Abstract: A deep ocean drilling system is disclosed for drilling offshore wells in extremely deep water using smaller and more economical drilling vessels. The system utilizes a reduced diameter drilling riser that reduces the size and cost of conventional floating drilling unit. The reduced diameter drilling riser is detached from the blowout preventer stack and repositioned and attached to a mud return assembly. Large diameter casing is lowered into the wellbore outside of the reduced diameter riser. Thereafter, the reduced diameter drilling riser is released from the mud return assembly and repositioned over and reconnected to the blowout preventer stack.

Abstract: A crane load detection system is provided having an electronic strain gage located in series with the deadline of the boom and located adjacent the gantry tie-down of the deadline of the boom. A pendulum potentiometer and transmitter are provided on the boom adjacent its pivot point. A microprocessor is employed to solve several triangles using trigonometric functions to calculate the radius of rotation, the actual weight of the load and the percent of the load as compared to the maximum load for which the crane is designed.

Abstract: A crane load detection system is provided having an electronic strain gage located in series with the deadline of the boom and located adjacent the gantry tie-down of the deadline of the boom. A pendulum potentiometer and transmitter are provided on the boom adjacent its pivot point. A microprocessor is employed to solve serial triangles using vector analysis and trigonometric functions to calculate the radius of rotation, the actual weight of the load and the percent of the load as compared to the maximum load for which the crane is designed.

Abstract: In order to develop a suitable analogous voltage to the speed of operation of slow moving machinery having cyclical characteristics, the instant invention provides means for generation of a repetitive electrical input signal for each revolution of cycle of machine operation. The time between repetitions of the input signal is measured, the reciprocal of the elapsed time between cycles or revolutions is calculated, appropriately scaled, and presented as a voltage analog which is proportional to the speed at which the machinery operates. This voltage analog signal may be utilized in conjunction with analog or digital totalizing circuitry to provide totalized signals that may be used to identify the point at which preventative maintenance should be conducted.

Abstract: An improved ton-mile recorder for accurately measuring the work done by a cable of a drawworks system. Analog signals representing weight applied to the cable and pulse signals representative of cable movement are integrated electronically to provide electrical gate pulse signals that represent work done by the cable. A high degree of accuracy of the resulting work indicating pulse signals is accomplished by synchronizing a gate pulse of predetermined duration with a pulse train, the frequency of which is representative of weight applied to the cable. A proximity detector is employed to detect the various evenly spaced bolts of a bolt circle of the typical drawworks clutch which rotates along with the cable drum. As each bolt passes the proximity detector, a pulse signal is transmitted which indicates a segment of drum movement and thus a segment of cable movement.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for measurement of expected wear on a wide range of mechanisms that are subjected to a plurality of wear inducing factors. Where detection of wear is desired for certain components of oilwell drilling fluid piston pumps the method may be accomplished by recording a function of the product of piston speed, pump generated fluid pressure and time. Means are provided for monitoring signals representing pump pressure and speed or cycles, multiplying these signal quantities and obtaining a product which is a function of hydraulic horsepower hours. This product is then scaled to a convenient degree, and totalized. The invention is applicable to many types of mechanical and electro-mechanical devices including centrifugal and positive displacement pumps, compressors, and to various types of engines and motors. The invention provides a means to record the work output for any machine wherein it is possible to obtain electrical analog signals representing speed or cycles and torque or pressure.