Abstract: An offshore oil well riser system comprises one or more tubular conduits suspended from a floating platform and having bottom ends extending downward substantially vertically toward the sea floor. A bottom end connection and tensioning assembly is disposed at the bottom ends of the conduits and comprises a jumper for connecting the bottom end of each conduit to an associated sub-sea oil well, a weight for applying a vertical tension in the conduits, and an apparatus for constraining the bottom end of the conduits against horizontal movement, while enabling them to move freely in a vertical direction and to pivot freely at their bottom ends in response to motions of the platform on the water surface. The riser system is useful with a wide variety of floating platforms, and can be employed in either dry tree or wet tree completion systems.

Abstract: A power supply assembly, which is placed subsea and is connected to an umbilical from a platform, supplies electrical power to subsea equipment. The power supply assembly supplies power during drilling operations to a pump for pumping drilling fluid from the sea floor to the sea surface. During production operations, the power supply assembly provides power to a booster pump to pump the well fluid away from the subsea well for collection. The subsea power supply assembly optionally also provides power to electrically charged portions of subsea separators that remove water from the oil in the well fluid. The booster pump the pumps the oil from the separator away from the subsea wellhead for collection.

Abstract: A vessel (1) comprises a rotatable turret (14) and a supporting structure (3) over or on the turret for supporting a swivel (5). The swivel comprising an inner and an outer ring (21, 21?; 22, 22?) which can rotate with respect to each other and which define at least one fluid distribution path from a geostationary fluid riser (19) connected to one ring (22, 22?) to a product outflow pipe (18) connected to the other ring (21, 21?). A rig (2) is mounted over the turret area above or below the swivel (5), and a substantially rigid pipe extends from the rig, through a moonpool of the turret towards the sea bed, the rigid pipe being in line with the swivel.

Abstract: A method for processing oil from oil wells having water bound locations whereby it is necessary to place the process containment vessels upon host structures that are floating and subjected to a swaying motion caused by the wave action of the water in which the host structures float. The process containment vessels are of a vertical cylindrical configuration to minimize their footprint and to mitigate the effect of tilting on the spatial process geometry inside of the vessels and further the vessels contain internal baffles that create horizontal flow patterns inside of the vertical vessel for a more efficient gravity separation process.

Abstract: A device (20) for replacing equipment, i.e. modules on an installation (10) on the seabed. The device comprises a box-shaped buoyancy element which has storage spaces (25) for equipment together with winch devices (22) assigned to each storage space. During use the device is lowered from a vessel (1) to the seabed by a crane (3), but is stopped a distance from the installation, whereupon the locally provided winches (22) are used to pull up and position the equipment.

Abstract: A system and method autonomously clears obstacles and mines from an approach lane. A ship is distantly located from an approach lane spanning a surf zone and beach portion, and the ship has operator control station software in an onboard computer. At least one system delivery vehicle having a storage bay and propulsion system transits from the ship to the approach lane in response to instructions from the operator control station. A line charge is disposed in each bay and has one end coupled to the system delivery vehicle. A line charge delivery vehicle in the bay is connected to another end of the line charge to pull the line charge from the bay and emplace it in a straight path in the approach lane in response to instructions from the operator control station. Explosives in all line charges are detonated to clear the approach lane.

Abstract: An end piece arrangement is mounted on an end of a pipe sleeve to close off the annular passage between the pipe sleeve and drill stem and to divert an upward flow of sludge, cuttings and gas into a conduit system to transport the flow to a remote location. In one embodiemnt, the arrangement is a self-contained unit that houses seal rings to seal against the drill stem. In another embodiment, the arrangement includes separate components; i.e. a housing mounted on the pipe sleeve to divert the upward flow and a seal unit mounted on the drill stem and rotatably mounted in the housing.

Abstract: A subsea well intervention vessel including a dynamically positionable tanker and direct well intervention equipment mounted on a deck of the tanker. The direct well intervention equipment is mounted on a superstructure above the main deck of the tanker and includes equipment for underbalanced non-rotating drilling and hydrocarbon liquid separation. The liquid separation equipment is coupled to storage tanks of the tanker so as to receive separated hydrocarbon liquids for storage purposes.

