Abstract: Pressurized petroleum flows from a well into a turbine. The petroleum undergoes a pressure reduction in the turbine and then enters a separation chamber where it is separated into liquid and gaseous phases. The liquid phase is sent to a pump which serves to transfer the liquid phase to a station remote from the well. Similarly, the gaseous phase is directed to a compressor which functions to transfer the gaseous phase to a station remote from the well. The pump and the compressor are coupled to the turbine which uses the energy liberated by the petroleum during pressure reduction to drive the pump and the compressor.

Abstract: The invention relates to an underwater station for pumping a well flow, comprising a separator for separating the well flow into liquid (oil/water) and gas, a pump assembly comprising a pump with a motor, and a compressor assembly comprising a compressor with a motor, as well as fluid carrying conduits between the separator and pump, and compressor, respectively. Separator, pump assembly, and compressor assembly are assembled into a compact unit with said three components arranged in a column structure, with pump assembly placed downmost, then separator, and with compressor assembly provided uppermost. The fluid carrying conduits are designed for connection (interface) in the bottom of said column structure.

Abstract: A subsea storage structure for treatment and storing drill cuttings from drilling operations in the sea bottom includes a generally closed container or tank suitable to be positioned on the sea bottom near the drilling site, which tank is provided with an upper inlet for supply of drill cuttings, and an output to ambient water for water which is displaced during the supply of drill cuttings. The tank contains arrangements for cleansing of the drill cuttings and storage of accumulated oil, fluids and other constituents separated from the drill cuttings, and structure for extraction of the accumulated oil, fluids and other constitutents lighter than water.

Abstract: The installation combines with at least one production well-head an oil/gas separator of substantial vertical elongation and of which the major part may be housed in a pit sunk and lined closed to the working well, which permits of wide fluctuations in the oil/gas level between the high and low control points while ensuring sufficient submersion of the pump with which the separator is equipped. This apparatus makes it possible separately to draw off the gas on the one hand and the sufficiently degasified oil on the other, from a peripheral site to a central production station.

Abstract: A vertical separator for separating crude oil into liquid and gas phases composed of an outer casing and two further sets of concentric tubing to enclose two annuli and a central passage, one annulus having an inlet to receive crude oil, the other annulus having an outlet for separated gas, each at the top of the separator. The central passage collects produced oil with a pump near its base and a pump drive pipe extending up it. The crude oil may flow down its annulus with a swirling motion which can be induced and assisted by a tangential inlet, and/or a cyclone at the top, and one or more helices in the annulus. The separator may be used for underwater wells and may extend partially or wholly into the sea bed with a protective cemented external casing around it.

Abstract: A sea bed oil producing and processing complex has a template with three bays housing pairs of modules, viz, well, gas and oil production modules. The complex includes a separator for separating oil and gas and a pump for the produced oil, and bars having pipework to carry fluids between the pairs of modules and to despatch separated gas and oil. Saddles may carry fluids across between individual modules of a pair and the complex may have facilities for artificial lift, water injection, chemical fluid injection and for test fluids. Multiples of the three bays and pairs of modules may be within a single template and a number of modules may surround a central piping template. The complex can be services and maintained in a diverless mode using a monohull vessel and an ROV.

Abstract: An offshore marine structure and method, which structure includes a leg supported deck which holds hydrocarbon fluid processing equipment above the water's surface, and includes vertically aligned conductor guides. A self supporting fluid separator is positioned in said marine structure to receive a multi-phase stream of a hydrocarbon fluid from one or more wells. An upper segment of the fluid separator is slidably registered in vertically aligned conductor guides. A lower segment of the separator is embedded in the sea floor and operably engaged with said upper segment. A conductor riser is adjacently positioned by conductor guides in the marine structure to receive hydrocarbon liquid from the fluid separator. Discrete liquid, and combined vaporous flows are then conducted to the processing equipment for further handling.

