Patent US3656307A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3656307A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Subsea fluid processing facility
Assignee: Texaco Inc
•
Filing: 1970-06-01
•
Granted: 1972-04-18
•
Expires: 1990-06-01
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a subsea installation for removing and processing petroleum products such as crude oil and natural gas. The installation includes an under water facility anchored to the sea floor, holding fluid storage tanks as well as processing equipment. The facility is enclosed within a housing and communicated with a source of raw product by way of one or more subsea well heads which provide a continuous flow thereto. The unit further includes a buoyant mast extending upward therefrom, which mast is pivotally connected to said housing and supports conduits for liquid, gas, and electrical conductors which extend to the water''s surface.
Inventors
- 👤 George E Mott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:05
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/01; E21B43/017
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
In an underwater facility positioned in an offshore body of water, and being adapted to process hydrocarbon fluids communicated with said facility from a source of said fluids, which facility includes; a. a housing fixedly positioned at The floor of said body of water enclosing equipment for processing said hydrocarbon fluids, and an anchor post extending upwardly from said housing, b. an elongated mast including buoyancy means therein for urging the mast into a vertical attitude when said mast is submerged in said body of water, and c. coupling means disposed at the lower end of said elongated mast, being actuatable between expanded and contracted positions to slidably engage said anchoring post whereby to permit limited pivotal movement of said mast about said housing, d. and means to remotely actuate said coupling means for releasably engaging said respective housing and mast.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
In an underwater facility positioned in an offshore body of water, and being adapted to process hydrocarbon fluids communicated with said facility from a source of said fluids, which facility includes; a. a housing fixedly positioned at The floor of said body of water enclosing equipment for processing said hydrocarbon fluids, and an anchor post extending upwardly from said housing, b. an elongated mast including buoyancy means therein for urging the mast into a vertical attitude when said mast is submerged in said body of water, and c. coupling means disposed at the lower end of said elongated mast, being actuatable between expanded and contracted positions to slidably engage said anchoring post whereby to permit limited pivotal movement of said mast about said housing, d. and means to remotely actuate said coupling means for releasably engaging said respective housing and mast.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a facility as defined in claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes; a segmented jaw including a plurality of circularly arranged jaw segments, the latter being pivotally connected to said mast end, and adapted when in the expanded position to be spaced from said anchor post, and when in the contracted position to slidably engage the latter whereby to permit said pivotal movement between said mast and said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
In a facility as defined in claim 1 including; a skirt operably carried on said mast, being movable between extended and retracted positions, when in the extended position, said ring engaging the outer surface of said coupling when the latter is in the contracted position, whereby to maintain said segmented jaws in sliding engagement with said anchor post.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a facility as defined in claim 1 including; an actuator disposed centrally of said coupling, means having a portion thereof normally in engagement with said jaw segments, said actuator being horizontally movable to urge said respective jaw segments into the contracted position about said anchoring post for slidably engaging the latter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a facility as defined in claim 1 including; biasing means engaging said coupling means whereby to normally urge said jaw segments into the expanded position whereby to disengage said anchoring post.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
In a facility as defined in claim 4 wherein said actuator includes; a tapered upper section disposed in engagement with said segmented jaws, and a lower face adapted to engage said anchor post whereby lowering of said mast onto said anchor post will bring said actuator face end into contact with said anchoring post thereby to urge said jaw segments into the contracted position about said post.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA604291A
Cited
US2988144A
Cited
US3096999A
Cited
US3366173A
Cited
US3378067A
Cited
US3535883A
Cited
US3456720A
Cited
US3503443A
Cited
US3472032A
Cited
US3492027A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-18 | 1975-10-18 | 1976-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-18 | 1979-10-18 | 1980-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-18 | 1983-10-18 | 1984-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |