Abstract: A drill bit guide is mounted in a wellhead in place of a wear bushing. The bit guide is capable of guiding strings and tools through the wellhead without damage to the wellhead or string while drilling. In one version of the bit guide, a pair of linear actuators radially extend and retract separate halves of the bit guide to conform to the size of the object located between them. In another version of the bit guide, a set of interlocking arms and wear bars are articulated to form a circular opening having a variable inner diameter. A drill string may be lowered through a fully open bit guide or landed on top of a fully closed bit guide. The bit guide also can be moved to more closely receive the drill string passing through it to prevent damage to the drill string and the wellhead.

Abstract: A landing adapter is used to softly land a tubing hanger in the bore of a production tree. The landing adapter makes initial contact so that the tubing hanger does not have to absorb the harsh impact. The landing adapter has a hydraulic sleeve that strokes axially relative to the tubing hanger. Initially, the sleeve is extended and locked when it is run into the well so that the landing adapter can be hard-landed in the bore. When the sleeve lands in the bore, the impact is absorbed by a landing adapter buffer, not by the tubing hanger. After the hanger with the landing adapter has landed in the bore, hydraulic fluid is bled off so that the tubing hanger gradually descends axially relative to the sleeve and the tree to the retracted position. The landing adapter buffer remains in the tree after the tubing hanger is landed in the bore.

Abstract: A subsea wellhead assembly has the capabilities of communicating from the outer surface of an inner wellhead housing to a casing annulus. A connector, adapted to attach to a riser, connects to the outer surface of the inner wellhead housing, thereby communicating with the casing annulus. The wellhead housing has a passage extending from the casing annulus to its outer surface. The connector has a port that aligns with the passage when the connector attaches to the inner wellhead housing. Fluid can be injected through the port and the passage into the casing annulus. Casing annulus pressure can be monitored though the port and the passage. A seal ring slidingly engages the outer surface of the wellhead housing so that the passage is closed when the connector is not attached. The connector actuates the seal ring to open the passage when the connector attaches to the wellhead housing.

Abstract: A running tool for a wellhead has an outer sleeve, a piston, an inner sleeve, each with respective hydraulic chambers, and a pair of collets for engaging a tubing hanger in a wellhead. Pressure is applied to the various chambers to actuate the collets and engage and/or release the tubing hanger. This process is gradual so that the tubing hanger is landed softly in a production bore of a tree or wellhead. The piston is forced downward to actuate a lower sleeve and move locking dogs into a bore profile to secure the tubing hanger. This process is reversed to release the collets and detach the running tool from the tubing hanger. The running tool is then brought back to the surface without the tubing hanger, which remains landed in the bore.

Abstract: A drill bit guide is mounted in a wellhead in place of a wear bushing. The bit guide is capable of guiding strings and tools through the wellhead without damage to the wellhead or string while drilling. In one version of the bit guide, a pair of linear actuators radially extend and retract separate halves of the bit guide to conform to the size of the object located between them. In another version of the bit guide, a set of interlocking arms and wear bars are articulated to form a circular opening having a variable inner diameter. A drill string may be lowered through a fully open bit guide or landed on top of a filly closed bit guide. The bit guide also can be moved to more closely receive the drill string passing through it to prevent damage to the drill string and the wellhead.

Abstract: A dual in-line ball valve assembly for a subsea tree intervention tool has a pair of axially-movable pistons and a rotatable linkage member pinned between each of the pistons and the independently operable ball valves. The linkage members have eccentric hubs which rotate the ball valves between open and closed positions when the pistons are axially actuated. A recess is formed in each ball valve adjacent to the central flow passage of the assembly for accommodating a lower side of tubing or wireline. The recesses prevent shearing of the tubing or wireline in two places when one of the valves moves to the closed position.

Abstract: A test tool having a body, a mandrel, a ball valve with an actuating mechanism and a bore is lowered on a string of drill pipe and landed in a wellhead housing. A retainer ring with internal threads is carried by the mandrel and engages threads on the body. The retainer ring has a slot which is engaged by a tab on the mandrel, causing the retainer ring and the mandrel to rotate together. The ball valve engages a drive plate which couples with a clutch so that the drive plate may rotate relative to the clutch. A rocker arm engages the drive plate and the mandrel to open and close the ball valve in response to rotation of the mandrel. The test tool is lowered through a riser into a wellhead on pipe below a blowout preventer. The blowout preventer closes around the pipe to form a seal and fluid is pumped down a line to test the blowout preventer. After this test, rotation of the mandrel closes the ball valve automatically.

Abstract: An apparatus for tensioning a riser that extends from a floating platform to a subsea wellhead has hydraulic cylinders. The hydraulic cylinders attach between the platform and the riser in a cluster with the axis of the riser substantially parallel with the axes of the hydraulic cylinders. A guide sleeve within the cluster transfers bending moments of the riser to the platform.

Abstract: An add-on electrical apparatus for causing standard automotive headlamps to project scanning effects on roadways and other terrain. The device is comprised of a control module located in the vehicle near the driver, wired to two switching modules mounted between the headlamps and the standard connectors. An on-off switch and current adjustment in the control module activates the device and adjusts the speed of the scanning effect, as an oscillator generates a train of pulses which are divided into two alternate pulse trains by a flip-flop. The pulses are amplified in order to drive a pair of solid state relays, having an adjustable bypass current, whereby as the lamp on one side of the vehicle is at full brightness, the lamp on the other side is at a reduced brightness, with said effect alternating back and forth from lamp to lamp.

Abstract: An inductive pressure transducer senses fluid pressure within a tubular member by passing an alternating current within an inductor coil to generate a magnetic field. The magnetic field passes through a gap between the tubular member and the inductor coil, and into an exterior portion of the tubular member. A detector means senses the net energy transferred from the inductive coil by the magnetic field, which indicates the fluid pressure within the tubular member.

Abstract: A running tool for running casing in a subsea well has a full bore. The running tool is run on casing which will be of the same inner diameter as the diameter of the well casing. The running tool has a body and a movable seal sleeve. The seal sleeve carries a casing hanger seal. After cementing, manipulation of the casing causes the seal sleeve to move downward to a lower position to set the seal.

Abstract: A running tool for a subsea well utilizes a hydraulic circuit that will amplify tension pulled on drill pipe to perform various functions. The running tool has a pump cylinder which will pump hydraulic fluid once the running tool is latched into the wall assembly. The fluid is pumped out by upward movement of the drill pipe to a first function cylinder. The first function cylinder applies pressure to the well assembly to perform the first function. The operator pulls until a selected tension has been reached. Then the operator will slack off. At that moment, a pilot controlled control valve will shift to a second mode. In the second mode, continued pulling of tension on the drill pipe will supply hydraulic fluid to a second function cylinder.

Abstract: A pressure measuring device will measure pressure in a subsea tubular member. The device includes a stationary unit mounted to the exterior of the tubular member and a movable unit that will be lowered into position next to the stationary unit whenever pressure is to be monitored. The stationary unit has a strain gage which will monitor pressure by measuring strain in the tubular member. The stationary unit has a light emitter which will emit pulses corresponding to pressure measured. The stationary unit has a photocell which will receive a light beam from the movable unit. The light beam and photocell provide power for the stationary unit. The movable unit has a receiver which receives any light pulses from the light emitter and correlates them to a pressure measurement.

