Patents Examined by Edwin Toledo-Duran
  • Patent number: 8863846
    Abstract: A jack system may provide subsea or surface operation. The jack system includes a top plate and a base plate with at least two pistons disposed between the base and top plate. The pistons are extendable to increase a separation distance between the base and top plate, and said pistons are retractable to decrease the separation distance between the base and top plate. The jack system also includes a bottom slip bowl assembly, a top slip bowl assembly, and rotary assembly. The top slip bowl and rotary assembly are rotatably coupled to the top plate wherein the rotary assembly and the top slip bowl assembly rotate relative to the top plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Cudd Pressure Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Curtis Overstreet, Scott Michael Cunningham, J. E. Skip Ward
  • Patent number: 8851796
    Abstract: A pipe retriever for retrieving an unsecured pipe has a head connectable to a drilling pipe and defines a longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis of the head is arranged substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the drilling pipe when connected. A tail extends from the head at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. The tail defines a hook shape having inward and outward surfaces. The inward hook surface defines a pipe recess sized to receive the unsecured pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Southeast Directional Drilling, LLC
    Inventor: John M. Heieie
  • Patent number: 8851182
    Abstract: A well production system including a wellhead and a first casing string supported from a first casing hanger landed on a shoulder in the wellhead bore. A loading shoulder assembly is installable in the wellhead and includes an energizing ring, a loading ring threaded into the interior of the energizing ring, a lock ring, and a hold-down ring threaded into the interior of the loading ring. The hold-down ring engages the first casing hanger to prevent rotation of the hold-down ring and restrain rotation of the loading ring. The lock ring is expandable from an unset position into supporting engagement with the wellhead in a set position upon rotation of the energizing ring. The hold-down ring is also moveable axially out of the loading ring to restrain the first casing hanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis P. Nguyen, Kirk P. Guidry, Haw Keat Lim
  • Patent number: 8845238
    Abstract: A panel assembly of a trench box has a frame, a receptacle affixed within the frame, a connector having one end portion received in the receptacle at an opposite end portion extending outwardly of the frame, and a pipe having one end affixed to the opposite end portion of the connector member and extending outwardly therefrom. The connector member has a flange extending radially outwardly therefrom. This flange bears directly or indirectly against either or both of the receptacle and the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Roger F. Fontaine
  • Patent number: 8845235
    Abstract: A method of installing a structure on a bed of a sea, estuary or river from a floating installation vessel is described. In such a method a plurality of attachment piles and corresponding installation rigs are attached to the structure prior to deployment of the structure. In addition, respective umbilical control cables are connected to the installation rigs prior to deployment of the structure. The structure is deployed from a floating vessel to a bed of a sea, estuary or river, such that, when the structure is located on the bed, the umbilical control cables do not support the structure or installation rigs. A single installation operation for each attachment pile is performed, in which operation an installation rig is activated so as to install fully the corresponding attachment pile in the bed, without removal of the umbilical control cable or the installation rig therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Tidal Generation Limited
    Inventor: George James Gibberd
  • Patent number: 8840338
    Abstract: A fluid fillable structure has a reservoir body comprising a top surface and at least one fluid fill port at a first end. There is a first connector on the top surface of the reservoir body adjacent to the first end and a second connector spaced from the first end, the first end of the reservoir body being folded back onto the reservoir body and secured by releasably securing the first connector to the second connector such that the at least one fluid fill port remains open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: LAYFIELD Group Ltd.
    Inventors: James Andrew Mills, Gregory Allan Parrent
  • Patent number: 8833459
    Abstract: A system and method for channeling fluids from underwater to the surface. Including a channel system for channeling the fluids from an oil leak through the channel system starting from an underwater pipe leak to a containment reservoir at a sea surface. In one aspect, the channel system is made up of interchange parts, where some are flexible, attachable, and/or can influence the flow of the fluids inside the channel system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventor: Matthew Carl O'Malley
  • Patent number: 8807872
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus to be mounted on a vessel for laying a marine pipeline having accessories on the end of the pipeline and/or at one or more intermediate locations along the pipeline, the apparatus including a launch ramp having a guide for guiding and controlling the movement of a pipeline along a pipeline firing line in the direction of the seabed, a clamp downstream of the guide for selectively clamping and supporting the launched pipeline, wherein the launch ramp is provided with an opening downstream of the guide and upstream of the clamp for passage of an accessory between a storage position and an installation location in the pipeline firing line to allow the accessory to be connected to an end of the pipeline supported by the clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Technip France SA
    Inventor: Stewart Willis
  • Patent number: 8794874
    Abstract: A marine tensioner has a tensioner frame and multiple track units mounted in the frame. Each track unit comprises an elongated chassis, the chassis having a central portion between two end portions. Each track unit comprises an endless track supported by the chassis, the endless track having friction elements adapted to engage an elongated article. Between each track unit and the tensioner frame a connecting structure is provided that allows for lateral and pivotal motion of the track unit so as to adapt the position of the track unit to an elongated article diameter. One or more squeeze actuators are provided between the tensioner frame and the chassis of the track unit and actuator control means are provided which are associated with the one or more squeeze actuators and allow to control the squeeze force exerted by the friction elements of the track unit on the elongated article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Itrec B.V.
