Abstract: An oil flow line and power device system has a tube for the transportation of oil and a power device which can be received in the tube. The tube is provided with an electric power transmission line extending along at least some of the length and has a first power transfer unit which can cooperate with a second power transfer unit on the power outlet device such that the other power transfer units cooperate to transfer power from the transmission line to the power device.

Abstract: Test equipment is deployed from a floating vessel or the like, the test equipment comprising testing apparatus for determining geotechnical, geophysical, geochemical, geological characteristics, and soil penetrator which forms an exploratory hole. The testing apparatus also includes at least one sensor or sampler. The test equipment being deployed by coiled tubing or the like, the one end of the coiled tubing being attached to the vessel. The test equipment is of sufficient weight to keep itself and the coiled tubing above it substantially vertical. The test equipment is also kept correctly orientated by a structure resting substantially on the seabed. A heave compensatior, such as one or more winching lines at a constant load tension which are attached to and support the coiled tubing. A casing can be attached to the test equipment and introduced to the exploratory hole by the soil penetrator. Such test equipment can be deployed at two separate locations simultaneously from the same vessel.

Abstract: A drillpipe line installation system, the drillpipe string being composed of drillpipe sections which are added and removed to increase and decrease the length of the drillpipe, and a length of cable is disposed within the drillpipe string. The length of this cable is greater than that of the drillpipe string when the cable is put in the drill pipe. The system includes a lower cable storage means which stows the cable in a compact manner and pays the cable out when the length of the drillpipe is increases, and an upper cable storage means which can take up the cable in a compact manner when the length of the drillpipe is decreased.

Abstract: A variable orientation downhole actuation tool is made up of a first part which is adapted to be fixed with respect to the end of a down hole tube, and a second part which is adjustable with respect to the first part. The first and second parts are adjustable with respect to each other in any two of the three Euler angles possible angles, that is, the included angle or bend of a respective reference axis, the plane of included angle, or direction, and the rotation of the first body about its reference axis. It may also include a third part such that the third part is adjusted by at least one of the possible angles with respect to the second part, and the second part is adjusted by a further of the possible angles with respect to the first part. A passageway is provided between the first and second parts for the conveyance of material, gas, liquid, solid or some combination.

Abstract: An oil flow line and power device system has a tube for the transportation of oil and a power device which can be received in the tube. The tube is provided with an electric power transmission line extending along at least some of the length and has a first power transfer unit which can cooperate with a second power transfer unit on the power outlet device such that the other power transfer units cooperate to transfer power from the transmission line to the power device.

Abstract: A coiled tubing system includes a length of coiled tubing, a cable and an inner tube. The inner tube and the cable are installed in the coiled tubing, and then either the coiled tubing or the inner tube or both are deformed along most of the length of the system so that the cable is secured between the inner surface of the coiled tubing and the outer surface of the inner tube. The coiled tubing and the inner tube may be coaxial, with the cable situated in the annulus between the coiled tubing and the inner tube. The deformation may be produced by a swaging die introduced into the inner tube, the application of a high pressure fluid or gas, crimping the outer surface of the coiled tubing, or using an inner tube reversibly deformable through the application of tension. Similarly, a conducting member may be secured in a system with a length of coiled tubing and an inner tube. Also, a cable or a conducting member may be installed upon an inner tube which may then be removed.

Abstract: A riser system connecting a oil or gas well head and a surface vessel comprises a first riser section maintained substantially vertically under tension, attached for example by a tension cable to a constant load tensioner means mounted on the vessel, and a flexible second riser section arranged above the first riser, the second riser being able to flex to accommodate movements in the surface vessel. The second riser section includes a curvature limiter, achieved for example by making the riser from a material of variable stiffness along the riser's length. An emergency disconnect valve is provided between the lower riser section and the upper flexible section. An alternative curvature limiter comprises a plurality of discrete collars which are connected together and surround the outer diameter of the second riser.

Abstract: A safety valve and pump apparatus has an electric pump, a safety valve, a packing means, a continuous length of tubing extending from the surface to the location of the safety valve and pump, a control means provided to operate the safety valve and the pump, and a transmission means disposed along the tubing to transmit signals from the control means to the safety valve and the pump. The tubing, the safety valve and the pump are all being concentrically aligned The electric pump is releasably attached to the safety valve by pump connection means, so that the pump may be disconnected from the apparatus above and left in the well, and may afterwards be retrieved. Likewise, the safety valve is releasably attached to the packing means by packer connection means.

Abstract: A mooring apparatus for securing a mooring line for a floating rig or the like, includes a soil penetration means, an anchoring means, and coiled tubing or the like, the soil penetration means and anchoring means being arranged upon the coiled tubing. Fluid may be pumped down the coiled tubing to drive the soil penetration means, or to activate the anchor. A transmission cable, to control the mooring system or supply it with power, may also be disposed along the coiled tubing. Various penetration means, such as drill and helical augers may be used. For soft soil, the soil penetration means may include nozzles to erode the soil. The soil penetration means may either be retracted, of sacrificed to form part of the anchor. The anchor may then be fixed securely by supplying concrete or the like down the coiled tubing and into the hole. The mooring apparatus includes a buoy, releasable by remote signals.