Abstract: The invention concerns a seafloor-surface connecting installation for a submarine pipeline (10) set on the seafloor, in particular at great depth, of the hybrid-tower type comprising a static base (13-18) set on the seabed. In the inventive installation: 1) said vertical riser includes a terminal pipe portion (51), and a flexible joint (19) which allows angular movements (&agr;) of the upper part (52) relative to said terminal pipe portion (51); and 2) the terminal part (11) of said pipe resting on the seabed has a an elbow-type terminal curvature; 3) said terminal portion (51) of the vertical riser is connected to said terminal curvature (11) by a single connecting element; and 4) said base plate (13-18) rigidly maintains in fixed vertical position and linked to each other via said connecting element (12): said terminal pipe portion (51) and said elbow-type terminal curvature (12) the latter facing upwards.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vessel (1) provided with a deck (2) and with a device (3) for removing and/or installing a sub-structure (4) of a drilling or production platform, wherein said device comprises a supporting structure (5) which is capable of tilting movement in a direction transversely to an edge (6) of the deck (2), hoisting means (7) connected to said supporting structure for hoisting said sub-structure, and supporting means for supporting said sub-structure mainly during tilting movement of said supporting structure, wherein said supporting means are provided separately from the supporting structure and capable of tilting movement with respect to the edge of the deck.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided which permit well testing operations to be performed downhole in a subterranean well. In various described methods, fluids flowed from a formation during a test may be disposed of downhole by injecting the fluids into the formation from which they were produced, or by injecting the fluids into another formation. In several of the embodiments of the invention, apparatus utilized in the methods permit convenient retrieval of samples of the formation fluids and provide enhanced data acquisition for monitoring of the test and for evaluation of the formation fluids.

Abstract: A method of connecting two or more elongate connection members (105) between the seabed and a floating vessel (106) carrying a connector (102) which is suspended from the vessel by at least two spaced apart suspension members for relative displacement of the connector with respect to the vessel, at least one suspension member being connected to tensioning elements (109, 109′) for exerting an upward force on the connector. The method comprises the steps of: a) attaching one or more connection members to the connector, b) increasing the tensioning force of the tensioning elements, or vice versa, and c) repeating steps a and b until the connection members are installed between the vessel and the seabed.

Abstract: A method for logging, controlling, or monitoring a subsea well or group of wells through a path not within production tubing is disclosed. Preferred embodiments of the present invention allow logging tools, wire rope, optic fibers, electrical cables, monitoring and measuring instruments and other items known to those skilled in the art of oil and gas production to be disposed into the well without interfering with the flow path through the production string. In another aspect of the invention, a preferred embodiment includes the mooring or tethering of an instrument pod over the sub-sea well. The instrument pod is designed provide on-board data storage, data processing, data receiving, and data transmission equipment, such that data from the well can be transmitted back to a receiving network where said data may be stored and processed into useful information for reservoir operators.

Abstract: Where a submarine wellhead is coupled to a floating vessel by a riser in the form of a flexible hose, vessel movements subject the riser to excessive strains where the riser is tethered ask to the vessel. In accordance with the invention, these strains are reduced by pivoting the riser tether about a horizontal axis, and optionally also about a vertical axis. Giving the riser tether at least one degree of rotational freedom is surprisingly beneficial in reducing riser strains, and consequently in reducing the probability of premature failure of the riser.

Abstract: Systems and methods for time, and labor efficient construction and production of subsea wells include a surface blowout preventer stack, a high pressure riser, and a drill thru Xmas tree. The systems may further comprise a subsea shut off and disconnect device.

Abstract: A semisubmersible multipurpose unit (MPU) having a deck, a multipurpose tower secured to the deck, supports, pontoons connected to the supports with each pontoon adapted for ballast transfer, at least two hawsers connected to the MPU for connecting the MPU to an object at sea having a mooring system, a hawser guidance system to direct each hawser to the object at sea, a crane secured to the deck of a semisubmersible MPU, and at least an 6-point mooring system, wherein the combination of the semisubmersible MPU, hawsers and 6-point mooring system create a global equilibrium between the mooring system of an object at sea and the at least 6-point mooring system and the hawsers have both an elasticity sufficient to accommodate the wave frequency between the object at sea and the MPU and a stiffness adequate to synchronize the average and low frequency movements during a 10-year storm.

