connector body to be freely rotatable around the connector body and the connector axis, including first rotation unit on an outer surface of the guiding body and a guiding part having an outer circumference at an upper guiding body end; and second rotation unit arranged on an inner surface of the tubular housing, arranged for engaging the first rotation unit.

Abstract: A swivel for transfer of fluid across a rotary interface around a swivel rotation axis between an incoming fluid line and an outgoing product piping includes a fixed annular element and a rotating annular element, each arranged around a common rotation axis and having a substantially equal diameter. One selected element from the fixed annular and rotating annular elements includes an annular disk provided with a toroidal cavity in a first of its circular end surfaces, and the other selected element is arranged with a flat circular end surface adjacent to and in close proximity above the first circular end surface to close the toroidal cavity and form a toroidal chamber with the annular disk. The rotary interface is perpendicular to the rotation axis, and is formed by the flat circular end surface of the other selected element and the adjacent first circular surface of the one selected element.

Abstract: A fluid swivel for fluid transfer across a rotary interface includes inner annular and outer annular elements, located with their adjacent surfaces in close proximity to define a chamber between the adjacent surfaces. The swivel inner annular element has a conduit connected to an end of an incoming fluid line. The outer annular element is connected to outgoing product piping and has a primary duct for transport of fluid from the chamber to the product piping. The swivel includes an outer reinforcing annular wall arranged adjacent to the outer peripheral wall of the outer annular element. The outer reinforcing annular wall has two peripheral centering surface portions for contacting and/or registering with the outer peripheral wall of the outer annular element. The outer reinforcing annular wall further has a central peripheral opening extending along a portion of the periphery for allowing the primary duct to pass through.

Abstract: Method including a plurality of EAP based sections, a power source/sink unit and a controller. Each EAP based section includes an electronic charge/discharge unit and variable capacitor having an elastically deformable body with an arrangement of stretchable synthetic material and electrodes functioning as the capacitor with a variable capacitance as the deformable body stretches and relaxes. Each EAP based section is connected to the power source/sink unit by the respective electronic charge/discharge unit under control of the controller which includes: a processing unit coupled to a sensing circuitry which is coupled to the variable capacitor of each EAP based section, and a driving circuitry coupled to the electronic charge/discharge unit.

Abstract: High-strength, fatigue-resistant pipe connectors suitable for use in offshore risers, tendons and pipelines, such as may be connected to floating production systems (FPSs) principally used in the production of oil and gas. The present connectors include tubular pin and box components with mating frusto-conical, concentrically-grooved mating surfaces which threadingly interlock, and non-threaded (e.g., flat) mating surfaces that seal and preload (e.g., preload at least a portion of each component in compression), via axial advancement of the pin component into the box component. In such connectors, axial movement of the pin into the mating box results the in radial expansion of the box and radial contraction of the pin until the concentric thread patterns match and interlockingly snap into the connected position.

Abstract: Methods that may be employed to help to equalize the length of the teeth on a pin-and-box SCR connector during make-up include locating the make-up groove on the box at the far box end away from the pipe end. This causes the make-up force to tension and stretch the box to make it longer. Additionally or alternatively placing grease or other fluid in the nib groove creates a resistance force to nib entry. The grease or fluid exits through a nib vent port in the box while creating a resistance that compresses the pin and stretches the box causing the tooth spacing of the pin and the box to be similar. Providing a ring groove at both ends of the box allows a tensioning device to be used to tension the box causing box elongation, which equalizes the tooth length of pin and box members during connector make up.

Abstract: A near shore liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal includes an LNG storage unit, a jetty and a converted hydrocarbon carrier-vessel moored against the jetty. The carrier-vessel includes a hull, at least one hydrocarbon storage tank and is provided with a natural gas processing system for liquefying natural gas. Onshore produced natural gas is supplied through a first pipeline to the natural gas processing plant on the carrier-vessel and the LNG produced by the natural gas processing system is transferred from the carrier-vessel to the LNG storage unit via a second pipeline suitable for the transfer of cryogenic fluids.

