Patents Assigned to Vetco Gray Inc.
  • ELLIPTICAL UNDERCUT SHOULDER FOR SPECIALTY PIPE CONNECTIONS
    Publication number: 20140054890
    Abstract: A tubular connector connects two tubulars of a string of tubular members. The tubular connector has a pin end tubular member having an axis and a pin end. A pin end flange is positioned on an outer diameter of the pin end and has an undercut adjacent the union of the pin end flange with the pin end. The tubular connector also has a box end tubular member having a box end. A box end shoulder is adjacent the union of the box end with the box end tubular member. The box end shoulder has an undercut thereon. The pin end is secured to the box end so that the pin end tubular member and the box end tubular member are joined, stresses applied to the pin end tubular member and the box end tubular member are distributed through the undercuts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Vinh K. Do, Joseph William Pallini, JR., Kevin Edward O'Dell
  • Efficient open water riser deployment
    Patent number: 8657012
    Abstract: A riser for use in subsea operations that is parked subsea deployed as needed onto wellheads disposed proximate where the riser is parked. A base anchored into the seafloor provides a pedestal for parking the riser. The riser emits a beacon signal so it can be located when needed. When parked, the riser can be kept in a vertical orientation by a buoyancy module mounted on an upper portion of the riser. A workboat, or other vessel, attaches to the parked riser and positions it onto a designated wellhead. An extension connects the riser to platform or other vessel above the sea surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Fenton, Ian Calder, Stewart Christie, Robert Lee
  • Method for forming elongated composite tubular
    Patent number: 8640318
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an elongate tubular from a composite material. The composite material includes fibers and epoxy resin that are disposed around an elongated mandrel. The fibers are wound around the outer circumference of the mandrel and the epoxy resin may be applied to the fibers, before, during, or after, being wound onto the mandrel. A trough is provided that supports the mandrel between ends of the mandrel. An example trough includes a flexible membrane supported on its lateral ends to resemble a catenary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Karl Parfrey
  • Expandable anchoring mechanism
    Patent number: 8640777
    Abstract: A bridging hanger with an expandable anchoring mechanism lands on a casing hanger in a subsea wellhead and actuates to anchor to the casing hanger. The anchoring mechanism includes a tubular main body, and a tubular sealing sleeve. The tubular sealing sleeve is coaxial with and mounted on an exterior diameter portion of the tubular main body. The body is moveable from an upper run-in position to a lower set position relative to the sealing sleeve. The anchoring mechanism also includes a first and second locking ring, both carried by the sealing sleeve. The first locking ring engages a profile within an interior of the casing hanger in response to movement of the main body from the run-in to the set position. The second locking ring locks the tubular main body in the set position in response to movement of the main body from the run-in to the set position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Francisco Kazuo Kobata, Lucas Antonio Perrucci, Deivis Alves Verdan
  • Wellhead assembly having seal assembly with axial restraint
    Patent number: 8636072
    Abstract: A wellhead system comprising a seal with a restraining member adapted to cooperate with a housing to restrict axial movement of the seal. The seal is adapted to form a seal between the housing, such as a wellhead, and a tubular member, such as a casing hanger. The seal has a latch ring that is expanded outward as the seal is installed within the wellhead. Axial movement of the seal is restricted by engagement between the expanded latch ring and the inner profile of the housing. The seal and housing may be adapted so that a portion of the seal is received by a recess in the inner profile of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Gette, Daniel W. Fish
  • Wellhead annulus seal assembly and method of using same
    Patent number: 8631878
    Abstract: A ring like seal assembly for a wellhead assembly that seals between a pair of coaxial tubulars. The seal assembly includes a spring member for exerting an axial force on the seal. The spring member projects from an end of the seal assembly substantially parallel to the axis of the seal assembly and is compressed when installing the seal assembly between the tubulars. Compressing the spring member maintains an axial force on the seal assembly to keep the seal assembly radially deformed so that it can maintain sealing contact with both coaxial tubulars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Khanh A. Duong