Abstract: A mid-water tethered buoyant support assembly for a riser system for use in water is described to bring fluids from seabed equipment to a production vessel at the surface. The tethered buoyant support assembly comprises at least two tethers (6) from seabed anchors, at least one beam assembly (2) extending between and connected to the tops of the tethers, buoyancy means (7) to maintain tension in the tethers, and hangers (10) for lower riser portions mounted at spaced positions along the beam assembly, each hanger (10) being positioned so that the line of action of the tension due to the weight of the suspended lower riser portion is close to or on a line extending between the connections of the beam to the tethers (6) to minimize or eliminate turning moment to the beam assembly (2) tending to cause rotation of the beam around its major axis as a result of the weight of the suspended lower riser portion. The assembly is particularly designed for use in deep water.

Abstract: A system and method for lessening impact on Christmas trees during downhole operations involving Christmas trees, by way of example and not limitation such as cementing processes. The system comprises an outer housing defining a chamber, a lubricator assembly disposed in the outer housing, and an inner sleeve slidably disposable within the chamber. The method uses the system of the present invention by inserting the inner sleeve into the lubricator assembly; lowering the inner sleeve into the Christmas tree to a predetermined position extending into a tubing hanger associated with the tree; introducing fluids through a fluid line coupled to the lubricator assembly, the fluids passing through a conduit within the inner sleeve into the wellbore; and retrieving the lubricator assembly upon completion of fluid introduction into the wellbore. In alternative embodiments, the inner sleeve may be retracted and withdrawn with the lubricator assembly upon completion of fluid introduction into the wellbore.

Abstract: A system and method for lessening impact on Christmas trees during downhole operations involving Christmas trees, by way of example and not limitation such as cementing processes. The system comprises an outer housing defining a chamber, a lubricator assembly disposed in the outer housing, and an inner sleeve slidably disposable within the chamber. The method uses the system of the present invention by inserting the inner sleeve into the lubricator assembly; lowering the inner sleeve into the Christmas tree to a predetermined position extending into a tubing hanger associated with the tree; introducing fluids through a fluid line coupled to the lubricator assembly, the fluids passing through a conduit within the inner sleeve into the wellbore; and retrieving the lubricator assembly upon completion of fluid introduction into the wellbore. In alternative embodiments, the inner sleeve may be retracted and withdrawn with the lubricator assembly upon completion of fluid introduction into the wellbore.

Abstract: A system for producing hydrocarbons from a subsea well comprises an unmanned floating platform positioned over the well, the platform including equipment for inserting coiled tubing or wireline tools or the like into the well for servicing, controlling, or conducting other operations in or to the well, a vertical access riser connecting the platform to the well, a control umbilical connecting the platform to the well, a host facility adapted to receive the produced hydrocarbons, and aproduction pipeline connecting the well to the host facility, the production pipeline including at least one access port between the well and the host facility.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided which permit well testing operations to be performed downhole in a subterranean well. In various described methods, fluids flowed from a formation during a test may be disposed of downhole by injecting the fluids into the formation from which they were produced, or by injecting the fluids into another formation. In several of the embodiments of the invention, apparatus utilized in the methods permit convenient retrieval of samples of the formation fluids and provide enhanced data acquisition for monitoring of the test and for evaluation of the formation fluids.

Abstract: A method for logging, controlling, or monitoring a subsea well or group of wells through a path not within production tubing is disclosed. Preferred embodiments of the present invention allow logging tools, wire rope, optic fibers, electrical cables, monitoring and measuring instruments and other items known to those skilled in the art of oil and gas production to be disposed into the well without interfering with the flow path through the production string. In another aspect of the invention, a preferred embodiment includes the mooring or tethering of an instrument pod over the subsea well. The instrument pod is designed provide on-board data storage, data processing, data receiving, and data transmission equipment, such that data from the well can be transmitted back to a receiving network where said data may be stored and processed into useful information for reservoir operators.