Abstract: A process for reducing scale formation in off-shore production platforms where sea water is used as a water-flooding medium. During production, sea water and connate water interact to make scale forming precipitates. Said precipitates fall out in an oil/water separator. Subsequently, additional sea water is injected as the separated aqueous phase leaves said separator thereby causing additional precipitates to form. Via this method, decreased amounts of scale preventing inhibitors are required.

Abstract: A subsea system for transmitting a multiphase flow of hydrocarbons produced from a subsea well positioned remotely from fluid storing and treating facilities. The system includes a subsea well template which encloses a plurality of well heads. A composite hydrocarbon flow is manifolded from the respective wells and conducted to a fluid separator which causes the composite stream to separate into discrete liquid and vaporous flows. The latter are then conducted through a multi-conductor riser to the treating and storage facility.

Abstract: An offshore structure for deepsea production of this invention is designed for achieving economy both in installation and in operation. It consists mainly of a base to be founded on a sea-bed, a buoyant body having a separator segregated from the sea for storing and separating the produced fluids and an elongate tensioned member for connecting the base and the buoyant body and transporting the produced fluids from the well through the base to the separator near the surface of the sea. The separator has a compartmentalized outer wall for controllably variable ballasting and deballasting.

Abstract: A safety system for eliminating the risk of liquids, rather than gases, being carried to a torch nose-piece or to a vent hole, during burning or dispersion of the gases associated with the production or treatment of hydrocarbons, particularly on off-shore installations. The gas flow line is connected to a storage volume or capacity, such as a torch foot tank. An overflow column is also connected to the gas flow line, and discharges below a liquid level, such as for example the sea, at a distance from the connection to the overflow column.

Abstract: A system according to the invention includes a working well head 1 whose producing head is connected by a rigid or flexible pipe to at least one underwater degasifier tank. A pump 4 for lifting the product from the well or wells 1 is regulated by a control valve which responds to the discharge flow of liquids and/or variations in weight and/or buoyancy of the degasifier tank 3. A valve for regulating the flow of product from the well 1 is controlled by a second control means. The second control means may modulate the gas sealing pressure by pinching a stream of gas at some point in the piping in response to the relative buoyancy of said underwater degasification tank. Combinations of the various systems disclosed in the invention make it possible to increase the recovery of desired product fluids from an underwater deposit.

Abstract: A system involving at least one well equipped with an elevated or sub-sea production head, and at least one pipeline collecting the effluent from the production head leading to an effluent phase separation unit. The system comprises, in addition, a tube in the form of a U-tube connected to the unit and dipping into the sea to a predetermined depth; the exit in the sea of this U-tube can open into a balancing column that protects the air-sea interface from fluctuations due to the state of the sea. The invention also makes it possible to regulate the input pressure into the installations at a value which is preferably close to atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for drilling and completing a subsea well located at the seabed using a retrievable piping deck. The apparatus includes a template supported on the seabed, the retrievable piping deck supported on the template, a plurality of wellheads supported on the template and a plurality of Christmas trees supported on the wellheads. The piping deck has preinstalled flow lines and hydraulic lines to conduct well fluid from the Christmas trees to the surface and to conduct hydraulic control fluid from the surface to the trees. In addition to the Christmas trees, a well fluid manifold and a gaseous-liquid component separator can be supported on the template. The fluid connections between the Christmas trees and the hydraulic and flow lines and between the manifold and separator and the hydraulic and flow lines are accomplished by vertically oriented stab-in connectors.

Abstract: This relates to drilling in water from a platform or vessel using a riser pipe. An inverted funnel skirt or cone is placed over slots cut in the wall of a riser pipe a short distance above its lower end. The apex end of the cone is welded to the riser pipe above the slots and drill cuttings pass through the slots and fall to the seafloor. Another embodiment includes an "L" shaped diverter flowline welded to the periphery of each hole in the riser pipe with one leg of the "L" extending a short distance below the hole.

