Patents by Inventor Ian D. Calder

Ian D. Calder 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: 7044227
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Jennings, Ian D. Calder
  • Publication number: 20030106693
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Charles E. Jennings, Ian D. Calder
  • Patent number: 6102125
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing workover operations on a subsea well that has a subsea production tree with a production passage and an annulus access passageway. The subsea production tree is secured to a lower riser portion. The lower riser portion connects to the tree and has a production passage which registers with a production passage of the tree. The apparatus also has an annulus access passage which registers with the annulus access passage of the tree. The apparatus further includes a monobore riser which extends downward from the surface. A string of tubing, preferably coiled tubing, extends through the monobore riser and defines an inner riser passage and an annular riser passage. A circulation plug is secured proximate a lower end of the coiled tubing and is landed in the lower riser portion of the subsea well. The circulation plug communicates the inner riser passage with the annulus access passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Ian D. Calder
  • Patent number: 4819967
    Abstract: A connector for tying back a wellhead (10) to a floating platform rigidly attaches to the wellhead housing (12). It is engaged with the casing hanger (14) through a bellows (86) arrangement. Strain cycling of the connection is reduced while thermal expansion and manufacturing tolerance are readily tolerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Ian D. Calder, Stephen A. Cromar