Abstract: A semisubmersible multipurpose unit (MPU) having a deck, a multipurpose tower secured to the deck, supports, pontoons connected to the supports with each pontoon adapted for ballast transfer, at least two hawsers connected to the MPU for connecting the MPU to an object at sea having a mooring system, a hawser guidance system to direct each hawser to the object at sea, a crane secured to the deck of a semisubmersible MPU, and at least an 6-point mooring system, wherein the combination of the semisubmersible MPU, hawsers and 6-point mooring system create a global equilibrium between the mooring system of an object at sea and the at least 6-point mooring system and the hawsers have both an elasticity sufficient to accommodate the wave frequency between the object at sea and the MPU and a stiffness adequate to synchronize the average and low frequency movements during a 10-year storm.

Abstract: A method of conducting operations to an offshore field from multiple separated drill centers using a floating vessel having a turret-mounted mooring element and a workstation separate from the mooring element in which the vessel is moored at a central mooring element location and operations are sequentially carried out at separate drill centers associated with the mooring element location by allowing the vessel to weathervane to a heading associated with a subsequent drill center once operations have been completed at a first drill center.

Abstract: An arrangement on a floating device for overhauling offshore hydrocarbon wells comprises a drill floor for conducting the overhaul, where the drill floor is provided with an opening. A vertically movable working deck can be inserted into the opening, and is provided with an attachment for a riser which extends from a well to the working deck. The working deck is suspended in the floating device by riser tensioners in order to maintain approximately constant tension in the riser during vertical movement of the floating device.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method of manufacturing a marine riser constructed of an aluminum alloy having a high strength-to-weight ratio is provided. The inventive riser apparatus comprises a plurality of riser sections coupled serially end-to-end, wherein each of the riser sections comprises a pipe having a first end and a second end, a first flanged coupling welded to the first end of the pipe, and a second flanged coupling welded to the second end of the pipe, wherein the pipe is constructed of an aluminum alloy having a strength-to-weight ratio greater than that of steel. The riser apparatus may optionally include one or more auxiliary lines providing hydraulic communication with a blowout preventer.

Abstract: A drilling rig includes a tower, a stabilizer for lifting/lowering an injector and BOP stack, and a powered arm adapted to manipulate BHA segments. The tower includes a plurality of interlocking modules and is mounted on a two perpendicularly aligned skids. The tower is also provided with an opening that enables the side loading of equipment. The preferred rig includes one module adapted to support a stabilizer that includes hydraulic lifts that can raise the injector and BOP stack off the wellhead. The stabilizer also accommodates the thermal expansion of the BOP stack by rising and lowering the stack during well servicing operations. The powered arm attaches to the tower and includes an articulated gripper for manipulating the bottom hole assembly segments. Preferably, the powered arm is controlled by a general purpose computer that guides the powered arm through a predetermined sweep.

Abstract: A device for fitting a stiffening sleeve which is located at the end of an oil pipe onto a bearing structure. The device comprises an internal hollow tube fixed on the bearing structure, the tube having an internal diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the cylindrical wall of the stiffener, and two support/centering devices, respectively a lower device formed by retractable balls and an upper device formed by a conical collar, the devices interacting with the cylindrical wall of the stiffener and a conical bearing surface at the top of the tube in order to support/center the stiffener.

Abstract: An anchoring system for the production of hydrocarbons at sea by employing a moored production vessel or ship in which the ship is equipped with a mooring apparatus, preferably at the bow portion, and with at least one connection unit for a production riser from the seabed. Included is an anchor located at the seabed, as well as at least one anchor line adapted to connect the anchor to the mooring apparatus on the ship. There being provided a permanent anchor, preferably in the form of a suction anchor, gravitation anchor, or pile anchor. The anchor being provided with a swivel mechanism for the anchoring line, preferably with a buoyant body attached at a middle portion of the anchoring line, and whereby the riser is in the form of at least one flexible hose, the lower end of which is connected to said swivel mechanism. The flexible hose contains at least two passages for hydrocarbons and possibly other fluids.