  • Pumping mud by electrohydrodynamic propulsion
    Patent number: 8632318
    Abstract: A section of riser casing urges drilling mud through the riser, either upward from the sea floor to reduce head pressure or downward toward the wellbore. The section of riser casing may use an electromagnet, two or more electrodes, or a combination of electromagnets and electrodes to urge drilling mud having electrohydrodynamic properties through the riser casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Jennings
  • Emergency subsea wellhead closure devices
    Patent number: 8622139
    Abstract: Wellhead-based systems, apparatus, and methods for controlling a well are provided. During a failure of an emergency system such as a blowout provider, a wellhead based emergency control apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention can be employed to control the well. A casing strings compression assembly can radially compress each of the casing strings and/or drilling pipe extending through the wellhead housing to restrict or stop well fluid passage. A casing strings penetrator of an emergency well fluid diversion assembly can also or alternatively be employed to form an aperture in the casing strings. A diverter, integral with or connected to the penetrator, is extended through an aperture in a side of the wellhead housing and one or more of the apertures cut by the penetrator to divert well fluid from within the wellhead housing through a passageway in the diverter and to an external conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan R. Herbel, Rick C. Hunter
  • Sealing wellhead members with bi-metallic annular seal
    Patent number: 8622142
    Abstract: A wellhead seal assembly that forms a metal-to-metal seal between inner and outer wellhead members. A bi-metallic U-shaped seal with legs having a low yield metal on the outer portions. During installation of the seal assembly, the legs of the seal are forced outward against the surfaces of the wellhead members, by pressurization of a interim non-metallic seal which forces a wedge into the U-shaped seal, causing localized yielding of the low yield metal to fill defects on wellhead member surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Shaw
  • Reinforced frac tubing head
    Patent number: 8622121
    Abstract: A reinforced wellhead member for use during fracing operations. The wellhead member is preloaded at a flange section by creating compressive stresses via a ring that interacts with a tightening nut on a bolt. The bolt is rigidly attached to an adapter which may also be modified to create stresses on the flange of the wellhead member. The induced stresses counter the tensile stresses experienced by the flange during fracing operations, allowing a standard wellhead member to be utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Mahesha Udipi, Alfredo Olvera, Jim Hwang, Jean Brunjes, Eugene A. Borak, Jr.
  • APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BACKSEATING A GATE VALVE
    Publication number: 20140000907
    Abstract: A valve assembly for use in regulating a fracturing fluid that includes an actuating stem for actuating a gate, a balancing stem, and a backseat on the stem that defines a backseat seal when urged against a profile in the valve assembly. The backseat seal is energized by applying a force to an end of the balancing stem. An end of the balancing stem is enclosed within a plenum, so that the force on an end of the balancing stem can be applied by pressurizing the plenum. The assembly can be on an opposite side of the valve body/bonnet to create a backseat seal on a balancing stem/bonnet to allow changing the stem packing on the balance stem side while maintaining pressure integrity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Alfred Olvera, Mahesha Udipi, Mark A. Viator, Jim Hwang
  • METAL TO METAL PACKOFF FOR USE IN A WELLHEAD ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20130341051
    Abstract: A wellhead assembly having an inner tubular insertable into an outer tubular. A packoff is provided on an outer surface of the inner tubular for sealing between the inner and outer tubulars. The packoff includes an energizing ring, a U-shaped seal member, and a nut for retaining the seal member against the energizing ring. The seal member includes legs that are spaced apart by interaction with the energizing ring. The outer tubular has a bore wall that is profiled so that when the inner tubular is inserted into the outer tubular, an outer leg of the seal member is spaced radially outward from the bore wall until the inner tubular is landed in the outer tubular. When the inner tubular member is landed, a portion of the bore wall adjacent the outer leg tapers radially inward into sealing contact with the outer leg of the seal member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Vetco Gray, Inc.
