Patents by Inventor Andre M. Smith

Andre M. Smith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9206663
    Abstract: The invention provides a bore protector for a tubing hanger, the bore protector is to be arranged in a tubing hanger in a spool in a subsea production Xmas tree for through tubing rotary drilling (TTRD) in an existing production well. The bore protector is distinctive in that it comprises a means to be releasably fastened in at least one of: the spool in the Xmas tree and the tubing hanger, and a wear sleeve extending down into the tubing hanger, covering the tubing hanger sealing surfaces for the tubing hanger plugs, the wear sleeve comprises a shoulder at or near an upper end, the shoulder is arranged on a below positioned seat of a main part of the bore protector, in which position the wear sleeve is releasably fastened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Aker Subsea AS
    Inventors: André M. Smith, Roar Eide, Bengt Dahlborg, Magnus Fjørtoft Urke, Per Bostedt, Joachim Vilhelmsson
  • Patent number: 9151133
    Abstract: Seal assembly (201) for a subsea well assembly with inner and outer circular sealing surfaces (215a, 215b) in an annulus (211). It has a seal ring (203) with a cross section exhibiting two legs (205a, 205b), with seal ring seal surfaces (209a, 209b). The seal ring comprises a main metal section (217) having metal with the same or higher degree of hardness than the metal in said facing circular sealing surfaces (215a, 215b). The seal ring seal surfaces comprise a seal ring surface metal (210a, 210b) which is of a softer metal than the metal in the circular sealing surfaces (215a, 215b) and the metal in the main metal section (217). The seal ring (203) comprises a second section (219) comprising said seal ring surface metal (210a, 210b), the second section (219) extending continuously between said seal ring seal surfaces (209a, 209b) on the respective legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Aker Subsea AS
    Inventors: Tanel Telliskivi, André M. Smith, Birgir Amrén
  • Patent number: 8739883
    Abstract: Internal tree cap (201) (ITC) adapted to be installed in the bore of a subsea well unit (301) or to an internal tubular element (303) of the same, comprising a locking element (209) for releasably locking the internal tree cap (201) to said subsea well unit (301) or internal tubular element (303). The ITC further comprises a fluid channel (215) extending through a fluid barrier between the lower and upper part of the internal tree cap (201), which fluid channel (215) is blocked by a burst element (217) adapted to break and open for fluid flow through the fluid channel (215) when exposed to a predetermined pressure difference over the burst element (217). The invention also relates to an ITC running tool (101) and a locking mechanism (117) for supporting the ITC in the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Aker Subsea AS
    Inventors: Lasse E. Aarnes, Andre M. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140144645
    Abstract: Internal tree cap (ITC) adapted to be installed in the bore of a subsea well unit or to an internal tubular element of the same, comprising a locking element for releasably locking the internal tree cap to said subsea well unit or internal tubular element. The ITC further comprises a fluid channel extending through a fluid barrier between the lower and upper part of the internal tree cap, which fluid channel is blocked by a burst element adapted to break and open for fluid flow through the fluid channel when exposed to a predetermined pressure difference over the burst element. The invention also relates to an ITC running tool and a locking mechanism for supporting the ITC in the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Aker Subsea AS
    Inventors: Lasse E. Aarnes, André M. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140034328
    Abstract: The invention provides a bore protector for a tubing hanger, the bore protector is to be arranged in a tubing hanger in a spool in a subsea production Xmas tree for through tubing rotary drilling (TTRD) in an existing production well. The bore protector is distinctive in that it comprises a means to be releasably fastened in at least one of: the spool in the Xmas tree and the tubing hanger, and a wear sleeve extending down into the tubing hanger, covering the tubing hanger sealing surfaces for the tubing hanger plugs, the wear sleeve comprises a shoulder at or near an upper end, the shoulder is arranged on a below positioned seat of a main part of the bore protector, in which position the wear sleeve is releasably fastened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Aker Subsea AS
    Inventors: André M. Smith, Roar Eide, Bengt Dahlborg, Magnus Fjørtoft Urke, Per Bostedt, Joachim Vilhelmsson
  • Patent number: 8562028
    Abstract: A connector assembly for connection to a tubular element. The connector assembly includes locking elements with locking profiles, movable in a locking and an unlocking direction. The locking profiles can lock with facing locking profiles of the tubular member. The locking elements can be moved in the locking direction as a result of movement of an activation sleeve in a first direction. The locking elements or the activation sleeve include guiding elements that are adapted to slide against inclined unlocking guiding surfaces of the activation sleeve or the locking elements. Movement of the activation sleeve in a second direction results in movement of the locking element in the unlocking direction. The activation sleeve has axially extending activation sleeve protrusions having spaces formed between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Aker Subsea AS
    Inventors: André M. Smith, Bengt Dahlborg
  • Publication number: 20120169013
    Abstract: Seal assembly (201) for a subsea well assembly with inner and outer circular sealing surfaces (215a, 215b) in an annulus (211). It has a seal ring (203) with a cross section exhibiting two legs (205a, 205b), with seal ring seal surfaces (209a, 209b). The seal ring comprises a main metal section (217) having metal with the same or higher degree of hardness than the metal in said facing circular sealing surfaces (215a, 215b). The seal ring seal surfaces comprise a seal ring surface metal (210a, 210b) which is of a softer metal than the metal in the circular sealing surfaces (215a, 215b) and the metal in the main metal section (217). The seal ring (203) comprises a second section (219) comprising said seal ring surface metal (210a, 210b), the second section (219) extending continuously between said seal ring seal surfaces (209a, 209b) on the respective legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: André M. Smith, Birger Amrén, Tanel Telliskivi
  • Publication number: 20110241335
    Abstract: Connector assembly for connection to a tubular element. It comprises locking elements (105) with locking profiles (107), movable in locking and unlocking direction. The locking profiles can lock with facing locking profiles (117) of said tubular member (119). The locking elements can be moved in a locking direction as a result of movement of an activation sleeve (101) in a first direction. The locking elements (105) or said activation sleeve (101) comprise guiding elements (109) which are adapted to slide against inclined unlocking guiding surfaces (111) of the activation sleeve (101) or the locking elements. A movement of the activation sleeve in a second direction results in a movement of the locking element in an unlocking direction. The activation sleeve has axially extending activation sleeve protrusions (103) having spaces (102) between them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: André M Smith, Bengt Dahlborg
  • Publication number: 20110048726
    Abstract: Internal tree cap (201) (ITC) adapted to be installed in the bore of a subsea well unit (301) or to an internal tubular element (303) of the same, comprising a locking element (209) for releasably locking the internal tree cap (201) to said subsea well unit (301) or internal tubular element (303). The ITC further comprises a fluid channel (215) extending through a fluid barrier between the lower and upper part of the internal tree cap (201), which fluid channel (215) is blocked by a burst element (217) adapted to break and open for fluid flow through the fluid channel (215) when exposed to a predetermined pressure difference over the burst element (217). The invention also relates to an ITC running tool (101) and a locking mechanism (117) for supporting the ITC in the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Lasse E. Aarnes, Andre M. Smith