Abstract: A pipe connection of a male threaded member and a female threaded member with a large degree of axial freedom which is allowed by a special thread profile which contours the bearing surfaces to allow the freedom for a pivoting movement about a pivot point without interference of primary and secondary bearing surfaces.

Abstract: An improved wellhead slip and seal assembly including a slip assembly with slips supported within a slip bowl and a seal assembly positioned above the slip assembly and interconnected thereto for supporting the slip assembly, the seal assembly including two segments connected to form the seal ring and each of the segments includes arcuate elements embedded in a resilient material which forms an inner seal in an inner groove, the inner seal having an inner diameter sufficient smaller than the outer diameter of the pipe to which it is to seal and an outer seal of the resilient material in an outer groove, the outer seal having an outer diameter sufficiently larger than the inner diameter of the wellhead housing into which it is inserted so that both seals are brought into direct sealing engagement with their respective pipe and housing sealing surfaces and the loading on the slip bowl is not a seal compressing load through the connection between the seal assembly and the slip assembly.

Abstract: A mud valve assembly is disclosed having a valve member with a first sealing surface and a piston member with a second sealing surface which seals against the first sealing surface such that the piston and the first sealing surface move downward in response to pressure from above which exceeds a predetermined pressure level and the valve member and the second sealing surface move upward in response to pressure from below the valve assembly. The valve member with the second sealing surface can be retrieved from the bore of the drill pipe and reinstalled into the bore of the drill pipe without removing the mud valve assembly from the drill pipe.

Abstract: A hydraulic stab sub especially for use in remote and harsh environments which is capable of being inserted into a close fitting receptacle at a relatively high angular mismatch by providing for radial relative movement of sealing rings and seal holding rings with reference to the centerline of the hydraulic stab sub.

Abstract: A hydraulic stab sub with multiple seals especially for use in remote and harsh environments with the ability to move the seals radially inward to a retracted position in which the hydraulic stab sub can be easily inserted into a mating receptacle and alternately to move the seals radially outward to perform useful functions such as sealing or locking into the receptacle.

Abstract: A device which enhances the security of cylinder type locking devices by mechanically preventing the rotary unlocking motion even after keys or other security devices or methods have been activated and the locking device would otherwise be released.

Abstract: A gate valve improvement including a seat-to-body seal means for reliable bi-directional sealing, a port to bypass at least one of the seat-to-body seals, and means to plug the bypass port when the operation of this seal is desired.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system and method for providing compressed gas by extracting compressed gas directly from the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The gas may be further compressed using an improved compressor, which in turn may be ultimately powered by the engine from which the gas is extracted. The compressor is preferably an axial drive, hydraulic compressor, with the engine being used to drive a pump which in turn provides the direct hydraulic driving force for the compressor.

Abstract: A mud valve assembly with a valve means with a first sealing surface and a piston means with a second sealing surface which seals against the first sealing surface such that the piston and the first seal surface move downward in response to pressure from above which exceeds a predetermined pressure level and the valve means and the second sealing surface move upwards in response to pressure from below the valve assembly; and the valve means with the second sealing surface can be retrieved from the bore of the drill pipe and reinstalled into the bore of the drill pipe without removing the mud valve assembly from the drill pipe.

Abstract: An anti-rotational joint for connecting sections of cnduits together to form a flowline or the like wherein the joint includes a means that prevents the joint from accidentally unscrewing after it is made up to its desired torque.

Abstract: A riser connector system for securing a marine riser to a marine bottom. The system is comprised of a landing base which is preset on the marine bottom and a connector means which is connected to the lower end of the core of the riser. The landing base has an inverted 45.degree. cone-shaped cover plate which overlies and protects connector heads on the base. The cover plate has openings therethrough in vertical alignment with the connector heads which are normally closed by spring-biased doors to prevent trash from accumulating in the heads. The connector means has an inverted cone-shaped funnel which is adapted to cooperate with the cover plate when assembled and has flowline guidelines therethrough vertically aligned with the openings in the cover plate. A target on the underside of the connector means is viewed by a TV camera positioned on the base to orient the riser during assembly.

Abstract: A subsea flowline connector for remotely connecting and releasing a first flowline such as a peripheral flowline on a marine riser to a complementary second flowline at a submerged location without the use of divers. Further, the seals in the connector may be remotely replaced without the need to bring the connector to the surface. Further, in one embodiment of present invention, a bundle of control/supply lines can be remotely connected to respective submerged lines at the same time as the flowline is connected.

Abstract: A tubing hanger for landing is a subsea wellhead system below a multiple bore valve package in a preferred but not essential orientation with a first concentric and a second eccentric bore both suitable for vertical access for passage of tools and the such like when in the preferred orientation, the first bore being contained within a first concentric seal and the second bore being contained within an annular area outside the first concentric seal and within a second larger concentric seal such than when the tubing hanger is not landed in the preferred orientation vertical access is not provided but the valve package can be landed and hydraulic communication will be provided through both bores.

