Abstract: A multi-gage blowout preventer test tool for testing different size ram and annular BOP's in one trip has an outer test tube assembly and an inner tube assembly connected in telescoping relation. The exterior of the outer tube has a plurality of pipe gage diameters corresponding to different drill pipe sizes. A top sub at the top end of the outer tube assembly connects to the drill string and contains an upper seal assembly and stinger. The bottom end of the inner tube assembly is secured to a bottom sub and the bottom end of the outer tube assembly is releasably connected to the bottom sub in the collapsed position. The bottom sub is connected to a test plug and tail pipe assembly and the tool is lowered through the riser pipe and BOP stack to set the test plug in the wellhead.

Abstract: A subsea wellhead system is used in areas which have shallow water producing sands. A first string of casing extends from the sea floor through a section of conductor pipe and below the conductor pipe to a point above the water sand. An external wellhead housing having flow ports is supported at the upper end of the conductor pipe. A valve sleeve is located on the exterior of the external wellhead housing. The valve sleeve is movable to a closed position, closing the flow ports. A second string of casing is installed to a point below the water producing formation. An internal wellhead housing is secured to the upper end of the second string of casing, which lands within the external wellhead housing. During cementing of the second string of casing the flow ports are open. After cementing, the valve sleeve is moved to the closed position.

Abstract: A wellhead isolation tool nipple seal testing apparatus includes an upper seal, upper nipple, and a lower seal and a lower nipple, the lower nipple being attached to the upper nipple. Test pressure forced between the upper and lower seals may be used to test the upper nipple up to well servicing pressures. The lower nipple may seal the well bore by being closed, or by the use of a mandrel carrying a seal on its lower end or with a burst disk.

Abstract: A pressure measuring device will measure pressure in a subsea tubular member. The device includes a stationary unit mounted to the exterior of the tubular member and a movable unit that will be lowered into position next to the stationary unit whenever pressure is to be monitored. The stationary unit has a strain gage which will monitor pressure by measuring strain in the tubular member. The stationary unit has a light emitter which will emit pulses corresponding to pressure measured. The stationary unit has a photocell which will receive a light beam from the movable unit. The light beam and photocell provide power for the stationary unit. The movable unit has a receiver which receives any light pulses from the light emitter and correlates them to a pressure measurement.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, several methods are presented for the detection of gas into an offshore marine riser (e.g., riser gas). In a first embodiment of this invention, an acoustic transmitter is positioned on or nearby the subsea blowout preventor stack and imparts continuous low frequency waves into the annular fluid in the marine riser. These imparted waves define pressure perturbations which are received by a pressure transducer positioned on the riser at a location above the acoustic transmitter. Gas detection in the riser is then indicated by determining the rate of change of certain characteristics of the output. The output characteristics are preferably the moduli and phase angles of the acoustic fundamentals and their harmonics.

Abstract: A method is provided for troubleshooting gas-lift wells, to identify whether gas-lift valves on the production tubing are open or closed, without the use of wireline tools. The method may also be used to detect leaks in the production tubing or in the well casing. A quantity of a tracer gas is injected into the lift-gas at the wellhead, and its return in fluid produced from the well is monitored as a function of time. The tracer's return pattern may be correlated with the depth of entry points and volumes of lift-gas entering along the length of the production tubing.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting oil and other lighter-than-water contaminants in an effluent stream in a sewage system. The apparatus includes a disposable detector which floats in the effluent stream and detects oil and other contaminants having a specific gravity lighter than the water by absorbing the oil and such contaminants in an oleophilic material, permitting the oil and other contaminants to rise and collect in a collection tube. The acidity of pH of the effluent being monitored is determined by routing a portion of the effluent stream across a litmus paper.

Abstract: An improved wellhead casing hanger for suspension of successive casing strings with particularly small annular spacings having an adapter sleeve of double wall construction which is utilized with a load bearing shoulder on the inside of the inner member for receiving a conventional expanding type hanger, with the annulus between the inner and outer walls providing an improved fluid return path without restricting the bore of the sleeve, packoff for sealing the annulus at the appropriate time and an installation tool.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for testing a blow-out preventor system of a well, which blow-out preventor system is designed to close upon both a smaller drill pipe string and a larger drill pipe string. The apparatus includes a first elongated cylindrical testing mandrel having an outside diameter substantially equal to an outside diameter of the smaller drill pipe string, and a second elongated cylindrical testing mandrel having an outside diameter substantially equal to an outside diameter of the larger drill pipe string. The first testing mandrel is telescopingly received within the second testing mandrel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a blowout preventer packer element of a diverter system on an offshore drilling rig utilizes an inflatable packer. The packer has a tubular member than extends upward through the diverter packer element. The packer has an expansive seal element that seals in the upper portion of a marine riser assembly. The diverter packer element is closed around the tubular member, while the packer seal element seals against the upper portion of the marine riser assembly. Fluid pressure is applied to the diverter system port to test for leakage.

Abstract: A test tool adapted for use during pressure testing of a subsea blowout preventer stack is disclosed. The tool has an upper and a lower body connected in a first connection by left hand threads. A check valve landed in the bore of the tool prevents downward fluid flow from the interior of the tool, but allows upward flow through the tool and the attached drill pipe for the detection of leakage of the wellhead sealing tool about the wellhead during pressure testing of a blowout preventer in the stack. During testing of a shear ram blowout preventer, the upper body is disconnected from the lower body by turning the drill pipe to the right. Raising the drill pipe then causes the upper body to shift a second set of right hand threads into position and moves the upper body and the drill pipe from the bore of the shear ram allowing it to be closed for pressure testing.

Abstract: A cap for an underwater Christmas tree having locking probes to lock down the operating rods of a connector connecting the Christmas tree to an underwater wellhead housing. The tops of the operating rods are housed within hollow canisters at the top of the Christmas tree.The cap includes a body having circumferentially disposed locking dogs housed therein for engagement with the top of the Christmas tree. The dogs are actuated by a cam ring which telescopically receives the body and has a tapered surface for sliding over a correlatively tapered surface on each of the dogs. The body includes a metal gasket seal for sealing engagement with the top of the Christmas tree, and seals are provided between the cam ring and body.The cap has downwardly extending locking probes which extend telescopically into the canisters above the operating rods. The locking probes each include a housing and a releasable tubular piston slidably disposed in the housing.

Abstract: A guidelineless subsea wellhead system includes TV/sonar guidance components which direct operating and/or service equipment into a position adjacent a subsea wellhead. An offset funnel mounted on the wellhead is used to guide a probe, which is mounted on a riser, into alignment with the wellhead. The probe is used to guide the riser and the service equipment into exact alignment with the wellhead so that tasks such as well entry, tree installation, well reentry, tree cap removal, tree cap replacement and downhole wireline operations can be completed without any cable guidelines. The system can also be used with the usual guidelines to increase the speed and accuracy of connecting to the wellhead.

Abstract: An underwater Christmas tree for controlling flow from an offshore well is disclosed as having a master valve which is controlled by fluid pressure within a flow-line extending from a production bore of the tree, and means for receiving and releasably retaining a TFL tool in the production bore intermediate the location at which control pressure is sensed and the intersection of the production bore with an auxiliary bore of the tree through which wireline tools are run. Since the TFL tool limits flow therepast, flowline pressure may be maintained at a level necessary to maintain the master valve open independently of fluid pressure within the auxiliary bore.

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: An improved system for monitoring fuel storage and handling equipment which employs containment devices, leak detectors, storage tank level detectors, containment shrouds surrounding each mechanical device for extraction or addition of fuel from storage tanks is presented in which nonmechanical fluid sensors provide communications of the detection of fluid to a central processor which receives all sensor communications and provides a signal of the presence of fluid from the handling and storage equipment. The improvement incorporates various incidental emissions sensors placed proximate to containment devices. The incidental emissions sensors are indirectly actuated by the detection of spills and leaks and are in communication with the central processor. The system may also incorporate fail safe self diagnostic devices and differentiating sensors. In a preferred embodiment, Hall Effect sensors are used.