Patents by Inventor Andrew H. Roberts

Andrew H. Roberts 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: 6766861
    Abstract: A subsea production system and method includes a wellhead field having multiple wellheads and utilizes a stackable guide funnel system for sequential tying back of those wellheads. A storage frame retains several guide funnels that are nestably stacked one upon the other. The frame is made up of a plurality of guide members that are secured to the exposed tubular conductor of a wellhead. A pair of annular rings surrounds portions of each of the guide members. A riser having a riser connector is lowered to the central location. The riser connector latches onto the uppermost guide funnel within the frame. The riser, together with the affixed funnel, is then lifted upwardly, removing the affixed funnel from the frame. The riser is then moved laterally through the sea until the funnel and riser are proximate a second wellhead within the wellhead field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: ABB Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Koen, Gilbert P. Mican, Arjin Nolan, Joseph W. Pallini, Jr., Kim H. Phan, Andrew H. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20030051877
    Abstract: A subsea production system and method includes a wellhead field having multiple wellheads and utilizes a stackable guide funnel system for sequential tying back of those wellheads. A storage frame retains several guide funnels that are nestably stacked one upon the other. The guide funnels may be sequentially removed from the frame by a riser connector having a complimentary latching mechanism. The frame is made up of a plurality of guide members that are secured to the exposed tubular conductor of a wellhead. A pair of annular rings surrounds portions of each of the guide members. The upper end of the frame is outwardly flared to assist in landing of the riser connector. The stacked guide funnels are prepositioned at one or more central locations upon the sea floor. The guide funnels are configured at the central location to permit sequential retreival. A riser having a riser connector is lowered to the central location. The riser connector latches onto the uppermost guide funnel within the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Kevin R. Koen, Gilbert P. Mican, Arjin Nolan, Joseph W. Pallini, Kim H. Phan, Andrew H. Roberts