Abstract: A conical thread configuration for providing a strong simple and rapid make-up connection of pin and box members particularly for connecting sections of pipes, casings and conductor pipes, anchoring pipes, wellheads and risers, particularly for offshore oil production. Each connecting member has a plurality (n) of thread lead entries on a frusto-conical surface, (n) being at least equal to two and at most equal to AD.times.p.times.1/6.25 in which AD is the average diameter of the frusto-conical surface bearing threads (in inches) and p is the number of threads per inch. The radial dimension of the engaged thread overlap after make-up is smaller than the variation VR of the radius of the frusto-conical surface on one thread pitch and larger than 1/2n of variation VR. Less than one turn is necessary for make-up or disconnection.

Abstract: A running tool (20) comprising a stem (22) with a plug (40), a running nut (30), a wedge (32), a cam ring (34), and a bottom nut (36) together releasably connect and support a casing hanger (12), wear bushing (14) and packoff assembly (16) thereon. The bottom nut (36) supports the cam ring (34) and is wedged into engagement with the casing hanger (12) by downward axial movement of the running nut (30). A packoff assembly (16) is threaded on the casing hanger (12) and arranged so that rotation of the plug (40) and stem (22) rotates the wear bushing (14) and the packoff assembly (16) to set the packoff.The casing hanger (12), wear bushing (14) and packoff assembly (16) are lowered on the running tool (20) into final position within the wellhead. The running tool (20) is released by rotation of the stem (22) which raises the running nut (30), disengages the wedge (32) and allowing the cam ring (34) to disengage the casing hanger (12).

Abstract: A tool (10) for taking an impression of an area of the internal bore of a tubular member (16) or a joint between two such members comprising means for directing a casting compound between two flexible membranes (20, 22) which are then forced outwardly so that the outer membrane (22) engages the area to be inspected within a bore where the compound forms a resilient mold (cast). When the force against the membranes and mold is removed, the membranes and mold collapse allowing the mold and tool (10) to be retrieved out the bore.The tool (10) carries casting compound in two parts unmixed to the area to be inspected where a selected amount of working fluid (60) under preselected pressure from a fluid source (18) of a selected volume will open a valve (42) then force the two parts to be mixed and directed between two flexible membranes (20, 22).

Abstract: A tieback tool (10) and method for connecting tieback conductors (12) to a well system (14) where misalignment occurs between the tool and the well system including a body (40) having an externally threaded dog ring (44) which engages the throats of J-slots (34) in the well system and which initially serves to align the tieback tool to the well system. Rotation of the tieback tool after initial alignment actuates the threaded dog ring (44) in the tieback tool to lock and seal the tieback tool into the well system.

Abstract: A tieback tool 10 and method for connecting conductors 12 to the well system 14 including a body member 36 having dogs 46 for engagement with J-slots 30 in the well system. Entry of some of the dogs 46 in the J-slots 30 during initial stabbing directs and aligns the remaining dogs into the respective J-slots 30. The body 36 is provided with an externally threaded ring rotatable by a running tool 80 after full engagement of the J-slots 30 by the dogs 46 to lock the dogs 46 in the J-slots 30 to clamp the tieback tool in alignment with the well system 14 and to compress a seal ring 60 between the tieback tool 10 and the well system 14.

Abstract: A system for connecting an exploratory well into a producing well by retrieving a permanent guide base (P) and replacing the same with a completion guide base (C) containing the necessary equipment for producing from the well. To do this, the permanent guide base comprises two parts; a gimbal part (32) and a platform part (34)--the platform part (34) can be detached from the low pressure wellhead housing (W) and retrieved leaving the wellhead housing (W) and the permanent guide base gimbal part (32) subsea. The wellhead housing (W), provided with a latching profile (154), though not used during exploratory drilling, is now used to latch the completion guide base (C) thereto for production from the well. The two parts of the retrievable permanent guide base are latched together by a latching mechanism (74) which is easily releasable to unlatch one part from the other, and both guide bases (P & C) are provided with wire line guide posts (82) which are easily detachable for replacement if necessary.

Abstract: Disclosed is a casing hanger 10 and running apparatus 16 wherein the casing hanger 10 is mechanically supported by a running thread ring 70 onto a running tool 20 for lowering into a wellhead 12, and wherein the packoff assembly 14 is held above the casing hanger 10 for circulating and cementing operations for improved flowby capabilities and wherein the packoff assembly 14 is mechanically lowered and energized to seal the annular seal area 32 comprising threading the packoff apparatus from the running apparatus 16 onto the casing hanger by rotation of the running tool 20, which concurrently also releases the casing hanger 10 from the running tool 20 by unthreading the primary thread ring 70 therefrom.

Abstract: A bottom anchor connector for securing the tension legs of a tension leg platform (10) having a flexible joint (26) between a first body member (22) and a second body member (24) including a latch carrier (44) having latch segments (46) thereon which react with an anchor receptacle recess (18) to provide the connection between the connector (10) and the anchor receptacle (R) when the bottom connector (10) is lowered into the anchor receptacle (R). The latch carrier forms part of a self-actuating installation and release mechanism and includes, in one embodiment, keys (46) which cooperate with the receptacle recess (18) to position the dogheads (50) of the latch segments (46) to be free of the receptacle recess (18) so that the dogheads may move within the inner wall of the receptacle without reacting to the recess (18) to release the bottom connector from the receptacle.

Abstract: A tieback tool (10) for connecting tieback conductors (12) to a well system (14) where there is misalignment between the tool and the well system including a body (40) rigidly connected to the tieback conductor (12), a stab connector (12) swivel mounted on said body and free to align with the well system during initial contact between the tieback tool and the well system, and an internal straightening stab (60) which is extended by rotation into the well system to finally align the tieback tool with the well system. In one embodiment, the tieback conductor (12) is not rotated to make up the final connection of the tool and the well system, the straightening stab (60) is extended into the well system by a rotatable torquing tool (66), and the stab connector (16) locks on to the well system by a lock ring (32).