    Inventors: Joop Roodenburg, Terence Willem August Vehmeijer
  • Patent number: 8783360
    Abstract: There is provided a high power laser-riser blowout preventer package and laser module for use with a subsea riser. The laser module and laser-riser package use high power laser energy to quickly cut the riser permitting an offshore drilling rig to quickly, and in a controlled manner disconnect from a blowout preventer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignees: Foro Energy, Inc., Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Zediker, Henry A. Bergeron, Philip V. Clark, Brian O. Faircloth, Joel F. Moxley, Paul D. Deutch, Charles C. Rinzler
  • Patent number: 8783361
    Abstract: There is provided a high power laser assisted blowout preventer and methods of use. In particular, there are provided systems and assemblies for utilizing high power laser energy within a blowout preventer to cut tubulars that are present within the bore of the blowout prevent, reducing the risk that such tubulars will inhibit the ability of the blowout preventer to seal a well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignees: Foro Energy, Inc., Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Zediker, Henry A. Bergeron, Philip V. Clark, Joel F. Moxley, Paul D. Deutch, Lance D. Underwood, Charles C. Rinzler, Ronald A. De Witt, Sharath K. Kolachalam, Daryl L. Grubb
  • Patent number: 8733452
    Abstract: A connector includes a male flange and a female flange allowing to assemble a main tube and auxiliary line tubes. A locking ring assembles the male flange and the female flange. The locking ring is mounted mobile in rotation on the outer periphery of the male flange while cooperating with the outer periphery of the male and female flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignees: IFP Energies Nouvelles, Aker Subsea AS
    Inventors: Jean Guesnon, Gerard Papon, Emmanuel Persent, Oystein Luktvasslimo, Jaan Anderson, Bjorn Paulshus
  • Patent number: 8720584
    Abstract: There is provided a high power laser riser blowout preventer system and controller for operation thereof. The system utilizes high power laser cutters that are associated with the riser and the blowout preventer to provided an integrated operation to quickly weaken or cut tubulars to address potential emergency and emergency situations that can arise during deep sea drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark S. Zediker
  • Patent number: 8721222
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for controlling lateral deformation and reducing axial displacement, also referred to as walking, of a subsea conduit such as a pipeline for conveying produced hydrocarbon fluids. The systems and methods include the installation of rolling assemblies on the conduit at predetermined locations. The rolling assemblies include elements for forming rolling modules rotatable with respect to the conduit. Also disclosed is a system for monitoring displacement of the conduit over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Sid A. Mebarkia, Antonio C. F. Critsinelis, Dane Drew, Michael J. Quinney, Lynn Wang
  • Patent number: 8714881
    Abstract: Low environmental impact, surface installed, multiple pile foundation locking systems providing stable connection between above ground structures and the earth, having a plurality of driving holes in an engineered component through which piles may be driven into the surrounding soil and locked in a predetermined position to create, in differing configurations, the necessary resistances to any combination or relative proportions of bearing, uplift and lateral loads associated with such structures. The piles are driven at predetermined angles relative to the supported structure, consistent with its loading characteristics, and are locked in the driving holes through which they pass, further binding in their configuration under load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: Richard J. Gagliano
  • Patent number: 8695712
    Abstract: A pressure mitigating device is used to reduce pressure in a void within a wellhead housing. In one embodiment, the pressure mitigating device includes two plates that define a void between them. Increased pressure in the wellhead housing causes the plates to elastically displace towards each other. The plates contact each other, limiting the displacement prior to plastic deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Urquhart, William D. Munro
  • Patent number: 8678707
    Abstract: An underwater oil well blowout spill containment system includes a folded curtain positioned in a magazine around a deep water well head and blowout preventer (BOP). The magazine is positioned around the well-head and BOP and leaves room for required construction and maintenance. In the event of a blowout, the curtain is drawn upward from the magazine and cinched to contain leaking oil. A hose is connected to a port on the magazine to draw the oil to a tanker on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Inventors: John Powell, Kenneth L. Green
  • Patent number: 8646534
    Abstract: A containment fitting for a wellhead capping device including a truncated conical section capable of fitting into a central aperture of a flange that is attached to a ruptured wellhead pipe end and which can be fitted into position by several wires or cables that are pulled through apertures in the pipe wellhead flange. A method of installation includes undersea welding of the flange onto the end of the ruptured wellhead and inserting plural bobbin structures attached to cable wires into through holes extending at angularly opposed sides of the flange such and when completely in line through a second flange on constriction equipment, can bring the flanges adjacent and in line to permit attachment therebetween by bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Inventor: Richard R. Magden
  • Patent number: 8585102
    Abstract: A compression latch comprises a latch housing with a driving end and a driven end and with a drive shaft which is rotatably supported between these ends and which has a driving device such as a socket wrench receptacle or gearing at the driving end of the latch housing. The latch housing, at the driven end, forms an annular surface around the axis of the drive shaft. According to the invention, the drive shaft has, at the driven end of the latch housing, a bearing journal whose axis has an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to the axis of the drive shaft, and the base of a rotary latch is supported on the bearing journal, this base (30) forming an annular surface around the axis of the bearing journal, and two annular surfaces roll on one another by frictional engagement or positive engagement when the drive shaft is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: DIRAK Dieter Ramsauer Konstruktionselemente GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhard Gottschling
  • Patent number: 8573890
    Abstract: An offshore structure for deploying and retrieving underwater electrical power generators that converts energy derived from water currents into electrical energy. The offshore structural platform includes a pair of vertical guide rails to guide a propulsion device lowering said generator underwater onto a seabed propulsion device. The seabed propulsion device is engaged on an underwater seabed rail system and transports the generator onto one of many unique frames specifically designed to support underwater generators. Securing devices are utilized to ensure the generators remain anchored to each propulsion device and to the unique frame. Rail transferring elements are also utilized for a smooth and safe transition during the transport process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Inventor: Donald H Gehring