Abstract: A connection device for connecting a submerged tubular structure to a floating support structure, said connection device comprising a first tubular connection element and a second tubular connection element concentric with said first element, the connection elements being connected respectively to one end of the submerged tubular structure, the first tubular connection element being provided firstly with a first shoulder serving to co-operate with a corresponding first abutment face of the second tubular connection element to form a first axial abutment in a pulling direction in which the submerged tubular structure is pulled, and secondly with a second shoulder serving to co-operate with a corresponding second abutment face of the second tubular connection element to form a second axial abutment in a direction opposite from the pulling direction, locking and tensioning means being mounted between the first and second tubular connection elements to act, by putting the first and second shoulders simultaneously

Abstract: A method for assembling and delivering a drivepipe to a drill site, the method having the following steps: assembling the drivepipe at a shoreline assembly station; attaching floatation devices to the drivepipe and floating the drivepipe in the ocean; towing the drivepipe with tow vessels to a drill site; delivering the drivepipe in a horizontal orientation to a drilling vessel at the drill site; attaching a upper end of the drivepipe to the drilling vessel and detaching the tow vessels from the drivepipe; pivoting the drivepipe about its point of attachment to the drilling vessel until the drivepipe is vertically oriented; deactivating the buoyancy function of the floatation devices attached to the drivepipe; removing the floatation devices from the drivepipe; equipping the drivepipe with a driving mechanism; and lowering the drivepipe with a running string from the drilling vessel to the sea bed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for controlling the position of a floating rig that permits holding the rig at a position optimum to an excavation riser even if a position signal of the floating rig is not received, provided that the angles of inclination at the upper and lower ends of the riser are detected. In the method of controlling the position of a floating rig, the floating rig 10 is joined to a well head 14 at the sea bottom by an excavation riser 16, and the rig 10 is driven to a corrected position by thrusters or a combination of thrusters and a propulsion system. A neural network is allowed to learn in advance the position information of the floating rig accompanying the behaving characteristics of the excavation riser.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for off-shore production of oil. Special shuttle tankers with high-pressure cargo tanks capable of containing the produced live crude oil at a pressure close to that of the ambient pressure inside a subterranean oil field, and without any processing of the live crude oil prior to transportation are used. The produced live crude oil from the subterranean oil field is pumped directly into the high-pressure cargo tanks aboard the shuttle tanker. Lighter fractions of the live crude oil stored in the shuttle tanker may be used as a fuel to power the propulsion machinery and the auxiliary machinery aboard the shuttle tanker. The pressures in the tanks are ordinarily above 70 kPa gauge pressure, may be higher than 1.8 MPa gauge, and may range as high as 35 MPa gauge or even higher. The tanker vessel transports the produced live crude oil to an onshore processing plant for separation into gas, water, solids, and stabilized crude oil.

Abstract: Subsea unit for offshore production of oil or gas, comprising one or more wellheads with associated christmas trees provided on or at a bottom frame (template). On or at the template there is mounted a swivel device, having fluid connection to the christmas tree or trees and being provided with connection members for risers and an umbilical or control cable from a production vessel at the sea surface.

Abstract: A quick connect/disconnect system for an offshore oil/gas production platform is facilitated by a submerged connection header for the platform. The platform comprises a vessel with a connection bay on vessel bottom. The vessel has the ability to be ballasted to position the connection bay either for connection or for transport toward and away from the connection header. The connection header houses the production lines and control lines and is positively buoyed and held in place by tension cables extending from the header bottom to the ocean floor. The quick connect/disconnect system comprises couplers for the production lines and control lines and devices for releasably linking the header to the vessel bay whereby the vessel may be held in a state of positive buoyancy by appropriately deballasting the vessel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for off-shore production of oil. Special shuttle tankers with high-pressure cargo tanks capable of containing the produced live crude oil at a pressure close to that of the ambient pressure inside a subterranean oil field, and without any processing of the live crude oil prior to transportation are used. The produced live crude oil from the subterranean oil field is pumped directly into the high-pressure cargo tanks aboard the shuttle tanker. Lighter fractions of the live crude oil stored in the shuttle tanker may be used as a fuel to power the propulsion machinery and the auxiliary machinery aboard the shuttle tanker. The pressures in the tanks are ordinarily above 70 kPa gauge pressure, may be higher than 1.8 MPa gauge, and may range as high as 35 MPa gauge or even higher. The tanker vessel transports the produced live crude oil to an onshore processing plant for separation into gas, water, solids, and stabilized crude oil.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for off-shore production of oil. Special shuttle tankers with high-pressure cargo tanks capable of containing the produced live crude oil at a pressure close to that of the ambient pressure inside a subterranean oil field, and without any processing of the live crude oil prior to transportation are used. The produced live crude oil from the subterranean oil field is pumped directly into the high-pressure cargo tanks aboard the shuttle tanker. Lighter fractions of the live crude oil stored in the shuttle tanker may be used as a fuel to power the propulsion machinery and the auxiliary machinery aboard the shuttle tanker. The pressures in the tanks are ordinarily above 70 kPa gauge pressure, may be higher than 1.8 MPa gauge, and may range as high as 35 MPa gauge or even higher. The tanker vessel transports the produced live crude oil to an onshore processing plant for separation into gas, water, solids, and stabilized crude oil.

