Abstract: A multiple-row epicyclic gear includes a carrier with planet gears arranged in rows, as well as a composite central ring gear, having major crowns, with friction spacer rings disposed there between, are also mounted in the housing. The elements of the central ring gear are axially spring loaded. The end faces of the frictional spacer rings and counter-oriented end faces of the major crowns have tapered surfaces being in frictional contact. The friction spacer rings are spliced and arranged to bring their outer cylindrical surfaces into frictional contact with the inner cylindrical surface of the housing. The planet gears are disposed on the carrier in rows in corresponding apertures (or through openings) formed in the carrier. The optimal cone apex angle (?) of the contacting tapered end faces of the major crowns and tapered end faces of the friction spacer rings is in the range 60-90°.

Abstract: A drill pipe protector assembly comprising at least one protector sleeve (23) adapted to be mounted to the drill pipe string (7) through a fluid bearing (25) so as to be co-axially rotatable with respect to the drill pipe string (7). A retainer arrangement (21, 35) axially fixes the protector sleeve (23) with respect to the drill pipe string (7). The fluid bearing (25) is constructed according to the principles of a hydrostatic fluid bearing. At least one fluid channel (53) connects the fluid bearing (25) to a fluid path of pressurized drilling fluid flowing within an inner space (51) of the drill pipe string (7).

Abstract: System for mooring a large vessel for production of hydrocarbons, such vessel for example being a FPSO vessel, the mooring system including at least two floating bodies of the hang-off type, moored by means of differentiated compliance spread anchoring system to the sea bed, allowing partly weathervaning of the large vessel; a riser system extending from the sea bed to each the floating bodies, and means for transfer of fluids from the two floating bodies to the large vessel, the floating bodies and the large vessel being provided with locking means, locking floating bodies to the large vessel at the bow and the stern of the vessel in a mechanically rigid manner, thus providing a integrated, rigidly fixed unit comprising the large vessel and the floating bodies.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for separation or purification of gaseous streams by removal of acid gases using a liquid amine solution. The process involves the steps of—contacting the gaseous stream with liquid lean amine solution in at least one continuous flow stirred-tank reactor (10; 10a, 10b; 10c); —removing a sweetened gaseous flow from said continuous flow stirred-tank reactor (10); —removing rich amine from said continuous flow stirred-tank reactor (10; 10a, 10b; 10c) for regeneration; —passing rich amine solution through at least one flash tank stripper 20; 20a, 20b; 20c; —removing acid gases and vapour from said flash tank stripper 20; 20a, 20b; 20c; —removing lean amine from said flash tank stripper for recirculation to said continuous flow stirred-tank reactor (10; 10a, 10b; 10c).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for regeneration of kinetic hydrate inhibitor when it is used without a thermodynamic inhibitor. In that the use of a distillation column or tower is not needed, the present invention enables a more compact system, which also improves the possibility for heat integration of the regeneration process leading to very low energy consumption. Additional improvements over the prior art include reduced cost of buying new chemicals, reduced environmental impact because the chemicals are not discharged with the produced water and the possibility for the use of higher concentrations of kinetic hydrate inhibitor with still reduced cost and environmental impact.

Abstract: A gas-liquid separator includes a housing which encloses a separation chamber, an inlet port for feeding the multi-phase flow into the separation chamber, a liquid outlet port for discharging the liquid dominated flow from the separation chamber and a gas outlet port provided at a position above both the inlet port and the liquid outlet port for discharging the gas dominated flow from the separation chamber. Both the inlet port and the liquid outlet port are positioned adjacent to an elongated lower bottom wall of the housing and define a flow direction into the and out of the separation chamber approximately aligned along the bottom wall. The separation chamber extends above the bottom wall in between the inlet port and the liquid outlet port. The liquid outlet port is provided with a gas seal to prevent entrainment of free gas from the separation chamber into the liquid outlet port.

Abstract: A bearing system for a rotor in rotating machines, such as compressors, pumps, turbines, expanders, has points of bearing and sealing for the rotor each being in the form of a combined bearing and sealing formed by a stator situated within a rotating machine house and surrounding the rotor. The stator is formed with a bore, whereby an annular clearance is created between stator and rotor, and the bore is having sectional area gradually increasing in the direction of larger pressure within the rotating machine.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of a subterranean formation which contains sand particles, said method comprising contacting said formation with a positively charged polymer capable of increasing the residual matrix strength of said sand particles whereby to reduce or prevent their migration while minimizing any decrease in the permeability of said formation. Polymer materials suitable for use in the method of the invention include polyaminoacids, poly (diallyl ammonium salts) and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method for flow control and a self-adjusting valve or flow control device, in particular useful in a production pipe for producing oil and/or gas from a well in an oil and/or gas reservoir, which production pipe includes a lower drainage pipe preferably being divided into at least two sections each including one or more inflow control devices which communicates the geological production formation with the flow space of the drainage pipe. The fluid flows through an inlet and further through a flow path of the control device passing by a movable disc or movable device which is designed to move relative to the opening of the inlet and thereby reduce or increase the flow-through area by exploiting the Bernoulli effect and stagnation pressure created over the disc, whereby the control device, depending on the composition of the fluid and its properties, automatically adjusts the flow of the fluid based on a pre-estimated flow design.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a subsea well and comprising an upper riser part, a lower riser part, and a weak link coupling the upper and lower riser parts together; and a mechanism coupled between the upper and lower riser parts for damping recoil of the upper riser part following a breaking of the weak link, damping resulting from a plastic deformation of a component or components of the mechanism occurring as the upper and lower riser parts separate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-phase distribution system, a sub sea heat exchanger provided with such a multi-phase distribution system, the use of such a multi-phase distribution system and a method of temperature control for hydrocarbons. The invention provides an improved control over multi-phase mixtures comprising hydrocarbons and improvements in the controlling of heat exchanging processes.

