Patents by Inventor Arthur W. Morton

Arthur W. Morton 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: 4798500
    Abstract: A long pipeline is constructed at an on-shore site and then launched into a body of water. A tension force is maintained on the pipeline during launching to hold the pipeline off the floor of the body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur W. Morton
  • Patent number: 4787583
    Abstract: A pipeline clamp for securing a heated arctic pipeline to its support structure comprises a sandwich material of inner and outer layers of fiber reinforced rigid polymer and an intermediate core layer of honeycomb-form aramid paper. The clamp affords all the engineering advantages of prior steel clamps without the disadvantages of being heat conductive which can result in conductance of pipeline heat to the permafrost layer as well as "freezing out" of low melting paraffins flowing within the pipeline which decrease pipeline efficiencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur W. Morton
  • Patent number: 4786207
    Abstract: A long pipeline is constructed at an on-shore site and is supported by floatable ground engaging supports. The pipeline is launched into a body of water while maintaining a tension load on the pipeline to hold it above the floor of the body of water. The floatable supports are retrieved after the pipeline is launched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur W. Morton, Henry A. Bourne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4768984
    Abstract: The present invention provides a service buoy for performing direct wireline maintenance of a subsea well. The buoy is maintained in position over the well by a rigid riser kept under tension and which allows for the well re-entry. The primary buoyant body of the buoy is maintained permanently submerged and a truss structure presenting the minimum surface area to the action of wind and waves extends above the sea level to support a small deck from which the wireline work can be performed. The centers of gravity and buoyancy for the buoy are in close proximity so as to minimize lateral surge and sway motions of the installed buoy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Joao G. de Oliveira, Arthur W. Morton, Paul R. Erb, Michael S. Triantafyllou
  • Patent number: 4556340
    Abstract: Production from a subsea wellhead to a floating production facility may be realized with the use of a substantially neutrally buoyant flexible production riser which includes biasing means for shaping the riser in an oriented broad arc. The broad arc configuration permits the use of wireline well service tools through the riser system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1985
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur W. Morton
  • Patent number: 4474507
    Abstract: A flow line bundle assembly includes a plurality of conduits disposed within a tubular covering member. The tubular covering member is sealed at its ends before being placed in a body of water, so that the flow line bundle has a slight positive buoyancy when submerged in the body of water. Weights are then added to the flow line bundle to cause it to have a neutral buoyancy at a position slightly above a floor of the body of water. The flow line bundle is then towed from its point of construction, through the body of water, to the location where it is to be installed. During a first method of towing, if an obstacle located above the ocean floor is approached, a trailing tug increases a restraining force applied to the flow line bundle so as to lift it above the obstacle as the flow line bundle passes over the obstacle. A second method of towing maintains the flow line bundle at a constant depth below a surface of the body of water so that the bundle will clear any obstacles on the floor of the body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur W. Morton
  • Patent number: 4459065
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for connecting a buoyant off-bottom flowline to a subsea structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur W. Morton
  • Patent number: 4377354
    Abstract: A flow line bundle assembly includes a plurality of conduits disposed within a tubular covering member. The tubular covering member is sealed at its ends before being placed in a body of water, so that the flow line bundle has a slight positive buoyancy when submerged in the body of water. Weights are then added to the flow line bundle to cause it to have a neutral buoyancy at a position slightly above a floor of the body of water. The flow line bundle is then towed from its point of construction, through the body of water, to the location where it is to be installed. During a first method of towing, if an obstacle located above the ocean floor is approached, a trailing tug increases a restraining force applied to the flow line bundle so as to lift it above the obstacle as the flow line bundle passes over the obstacle. A second method of towing maintains the flow line bundle at a constant depth below a surface of the body of water so that the bundle will clear any obstacles on the floor of the body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1983
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur W. Morton
  • Patent number: 4363566
    Abstract: A flow line bundle assembly includes a plurality of conduits disposed within a tubular covering member. The tubular covering member is sealed at its ends before being placed in a body of water, so that the flow line bundle has a slight positive buoyancy when submerged in the body of water. Weights are then added to the flow line bundle to cause it to have a neutral buoyancy at a position slightly above a floor of the body of water. The flow line bundle is then towed from its point of construction, through the body of water, to the location where it is to be installed. During a first method of towing, if an obstacle located above the ocean floor is approached, a trailing tug increases a restraining force applied to the flow line bundle so as to lift it above the obstacle as the flow line bundle passes over the obstacle. A second method of towing maintains the flow line bundle at a constant depth below a surface of the body of water so that the bundle will clear any obstacles on the floor of the body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1982
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur W. Morton