Patents by Inventor Rune Fantoft

Rune Fantoft 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: 9638375
    Abstract: The present invention regards a subsea sand handling system for limiting abrasion of specific subsea equipment (5), comprising an inlet (10) connectable to a sand separation system (2) upstream of the specific equipment (5) and an outlet (18, 22) connectable to a pipeline (6) downstream of the specific equipment (5), wherein it comprises at least two collection vessels (11,14) and means for flushing (16,17,19,21) the sand out of at least one of the collection vessels (11,14), and the vessels (11,14) and the means for flushing (16,17,19,21) the sand out of said vessels (11,14) are configured such that sand is flushed from one vessel (11,14) while sand is collected in the other vessel (14,11). The present invention also regards a method for limiting abrasion of subsea rotating equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: FMC Kongsberg Subsea AS
    Inventors: Terje Hollingsæter, Rune Fantoft
  • Patent number: 9601964
    Abstract: A flow-conditioning system includes a pump, process tubing coupling the pump to a source of multiple component process fluid, and an in-line flow-mixing device positioned in the process tubing upstream of the pump. A system includes a well disposed below a body of water and providing a source of multiple component fluid, a pump disposed in and exposed to the water, process tubing coupling the pump to the well, and an in-line flow-mixing device positioned in the process tubing upstream of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Rune Fantoft, Terje Hollingsaeter
  • Patent number: 8920137
    Abstract: A flow-conditioning system includes a pump, process tubing coupling the pump to a source of multiple component process fluid, and an in-line flow-mixing device positioned in the process tubing upstream of the pump. A system includes a well disposed below a body of water and providing a source of multiple component fluid, a pump disposed in and exposed to the water, process tubing coupling the pump to the well, and an in-line flow-mixing device positioned in the process tubing upstream of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Rune Fantoft, Terje Hollingsaeter
  • Publication number: 20140318644
    Abstract: The present invention regards a subsea sand handling system for limiting abrasion of specific subsea equipment (5), comprising an inlet (10) connectable to a sand separation system (2) upstream of the specific equipment (5) and an outlet (18, 22) connectable to a pipeline (6) downstream of the specific equipment (5), wherein it comprises at least two collection vessels (11,14) and means for flushing (16,17,19, 21) the sand out of at least one of the collection vessels (11,14), and the vessels (11,14) and the means for flushing (16,17,19, 21) the sand out of said vessels (11,14) are configured such that sand is flushed from one vessel (11,14) while sand is collected in the other vessel (14,11). The present invention also regards a method for limiting abrasion of sub-sea rotating equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: FMC KONGSBERG SUBSEA AS
    Inventors: Terje Hollingsæter, Rune Fantoft
  • Patent number: 8777596
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a pump, a motor operatively coupled to the pump, and a flushing system. The motor includes a stator and a rotor disposed in a rotor cavity isolated from the stator. The flushing system is operable to provide a flushing medium to the rotor cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Rune Fantoft, Terje Hollingsaeter
  • Patent number: 8696331
    Abstract: A pump unit includes a motor, a pump, a shaft spanning the motor and the pump, and at least a first magnetic bearing supporting the shaft. A hydrocarbon production system includes an underwater well and a pump unit exposed to an underwater environment. The pump unit is operable to pump a production fluid from the well and includes a motor, a pump, a shaft spanning the motor and the pump, and at least a first magnetic bearing supporting the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Rune Fantoft, Terje Hollingsaeter
  • Patent number: 8487493
    Abstract: A rotating apparatus includes a housing, a shaft at least partially disposed within a first pressure environment defined by the housing, a first magnetic bearing supporting the shaft and being at least partially disposed within the first pressure environment, a sensor operable to sense a position of the shaft relative to the first magnetic bearing, a controller disposed in a second pressure environment independent of the first pressure environment and operable to communicate with the sensor and to generate a control signal for the first magnetic bearing based on the sensed position, and a communication device operable to communicate the control signal between the controller and the first magnetic bearing and to communicate the sensed position between the sensor and the controller without penetrating a pressure boundary defined between the first and second pressure environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Rune Fantoft, Terje Hollingsaeter
  • Publication number: 20110058966
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a pump, a motor operatively coupled to the pump, and a flushing system. The motor includes a stator and a rotor disposed in a rotor cavity isolated from the stator. The flushing system is operable to provide a flushing medium to the rotor cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Rune Fantoft, Terje Hollingsaeter
  • Publication number: 20110058965
    Abstract: A flow-conditioning system includes a pump, process tubing coupling the pump to a source of multiple component process fluid, and an in-line flow-mixing device positioned in the process tubing upstream of the pump. A system includes a well disposed below a body of water and providing a source of multiple component fluid, a pump disposed in and exposed to the water, process tubing coupling the pump to the well, and an in-line flow-mixing device positioned in the process tubing upstream of the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Rune Fantoft, Terje Hollingsaeter
  • Publication number: 20110050017
    Abstract: A rotating apparatus includes a housing, a shaft at least partially disposed within a first pressure environment defined by the housing, a first magnetic bearing supporting the shaft and being at least partially disposed within the first pressure environment, a sensor operable to sense a position of the shaft relative to the first magnetic bearing, a controller disposed in a second pressure environment independent of the first pressure environment and operable to communicate with the sensor and to generate a control signal for the first magnetic bearing based on the sensed position, and a communication device operable to communicate the control signal between the controller and the first magnetic bearing and to communicate the sensed position between the sensor and the controller without penetrating a pressure boundary defined between the first and second pressure environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Rune Fantoft, Terje Hollingsaeter
  • Publication number: 20110052432
    Abstract: A pump unit includes a motor, a pump, a shaft spanning the motor and the pump, and at least a first magnetic bearing supporting the shaft. A hydrocarbon production system includes an underwater well and a pump unit exposed to an underwater environment. The pump unit is operable to pump a production fluid from the well and includes a motor, a pump, a shaft spanning the motor and the pump, and at least a first magnetic bearing supporting the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Rune Fantoft, Terje Hollingsaeter
  • Publication number: 20110044831
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a motor. The motor includes a rotor, a stator disposed around the rotor, and a first high pressure rated can separating the stator from the rotor. The first high pressure rated can at least partially defines a rotor cavity encompassing at least a portion of the rotor and a first pressure environment independent of a second pressure environment of the stator. The second pressure environment of the stator is substantially pressure balanced with respect to the ambient environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher E Cunningham, Rune Fantoft, Terje Hollingsaeter
  • Patent number: 7128276
    Abstract: The use of a turbulent contactor to absorb a selected gas component from a gas stream. The invention particularly applies to a method of distributing a liquid into a gas stream which comprises providing a liquid to an annulus at the periphery of a pipe in which a gas stream is flowing, the gas flow drawing the liquid into a film along the inner surface of the pipe to a sharp edge at the end of the pipe at which point the liquid breaks off the surface of the pipe and mixes intimately with the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Statoil ASA
    Inventors: Finn Patrick Nilsen, Harald Linga, Rune Fantoft, Inge Sverre Lund Nilsen, Geir Inge Eide
  • Publication number: 20030155436
    Abstract: The use of a turbulent contactor to absorb a selected gas component from a gas stream. The invention particularly applies to a method of distributing a liquid into a gas stream which comprises providing a liquid to an annulus at the periphery of a pipe in which a gas stream is flowing, the gas flow drawing the liquid into a film along the inner surface of the pipe to a sharp edge at the end of the pipe at which point the liquid breaks off the surface of the pipe and mixes intimately with the gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Finn Patrick Nilsen, Harald Linga, Rune Fantoft, Inge Sverre Lund Nilsen, Geir Inge Eide