Patents by Inventor Norman D. Howard

Norman D. Howard 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: 9327806
    Abstract: Provided is an arctic drill ship in which a weather tight structure protecting a drill floor and a drilling work area from outside air is coupled to a side strake around the drilling work area. It is possible to economically and easily manufacture the weather tight structure which minimizes the influence of outside air on the drilling operation in the polar regions, and it is possible to efficiently support the hull longitudinal strength and the weather tight structure with the use of the side strake structure solely. Therefore, a structure which may cause a disturbance in the drilling work area is minimized, and it is unnecessary to install a separate structural reinforcement part for a drilling workspace in the polar regions. In addition, the drilling workspace in the polar regions can be effectively ensured, and a spatial limitation in an upper portion of a moonpool can be solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignees: DAEWOO SHIPBUILDING & MARINE ENGINEERING CO., LTD., TRANSOCEAN SEDCO FOREX VENTURES LIMITED
    Inventors: Norman D. Howard, Gi Yun Lee, Hun Gi Lee
  • Patent number: 9296449
    Abstract: Provided is an arctic drill ship an arctic drill ship which includes a weather tight structure protecting a drill floor from air, and a side strake supporting the weather tight structure around a drilling work area. It is possible to economically and easily manufacture the weather tight structure which minimizes the influence of outside air on the drilling operation in the polar regions, and it is possible to efficiently support the hull longitudinal strength and the weather tight structure with the use of the side strake structure solely. Therefore, a structure which may cause a disturbance in the drilling work area is minimized, and it is unnecessary to install a separate structural reinforcement member for a drilling workspace in the polar regions. In addition, the drilling workspace in the polar regions can be effectively ensured, and a spatial limitation in an upper portion of a moonpool can be solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignees: TRANSOCEAN SEDCO FOREX VENTURES LIMITED, DAEWOO SHIPBUILDING & MARINE ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norman D. Howard, Gi Yun Lee, Hun Gi Lee
  • Publication number: 20140116317
    Abstract: Provided is an arctic drill ship an arctic drill ship which includes a weather tight structure protecting a drill floor from air, and a side strake supporting the weather tight structure around a drilling work area. It is possible to economically and easily manufacture the weather tight structure which minimizes the influence of outside air on the drilling operation in the polar regions, and it is possible to efficiently support the hull longitudinal strength and the weather tight structure with the use of the side strake structure solely. Therefore, a structure which may cause a disturbance in the drilling work area is minimized, and it is unnecessary to install a separate structural reinforcement member for a drilling workspace in the polar regions. In addition, the drilling workspace in the polar regions can be effectively ensured, and a spatial limitation in an upper portion of a moonpool can be solved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicants: TRANSOCEAN SEDCO FOREX VENTURES LIMITED, DAEWOO SHIPBUILDING & MARINE ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norman D. Howard, Gi Yun Lee, Hun Gi Lee
  • Publication number: 20140102345
    Abstract: Provided is an arctic drill ship in which a weather tight structure protecting a drill floor and a drilling work area from outside air is coupled to a side strake around the drilling work area. It is possible to economically and easily manufacture the weather tight structure which minimizes the influence of outside air on the drilling operation in the polar regions, and it is possible to efficiently support the hull longitudinal strength and the weather tight structure with the use of the side strake structure solely. Therefore, a structure which may cause a disturbance in the drilling work area is minimized, and it is unnecessary to install a separate structural reinforcement part for a drilling workspace in the polar regions. In addition, the drilling workspace in the polar regions can be effectively ensured, and a spatial limitation in an upper portion of a moonpool can be solved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicants: TRANSOCEAN SEDCO FOREX VENTURES LIMITED, DAEWOO SHIPBUILDING & MARINE ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norman D. Howard, Gi Yun Lee, Hun Gi Lee