Abstract: Disclosed is a water intake system for a floating vessel in a body of water, which includes within the hull of the vessel an intake compartment for taking in water from the body of water and a distribution compartment for distributing and supplying the water to one or more consumer units within the floating vessel. The intake compartment is arranged below a lowest operational draught of the vessel and has an inlet in a bottom region of the intake compartment. The intake compartment is coupled by a conduit to the distribution compartment for allowing water to flow into the distribution compartment. The water intake system further includes a water lift hose that is connected to the inlet and is extendible below the hull of the vessel.

Abstract: A floating hydrocarbon processing/storage structure with a first and second assembly, each including a hull having side walls, one or more storage tanks and a deck structure, a connection structure interconnecting the hulls, processing equipment situated on the deck structures, at least one riser connected to a subsea hydrocarbon well and to the processing equipment and/or storage tanks, with a mooring system connecting the processing/storage structure to the sea bed, each hull including a hull deck structure bridging the side walls, the connection structure including a central deck extending at or near the height of the hull deck structures along at least 70% of the length of the hulls, the central deck supporting at least one of: risers vertically extending from the central deck between the hulls to the sea bed, fluid ducts horizontally supported on the central deck, and at least one drilling/work-over rig or crane.

Abstract: A electric swivel, LVES, in a swivel stack, includes an annular outer element defining a cylindrical chamber around an axis S and an cylindrical inner element coaxial with the outer element. The cylindrical chamber is sealed at an upper side with an annular cover and is configured for rotation relative to the inner and outer element around the axis S. The inner element includes at an inner radial side first and second bearing parts defining an inner bearing. The outer element includes at an outer radial side first and second bearing parts defining an outer bearing. The inner bearing includes an inner annular interface between the first and second bearing parts, the outer bearing includes an outer annular interface between the first and second bearing parts. Each of the annular interfaces is coaxial with the inner and outer element, and each annular interface is configured as a flame conducting path.

Abstract: A swivel stack for transfer of fluid across a rotary interface around a main rotation axis between an incoming flow-line and an outgoing flow-line, includes an inner cylindrical body and a first cylindrical annular element. The cylindrical annular element is mounted on the inner cylindrical body so the rotational axes of the annular element and cylindrical body coincide. The inner cylindrical body has an internal conduit running from a cylindrical base parallel to the rotation axis. The conduit has an outlet port communicating with a circumferential cavity on the cylindrical surface of the inner cylindrical body. The first cylindrical annular element includes a toroidal cavity on its internal cylindrical surface. The first cylindrical annular element is mounted on the inner cylindrical body at the level of the outlet port so the toroidal cavity and the circumferential cavity form an annular chamber communicating with the outlet port of the internal conduit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a vessel hull (1) for use as a hull of an FPSO or FSO, comprising producing a vessel hull with a stern portion (2), a bow portion (3) and a central portion (4), arranging a deck (6) on the hull, for supporting processing modules, arranging hydrocarbon storage tanks inside the hull, providing the hull with an anchoring connection arrangement (7), characterized by arranging process module reinforcements (8) in the deck for supporting the hydrocarbon process modules, providing both longitudinal hull sides with mooring line connection reinforcements (9) at or near the bow portion, arranging riser connection reinforcements (10, 14) on one or more longitudinal hull sides, in between the mooring line connection reinforcements in longitudinal direction, for a riser balcony (28, 29), and providing the bow portion with turret reinforcements (11, 12).

Abstract: Method for forming a sealing element from extruded thermoplastic rods includes the steps of machining one or more extruded thermoplastic rods, each having a first and a second end, in a desired shape; bending the one or more machined thermoplastic rods into a circular structure at ambient temperature while keeping the stress in the one or more thermoplastic rods below the yield point; joining the first and second end faces of the thermoplastic rods to form the sealing element. A method for replacing and repairing a sealing element of a swivel is also described.

