Compensating and sensing apparatus for well bore drilling vessels

Claim 2

In apparatus for maintaining a predetermined stress in a running string supported from a vessel floating in a body of water: cylinder means; piston means slidable in said cylinder means; one of said means being adapted for operative connection to the running string; the other of said means being adapted to operative connection to a supporting means on the vessel; means for maintaining a liquid medium under pressure in said cylinder means on one side of said piston means as said piston means and cylinder means move longitudinally relative to one another in both longitudinal directions; and means operable in response to vertical movement of the vessel in the water for exerting a force tending to shift said cylinder means and piston means vertically with respect to each other a distance proportionate to the vertical movement of the vessel.

Claim 3

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said force exerting means being operable to shift said cylinder means and piston means vertically with respect to each other in both upward and downward directions in response to upward and downward movement of the vessel in the water.

Claim 4

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said force exerting means being operable to shift said cylinder means and piston means vertically with respect to each other in both upward and downward directions a distance substantially equal to the extent of vertical movement of the vessel and in the same direction.

Claim 5

In apparatus for maintaining a predetermined stress in a running string supported from a vessel floating in a body of water: compensator cylinder means; compensator piston means slidable in said cylinder means; one of said compensator means being adapted for operative connection to the running string; the other of said compensator means being adapted for operative connection to a supporting means on the vessel; means for maintaining a liquid medium under pressure in said cylinder means on one side of said piston means as said piston means and cylinder means move longitudinally relative to one another in both longitudinal directions; sensing means including master cylinder means and master piston means slidable therein, slave cylinder means and slave piston means slidable therein, means supporting said master cylinder means and master piston means to effect relative vertical movement therebetween in response to vertical movement of the vessel; means operatively associating one of said slave cylinder means and slave piston means with said one of said compensator means for movement therewith; means operatively associating the other of said slave cylinder means and slave piston means with said other of said compensator means for movement therewith; and fluid conducting means conducting fluid therebetween, whereby relative motion between said master cylinder means and master piston means correspondingly shifts said slave cylinder means and slave piston means with respect to each other.

Claim 6

In apparatus for maintaining a predetermined stress in a running string supported from a vessel floating in a body of water: compensator cylinder means; compensator piston means slidable in said cylinder means; one of said compensator means being adapted for operative connection to the running string; the other of said compensator means being adapted for operative connection to a supporting means on the vessel; means for maintaining a liquid medium under pressure in said cylinder means on one side of said piston means as said piston means and cylinder means move longitudinally relative to one another in both longitudinal directions; sensing means including master cylinder means and master piston means slidable therein, slave cylinder means and slave piston means slidable therein, means supporting said master cylinder means and master piston means to effect relative vertical movement therebetween in response to vertical movement of the vessel; means operatively associating one of said slave cylinder means and slave piston means with said one of said compensator means for movement therewith; means operatively associating the other of said slave cylinder means and slave piston means with said other of said compensator means for movement therewith; and fluid conducting means conducting fluid therebetween, whereby relative motion between said master cylinder means and master piston means correspondingly shifts said slave cylinder means and slave piston means with respect to each other.

Claim 7

In apparatus as defined in claim 4; said master cylinder means and master piston mEans and said slave cylinder means and slave piston means being constructed and arranged with respect to each other that both upward and downward movement of the vessel effects corresponding upward and downward movement of said other of said slave means.

Claim 8

In apparatus for maintaining a predetermined stress in a running string supported from a vessel floating in a body of water: compensator cylinder means operatively connected to a supporting means on the vessel; compensator piston means slidable in aid cylinder means and adapted for operative connection to the running string; means for maintaining a liquid medium under pressure in said cylinder means on one side of said piston means as said piston means and cylinder means move longitudinally relative to one another in both longitudinal directions; and means operable in response to vertical movement of the vessel in the water for exerting a force tending to shift said cylinder means and piston means vertically with respect to each other a distance proportionate to the vertical movement of the vessel.

Claim 9

In apparatus for maintaining a predetermined stress in a running string supported from a vessel floating in a body of water: compensator cylinder means operatively connected to a supporting means on the vessel; compensator piston means slidable in aid cylinder means and adapted for operative connection to the running string; means for maintaining a liquid medium under pressure in said cylinder means on one side of said piston means as said piston means and cylinder means move longitudinally relative to one another in both longitudinal directions; and means operable in response to vertical movement of the vessel in the water for exerting a force tending to shift said cylinder means and piston means vertically with respect to each other a distance proportionate to the vertical movement of the vessel.