Abstract: A riser weak link in a riser connects a floating installation or vessel to a hydrocarbon well on the seabed. The weak link includes a first riser part in the form of an upper housing for connecting to a riser upper section; a second riser part in the form of a lower housing for connecting to a riser lower section, wherein one riser part is arranged to extend into the other riser part; and connection devices for releasably connecting the upper and lower housings. The weak link includes a first connection device arranged to fail if a tensile force on the first and second riser parts exceeds a first threshold force, and that the weak link includes a second connection device arranged to fail if a compressive force on the first and second riser parts exceeds a second threshold force.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of generating steam for the recovery of hydrocarbon from a hydro-carbon producing system comprising: (i) generating supercritical steam from water; (ii) converting said supercritical steam to a subcritical steam; and (iii) injecting said subcritical steam into said system.

Abstract: A method is provided for measurement of the thickness of any deposit of material on the inner wall of a pipeline at least partly filled with a medium including hydrocarbons, the medium being for instance oil or natural gas, wherein the method includes: projecting infrared light onto the inner wall of the pipeline along a line corresponding to the intersection between the inner wall of the pipeline and a cross-sectional plane of the pipeline; registering an image of the infrared light projected on the inner wall of the pipeline; and determining the thickness of any deposit of material on the inner wall of the pipeline based on the registered image.

Abstract: The invention concerns a subsea heat exchanger for cooling or heating a hydrocarbon-containing fluid, said heat exchanger comprising: a convection section enclosed by a shell or enclosure comprising: one or more heat exchanging fluid inlet(s) and outlet(s); one or more hydrocarbon-containing fluid inlet(s) and outlet(s); and one or more fluid carrying convection tube(s) adapted for heat transfer between the hydrocarbon-containing fluid on the inside of the tube(s) and a surrounding heat exchanging fluid on the opposite side of the tube(s), wherein the heat exchanger is provided with one or more flow regulating device(s) for controlling the hydrocarbon-containing fluid outlet temperature, wherein the heat exchanging fluid circulates in a closed circuit for heat transfer both with said hydrocarbon-containing fluid and with surrounding sea water on the outside of the enclosure. The invention also concerns a method for subsea cooling or heating of a hydrocarbon containing fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of improving flow stability for a multiphase fluid flowing through a tubular element (1), comprising arranging a flow control device (2) along a flow path (F) through the tubular element (1), the flow control device (2) comprising a housing (4), an inlet (10) arranged on an upstream side of the control device (2), an outlet (23, 13) arranged on a downstream side of the control device (2), and a movable body (9) provided within the housing (4) along an internal flow path (11) through the control device (2) from the inlet (10) to the outlet (23, 13), the body (9) being arranged such that changes in velocity and/or properties and/or composition of the fluid flowing along the internal flow path (11) result in changes to the forces acting on the body (9) as a result of the Bernoulli principle, thereby adjusting the flow of fluid through the control device (2).

Abstract: A method for flow control and a self-adjusting valve or flow control device, in particular useful in a production pipe for producing oil and/or gas from a well in an oil and/or gas reservoir, which production pipe includes a lower drainage pipe preferably being divided into at least two sections each including one or more inflow control devices which communicates the geological production formation with the flow space of the drainage pipe. The fluid flows through an inlet (10?) and further through a flow path of the control device (2) passing by a non-disc shaped movable body (9?) which is designed to move relative to the opening of the inlet and thereby reduce or increase the flow-through area (A2) by exploiting the Bernoulli effect and stagnation pressure created over the body (9?), whereby the control device, depending on the composition of the fluid and its properties, automatically adjusts the flow of the fluid based on a pre-estimated flow design.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the removal of polyvalent cations, in particular divalent cations, from mono ethylene glycol. Mono Ethylene Glycol (MEG) is used to prevent hydrate formation in pipelines transporting gas, condensate and water. It may also contribute to pipeline corrosion control.

Abstract: A wellbore machining device is proposed for machining a tubular component of a wellbore. The device includes a control unit at the surface level of the wellbore and a down-hole tool unit connected to the control unit through a wire line. The tool unit includes an elongated guide member, a tool member movably supported on the guide member with respect to at least three axes of motion and a plurality of actuators controlled by the control unit and adapted to move the tool member with respect to the axes of motion. The tool unit further includes two anchor members each mounted to an axial end of the guide member and adapted to releasably clamp the tool unit to the tubular component. The control unit and the tool unit form a computer numerical control device (CNC device) wherein the actuators are electric servo motors controlling an actual position of the tool member with respect to a path and/or a sequence of desired position defined by the control unit.

Abstract: A method of controlling fluid flow into a heavy oil production pipe includes reducing inflow into the production pipe locally from hot spots using inflow control devices including a movable body provided within a housing, the movable body being arranged to adjust the flow of fluid through the inflow control devices autonomously by exploiting the Bernoulli principle; increasing inflow into the production pipe remote from the hot spots using the inflow control devices to increase inflow locally; and increasing draw down in the production pipe by using an injector to inject a gaseous medium at or downstream of the inflow control devices.