Abstract: A latch assembly is described for use with a rotating control device. The rotating control device provides a rotating seal to permit pressure control in an annulus surrounding a rotating tubular member such as a drill string in an offshore drilling operation. The latch assembly is operable to engage and disengage a body of the rotating control device from a remote surface location by wireless communication. An on-board actuation system is carried by the latch assembly such that no energy lines (hydraulic or otherwise) are required to couple the latch assembly to the surface location. The latch assembly may include both an operating latch mechanism and a running latch mechanism to selectively couple the latch assembly to one or both of the body of the rotating control device and a tubular member such as a drill string or other conveyance for running and pulling operations.

Abstract: A support apparatus for a construction safety net. A frame is configured with a length sufficient to span at least two floors of a building under construction, and a width defined by parallel vertical support posts. Pairs of mounting brackets are affixed at or near the edges of adjacent exposed floors of the building. Each mounting bracket has a channel portion extending beyond the edge of the respective floor and aligned with the channel portions of mounting brackets affixed on adjacent floors. The vertical support posts of the frame are movable through the vertical channels and can be lifted up into the next pair of channel portions as additional floors are built out. A locking mechanism is used to secure the vertical support posts to the brackets.

Abstract: An integrated rotating control device and gas handling system for a marine drilling system is disclosed. The system includes a flow spool; a riser sealing tool coupled to the flow spool; a rotating control device coupled to the riser sealing tool below a tension ring of a riser section of a drilling riser, the rotating control device fluidically coupled to the flow spool; and an auxiliary line routed around the rotating control device between the riser sealing tool and the riser section.

Abstract: A rotating control device (RCD), for use in drilling a wellbore, includes an RCD body, a sealing element, and a bearing assembly disposed within the RCD body and supporting an inner mandrel to rotate relative to the RCD body. The sealing element is carried by the inner mandrel, and the bearing assembly includes a bearing sealed in an internal bearing fluid chamber. The internal bearing fluid chamber includes a bearing fluid maintained at a pressure greater than a pressure of wellbore fluid in an interior of the RCD body by a pressure compensating piston between the bearing fluid contacting a first end of the piston and the wellbore fluid contacting a second, opposite end of the piston.

Abstract: A latch assembly is described for use with a rotating control device. The rotating control device provides a rotating seal to permit pressure control in an annulus surrounding a rotating tubular member such as a drill string in an offshore drilling operation. The latch assembly is operable to engage and disengage a body of the rotating control device from a remote surface location by wireless communication. An on-board actuation system is carried by the latch assembly such that no energy lines (hydraulic or otherwise) are required to couple the latch assembly to the surface location. The latch assembly may include both an operating latch mechanism and a running latch mechanism to selectively couple the latch assembly to one or both of the body of the rotating control device and a tubular member such as a drill string or other conveyance for running and pulling operations.

Abstract: An integrated rotating control device and gas handling system for a marine drilling system is disclosed. The system includes a flow spool; a riser sealing tool coupled to the flow spool; a rotating control device coupled to the riser sealing tool below a tension ring of a riser section of a drilling riser, the rotating control device fluidically coupled to the flow spool; and an auxiliary line routed around the rotating control device between the riser sealing tool and the riser section.

Abstract: A rotating control device (RCD), for use in drilling a wellbore, includes an RCD body, a sealing element, and a bearing assembly disposed within the RCD body and supporting an inner mandrel to rotate relative to the RCD body. The sealing element is carried by the inner mandrel, and the bearing assembly includes a bearing sealed in an internal bearing fluid chamber. The internal bearing fluid chamber includes a bearing fluid maintained at a pressure greater than a pressure of wellbore fluid in an interior of the RCD body by a pressure compensating piston between the bearing fluid contacting a first end of the piston and the wellbore fluid contacting a second, opposite end of the piston.

Abstract: A support apparatus for a construction safety net. A frame is configured with a length sufficient to span at least two floors of a building under construction, and a width defined by parallel vertical support posts. Pairs of mounting brackets are affixed at or near the edges of adjacent exposed floors of the building. Each mounting bracket has a channel portion extending beyond the edge of the respective floor and aligned with the channel portions of mounting brackets affixed on adjacent floors. The vertical support posts of the frame are movable through the vertical channels and can be lifted up into the next pair of channel portions as additional floors are built out. A locking mechanism is used to secure the vertical support posts to the brackets.

Abstract: Methods for making and using a seal element for a rotating control device used in rotary drilling systems are disclosed. In an example embodiment, the seal element has a bore, a base region, and a nose region. The method comprises providing a mold for the seal element for the rotating control device, adding at least one self-lubricating component to a liquid elastomer, placing the liquid elastomer material having self-lubricating component into the mold, heating the combined elastomer and self-lubricating component in the mold, forming a seal element having a bore, wherein a mixture of the self-lubricating component and the liquid elastomer is adjacent to at least an inner circumferential surface of the longitudinal bore of the seal element.

Abstract: A universal solar module mounting system includes a plurality of vertical posts and a plurality of parallel and horizontal beams. Each of the beams is supported above the ground by one or more of the posts. Purlins are coupled to the beams with purlin clips and fasteners. The purlin clips or beams can include parallel and adjacent slots. Fasteners are placed through the slots and the slots allow the purlins to be positioned on the beams to properly support the specific solar modules being used. Mounting components are used to secure each of the solar modules to two or more of the purlins.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing armature windings for an electromechanical machine, includes manufacturing a band of conductor elements with at least one layer, formation of windings on a tool and installation of the windings into an armature. The method results in a highly uniform winding, increased fill percentage in slots, improved electrical efficiency, lower material cost and labor consumption for manufacturing and complete automation of production.