US3589441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Deep water operating and servicing system for operating and servicing marine wells
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
•
Filing: 1968-04-01
•
Granted: 1971-06-29
•
Expires: 1988-04-01
Abstract
Abstract The invention is directed towards an underwater well operating and servicing module and a coupling assembly which can be connected to a number of underwater wells and which is also capable of sustaining human life within for repair and inspection. The module is shaped as an upright cylindrical shell which reduces abruptly to a smaller diameter providing a substantially horizontal ledge surface when the module is in position on the ocean bottom. A number of wells are positioned around the module at approximately equal radial distances. A flexible coupling assembly having both ends thereof directed downwards is secured by means of detachable connectors between the well and the module. Each of the connectors are guided to their respective receptacles at the well and module by means of guidelines and guidepins projecting upwards from the well and module to a surface vessel. The weight of the coupling assembly forces the connectors into position at their respective receptacles and they are then locked into position by hydraulic or electric means controlled from either within the module or from the surface vessel. Tools for servicing the particular well to which the coupling assembly has been attached are then inserted into the coupling assembly from within the module and from there into the well itself. This operation is usually performed at equal time intervals automatically.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter Brown
- 👤 Warren S Messenger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:19
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/01; E21B43/017; E21B43/013
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
In combination: an underwater well operating and servicing module adapted to be positioned in proximity to at least one underwater well; a flexible tubing assembly having (ends) tubes with the respective openings extending in the same direction; a module connector disposed at one end of said tubing assembly and a well connector disposed at the other end, first means disposed on said module to receive said module connector, and third means on said tubing assembly for adjusting the spacing between said first and second means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
In combination: an underwater well operating and servicing module adapted to be positioned in proximity to at least one underwater well; a flexible tubing assembly having (ends) tubes with the respective openings extending in the same direction; a module connector disposed at one end of said tubing assembly and a well connector disposed at the other end, first means disposed on said module to receive said module connector, and third means on said tubing assembly for adjusting the spacing between said first and second means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said third means is comprised of; a. a tree member extending vertically from said well connector which connects to the receptacle on said well; b. a first linkage member extending between said connectors; c. a sleeve attached to said tree member a distance from said well connector; and d. a second linkage member extending from said sleeve to said module connector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention according to claim 2 and further comprising: a. a means for moving said sleeve up and down on said tree member to control the engagement of said module connector with said first means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention according to claim 2 and further comprising: a. a yoke means interposed between saId module connector and both of said linkage members to provide said module connector with limited degrees of movement to compensate for slight misalignments between said module connector and said first means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
The invention according to claim 1 and further comprising: a. a guide means positioned on said module and said well to guide said flexible tubing assembly with said connector, from the surface of said water to said first means the receptacles on said module and said second means on said respective well, said guide means also indexing said connectors to said first and second means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention according to claim 5 and further comprising locking means attached to said connectors for locking and unlocking said connector from said first and second means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
125 words
The invention according to claim 11 and further comprising: A system for servicing a plurality of deep water wells comprising: a well head on each of said wells and positioned substantially in a circle: a portable well operating and servicing module positioned at the center of said well heads, said module being hollow and conditioned to support life; a number of flexible coupling assembly means each connecting said module to a respective well head, said coupling assembly means being hollow to allow access to said wells from said module; and guide means affixed to said well heads and said module and extending to the surface of said water guide each of said coupling assembly means into position on said module and said respective well head.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
193 words
A system for servicing a plurality of deep water wells positioned along substantially equal radii from a central position comprising in combination: a. an operating and servicing module comprised of two hollow cylindrical sections, the lower one of which has a greater diameter than the upper, with the juncture of said sections forming a substantially horizontal surface, said module positioned at said central position; b. a plurality of receptacles projecting upward through said horizontal surface from within said module; c. a plurality of first means corresponding in number to said plurality of wells affixed to said wells respectively; d. a plurality of second means including at least one flexible tubing, the ends of which are directed downward and a pair of connectors, one of said connectors communicating with one end of said tubing and the other of said connectors communicating with the other end of said tubing, e. guide means affixed to said module and adapted to be affixed to said wells for guiding said pair of connectors on each of said second means from the surface of said water to one of said respective receptacles and one of said respective first means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
