Patents by Inventor Erik Levold
Erik Levold 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).
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Patent number: 11867322Abstract: A method of connecting a conduit to a subsea structure is provided. In the disclosed method, a tensioning member is provided on the conduit and attached to the conduit at two locations proximate a first end of the conduit. The tensioning member is used to maintain a curvature formed in the conduit between the two locations e.g. by deflecting a portion of the conduit. A first end of the conduit is engaged with a guide assembly provided adjacent to the subsea structure, and tension in the tensioning member is released to adjust the axial position of the first end of the conduit to enable direct connection between the conduit and the subsea structure. A method of disconnecting a conduit from a subsea structure, and a system for connecting a conduit to a subsea structure are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2020Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Equinor Energy ASInventors: Håvar Ilstad, Erik Levold, Geir Endal, Kjell Einar Ellingsen, Bjørgulf Haukelidsæter Eidesen
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Publication number: 20230407992Abstract: A method of installing a subsea pipeline having a direct tie-in between a first section of the pipeline and a subsea structure, wherein, after installation, the first section is located at a tie-in position. The method comprises: laying at least a portion of the pipeline from a laying vessel, the at least a portion of the pipeline including the first section and a second section of the pipeline, such that the first section is beyond the tie-in position in the laying direction, and the first section and the tie-in position are beyond the second section in the laying direction; either before, during or after said laying, configuring the second section such that bending will be preferentially induced in the second section of the at least a portion of the pipeline when the first section is pushed or pulled back to the tie-in position; pushing or pulling the first section back to the tie-in position, wherein, responsive to said pushing or pulling, bending is preferentially induced in the second section.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2021Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: Equinor Energy ASInventors: Erik LEVOLD, Håvar ILSTAD, Marie Finstad OPGÅRD
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Publication number: 20220221083Abstract: A method of connecting a conduit to a subsea structure is provided. In the disclosed method, a tensioning member is provided on the conduit and attached to the conduit at two locations proximate a first end of the conduit. The tensioning member is used to maintain a curvature formed in the conduit between the two locations e.g. by deflecting a portion of the conduit. A first end of the conduit is engaged with a guide assembly provided adjacent to the subsea structure, and tension in the tensioning member is released to adjust the axial position of the first end of the conduit to enable direct connection between the conduit and the subsea structure. A method of disconnecting a conduit from a subsea structure, and a system for connecting a conduit to a subsea structure are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2020Publication date: July 14, 2022Inventors: Håvar Ilstad, Erik Levold, Geir Endal, Kjell Einar Ellingsen, Bjørgulf Haukelidsæter Eidesen
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Patent number: 11287062Abstract: There is provided a method of interconnecting a conduit and a plurality of subsea structures. The method comprises providing a first manifold header in-line of the conduit, where the first manifold header has at least one valve installed therein, A portion of the conduit is lowered to the sea bed such that the first manifold header is engaged with a first subsea structure, and a further portion of the conduit is lowered to the sea bed. A second manifold header, having at least one valve installed therein, is provided in-line of the conduit and engaged with a second subsea structure. The length of conduit provided on the sea bed between the first subsea structure and the second subsea structure is significantly greater than the distance between the first and second subsea structures.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2018Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Equinor Energy ASInventors: Håvar Ilstad, Erik Levold
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Publication number: 20200318759Abstract: There is provided a method of interconnecting a conduit and a plurality of subsea structures. The method comprises providing a first manifold header in-line of the conduit, where the first manifold header has at least one valve installed therein. A portion of the conduit is lowered to the sea bed such that the first manifold header is engaged with a first subsea structure, and a further portion of the conduit is lowered to the sea bed. A second manifold header, having at least one valve installed therein, is provided in-line of the conduit and engaged with a second subsea structure. The length of conduit provided on the sea bed between the first subsea structure and the second subsea structure is significantly greater than the distance between the first and second subsea structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2018Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Håvard Ilstad, Erik Levold
