Patents by Inventor Lacey Coffey

Lacey Coffey 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).

  • Publication number: 20060154764
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a tensioner assembly for providing tensile force from a floating vessel at the surface of the ocean to the blowout preventer stack, or production tree, which is connected to the wellhead at the sea floor. The tensioner assembly compensates for vessel motion induced by wave action and heave and maintains a variable tension to the riser string alleviating the potential for compression and thus buckling or failure of the riser string. The tensioner assembly of the present invention includes a cylinder, a stop tube disposed with the cylinder, and a ram slidably engaged within the stop tube. The tensioner assembly also includes at least one gas, or air, transfer tube to create a pressurized air over hydraulic fluid arrangement to provide tensile force to the tensioner assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Williams, Lacey Coffey
  • Publication number: 20050247452
    Abstract: A closed system drill string compensator having a hydraulic fluid accumulator, at least one air pressure vessel, and a piston and a piston rod slidably engaged within a cylinder. The drill string compensator provides tensioning force for supporting a drill string and permits the drilling vessel to remain connected to the drill string during ocean level changes caused by wave action or ocean heave. In one embodiment, the accumulator surrounds the cylinder and at least one air pressure vessel is radially disposed around the accumulator and the cylinder. In another embodiment, the accumulator surrounds the cylinder and includes two ports, one port for permitting fluid communication between the cylinder and the accumulator and a second port for permitting fluid communication between the accumulator and the air pressure vessel, the first port including a shut-off valve disposed therein. Methods of compensating a drill string are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventors: Richard Williams, Lacey Coffey