Abstract: A tension leg structure for use with a tension leg platform or the like to interconnect an anchor on the sea floor and platform in which the tension leg structure comprises interconnected buoyant pipe members for transmitting tension forces and for withstanding hydrostatic pressure. Each member has internal watertight bulkheads defining a buoyancy chamber. Tremie pipe extends through the bulkheads of each member and has ends terminating in a slipover coupling provided within a joint interconnecting adjacent tension buoyant members.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for offshore well operations in which a tension leg platform, a multiwell template means, and a riser system are arranged to provide: effective use of the advantages of a tension leg platform, a simplified riser design, and a novel template design which minimizes orientation problems of well equipment at the sea floor. A multiwell template means in which the template frame includes a latch ring member for each well to cooperate with a retrievable guide line base frame having releasable latch members whereby angular or radial orientation of the guide line base frame is not required with respect to the template frame. A retrievable guide line base frame having alignment means thereon and guide posts with guide lines attached thereto.

Abstract: A tubing hanger assembly adapted to carry a tubing string suspended therefrom and to be connected to a landing tool for lowering of the tubing hanger assembly and tubing string into a well casing means, and landing said tubing hanger assembly on said casing means and simultaneously locking said assembly to said casing means without relative rotation of said landing tool and tubing hanger assembly. A tubing hanger assembly adapted to be releasably connected to a landing tool under conditions where the weight of the landing string is imposed upon the tubing hanger assembly whereby the connection between the landing tool and the tubing hanger assembly is releasable by relative rotation of the landing tool with respect to the tubing hanger assembly in one direction only.

Abstract: A self-purging, hydraulically actuated electrical connector for use in a hostile environment, such as in deep sea water, comprising an elongated receptacle having a tapered longitudinal chamber provided with longitudinally and radially spaced fixed electrical contacts and an elongated tapered member receivable within said chamber and provided with longitudinally and radially spaced contacts movable in a radial direction to engage the fixed contacts. Fluid pressure actuating means are provided for driving the movable contacts into engagement with the fixed contacts. Orientation means for the receptacle and the tapered member assure juxtaposition of the fixed and movable contacts. The arrangement of electrical contacts includes elastomeric protective covers configured and cooperable with the contacts to purge sea water from the immediate vicinity of the contacts.

Abstract: An offshore well apparatus so constructed and arranged to minimize chances of pollution of sea water by production fluids which may be released as a result of damage to the well apparatus resulting from natural causes, such as, action of masses of ice at the seabed, earth slides in the seabed formation, and breakage of the production system above the seabed. The offshore well apparatus includes a platform means at the sea surface and a well template means on the seabed formation beneath the platform means, a well casing means supported from the template means and extending into a well hole, riser pipe means extending into the well casing means and having a riser connecting means at its lower end connected to a production fluid control means located at a selected depth within the well casing means, and fluid pressure actuating means for the production fluid control means including means for automatically shutting off production flow at a selected depth below the seabed.

Abstract: A combined electrical-hydraulic connector means including separable, elongated body members for making and breaking electrical contacts carried by said body members in spaced relation with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof, said body members providing a separable joint means transverse to said longitudinal axis. Said body members conduct pressure fluid which passes across said joint means. Seal means are provided at said joint means and are adapted to be energized to a selected compressive state. The means for actuating seal means and the electrical contact includes fluid actuating means for simultaneously energizing or de-energizing the seal means and the electrical contact means. A rapid connection or disconnection of electrical power and hydraulic power is thereby afforded.

Abstract: A marine riser system for offshore well installations having a plurality of satellite subsea wells wherein production flow is conducted to a composite manifold structure on the sea floor, is raised to a floating platform for processing and processed production fluid is then returned to the manifold for transfer to storage or other facility. A riser pipe system which extends between the manifold structure at the sea floor and a floating platform wherein unprocessed production fluid is transported under high pressure in the riser system by a plurality of satellite or perimeter riser pipes which are arranged in a circle about a central riser pipe and which are separately and independently supported and maintained. Processed production fluid is conducted under low pressure through the central riser pipe at the center of the arrangement of satellite pipes, the central riser pipe providing a main structural member for the riser system.

Abstract: An apparatus for terminating a subsea flowline at an offshore structure by providing a bend in the continuous flowline at the bottom of the offshore structure to provide an upstanding flowline end portion adapted to be secured to the offshore structure. A pipe bending device comprising a plurality of spaced cylindrical segments sleeved over a selected location on the flowline with adjacent segments pivotally interconnected to each other on one side of the flowline and end cylindrical segments pivotally interconnected to each other by a cylinder and piston means on the opposite side of the flowline. The device is fixed to the flowline at an end segment thereof. Actuation of the cylinder and piston means imposes a bending force on the flowline within the cylindrical segments for imparting a bend of selected radius to the flowline within the cylindrical segments.