Patents by Inventor Harald Underbakke
Harald Underbakke 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: 11945006Abstract: A method of cleaning deposited solid material from a fouled portion of a gas compressor (6) whilst the gas compressor (6) is in situ in a natural gas processing system (1) is provided. The method comprises the steps of supplying a liquid cleaning agent to a gas inlet of the gas compressor (6), the liquid cleaning agent being capable of removing the deposited solid material; passing the liquid cleaning agent through the gas compressor (6) to a gas outlet of the gas compressor (6), wherein at least a portion of the cleaning agent remains in a liquid state as it passes through the fouled portion of the gas compressor (6); and recovering a fluid containing removed material that is output from the gas compressor (6) so as to prevent the removed material reaching one or more gas processing stages of the gas processing system (1) downstream of the gas compressor (6).Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2021Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Equinor Energy ASInventors: Lars Brenne, Svend Tarald Kibsgaard, Tor Bjørge, Harald Underbakke
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Publication number: 20240066560Abstract: A method of cleaning deposited solid material from a fouled portion of a gas compressor (6) whilst the gas compressor (6) is in situ in a natural gas processing system (1) is provided. The method comprises the steps of supplying a liquid cleaning agent to a gas inlet of the gas compressor (6), the liquid cleaning agent being capable of removing the deposited solid material; passing the liquid cleaning agent through the gas compressor (6) to a gas outlet of the gas compressor (6), wherein at least a portion of the cleaning agent remains in a liquid state as it passes through the fouled portion of the gas compressor (6); and recovering a fluid containing removed material that is output from the gas compressor (6) so as to prevent the removed material reaching one or more gas processing stages of the gas processing system (1) downstream of the gas compressor (6).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Lars Brenne, Svend Tarald Kibsgaard, Tor Bjørge, Harald Underbakke
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Publication number: 20220097104Abstract: A method of cleaning deposited solid material from a fouled portion of a gas compressor (6) whilst the gas compressor (6) is in situ in a natural gas processing system (1) is provided. The method comprises the steps of supplying a liquid cleaning agent to a gas inlet of the gas compressor (6), the liquid cleaning agent being capable of removing the deposited solid material; passing the liquid cleaning agent through the gas compressor (6) to a gas outlet of the gas compressor (6), wherein at least a portion of the cleaning agent remains in a liquid state as it passes through the fouled portion of the gas compressor (6); and recovering a fluid containing removed material that is output from the gas compressor (6) so as to prevent the removed material reaching one or more gas processing stages of the gas processing system (1) downstream of the gas compressor (6).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2021Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: Lars Brenne, Svend Tarald Kibsgaard, Tor Bjørge, Harald Underbakke
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Patent number: 11224900Abstract: A method of cleaning deposited solid material from a fouled portion of a gas compressor whilst the gas compressor is in situ in a natural gas processing system is provided. The method comprises the steps of supplying a liquid cleaning agent to a gas inlet of the gas compressor, the liquid cleaning agent being capable of removing the deposited solid material; passing the liquid cleaning agent through the gas compressor to a gas outlet of the gas compressor, wherein at least a portion of the cleaning agent remains in a liquid state as it passes through the fouled portion of the gas compressor; and recovering a fluid containing removed material that is output from the gas compressor so as to prevent the removed material reaching one or more gas processing stages of the gas processing system downstream of the gas compressor.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2018Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Equinor Energy ASInventors: Lars Brenne, Svend Tarald Kibsgaard, Tor Bjørge, Harald Underbakke
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Publication number: 20190374979Abstract: A method of cleaning deposited solid material from a fouled portion of a gas compressor whilst the gas compressor is in situ in a natural gas processing system is provided. The method comprises the steps of supplying a liquid cleaning agent to a gas inlet of the gas compressor, the liquid cleaning agent being capable of removing the deposited solid material; passing the liquid cleaning agent through the gas compressor to a gas outlet of the gas compressor, wherein at least a portion of the cleaning agent remains in a liquid state as it passes through the fouled portion of the gas compressor; and recovering a fluid containing removed material that is output from the gas compressor so as to prevent the removed material reaching one or more gas processing stages of the gas processing system downstream of the gas compressor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2018Publication date: December 12, 2019Applicant: Equinor Energy ASInventors: Lars Brenne, Svend Tarald Kibsgaard, Tor Bjørge, Harald Underbakke
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Patent number: 10132322Abstract: A method of operating and cleaning a compressor comprising the following steps: passing a first fluid through the compressor, the first fluid comprising gas from a separator wherein the compressor is operating to compress the first fluid passed therethrough, mixing well fluid bypassed from upstream of the separator with the gas from the separator to produce a second fluid comprising gas and liquid wherein the gas and liquid are from at least one well; and passing the second fluid through the compressor, wherein the second fluid is passed through the compressor for a limited time period to clean a surface inside the compressor, the compressor operating to compress the second fluid passed therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2016Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM ASInventors: Lars Brenne, Tor Bjorge, Harald Underbakke, Svend Tarald Kibsgaard