Abstract: A tieback connector 10 for connecting tieback conductors 14 between a platform and a casing hanger 22 in a subsea well system 20 comprising a split ring 44 on a connector body member 12 having external threads 32 capable of mating with internal threads 24 on the casing hanger 22 and capable of ratcheting over said internal threads 24 as the connector is stabbed into the casing hanger 22. Rotation of the connector 10 will actuate a locking means 54-66 (and 54A-66A) by the combined action of the threads and relative axial movement of said split ring and body member 12 to thread and lock said connector in said casing hanger. An anti-rotation key 50 permits axial relative movement of the split ring 44 and body 12 but prevents relative rotational movement therebetween.

Abstract: Disclosed is a manifold control system 80 for a completion tree 10 comprising a manifold plate 92 having a plurality of single port or multi-port two position spring biased piston type valve cartridges 82 mounted thereon, which individually route hydraulic control signals to the various valve and connector operators 14,18 and 30. The two position spring biased piston type valve cartridge thus performs the function of a tree cap and eliminating the need for the latter, and thus eliminating running/retrieval operations required for tree closure and control hook up during installation workover and retrieval. These valve cartridges are detachably connected to the plate and may be replaced, whole or in part, subsea; their number and type selectable according to the needs of the tree; in a workover mode cooperate with a running tool and in a production mode automatically close the cartridges and control lines to seawater, debris and the like.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for the control of a weight suspended from a vessel employing a pneumatic suspension system subject to heave action so as to maintain the pressure in the pneumatic system substantially constant during the heave of the vessel as the result of the wave action.

Abstract: A threaded connector for a pipe string, such as a production riser used in connection with sub-aqueous wells, in which the threaded connection between the pin member and box member of the connector is made up initially through an application of relatively low torque to the members, after which the connector has a straight line pretension force of a high tensile value applied to it through use of a suitable tool, the high pretension force being retained between the mating threads of the pin and box members by a preload reaction member threaded on the pin member and rotated into solid engagement with the box member while the pretension force is being applied, to lock the preload in the connector between the threads.

Abstract: A solenoid actuated pilot valve for handling high pressure fluids wherein a single inlet and outlet shear seals are used on the gate which is mounted for movement on roller bearings to reduce frictional loads in moving the pilot valve gate in an unbalanced condition.

Abstract: A connector apparatus particularly useful in pile driving in water to enable a pile string to be released or disconnected in the vicinity of the mudline after the pile has been driven to its final depth, the connector including an upper box secured to one portion of a pin apparatus attached by a releasable mechanism to another lower portion of the pin apparatus, release of the mechanism by a suitable tool operated from a remote location enabling the drive pile string above the lower portion of the pin to be withdrawn through the water to the surface.

Abstract: A universal flexible joint for fluid conduits includes an upper body connectible to an upper conduit and a separate lower body connectible to a lower conduit. A housing surrounds both bodies, there being an upper spherical laminated bearing structure, embodying elastomer elements, between the upper body and upper portion of the housing, and a lower spherical laminated bearing structure, embodying elastomer elements, between the lower body and lower portion of the housing, allowing tensile force to be transmitted from the upper body through the upper bearing structure to the housing and through the lower bearing structure to the lower body, while permitting universal movement between the upper body and lower body relative to the housing.

Abstract: A tubing hanger for suspending multiple strings of tubing in a subsea wellhead or casing hanger upon being lowered from the drill vessel into a properly oriented seating position in the casing hanger. The tubing hanger is releasably secured to the casing hanger by hydraulic manipulation of the running tool after the tubing hanger has been oriented in the casing hanger. Thereafter, by further hydraulic manipulation, the running tool is released from the hydraulic set tubing hanger for retrieval to the drill ship. The running tool may later be returned and connected to the tubing hanger and, by further manipulation of the running tool, the hanger is disconnected from the casing hanger and elevated to the drill ship.

Abstract: Pipe connectors particularly useful in securing sections of an underwater marine riser together, including a pin received in a box which are secured to one another by a plurality of lock dogs mounted in the box and movable radially inwardly against a portion of the pin by fluid actuated pistons to force the pin and box firmly together, the dogs being retained in position by fluid operated lock pistons. The lock pistons are operated by fluid pressure to shift them to an unlocking position, the fluid actuated pistons being operated by fluid pressure to shift the dogs outwardly and disconnect the pin and box from each other.

Abstract: A new and improved method and apparatus for transporting, laying and connecting flowlines to subsea structures, such as wellheads on the ocean bottom wherein a submersible marine propulsion apparatus is used to tow a buoyed flowline to its desired location and underwater flowline connectors are used to connect the flowline to a wellhead or the structure. During the transporting and laying of the line, the flowline is supported by a series of spaced adjustable buoys which support the flowline at a desired depth beneath the surface and which can be remotely actuated to lower the flowline to the ocean floor.

Abstract: A compensating apparatus is suspended from a divided crown block mounted on a derrick of a floating drilling barge, the compensating apparatus including a single cylinder extending vertically between and carrying divided travelling block sheaves on opposite sides thereof, with drawwork lines passing over the divided crown block sheaves and divided travelling block sheaves, and with the upper portion of the cylinder extending between such lines and adapted to move upwardly between the crown block sheaves without interference. A piston structure, forming part of the compensating apparatus, is slidable in the cylinder, being connected to a hook, or the like, from which a running string, such as a drilling string, is suspended extends into an underlying well bore, liquid under pressure in the cylinder acting on the piston structure to support part or all of the weight of the running string.