193 words
A system for servicing a plurality of deep water wells positioned along substantially equal radii from a central position comprising in combination: a. an operating and servicing module comprised of two hollow cylindrical sections, the lower one of which has a greater diameter than the upper, with the juncture of said sections forming a substantially horizontal surface, said module positioned at said central position; b. a plurality of receptacles projecting upward through said horizontal surface from within said module; c. a plurality of first means corresponding in number to said plurality of wells affixed to said wells respectively; d. a plurality of second means including at least one flexible tubing, the ends of which are directed downward and a pair of connectors, one of said connectors communicating with one end of said tubing and the other of said connectors communicating with the other end of said tubing, e. guide means affixed to said module and adapted to be affixed to said wells for guiding said pair of connectors on each of said second means from the surface of said water to one of said respective receptacles and one of said respective first means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention according to claim 8 wherein the bend in said tubing is large enough to allow for the passage of a tool from said module to said wells and back.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention according to claim 9 and further comprising: substantially rigid linkage connected between said connectors, for maintaining the spacing of said connectors to correspond to the spacing between a respective one of said receptacles on said module and a respective one of said first means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention according to claim 10 and further comprising: a. locking means attached to said connectors for locking and unlocking said connectors to and from said respective receptacle and said respective first means.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
182 words
A system for servicing a plurality of deep water wells positioned along substantially equal radii from a central position comprising in combination: an operating and servicing module comprised of two hollow sections the lower one of which has a greater diameter than the upper, with the juncture of said sections forming a substantially horizontal surface, said module positioned at said central position; b. a plurality of receptacles projecting upward through said substantially horizontal surfaces from within said module; c. first means connected to each of said wells to be serviced; d. at least one Y-spool member having at least one arm connected to one of said first means for allowing access to said well from at least two directions; f. a tree extension member projecting upward from and connected to said one arm of said Y-spool; g. a module connector connected to each of said receptacles; and h. at least one substantially flexible tubing having the ends thereof diverted downward connecting said module connector to one of the other arms of said Y-spool for allowing access to said well from said module.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
182 words
A system for servicing a plurality of deep water wells positioned along substantially equal radii from a central position comprising in combination: an operating and servicing module comprised of two hollow sections the lower one of which has a greater diameter than the upper, with the juncture of said sections forming a substantially horizontal surface, said module positioned at said central position; b. a plurality of receptacles projecting upward through said substantially horizontal surfaces from within said module; c. first means connected to each of said wells to be serviced; d. at least one Y-spool member having at least one arm connected to one of said first means for allowing access to said well from at least two directions; f. a tree extension member projecting upward from and connected to said one arm of said Y-spool; g. a module connector connected to each of said receptacles; and h. at least one substantially flexible tubing having the ends thereof diverted downward connecting said module connector to one of the other arms of said Y-spool for allowing access to said well from said module.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention according to claim 12 and further comprising substantially rigid linkage means connected between said tree extension and said module connector for maintaining the spacing between said one arm and said connector approximately equal to the spacing between a respective one of said receptacles and a respective one of said first means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention according to claim 13 and further comprising: a. a yoke means interposed between said module connector and said linkage members to provide said module connector with limited degrees of movement to compensate for slight misalignments between said first means and said respective receptacle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
110 words
The invention according to claim 13 wherein said substantially rigid linkage means is comprised of: a. substantially horizontal linkage member extending from said tree member to said module connector; b. a sleeve attached to said tree member a distance from said horizontal linkage member; c. a rigid linkage member, having a length greater than said horizontal member, extending from said module connector and connected to said sleeve; and d. hydraulic means connected to said sleeve to move said sleeve up and down on said tree, and in turn moving said module connector into and out of engagement with said module connector into and out of engagement with said module receptacle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention according to claim 15 and further comprising: a. means for moving said sleeve up and down on said tree member to control the engagement of said module connector with said module receptacle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3111692A
Cited
US3353364A
Cited
US3326285A
Cited
US3331437A
Cited
US3421579A
Cited
US3366173A
Cited
US3363683A
Cited
US3391734A
Cited
US3380520A
Cited
US3419071A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-28 | 1974-12-28 | 1975-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-28 | 1978-12-28 | 1979-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-28 | 1982-12-28 | 1983-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |