Abstract: A lateral connector for a tube assembly has a modular unit which can be used to establish a lateral connection through the sidewall of a tubular member positioned around it. The modular unit has a carrier ring, a coupling element, and a carrier body. The coupling element can move radially but not axially. The carrier ring has generally cylindrical inside and outside surfaces. The coupling element is carried by the carrier ring. The coupling element has a longitudinal axis which is generally radially positioned with respect to the longitudinal axis of the carrier ring. The coupling element has an inner end and an outer end and the outer end has a sealing face. A carrier body having a generally cylindrical outside surface is positioned coaxially inside the carrier ring. The cylindrical outside surface of the carrier body is adjacent to the cylindrical inside surface of the carrier ring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved subsea wellhead and to the method of retrieving the production string from the wellhead and the method of retrieving the tree from the wellhead. The wellhead includes a lower tubing hanger landing within the wellhead housing and an upper false tubing hanger landed within the tree. The upper false tubing hanger includes preps for receiving two plugs within its central bore above the radial bore through the upper tubing hanger which communicates with the radial bore through the tree through which production fluids flow from the well. A tubular member extends from the upper false tubing hanger to the lower tubing hanger and defines the flow passage through which production fluids flow between the two hangers. A sleeve surrounds the exterior of the tubular member and contains fluids communicated to the interior of the sleeve from the annulus surrounding the tubing string.

Abstract: A flowline safety joint having a tubular member supported from a subsea tree structure, an elbow having a horizontal passage therethrough and a vertical passage extending upwardly from said horizontal passage, a stab-in male member having a leading end, a trailing flowline connecting end, a passage therein and terminating short of said leading end and a vertical opening in said male member communicating with said vertical passage through said elbow when installed within said horizontal passage, and a flat surface surrounding the opening of said vertical opening in said male member. A seal providing a metal-to-metal seal between the lower end of the tubular member and the flat surface on said male member, and a swivel member for connecting said elbow to said tubular member, said swivel member including an element increasing the downward loading of said tubular on said seal to control the loading of said male member at which it releases from said horizontal passage through said elbow.

Abstract: An improved tubing hanger having an annulus passageway therethrough and with an improved annulus control valve therein including an annular hanger body having an annulus passageway extending therethrough with a chamber interrupting said passageway and a valve ball positioned within said chamber for rotation responsive to rotation of gear means associated with said valve ball, a sleeve slidably positioned within said hanger body and having a rack secured thereto and engaging said gear means so that movement of said sleeve controls the position of said valve ball to open and close flow through said annulus passageway.

Abstract: An improved riser for a multiple bore subsea well providing wireline access to each of the bores through a single opening at the upper end of the riser and including an upper tubular member having a single bore, a tubular housing surrounding the lower portion of said upper tubular member, bearing means within said tubular housing for supporting rotation of said upper tubular member with respect to said tubular housing, a lower housing member having multiple bores which mate with the multiple bores of the tubing hanger running tool or the christmas tree running tool, said upper tubular member having an offset portion within said tubular housing which, when rotated can align with the opening of the upper end of the bores through said lower housing member, means securing the lower end of said tubular housing to said lower housing member, a skirt connected to said upper tubular member within said tubular housing and extending into sealing engagement with said lower housing member and being in surrounding relation

Abstract: A completion system or tree system for a subsea well having an anchor base on bottom surrounding a well bore, a conductor pipe lining the upper end of the well bore and connecting to the anchor base, a guide base landed on the anchor base and having an upwardly facing funnel positioned in the opening of the anchor base, and a production string extending through the conductor pipe and bending to a substantially horizontal position slightly above the guide base with the start of its gradual bend being below the funnel and with sharp bend production tubing bending immediately avove the funnel since no high profile guide base is present on the anchor base.

Abstract: A tubular joint having two tubular members having an inner end tapered to provide sealing surfaces, means for joining the tubular members together with the tapered end surfaces adjoining each other, and a seal ring having an inner surface and tapered outer surfaces mating with the tapers of the tapered end surfaces and at least one port through the ring from the mid point of one of its tapered outer surfaces to its inner surface.

Abstract: After the tube portion to be removed is severed from the remainder of the U-tube and its weld to the header is machined off, the internal surface of the portion is engaged internally by an ID gripper and pulled out of the header. Then the external surface is engaged by an OD gripper and pulled further out of the header. The first tube length is pulled out as far as the space under the header permits and is then cut off. Successive lengths are likewise pulled out and cut off.The apparatus for accomplishing this object includes a base secured to the header by expanded mandrel mechanisms. A carriage is suspended from the base on screws which are driven by a motor to move the carriage away from and towards the base. An OD gripper assembly is suspended from the carriage and is movable by fluoroactuated piston rods away from and towards the carriage. An ID gripper assembly extends through the OD gripper assembly. The gripper of the ID assembly is actuable to engage the internal surface of the tube portion.

Abstract: An internal tube cutter for cutting the inside of tubes of a nuclear steam generator comprises an extendable cutter capable of being disposed within a tube of a steam generator along with a flexible transverse positioning mechanism disposed on the cutter for positioning the cutter within the tube. The cutter is attached to a drive mechanism that is capable of rotating the cutter when the cutter is in an extended position to thereby cut the inside of the tube. The cutter and flexible transverse positioning mechanism are capable of being inserted into and traversing through tubes whose inside diameter is severely reduced due to denting while being capable of being extended and severing the tube at a section of the tube having a normal diameter.