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Patent number: 9784076Abstract: A gas compression system and a method of flow conditioning by a gas compression system are provided. A gas compression system includes a compact flow conditioner in a form of a flow conditioner tank and a combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit comprising an impeller configured to compress a mixture of gas and liquid, wherein the gas compression system is configured such that the gas and the liquid are separated in the flow conditioner tank, the separated gas and liquid are sucked up through the separate gas and liquid pipes and re-mixed again upstream of the impeller, and the liquid is distributed in a gas flow by Venturi effect, and wherein the Venturi effect is obtained by a constriction in the outlet pipe to the impeller, just upstream of the impeller.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM ASInventors: Tor Bjorge, Lars Brenne, Harald Underbakke, Bjorn-André Egerdahl, Rune Mode Ramberg, William Bakke
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Patent number: 9784075Abstract: A combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit and a gas compression system are provided. The combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit functions on a centrifugal principle for transporting liquid and gas from a flow conditioner to a remote multi-phase receiving plant, wherein a rotating separator separates liquid and gas upstream of a compressor part of the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit, wherein the separated liquid is collected in a rotating annulus in such a way that the liquid is given kinetic energy which is converted to pressure energy in a static system, and wherein the pressurized liquid bypasses the compressor part of the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit, and then is re-mixed with the gas downstream of the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM ASInventors: Tor Bjørge, Lars Brenne, Harald Underbakke, Bjorn-André Egerdahl, Rune Mode Ramberg, William Bakke
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Patent number: 9518588Abstract: There are described methods and apparatus for operating and/or cleaning a compressor. In an embodiment, a first fluid comprising gas may be passed through the compressor, while the compressor operates to compress the first fluid. A second fluid may be passed through the compressor, the second fluid comprising gas and liquid from at least one well. The second fluid may be passed through the compressor for a limited time period to clean a surface inside the compressor, while the compressor operates to compress the second fluid.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2012Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Statoil Petroleum ASInventors: Lars Brenne, Tor Bjørge, Harald Underbakke, Svend Tarald Kibsgaard
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Publication number: 20160290366Abstract: There are described methods and apparatus for operating and/or cleaning a compressor. In an embodiment, a first fluid comprising gas may be passed through the compressor, whilst the compressor operates to compress the first fluid. A second fluid may be passed through the compressor, the second fluid comprising gas and liquid from at least one well. The second fluid may be passed through the compressor for a limited time period to clean a surface inside the compressor, whilst the compressor operates to compress the second fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Lars Brenne, Tor BJORGE, Harald UNDERBAKKE, Svend Tarald KIBSGAARD
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Patent number: 9303498Abstract: Subsea apparatus (10) for processing a well stream (2) and a method of processing a well stream subsea is described. In an embodiment, liquid (5) and gas (3) contained in the well stream (2) is separated. The separated gas (3) is cooled and the cooled gas (32) is combined with the separated liquid (5) to form a wet gas (52) for a compressor (90). An active cooling arrangement (30) may be used in one example to enhance the cooling effect provided by the cooler (30). Advantageously, the apparatus (10) can be arranged compactly, and may be provided on a subsea retrievable module.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2012Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM ASInventors: Tom Grimseth, William Bakke, Tor Bjørge, Håvard Torpe, Håvard Eidsmoen, Birgitte Nordheim Tveter, Harald Underbakke, Lars Brenne
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Publication number: 20150322763Abstract: A gas compression system and a method of flow conditioning by a gas compression system are provided. A gas compression system includes a compact flow conditioner in a form of a flow conditioner tank and a combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit comprising an impeller configured to compress a mixture of gas and liquid, wherein the gas compression system is configured such that the gas and the liquid are separated in the flow conditioner tank, the separated gas and liquid are sucked up through the separate gas and liquid pipes and re-mixed again upstream of the impeller, and the liquid is distributed in a gas flow by Venturi effect, and wherein the Venturi effect is obtained by a constriction in the outlet pipe to the impeller, just upstream of the impeller.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2015Publication date: November 12, 2015Applicant: STATOIL PETROLEUM ASInventors: Tor BJORGE, Lars BRENNE, Harald UNDERBAKKE, Bjorn-André EGERDAHL, Rune Mode RAMBERG, William BAKKE
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Publication number: 20150322749Abstract: A combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit and a gas compression system are provided. The combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit functions on a centrifugal principle for transporting liquid and gas from a flow conditioner to a remote multi-phase receiving plant, wherein a rotating separator separates liquid and gas upstream of a compressor part of the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit, wherein the separated liquid is collected in a rotating annulus in such a way that the liquid is given kinetic energy which is converted to pressure energy in a static system, and wherein the pressurized liquid bypasses the compressor part of the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit, and then is re-mixed with the gas downstream of the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2015Publication date: November 12, 2015Applicant: STATOIL PETROLEUM ASInventors: Tor BJØRGE, Lars BRENNE, Harald UNDERBAKKE, Bjorn-André EGERDAHL, Rune Mode RAMBERG, William BAKKE
