Abstract: A wellhead assembly for use on a well with a blowout preventer stack having a bore therethrough that utilizes an intervention spool sealingly secured between a horizontal tree and the blowout preventer stack to allow the use of a removable valve package positioned in the intervention spool with valve actuators mounted on the exterior of the intervention spool is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting riser between a floating vessel and a subsea structure that reduces the size of the air tanks used and thereby allow closer positioning of the well slots and overall reduction in size of the floating vessel is disclosed. The apparatus includes an inverted hydraulically actuated connector positioned on the subsea structure and oriented to receive and sealingly attach to a complementary end connection member on the lower end of the riser string.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting riser between a floating vessel and a subsea structure that reduces the size of the air tanks used and thereby allow closer positioning of the well slots and overall reduction in size of the floating vessel is disclosed. The apparatus includes an inverted hydraulically actuated connector positioned on the subsea structure and oriented to receive and sealingly attach to a complementary end connection member on the lower end of the riser string.

Abstract: A flitch or cant is successively transported by a pair of differentially operated clamps, first to a scanning station, and then to a sawing station where the wane is removed. A series of flitches are processed in this manner such that as the wane edge from a first flitch is sawn, a next flitch in succession is optically scanned. The sawing and scanning is accomplished by means of a combination saw and scanner which moves in a direction longitudinal of the flitch as respective flitches are held in stationary positions at the sawing station and at the scanning station. Between passes of the saw-scanner combination, the sawn flitch is conveyed away and the next flitch in line is conveyed forwardly to the sawing position while being skewed by the clamps in accordance with the characterization generated by the scanner.

Abstract: A flitch or cant is successively transported by a pair of differentially operated clamps, first to a scanning station, and then to a sawing station where the wane is removed. A series of flitches is processed in this manner such that as the wane edge from a first flitch is sawn, a next flitch in succession is optically scanned. The sawing and scanning is accomplished by means of a combination saw and scanner which moves in a direction longitudinal of the flitch as respective flitches are held in stationary positions at the sawing station and at the scanning station. Between passes of the saw-scanner combination, the sawn flitch is conveyed away and the next flitch in line is conveyed forwardly to the sawing position while being skewed by the clamps in accordance with the characterization generated by the scanner.

Abstract: A bandmill has first and second wheels and an endless saw blade trained about the wheels. The wheels are mounted to rotate about respective axes which lie in a common plane, but the first wheel is adjustable in position relative to the second wheel with respect to both its distance from the second wheel and its orientation relative to the second wheel. A tensioning mechanism is effective to force the first wheel away from the second wheel, while maintaining the axes of rotation of the two wheels substantially parallel, in response to a signal which is provided by a load cell and represents the tension in the saw blade. A wheel tilt mechanism is effective to adjust the angular position of the first wheel relative to the second wheel in response to a signal indicating the path followed by the saw blade, for maintaining the blade on a proper path.

Abstract: In an automatic sawmill, logs are first sawn horizontally into pieces that are respectively deposited flat side down on a bed plate and conveyed through multiple, close spaced horizontal bandsaws located above the bed plate. Sawn cants are positioned by clamps to have their waney edges removed by a flying saw after clamp retraction.

Abstract: A tubing retrievable surface controlled subsurface safety valve having a rotatable ball-type flow closure element is disclosed. A tubular operator assembly imparts longitudinal movement to the ball greater than the predetermined movement required to effect the desired ball rotation. The ball element is normally maintained by a closing spring arrangement and is rotated open by increased control fluid pressure. Camming slides on the ball rotation pins reduce contact stress during ball operation.A locking sleeve having a longitudinal locking movement greater than the predetermined movement to rotate the ball open is provided. Operating movement of the locking sleeve uncovers a control fluid port for operating a supplemental subsurface valve operably secured with the valve. Prior to activating the locking sleeve to install the supplemental valve, the valve may be controlled by control fluid pressure communicated into an expansible chamber.