Abstract: A system for recovering liquid hydrocarbons from hydrates on an ocean floor includes a vessel, a positioning subsystem coupled to the vessel for holding the vessel in a desired location over a hydrate formation, a hydrate recovery subsystem coupled to the vessel for delivering hydrates from an ocean floor to the vessel and separating gas from hydrates removed from an ocean floor, a gas conversion subsystem coupled to the hydrate recovery subsystem for converting gas to liquids, and a storage and removal subsystem. Excess energy from the gas conversion subsystem is used elsewhere in the system. A method of recovering hydrates from an ocean floor is also provided.

Abstract: A system for transporting hydrocarbon fluid produced from an offshore well using an offshore production platform and a hydrocarbon fluid storage space in fluid communication with the offshore well via a conduit is provided. The system comprises at least one hydrocarbon fluid export system including a shuttle tanker provided with positioning apparatus capable of limiting movement of the tanker away from a location at a selected distance from the production platform, a flowline for transferring the hydrocarbon fluid to the tanker, at least pan of the flowline being a continuous flexible flowline at one end provided with a connector for releasably connecting the flowline to the tanker so as to allow fluid transfer from the flowline to the tanker, and with a valve for opening or closing the flowline, the flexible flowline extending along the seabed and from the seabed in the form of a riser to the tanker when the flowline is connected to the tanker.

Abstract: A tension leg platform system includes a relatively small platform (12, FIG. 3 ) and relatively low capacity tendons (16), despite providing sufficient tension to risers (34) that carry hydrocarbons from seafloor wells to the platform. With the platform floating at the sea surface and held in position by the tendons, seafloor wells can be connected through risers to a side of the platform, with the tension of each riser compensated by adding buoyancy to the corresponding side of the platform, as by using pressured air (at 100) to blow water out of a platform compartment (94).

Abstract: A well tender system for controlling, separating, storing and offloading well fluids produced from subsea hydrocarbon formations. The system comprises a vertically aligned series of tethered cylindrical tanks which are torsionally stabilized by flexible catenary production riser and export riser bundles, and serviced by separate catenary pipe bundles. Piles are secured to the seabed, each pile assembly being pivotally connected to a lower rigid tendon, which is in turn connected to tendons arranged about the periphery of the interconnected cylindrical tanks.

Abstract: An offshore production system of the type that includes a TLP (tension leg platform) (12) and a derrick vessel (14) which moves to the TLP platform (16) whenever the derrick is required. The vessel carries fastener assemblies (131) that rigidly fix the vessel to the platform so they move vertically and horizontally as a single unit, which avoids any need to separately anchor the vessel and which facilitates operation of the derrick in more adverse weather. The vessel preferably has thruster equipment (88) which not only allows it to self-propel itself to the platform, but which also allows the vessel to propel itself and the platform sidewardly, to avoid drift of the platform during drilling. The vessel includes a vessel deck (70) which lies above the platform and a pair of vessel sides (72, 74) with pontoons (76, 78), that lie on opposite sides of the platform.

