Patents by Inventor Jean Pierre Branchut

Jean Pierre Branchut 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: 8998539
    Abstract: Disclosed is a riser including a plurality of pipelines. In one example there are three such pipelines extending from the seabed toward the surface and having an upper end supported at a depth below the sea surface. In one embodiment, a first of the pipelines acts as a central structural core, and the other pipelines are arranged around the first pipeline. In another embodiment, three pipelines are arranged around a structural core. In each case, the first of the pipelines can be a fluid injection line, and the other pipelines are production lines. Also disclosed is a riser having buoyancy along at least a part of its length. The buoyancy results in the riser having a generally circular cross-section, the circumference of which is non-contiguous. Methods of installing such risers are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Acergy France SAS
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Saint-Marcoux, Gregoire De-Roux, Jean-Pierre Branchut
  • Patent number: 8439248
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fabricating and installing a riser tower structure, preferably in a welding chamber, and a welding chamber suitable for the method. The method includes fabricating sections of the riser tower structure at a site remote from the site of installation; transporting the sections of the riser tower structure to within the vicinity of the installation site; and assembling together the sections of the riser tower structure in the vicinity of the installation site. The welding chamber includes a plurality of guide means, each providing a guide for one of the elongate elements of the riser tower structure, and floats on the sea surface when in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Subsea 7 (US) LLC
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Branchut
  • Publication number: 20120292039
    Abstract: Disclosed is a riser including a plurality of pipelines. In one example there are three such pipelines extending from the seabed toward the surface and having an upper end supported at a depth below the sea surface. In one embodiment, a first of the pipelines acts as a central structural core, and the other pipelines are arranged around the first pipeline. In another embodiment, three pipelines are arranged around a structural core. In each case, the first of the pipelines can be a fluid injection line, and the other pipelines are production lines. Also disclosed is a riser having buoyancy along at least a part of its length. The buoyancy results in the riser having a generally circular cross-section, the circumference of which is non-contiguous. Methods of installing such risers are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Saint-Marcoux, Gregoire De-Roux, Jean-Pierre Branchut
  • Patent number: 8256993
    Abstract: Disclosed is a riser tower structure including a plurality of elongate objects. The riser tower structure is provided with blocks, preferably of buoyant material, along at least part of its length. The blocks provide the riser tower with a substantially circular cross-sectional profile, wherein one or more strakes are provided on the outside of the blocks. The strakes in a main embodiment are helical. Also disclosed is a corresponding method of constructing such a riser tower structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Subsea 7 (COM) Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Branchut, Michael Middel
  • Patent number: 8186912
    Abstract: Disclosed is a riser comprising a plurality of pipelines. In one example there are three such pipelines, extending from the seabed toward the surface and having an upper end supported at a depth below the sea surface, wherein, in one embodiment a first of said pipelines acts as a central structural core, the other pipelines being arranged around said first pipeline. In another embodiment three pipelines are arranged around a structural core. In each case, the first of said pipelines may be a fluid injection line, said other pipelines being production lines. Also disclosed is a riser having buoyancy along at least a part of its length, said buoyancy resulting in said riser having a generally circular cross-section, the circumference of which being non-contiguous. Methods of installing such risers are also are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Acergy France SA
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Saint-Marcoux, Jean-Pierre Branchut, Gregoire De-Roux
  • Publication number: 20110280667
    Abstract: Disclosed is a riser tower structure including a plurality of elongate objects. The riser tower structure is provided with blocks preferably of buoyant material, along at least part of its length. The blocks provide the riser tower with a substantially circular cross-sectional profile, wherein one or more strakes are provided on the outside of the blocks. the strakes in a main embodiment are helical. Also disclosed is a corresponding method of constructing such a riser tower structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Branchut, Michael Middel
  • Publication number: 20110271508
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fabricating and installing a riser tower structure, preferably in a welding chamber, and a welding chamber suitable for the method. The method includes fabricating sections of the riser tower structure at a site remote from the site of installation; transporting the sections of the riser tower structure to within the vicinity of the installation site; and assembling together the sections of the riser tower structure in the vicinity of the installation site. The welding chamber includes a plurality of guide means, each providing a guide for one of the elongate elements of the riser tower structure, and floats on the sea surface when in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Branchut
  • Patent number: 5875991
    Abstract: A device for winding up or unwinding elongated flexible articles comprising two bearings (1) forming a winch, supported on a substantially horizontal surface (7), and means (17) for moving all the bearings (1) towards and away from one another perpendicular to the unwinding direction so that the bearing (1) may be brought to bearing relationship with a drum (9) thereby enabling a rotation of said drum, and means (14, 16) adapted to be moved to supporting contact with a drum (9) and for lifting and lowering said drum relative said bearings. The supporting contact means comprise slings (14) connected to said lifting and lowering means (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Inventor: Jean Pierre Branchut