Patents by Inventor Harald Hufthammer

Harald Hufthammer 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: 9388653
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for performing a plug and abandonment operation on a subsea well. A wellhead interface module is located on a wellhead, which accommodates a volume of wellbore fluid in fluid communication with the wellbore. A system control module receives a signal from a sensor in the chamber and is configured to derive volume data relating to a change in volume of wellbore fluid in the chamber and compares the derived volume data with a volume change expected due to the removal of tubing from the wellbore. In embodiments of the invention, this enables a change in wellbore conditions to be characterized, for example a fluid influx or a fluid loss, from the volume data. The method may comprise providing wellbore fluid to the apparatus to replace fluid which enters the wellbore to occupy the volume vacated by the tubing, and/or removing or adding fluid in fluid influx/loss situations respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: IKM CLEANDRILL AS
    Inventor: Harald Hufthammer
  • Publication number: 20160097468
    Abstract: An apparatus (130) for the deployment of a flexible hose having a hose coupling from an offshore platform or vessel. The apparatus comprises a support frame (134) and a rotating assembly (132) mounted on the support frame on a main rotation axis. The rotating assembly has a plurality of hose guide surfaces (142) arranged to contact a flexible hose and enable relative movement of the flexible hose with respect to the rotating assembly. The rotating assembly comprises at least one radial recess (139) disposed between a pair of adjacent hose guide surfaces, and which is configured to accommodate a hose coupling. Methods of use in riserless offshore drilling operations are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: IKM Cleandrill AS
    Inventor: Harald Hufthammer
  • Publication number: 20160017683
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for performing a plug and abandonment operation on a subsea well. A wellhead interface module is located on a wellhead, which accommodates a volume of wellbore fluid in fluid communication with the wellbore. A system control module receives a signal from a sensor in the chamber and is configured to derive volume data relating to a change in volume of wellbore fluid in the chamber and compares the derived volume data with a volume change expected due to the removal of tubing from the wellbore. In embodiments of the invention, this enables a change in wellbore conditions to be characterised, for example a fluid influx or a fluid loss, from the volume data. The method may comprise providing wellbore fluid to the apparatus to replace fluid which enters the wellbore to occupy the volume vacated by the tubing, and/or removing or adding fluid in fluid influx/loss situations respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventor: Harald Hufthammer
  • Patent number: 7913764
    Abstract: Systems and methods for drilling a well bore in a subsea formation from an offshore structure positioned on a water surface with a drill string that is suspended from the structure and includes a bottom hole assembly adapted to form a top hole portion of the well bore. A drilling fluid source on the offshore structure supplies drilling fluid through the drill string to the bottom hole assembly where the drilling fluid exits from the bottom hole assembly during drilling and returns up the well bore. A suction module is disposed at the sea floor and collects the drilling fluid emerging from the well bore. A pump module is disposed on a return line, which is in fluid communication with the suction module, at a position below the water surface and above the sea floor. The pump module is operable to receive drilling fluid from the suction module and pump the drilling fluid through the return pipe to the same offshore structure or a different offshore structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: AGR Subsea, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Smith, Nils Lennart Rolland, Harald Hufthammer, Roger Stave
  • Publication number: 20090032301
    Abstract: Systems and methods for drilling a well bore in a subsea formation from an offshore structure positioned on a water surface with a drill string that is suspended from the structure and includes a bottom hole assembly adapted to form a top hole portion of the well bore. A drilling fluid source on the offshore structure supplies drilling fluid through the drill string to the bottom hole assembly where the drilling fluid exits from the bottom hole assembly during drilling and returns up the well bore. A suction module is disposed at the sea floor and collects the drilling fluid emerging from the well bore. A pump module is disposed on a return line, which is in fluid communication with the suction module, at a position below the water surface and above the sea floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: David E. Smith, Nils Lennart Rolland, Harald Hufthammer, Roger Stave