Abstract: A subsea connector system for connecting the lower end of a structural core of a marine riser to a base which has been preset on the marine bottom. The box member of the connector system forms an integral part of a tapered section which, in turn, forms the lower end of the riser. The connector system, in a preferred embodiment, incudes a self-contained source of hydraulic fluid under pressure which actuates the connector to a locked position upon command. The connector also includes a back-up means for remotely locking the connector and three separate means for remotely unlocking the connector.

Abstract: A system for aligning and securing the end of a subsea flowline to a subsea wellhead and guide base system associated with an oil or gas completion system which provides for the manipulation of the centerline of pins on the subsea flowline end connection attachment, the centerline of receptacles on the flowline receiving structure, and a centerline on pulling tool guidance means to a concurrent location such that the pins can engage the receptacles and thereby the flowline end can be positively locked into the flowline receiving structure at varying vertical rotational positions of the end of the flowline and subsequently when a desired vertical rotational position or elevation of the flowlines is achieved other pins will engage other receptacles and lock the flowline end attachment and therefore the flowlines against further vertical movement.

Abstract: A marine riser base system including a flex means for fluidly connecting a riser flowline carried by a marine riser to the interior of a fluid-tight hull of a submerged structure. The hull, e.g. a subsea atmospheric riser manifold (SARM), is positioned on the marine bottom and has a platform positioned above and isolated therefrom to which the lower end of the riser is connected. The flex means is comprised of a length of rigid pipe having a curved portion therein which connects a flowline connector on the platform to the interior of the hull. The pipe extends from the flowline connector, around the external surface of the hull, and penetrates the hull on the lower side thereof. The cyclic forces experienced by the platform are distributed along the length of pipe due to the relative flexibility of the curved portion thereof which provides a long operational life of the flex means.

Abstract: An oil and gas completion system for landing and placement on an oceam floor without wire rope guidelines and in a nonoriented fashion including the end of a flowline laid along the ocean floor which is terminated substantially horizontally in a flowline receiving structure on the periphery of the completion system outside and below a specified circular boundary and a Christmas Tree having a mating end of a second flowline section inside the specified circular boundary and the extension of the second flowline section extending from the back of the second flowline section across to the other side of the tree being above said circular boundary such that the Christmas Tree is free to be rotated to an oriented position and one of the two flowline sections can then be moved substantially horizontally thru the boundary area for connection with the other section.

Abstract: The subsea wellhead system includes a wellhead, a housing seat disposed in and connected to the wellhead, a casing hanger supported by the seat, a holddown and sealing assembly in the annulus between wellhead and hanger, a running tool attached to the hanger for lowering it into the well and initially actuating the holddown and sealing assembly, and apparatus for applying hydraulic pressure to further actuate the seal. The housing seat and wellhead are connected by breech block teeth. The seat maintains 360.degree. bearing surface with the hanger. The holddown and seal assembly includes an upper rotating member threadingly engaging the hanger and suspending a lower stationary member. The latter includes a Z-shaped portion having a plurality of frustoconical metal rings positively connected by links. The rings form grooves housing resilient elasotmeric members.

Abstract: The subsea wellhead system includes a wellhead, a housing seat disposed in and connected to the wellhead, a casing hanger supported by the seat, a holddown and sealing assembly in the annulus between wellhead and hanger, a running tool attached to the hanger for lowering it into the well and initially actuating the holddown and sealing assembly, and apparatus for applying hydraulic pressure to further actuate the seal. The housing seat and wellhead are connected by breech block teeth. The seat maintains 360.degree. bearing surface with the hanger. The holddown and seal assembly includes an upper rotating member threadingly engaging the hanger and suspending a lower stationary member. The latter includes a Z-shaped portion having a plurality of frustoconical metal rings positively connected by links. The rings form grooves housing resilient elastomeric members.

Abstract: A torque multiplier subsea tool for setting a seal between a casing hanger and a subsea wellhead includes a mandrel having a sun gear with axial elongate teeth. An outer barrel is disposed around the mandrel forming an annulus therebetween. A planetary gear assembly is disposed in the annulus between the barrel and the sun gear to transmit to the barrel a torque which is higher in magnitude than that applied to the mandrel. A connector body disposed around the mandrel, below the planetary gear assembly, includes radially movable dogs for engaging the casing hanger. The barrel engages the sealing assembly and transmits the increased torque thereto to advance the sealing assembly downwards and to set the seal. The mandrel advances downwards with the sealing assembly and releases the dogs from the casing hanger. An emergency release mechanism is provided to advance the mandrel downwards to release the dogs in the event such downward movement is prevented during normal seal setting operation.