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Publication number: 20150167681Abstract: There are described methods and apparatus for operating and/or cleaning a compressor. In an embodiment, a first fluid comprising gas may be passed through the compressor, whilst the compressor operates to compress the first fluid. A second fluid may be passed through the compressor, the second fluid comprising gas and liquid from at least one well. The second fluid may be passed through the compressor for a limited time period to clean a surface inside the compressor, whilst the compressor operates to compress the second fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2012Publication date: June 18, 2015Applicant: STATOIL PETROLEUM ASInventors: Lars Brenne, Tor Bjørge, Harald Underbakke, Svend Tarald Kibsgaard
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Patent number: 9032987Abstract: The invention relates to a wet gas compression system comprising a compact flow conditioner (21), intended to be placed below sea level in close vicinity to a well head or on a dry installation, said flow conditioner (21) being intended to receive a multi-phase flow through a supply pipe (11) from a sub sea well for further transport of such hydrocarbons to a multi-phase receiving plant, and where preferably avoid sand accumulation or remove as much sand as possible from the multi-phase flow, the gas (G) and the liquid (L) being separated in the flow conditioner (21) whereupon the separated gas (G) and liquid (L) are re-assembled and enters a multi-phase meter (46) prior to boosting by means of a compressor (22). In the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit (22), as an integrated unit, comprises a combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit (22) functioning on the centrifugal principle, used for trans-porting liquid and gas from a flow conditioner (21) to a remote multi-phase receiving plant.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2009Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM ASInventors: Tor Bjørge, Lars Brenne, Harald Underbakke, Bjorn-André Egerdahl, Rune Mode Ramberg, William Bakke
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Patent number: 8882446Abstract: A bearing system for a rotor in rotating machines, such as compressors, pumps, turbines, expanders, has points of bearing and sealing for the rotor each being in the form of a combined bearing and sealing formed by a stator situated within a rotating machine house and surrounding the rotor. The stator is formed with a bore, whereby an annular clearance is created between stator and rotor, and the bore is having sectional area gradually increasing in the direction of larger pressure within the rotating machine.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2009Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Statoil Petroleum ASInventor: Harald Underbakke
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Publication number: 20140202704Abstract: Subsea apparatus (10) for processing a well stream (2) and a method of processing a well stream subsea is described. In an embodiment, liquid (5) and gas (3) contained in the well stream (2) is separated. The separated gas (3) is cooled and the cooled gas (32) is combined with the separated liquid (5) to form a wet gas (52) for a compressor (90). An active cooling arrangement (30) may be used in one example to enhance the cooling effect provided by the cooler (30). Advantageously, the apparatus (10) can be arranged compactly, and may be provided on a subsea retrievable module.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2012Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: STATOIL PETROLEUM ASInventors: Tom Grimseth, William Bakke, Tor Bjørge, Håvard Torpe, Håvard Eidsmoen, Birgitte Nordheim Tveter, Harald Underbakke, Lars Brenne
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Patent number: 8534364Abstract: An underwater placed assembly produces gas or gas and oil/condensate from a subsea gaseous reservoir, where at least one production well is provided from the seabed to a production zone and at least one water injection well is provided from the seabed to an injection zone. The assembly includes: a pressure increasing device connected to the outlet of the production well in order to increase the pressure in a production flow from the production well, and a water turbine that is connected to and driving the pressure increasing device.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2008Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Statoil ASAInventor: Harald Underbakke
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Publication number: 20120163742Abstract: An axial gas thrust bearing for rotors in rotating machinery includes at least one radial disk, integral with or fastened to the rotor and one fixed seal facing each disk or two fixed seals positioned to surround each disk, lower portions of the seals being situated at a distance from the rotor to allow the inflow of compressed fluid passing in the gap between the respective disk and seals, thereby combining the properties of a balance piston and thrust bearing disk.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2010Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicant: Statoil ASAInventors: Harald Underbakke, Svend Tarald Kibsgaard, Lars Brenne
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Publication number: 20110052375Abstract: A bearing system for a rotor in rotating machines, such as compressors, pumps, turbines, expanders, has points of bearing and sealing for the rotor each being in the form of a combined bearing and sealing formed by a stator situated within a rotating machine house and surrounding the rotor. The stator is formed with a bore, whereby an annular clearance is created between stator and rotor, and the bore is having sectional area gradually increasing in the direction of larger pressure within the rotating machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2009Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: STATOIL ASAInventor: Harald Underbakke