Abstract: A well tender system for controlling, separating, storing and offloading well fluids produced from subsea hydrocarbon formations. The system comprises a vertically aligned series of tethered cylindrical tanks which are torsionally stabilized by flexible catenary production riser and export riser bundles, and serviced by separate catenary pipe bundles. Piles are secured to the seabed, each pile assembly being pivotally connected to a lower rigid tendon, which is in turn connected to tendons arranged about the periphery of the interconnected cylindrical tanks.

Abstract: System for optimizing the development of small oil deposit comprising a main platform, a floating structure including pumping means, the system being positioned close to at least one production wellhead, mechanism for transferring the effluents from said well towards the floating structure and from the floating structure to the main platform. The system comprises a device for taking a sample of a fluid from said effluents and at least one device for injecting said fluid at the level of the wellhead.The method comprises a stage of transfer of the effluents of a deposit towards a floating structure located close to the deposit, taking a sample of fluid from the effluents, reinjecting this sample of fluid at the level of an immersed wellhead and transferring the effluents towards the main platform.

Abstract: A system for controlling, separating, processing and exporting well fluids produced from subsea hydrocarbon formations is disclosed. The subsea well tender system includes a surface buoy supporting one or more decks above the water surface for accommodating equipment to process oil, gas and water recovered from the subsea hydrocarbon formation. The surface buoy includes a surface-piercing central flotation column connected to one or more external floatation tanks located below the water surface. The surface buoy is secured to the seabed by one or more tendons which are anchored to a foundation with piles imbedded in the seabed. The system accommodates multiple versions on the surface buoy configuration.

Abstract: A well tender system for controlling, separating, storing and offloading well fluids produced from subsea hydrocarbon formations. The system comprises a vertically aligned series of tethered cylindrical tanks which are torsionally stabilized by flexible catenary production riser and export riser bundles, and serviced by separate catenary pipe bundles. Piles are secured to the seabed, each pile assembly being pivotally connected to a lower rigid tendon, which is in turn connected to tendons arranged about the periphery of the interconnected cylindrical tanks.

Abstract: A well tender system for controlling, separating, storing and offloading well fluids produced from subsea hydrocarbon formations. The system comprises a vertically aligned series of tethered cylindrical tanks which are torsionally stabilized by flexible catenary production riser and expert riser bundles, and serviced by separate catenary pipe bundles. Piles are secured to the seabed, each pile assembly being pivotally connected to a lower rigid tendon, which is in turn connected to tendons arranged about the periphery of the interconnected cylindrical tanks.

Abstract: A riser system includes inflatable buoyancy bladders and a near surface disconnect so that a drilling vessel can rapidly disconnect from the riser leaving the riser in a freestanding buoyant position.

Abstract: A casing installation system usable with tubular casing having an upper end portion and a lower portion, for anchoring the upper end portion of the casing on an outer casing string secured to a wellhead having a housing, the wellhead housing being positioned at a fixed position over a well, said casing extending upwardly to the wellhead from a location in the well at which location the lower portion of the casing is landed, the upper end of the casing being terminated by a generally annular casing hanger secured to the casing, said outer casing string having an upwardly-facing shoulder, the system also having a locking ring located on the casing hanger and movable thereon in a direction towards the lower end portion of the casing, the locking ring having means for preventing its movement on the casing in a direction away from the lower end portion of the casing in response to a force exerted on the locking ring in said direction away from the lower end of the casing, the locking ring having a downwardly-facin

Abstract: A casing installation system usable with tubular casing having an upper end portion and a lower portion, for anchoring the upper end portion of the casing on an outer casing string secured to a wellhead having a housing, the wellhead housing being positioned at a fixed position over a well, said casing extending upwardly to the wellhead from a location in the well at which location the lower portion of the casing is landed, the upper end of the casing being terminated by a generally annular casing hanger secured to the casing, said outer casing string having an upwardly-facing shoulder, the system also having a locking ring located on the casing hanger and movable thereon in a direction towards the lower end portion of the casing, the locking ring having means for preventing its movement on the casing in a direction away from the lower end portion of the casing in response to a force exerted on the locking ring in said direction away from the lower end of the casing, the locking ring having a downwardly-facin