Abstract: A removable riser hang-off connector is equipped with a flexible element that, in one embodiment, comprises rubber-encapsulated steel plates. The connector is designed for attachment to a hang-off collar provided on a steel catenary riser below the tapered stress joint or flex joint. Connection of the removable riser hang-off connector may be made by an ROV. With the removable riser hang-off connector attached, the tapered stress joint and/or flex joint may be raised out of the water (for inspection, maintenance, repair or replacement) by lifting the upper end of the SCR out of its porch receptacle with a chain jack (or other lifting device) and inserting the removable riser hang-off connector into the porch receptacle. This temporarily supports the SCR in an elevated state with the tapered stress joint and/or flex joint above the surface of the water.

Abstract: A Taut-Inverted-Catenary (TIC) mooring system may be implemented using only field-proven components. The mooring lines yield a positive uplift force on the anchors in all conditions. In the inverted-catenary configuration, geometric stiffness is provided by a subsurface spring buoy or distributed buoyancy elements on the line. The TIC system consists as much as possible of light-weight components, such as polyester fiber rope. Since the uplift force on the anchor is always positive, clearance between polyester rope and the seabed is provided. All geometric stiffness is provided by the spring buoy. Therefore, a ground chain between the seafloor anchor and the fiber rope is not necessary.

Abstract: A high voltage connector includes an electric terminal and a housing elongated in a first direction along a longitudinal axis of the connector. An end surface of the electric terminal is mounted on an proximal end surface of the elongated housing with the respective body axis directions of the housing and the connector in parallel, and is arranged with an outer electric connection area for connection to an external electric terminal. The elongated housing is arranged at a distal end to receive at least one power cable for internal electrical connection of the at least one power cable with an inner connecting area of the electric terminal. The high voltage connector includes an encapsulating casing that encloses the electric terminal and the elongated housing in the first direction, and the encapsulating casing provides a closed space between the casing and the housing.

Abstract: A removable riser hang-off connector is equipped with a flexible element that, in one embodiment, comprises rubber-encapsulated steel plates. The connector is designed for attachment to a hang-off collar provided on a steel catenary riser below the tapered stress joint or flex joint. Connection of the removable riser hang-off connector may be made by an ROV. With the removable riser hang-off connector attached, the tapered stress joint and/or flex joint may be raised out of the water (for inspection, maintenance, repair or replacement) by lifting the upper end of the SCR out of its porch receptacle with a chain jack (or other lifting device) and inserting the removable riser hang-off connector into the porch receptacle. This temporarily supports the SCR in an elevated state with the tapered stress joint and/or flex joint above the surface of the water.

Abstract: A floating, offshore drilling and/or production platform is equipped with a rail-mounted transport system that can be positioned at a plurality of selected positions over the well bay of the vessel. The transport system can move a drilling riser with a drilling riser tensioner system and a blowout preventer from one drilling location to another without removing them from the well bay of the vessel. Using the transport system, the drilling riser is lifted just clear of a first well head and positioned over an adjacent, second well head using guidelines. The transport system may then move the upper end of the drilling riser (together with its attached tensioner and BOP) to a second drilling location. A dummy wellhead may be provided on the seafloor in order to secure the lower end of the drilling riser without removing it from the sea while production risers are being installed.

Abstract: A mooring assembly includes: a mooring buoy having a central axis, an upper ring portion providing an upper abutment surface; a mooring structure including a cavity with a wall receiving the mooring buoy; and a buoy locking system near the cavity engaging with the upper ring portion for locking the mooring buoy to the turret mooring structure and including at least two locking devices attached to the mooring structure, each locking device having a locking dog connected to a force member for axial displacement and exerting an upward force on the upper abutment surface. The mooring buoy includes a lower abutment surface. The locking system includes an engagement member below the locking dog, engaging with the lower abutment surface and exerting a downward force. The buoy at positions axially above the upper abutment surface situated at an axial clearance from the cavity wall.