Claim 10

In apparatus as defined in claim 6; said force exerting means being operable to shift said cylinder means vertically in the same direction as the vessel moves both upwardly and downwardly.

Claim 11

In apparatus as defined in claim 6; said force exerting means being operable to shift said cylinder means vertically in the same direction as the vessel moves both upwardly and downwardly and a distance substantially equal to the extent of vertical movement of the vessel.

Claim 12

In apparatus for maintaining a predetermined stress in a running string supported from a vessel floating in a body of water: compensator cylinder means operatively connected to a supporting means on the vessel; compensator piston means slidable in said cylinder means and adapted for operable connection to the running string; means for maintaining a liquid medium under pressure in said cylinder means on one side of said piston means as said piston means and cylinder means move longitudinally relative to one another in both longitudinal directions; sensing means including master cylinder means and master piston means slidable therein, slave cylinder means and slave piston means slidable therein, means operatively supporting said master cylinder means and master pistons means to effect relative vertical movement therebetween in response to vertical movement of the vessel; means operatively associating said slave cylinder means with said compensator cylinder means for movement therewith; means operatively associating said slave piston means with said compensator piston means for movement therewith; and fluid conducting means between said master cylinder means and slave cylinder means for conducting fluid therebetween, whereby relative motion between said master cylinder means and master piston means correspondingly shifts and slave cylinder means and slave piston means with respect to each other.

Claim 13

In apparatus for maintaining a predetermined stress in a running string supported from a vessel floating in a body of water: compensator cylinder means operatively connected to a supporting means on the vessel; compensator piston means slidable in said cylinder means and adapted for operable connection to the running string; means for maintaining a liquid medium under pressure in said cylinder means on one side of said piston means as said piston means and cylinder means move longitudinally relative to one another in both longitudinal directions; sensing means including master cylinder means and master piston means slidable therein, slave cylinder means and slave piston means slidable therein, means operatively supporting said master cylinder means and master pistons means to effect relative vertical movement therebetween in response to vertical movement of the vessel; means operatively associating said slave cylinder means with said compensator cylinder means for movement therewith; means operatively associating said slave piston means with said compensator piston means for movement therewith; and fluid conducting means between said master cylinder means and slave cylinder means for conducting fluid therebetween, whereby relative motion between said master cylinder means and master piston means correspondingly shifts and slave cylinder means and slave piston means with respect to each other.

Claim 14

In apparatus as defined in claim 9; said master cylinder means and master piston means and said slave cylinder means and slave piston means being constructed and arranged with respect to each other that both upward and downward movement of the vessel effects corresponding upward and downward movement of said slave piston means.

Claim 15

In apparatus as defined in claim 9; said master piston means being operatively connected to the vessel; said master cylinder means being operatively connected to the fixed reference point.

Claim 16

In apparatus as defined in claim 9; said master piston means being operatively connected to the fixed reference point; said master cylinder means being operatively connected to the vessel.

Claim 17

In apparatus as defined in claim 9; said supporting means comprising means connecting said master cylinder means to the vessel and further including means operatively connected to a fixed reference point and to said master piston means for movement of said master piston means relative to the vessel and master cylinder means as the vessel moves verticaLly.

Claim 18

In apparatus for maintaining a predetermined stress in a running string extending from a vessel floating in water to a bore hole extending downwardly from a subaqueous floor, a relatively stationary marine riser extending upwardly from the region of the bore hole to the floating vessel: compensator cylinder means; compensator piston means slidable in said cylinder means; one of said compensator means being adapted for operative connection to the running string; the other of said compensator means being adapted for operative connection to a supporting means on the vessel; means for maintaining a liquid medium under pressure in said cylinder means on one side of said piston means as said piston means and cylinder means move longitudinally relative to one another in both longitudinal directions; sensing means including master cylinder means and master piston means slidable therein, slave cylinder means and slave piston means slidable therein, means operatively connecting one of said master cylinder means and master piston means to the marine riser, means operatively connecting said other of said master cylinder means and master piston means to the vessel for vertical movement therewith; means operatively associating one of said slave cylinder means and slave piston means with said one of said compensator means for movement therewith; means operatively associating the other of said slave cylinder means and slave piston means with said other of said compensator means for movement therewith; and fluid conducting means between said master cylinder means and slave cylinder means for conducting fluid therebetween, whereby relative motion between said master cylinder means and master piston means correspondingly shifts said slave cylinder means and slave piston means with respect to each other.

Claim 19

In apparatus for maintaining a predetermined stress in a running string extending from a vessel floating in water to a bore hole extending downwardly from a subaqueous floor, a relatively stationary marine riser extending upwardly from the region of the bore hole to the floating vessel: compensator cylinder means; compensator piston means slidable in said cylinder means; one of said compensator means being adapted for operative connection to the running string; the other of said compensator means being adapted for operative connection to a supporting means on the vessel; means for maintaining a liquid medium under pressure in said cylinder means on one side of said piston means as said piston means and cylinder means move longitudinally relative to one another in both longitudinal directions; sensing means including master cylinder means and master piston means slidable therein, slave cylinder means and slave piston means slidable therein, means operatively connecting one of said master cylinder means and master piston means to the marine riser, means operatively connecting said other of said master cylinder means and master piston means to the vessel for vertical movement therewith; means operatively associating one of said slave cylinder means and slave piston means with said one of said compensator means for movement therewith; means operatively associating the other of said slave cylinder means and slave piston means with said other of said compensator means for movement therewith; and fluid conducting means between said master cylinder means and slave cylinder means for conducting fluid therebetween, whereby relative motion between said master cylinder means and master piston means correspondingly shifts said slave cylinder means and slave piston means with respect to each other.

Claim 20

In apparatus as defined in claim 14; said master cylinder means and master piston means and said slave cylinder means and slave piston means being constructed and arranged with respect to each other that both upward and downward movement of said other of said master means with the vessel effects corresponding upward and downward movement of said other of said slave means.

Claim 21

In apparatus for maintaining a predetermined stress in a running string extending from a vessel floating in water to a bore hole extending downwardly from a subaqueous floor, a relatively stationary marine riser extending upwardly from the region of the bore hole to the floating vessel: compensator cylinder means; compensator piston means slidable in said cylinder means; one of said compensator means being adapted for operative connection to the running string; the other of said compensator means being adapted for operative connection to a supporting means on the vessel; means for maintaining a liquid medium under pressure in said cylinder means on one side of said piston means as said piston means and cylinder means move longitudinally relative to one another in both longitudinal directions; sensing means including master cylinder means and master piston means slidable therein, slave cylinder means and slave piston means slidable therein, means operatively connecting one of said master cylinder means and master piston means to the marine riser, means operatively connecting said other of said master cylinder means and master piston means to the vessel for vertical movement therewith; means operatively associating said slave cylinder means with said compensator cylinder means for movement therewith; means operatively associating said slave piston means with said compensator piston means for movement therewith; and fluid conducting means between said master cylinder means and slave cylinder means for conducting fluid therebetween, whereby relative motion between said master cylinder means and master piston means correspondingly shifts said slave cylinder means and slave piston means with respect to each other.

Claim 22

In apparatus for maintaining a predetermined stress in a running string extending from a vessel floating in water to a bore hole extending downwardly from a subaqueous floor, a relatively stationary marine riser extending upwardly from the region of the bore hole to the floating vessel: compensator cylinder means; compensator piston means slidable in said cylinder means; one of said compensator means being adapted for operative connection to the running string; the other of said compensator means being adapted for operative connection to a supporting means on the vessel; means for maintaining a liquid medium under pressure in said cylinder means on one side of said piston means as said piston means and cylinder means move longitudinally relative to one another in both longitudinal directions; sensing means including master cylinder means and master piston means slidable therein, slave cylinder means and slave piston means slidable therein, means operatively connecting one of said master cylinder means and master piston means to the marine riser, means operatively connecting said other of said master cylinder means and master piston means to the vessel for vertical movement therewith; means operatively associating said slave cylinder means with said compensator cylinder means for movement therewith; means operatively associating said slave piston means with said compensator piston means for movement therewith; and fluid conducting means between said master cylinder means and slave cylinder means for conducting fluid therebetween, whereby relative motion between said master cylinder means and master piston means correspondingly shifts said slave cylinder means and slave piston means with respect to each other.

Claim 23

In apparatus as defined in claim 16; said master cylinder means and master pistoN means and said slave cylinder means and slave piston means being constructed and arranged with respect to each other that both upward and downward movement of said other of said master means with the vessel effects corresponding upward and downward movement of said other of said slave means.

Claim 24

In apparatus as defined in claim 16; said master piston means being operatively connected to the vessel; said master cylinder means being operatively connected to the marine riser.

Claim 25

In apparatus as defined in claim 16; said master piston means being operatively connected to the marine riser; said master cylinder means being operatively connected to the vessel.