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Patent number: 9625078Abstract: A pipeline comprising one or more pipes, the pipeline having: one or more sacrificial anodes to provide cathodic protection; one or more pre-formed one-piece integral metallic rings around at least one pipe; and one or more electrical connectors attached to the or each metallic ring and to at least one sacrificial anode to allow an electrical current to flow between the pipeline and one or more of the sacrificial anodes. Each metallic ring has a one-piece form and can be fitted to the pipe without welding.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2013Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: TECHNIP NORGE ASInventors: Sven Morten Hesjevik, Erik Levold, Per Egil Kvaale
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Publication number: 20150184788Abstract: A pipeline comprising one or more pipes, the pipeline having: ?one or more sacrificial anodes (20) thereon to provide cathodic protection; one or more pre-formed metallic rings (12) around at least one pipe; and one or more electrical connections (14) attached to the or each metallic ring and to at least one sacrificial anode to allow an electrical current to flow between the pipeline and one or more of the sacrificial anodes. ?Because the or each metallic ring has a ‘one-piece’ form, it can be fitted to the pipe without welding, avoiding the problems associated with welding discussed above. A one-piece ring also has no obvious weaknesses, so that there is greater assurance of its fixing to or with the pipe, and the ring is more compliant with any working on the pipe, in particular bending, compared with sleeves or other types of long sections.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2013Publication date: July 2, 2015Inventors: Sven Morten Hesjevik, Erik Levold, Per Egil Kvaale
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Patent number: 8226327Abstract: Method for laying a pipeline onto a seabed from a lay barge, the pipeline having an inner corrosion proof metallic cladding that is closely fitted with metallic contact to an outer pipe material that is less corrosion proof. The method includes reeling a section of the pipeline onto a pipe laying drum, while an overpressure of 5-25 bar is maintained within the section by a pressurized fluid inside the section, b) joining a further pipeline section to the section already reeled onto the pipe laying drum, while the pipeline is motionless without mechanical movement, as the overpressure can he relieved as long as the sections are without mechanical movement, c) applying an overpressure of 5-25 bar within the sections and the further section is reeled onto the pipe laying drum, d) and joining several sections together and reeling the joined sections onto one or several pipe laying drums by repeating step b) and c) until the predetermined pipeline length is achieved.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2007Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Statoil ASAInventors: Geir Endal, Erik Levold, Håvar Ilstad
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Publication number: 20120145276Abstract: A pipeline comprising an outer steel pipe and an internal corrosion resistant covering adhesively joined to the inside of the steel pipe. The pipeline can be taken up onto a drum and later unwound and laid out without any observed deformation of the metal covering. A method for the manufacturing of the pipeline comprises the steps of applying an adhesive onto the outside of the metal covering and optionally also onto the inside of the steel pipe, inserting the metal covering into the pipe and expanding the covering until being in a good contact with the inside of the steel pipe, and curing the adhesive to make the metal covering adhere tightly to the inside of the steel pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2010Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicant: STATOIL PETROLEUM ASInventors: Håvard Ilstad, Erik Levold, Carl Henrik Ahlen
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Publication number: 20100034590Abstract: Method for laying a pipeline onto a seabed from a lay barge, the pipeline having an inner corrosion proof metallic cladding that is closely fitted with metallic contact to an outer pipe material that is less corrosion proof, distinguished in that a) a section of the pipeline is reeled onto a pipe laying drum, whilst an overpressure of 5-25 bar is maintained within the section by means of a pressurised fluid inside the section, b) a further pipeline section is joined to the section already reeled onto the pipe laying drum, whilst the pipeline is motionless without mechanical movement, as the overpressure can be relieved as long as the sections are without mechanical movement, c) an overpressure of 5-25 bar is applied within the sections and the further section is reeled onto the pipe laying drum, d) several sections are joined together and reeled onto one or several pipe laying drums by repeating step b) and c) until the predetermined pipeline length is achieved, e) the pipeline is laid from the lay barge ontoType: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2007Publication date: February 11, 2010Inventors: Geir Endal, Erik Levold, Håvar Ilstad