    Inventors: William Thompson Higgins, John E. Nelson, Chau Hoang
  • System and method for cathodic protection of a subsea well-assembly
    Patent number: 8607878
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a subsea well assembly; wherein in an example embodiment the subsea well assembly includes an umbilical attached to a power source. The power source can be on a platform. Also included is a connector for connecting the umbilical to a receptacle included with the subsea well assembly and a subsea control module delivering power and control signals to the subsea well assembly. An impressed current protection module is integrated in the subsea control module that receives power from the umbilical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Knox
  • Bridging hanger and seal running tool
    Patent number: 8590624
    Abstract: A running tool sets and pressure tests a bridging hanger and a packoff in a single trip. The running tool has a stem, an inner body, and a piston. The inner body is connected to the stem so that rotation of the stem relative to the inner body will cause the stem to move longitudinally. The piston is connected to the stem so that the stem and piston rotate and move longitudinally in unison. A piston engagement element is housed in the inner body and is adapted to engage the piston when the bridging hanger is set to prevent premature setting of the packoff. The piston engagement element can be disengaged once the bridging hanger is set, thereby allowing the piston to set the packoff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Guilherme Pedro Eppinghaus Neto, Fernando Sousa
  • POSITIVE RETENTION LOCK RING FOR TUBING HANGER
    Publication number: 20130299193
    Abstract: An apparatus and method can be used to positively retain a lockdown ring to axially secure a wellbore member in a wellhead housing. In embodiments, the wellbore member, such as a tubing hanger, can be secured by a lockdown ring having a cylindrical surface below a tapered surface. An energizing ring having a cylindrical surface above a tapered surface can be used to move the lockdown ring from an unset position to a set position, thus energizing the lockdown ring. After being energized, the two cylindrical surfaces can engage each other so that axial movement of the energizing ring, of up to a predetermined distance, does not cause the lockdown ring to move from a set position to an unset position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Khanh Anh Duong
  • Casing annulus management
    Patent number: 8579032
    Abstract: A wellbore tubular set concentrically between an inner an and outer annulus has a pressure relief valve that opens when pressure in the outer annulus exceeds pressure in the inner annulus by an amount that can damage the tubular. The relief valve closes and reseats when the pressure differential is reduced to below the damaging threshold. The relief valve can include a spring for reseating the valve. A pressure gauge can be included within the outer annulus for monitoring whether or not the relief valve is operating properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen P. Fenton
  • METHOD OF FORMING A MACHINABLE SURFACE
    Publication number: 20130292132
    Abstract: A riser assembly and method of forming where the riser assembly is made up of tubular members joined together. A metal spray process applies a layer of cladding onto ends of the tubular members and the ends are threaded to form respective box and pin configurations. Grooves are provided onto the surface of the tubular members beneath where the metal spray is applied for enhancing adhesion of the cladding and tubular members. The layer of cladding provides sufficient material so that threads may be selectively formed on the outer or the inner surface of the tubular members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Jude Szpunar
  • Systems, Spacer Devices and Methods For Aligning Multi-Well Modular Templates and Associated Wells
    Publication number: 20130284444
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for providing proper spacing and alignment of multi-well modular drilling templates and associated wells are provided. An example embodiment of a system includes a primary well upon which a multi-well modular drilling template is landed, and a second well upon which a specially configured spacer device is landed. The spacer device includes an alignment frame which engages guide arms of the template to force the spacer device into proper axial alignment. The spacer device includes an elongated arm and a guide funnel which provide the proper spacing and proper location for inserting a third well. The third well can be used as the central well for a second multi-well modular drilling template.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Sibu Varghese, Christopher Loftin, Edward Rositas, Arjin Nolan, Jesus Aldeguer
  • Advanced fluidics gate valve with active flow control for subsea applications
    Patent number: 8567759
    Abstract: A valve assembly for use in a wellhead assembly that includes a valve body, a cavity formed in the valve body, and a flow passage through the valve body that intersects the cavity. Also included is a gate slidable in the cavity between an open position and a closed position. A bore is formed through the gate. A fluidic passage is also formed through the gates that provides fluid communication between the bore and an upstream side of the valve member. The fluidic passage is formed so that when the gate is being moved into the closed position, fluid upstream of the gate enters the fluidic passage and exits into the bore to assist closing the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Emad Ahmad Obaid Gharaibah, Astrid Kristoffersen
  • Metal-to-metal annulus seal arrangement
    Patent number: 8561995
    Abstract: A metal-to-metal seal is used to seal between two tubular members. In one embodiment, a metal-to-metal seal forms a seal in an annulus housing between an inner and outer diameter of tubular members of an adjustable casing sub. The seal can have an inner and an outer sealing ring, or more than one pair of inner and outer sealing rings, that can be set in place by a running tool. An energizing ring can have a tapered or bulbous surface, and can create a pre-load force against the sealing rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth D. Thomson