Abstract: A well tool locates within a subsea wellhead to seal and isolate the wellhead from testing of blowout preventer stack located on a riser string extending from the wellhead to a surface vessel. The well tool has a mandrel and a body which are axially moveable relative to each other. The body has a locking element which can move from a radially retracted position outward to engage grooves in the wellhead. The body also has an elastomeric seal for sealing the interior of the wellhead. A wedge ring has a compression member mounted to it for energizing the seal. Simultaneously, the wedge ring pushes the dogs outward. The wedge ring moves downward with the mandrel. A retaining assembly will retain the mandrel in the upper position until it is desired to set the tool. The retainer releases the mandrel for moving downward by rotating less than one turn. The wedging surfaces can be moved to a disengaging position to disengage the wedging surfaces from actuating the locking element.

Abstract: A connection assembly secured a running tool into a tubular casing hanger. The connection assembly includes a frusto-conical threaded section on a running tool and a nose section of cylindrical shape located below the threaded section. The casing hanger has a bore with at least one circumferential recess. A collet ring having internal threads is initially carried on the nose section. The collet ring lands in the recess when the running tool is moved into the casing hanger. Continued movement causes the collet ring to deflect outward. The collet ring has threads on its inner diameter that slide on the threads of the running tool to latch the members together. Slots in the collet ring enable the outward deflection to occur. A pin engages the collet ring to enable rotation of the running tool relative to the collet ring to unscrew the members from each other.

Abstract: A guidelineless reentry system for a subsea well uses a downward facing funnel. The well has a mandrel surrounded by a guide frame. A funnel and a mandrel connector are carried by the riser. Retracting rollers are mounted to the funnel. Once the riser lands on the guide frame, the rollers are extended to latch the funnel to the guide frame. The funnel is rotated along with the riser to orient the mandrel connector. The mandrel connector is lowered relative to the funnel into engagement with the mandrel.

Abstract: A tension leg floating platform for offshore drilling has a plurality of tendons extending from the sea floor to the platform in tension. The upper connector for each tendon includes a housing with a conical shoulder located therein. A terminal segment on the upper end of each tendon extends through the housing. Dogs are carried on the shoulder of the housing, each having threads on the interior for mating threads formed on the terminal segment. A cam ring moves the dogs from an outer retracted position to an inner engaged position. The cam ring also will rotate the dogs relative to the terminal to mesh the threads of the dogs with the threads of the terminal segment.

Abstract: A wellhead connector for connecting a riser to a wellhead in a subsea well remains connected even though hydraulic pressure is removed. The wellhead connector has a housing which slides over the wellhead, and dogs are carried by the housing for radial movement into engagement with grooves formed on the exterior of the wellhead. An axially moveable cam ring moves downward to push the dogs radially inward to a locked position. A wedge ring is carried on the inner side of the cam ring. The wedge ring locates between the dogs and the cam ring. The wedge ring has sides that are conical and converge in a downward direction. The wedge ring locks the cam ring in a lower position. A release ring carried by a piston shaft will move the wedge ring upward relative to the cam ring when the piston shaft is moving to the released position, to release the cam ring.

Abstract: A wellhead housing has features to increase the load carrying capabilities. The wellhead housing has a inclined load shoulder. A lower casing hanger which supports the outer string of casing is supported on the load shoulder. A landing profile locates between the load shoulder and the casing hanger. The landing ring has a cylindrical portion both above and below the load shoulder. These cylindrical portions restrain the material of the wellhead housing from yielding downward and inward. Also, a support ring encircles the wellhead housing on the exterior radially outward from the load shoulder. The support ring is fitted to the wellhead housing in an interference fit to provide a preload compressive force. Additional casing hangers for intermediate and inner strings are supported on the lower casing hanger.

Abstract: A guidelineless reentry system for a subsea well uses a downward facing funnel. A guide ring is mounted to the guide frame, which in turn is mounted around a mandrel on the well. A funnel and a mandrel connector are carried by the riser. Once the riser lands on the guide ring, latches are actuated to connect the funnel to the guide ring. Then, the mandrel connector is lowered relative to the funnel into engagement with the mandrel. A cam moves dogs outward to engage grooves of the mandrel to lock the mandrel connector to the mandrel.