Abstract: A method of installing a casing section in a well, by means of first and second connection devices arranged on a tubular lowering device, the first connection device being connected at an upper end of the casing section and the second connection device being connected at a lower end of the casing section, the tubular lowering device extending through the casing section. First and second flow paths are provided to enable fluids from the well to pass through the inside of the casing, as the casing is lowered into the well. A hollow is provided through the second connection device connecting the inside of the tubular lowering device to the outside of the casing. A lockable nonreturn valve is provided in the hollow which permits the well fluids to flow form inside the internal bore of the tubular lowering device to the well outside the section being installed, and also permitting fluids to flow form the well to the inside of the tubular lowering device and thus back to surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing debris from a bore hole, comprising a housing, and a cylindrical electric motor coupled coaxially to a direct drive pump. The housing includes a debris entry port into which the debris is induced to flow into the housing, and the inside of the housing is maintained at a pressure which is lower than the outside pressure. The electric motor has a central bore through which material pumped by the pump can pass. The apparatus includes a head rotatable by the motor which engages the debris deposits in the bore hole. Where the pump is a direct drive worm pump, the head may be directly attached to the worm of the pump. In one embodiment, the housing extends along the whole length of the motor and pump, with the apparatus including a port settable to allow debris to be pumped into the housing from either end. Alternatively, a debris collection means may be included for effectively isolating any debris pumped by the pump from the bore hole.

Abstract: An intervention riser for an oil or gas well, which forms a connection between the well head and a floating surface vessel, is sufficiently flexible to accommodate the relative vertical movement between and the well head and a floating surface vessel, is attached to a compensating deck on the vessel which is free to move vertically relative to the vessel, and has winching means having a winch line attached to the riser such that the winching means may pull upon the riser. The compensating deck comprises a deck surface supported on at least one vertically arranged gantry support. The riser system comprises a lower riser section which extends substantially vertically and is essentially rigid, being maintained under tension, and a flexible upper riser section to accommodate movements in the surface vessel.

Abstract: Coiled tubing for weld purposes is provided with a conduit which can be connected to a power source at one end and to a power device intended to be lowered into the well at the other. The tubing is filled with a low viscosity composition which is then set to a high viscosity state to anchor the conduit to the inner wall of the tubing and thereby hold the conduit in place so that the coiled tubing will not suffer from the capstan effect.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conduit and coiled tubing system for deployment in a well, in which the conduit is arranged internally of the coiled tubing, and one end of the coiled tubing is attached to a powered device such as a motor or a drill which is to be installed in the well, and wherein the conduit is connected at one end to a power supply at the surface and connected at the opposite end to the powered device and wherein, in a locked state, the coiled tube comprises at least one protrusion extending inwardly from its internal wall and acts against the conduit or an anchoring surface provided thereon, to prevent axial movement of the conduit with respect to the coiled tubing at least on one direction. An anchoring collar may be provided on the tube against which the protrusions engage to secure the conduit in position inside the tube.

Abstract: An offshore oil or gas well riser system which forms a connection between the well head and a surface vessel. The system has a first riser section which extends vertically and is essentially rigid and a second riser section which is made of a flexible material to accommodate movements of the surface vessel. The first riser section has buoyancy means attached to its upper end to support at least partly the weight of the first riser section, and the first and second riser sections have corresponding first and second bores which provide a continuous path between the surface vessel and the well head. The profile of the flexible second riser section is variable to provide a smooth continuous path through its corresponding second bore and such that the path does not extend below the upper end of the first riser section.

Abstract: A coil tube and conduit system for feeding into a well has the coiled tube form an annular space closed at its top and herein a relatively dense liquid while the conduit is provided with buoyancy means so that within that coiled tube the conduit can be buoyed up by the confining liquid and hence the weight of the conduit relieved.

Abstract: A method of providing a casing in well from a series of casing sections. The first section is provided from the top of the well and the subsequent sections are arranged progressively downwards therefrom. The subsequent section to be fitted is lowered into the well by a suitable lowering tool, such as a coiled tubing runner. The well fluids which are displaced by the lowering of the subsequent section and the lowering tool, passes from the lower portion of the well up through the internal bore of the section to be fitted. The displaced fluids pass out from the internal bore of the lowering tool into an outside annulus between the lowering tool and existing casing through radial closable openings or side valves.

Abstract: The invention relates to a well casing 11 including at least two casing lengths 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 with a first casing section 12 having and outside diameter OD12 and an inside diameter ID12 being fitted and cemented in position extending downwardly from the top of the well. The remaining sections are installed subsequently each subsequent casing section 13, 14, 15, 16 having an outside diameter OD13, OD14, OD15, OD16 and an inside diameter ID13, ID14, ID15, ID16 and the diametrical difference D1, D2, D3, D4, D5 between the outside diameter OD13, OD14, OD15, OD16 of the sections 13, 14, 15, 16 being less that the internal diameter ID12, ID13, ID14, ID15 of the corresponding fitted sections 12, 13, 14, 15 being an amount which is just sufficient for the subsequent sections 13, 14, 15, 16 to pass down through the internal bore of the corresponding fitted section 12, 13, 14, 15.

Abstract: The invention relates to a guide arrangement 1 for a riser assembly 10 including a length of a second riser tube 6 running from a well head 2 to a surface vessel 6. First buoys 8 are provided which permit the evacuation and refilling of water to adjust the buoyancy effect and comprise a system to admit a controlled amount air or water and which are connected to the lower end of the riser assembly 10 by a first line 14 via a pulley 16 such that as the first buoys are raised the riser assembly 10 is pulled downwards towards the well head. Second buoys are provided to form a rigid frame work for the guide arrangement 1 when air has replaced the water contained therein. Support buoys 22 are connected to the first and second riser tubes 4, 8 by air line tubes 13 which enable air to be removed from and added to the support buoys 22 to adjust the amount of buoyancy they provide.

Abstract: A system for accessing a subsea well in which a guide on a buoy system is tethered to the well head and the buoy is evacuated to render the guide arrangement rigid and a flexible coil tubing from a surface vessel above the well head is guided through this arrangement to the well head while adjustable buoyancy is provided along the flexible tubing between the vessel and the well head for controlling the profile of the tubing.