Abstract: An oil production system for producing oil at an offshore location comprises a floating storage vessel to receive the produced oil, the vessel having means for dynamic positioning and being connectable to a subsea well head by a riser and having means for separating the associated gas from the produced oil and employing the separated gas as fuel for the dynamic positioning.Re-entry of the subsea well is effected by providing the riser with means for effecting a simultaneous stab connection with the production bore and hydraulic control system lines without orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an underwater well blowout including a vessel with a lower weighted collar vent ports intermediate the top and bottom of the vessel a valve controlled chimney at the top of the vessel, a gas outlet positioned to provide a gas cap in the vessel when the valve is closed with the vessel in position around the blowing well, an oil outlet above the vent ports and below the gas cap and means for pumping substantially only oil from the vessel at a rate to prevent oil from escaping from the vessel to the sea in substantial quantities.

Abstract: System for the remote control, the maintenance or the fluid injection for a submerged satellite well head comprising a platform equipped with equipment usable for the remote control, maintenance or fluid injection for the well head and located substantially perpendicular to the well head, at least one pipeline connecting the platform to the well head, a control device located on the well head or in the immediate vicinity of the latter, and at least one remote control line connecting the platform to the remote control device, wherein the platform is on the surface and the pipeline is connected to the platform by a connector and to the well head by a spherical articulation equipped with a flexible joint.

Abstract: Oil and water mixtures are separated in a gas flotation separator by passing the mixture downward in a vertically elongated portion, and then upward in a vertically elongated portion. A gas such as air is injected near the lower end of the upward flow leg of the separator. The gas is injected at a sufficient hydrostatic pressure to effect dissolving of a substantial portion of the gas in the liquid. The upflow leg has a chamber for oil flotation. Oil removal as well as water removal from respective layers is provided. The separation of oil and water is enhanced by both upwardly bubbling gas and exsolving gas.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for removing an impurity from a gas by means of selective absorption of a gas impurity by a suitable absorbent. The absorbent and gas are contacted in a cocurrent flow contacter which is submerged in the absorbent. The flow of the absorbent in the absorber can be induced by means of the dispersion of the gas in the absorbent thereby avoiding the need for pumps or other means to induce circulation. The process and the apparatus can be used for the removal of carbon dioxide from natural gas with the use of salt water, e.g., sea water as the absorbent. The invention is specially useful for removing carbon dioxide from natural gas obtained from a natural gas well located in off shore waters that produces a gas with a high concentration of carbon dioxide as the apparatus can be erected on the ocean floor and use the surrounding sea water as absorbent.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for removing an impurity from a gas by means of selective absorption of a gas impurity by a suitable absorbent. The absorbent and gas are contacted in a contacting zone which is divided into a plurality of compartments with the absorbent and gas flowing cocurrently in each individual compartment. The overall system, however, is a countercurrent flow system wherein the absorbent flows downwardly and the gas flows upwardly. The process and the apparatus can be used for the removal of carbon dioxide from natural gas with the use of salt water as the absorbent. The invention is especially useful for a natural gas well located in offshore waters that produces a gas with a high concentration of carbon dioxide as the apparatus can be erected on the ocean floor and use the surrounding sea water as absorbent.

Abstract: This relates to drilling in water from a platform or vessel using a riser pipe. An inverted funnel skirt or cone is placed over slots cut in the wall of a riser pipe a short distance above its lower end. The apex end of the cone is welded to the riser pipe above the slots and drill cuttings pass through the slots and fall to the seafloor. Another embodiment includes an "L" shaped diverter flowline welded to the periphery of each hole in the riser pipe with one leg of the "L" extending a short distance below the hole.

Abstract: An offshore drilling installation comprising an underwater base spaced from an underwater buoy and in communication therewith by a connecting conduit. The underwater buoy represents the upward extension of the sea bed which serves to support an above-sea platform. The underwater buoy is further secured to the sea bed by mooring lines. Oil containing means is provided in the underwater base.