US4003428A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for underwater pump installation
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1975-09-19
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Granted: 1977-01-18
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Expires: 1995-09-19
Abstract
Abstract A submergible pump assembly is installed in an underwater wellhead and rendered operable without the use of divers. A hose is guided down a cable extending upwardly from the wellhead and is inserted in a wellhead entry horn. The pump assembly is then lowered through the hose and into an upright tube in the wellhead. The pump assembly is locked in position in the tube and is connected to electrical power lines by remotely controlled hydraulic actuators in a sealed housing adjacent to the tube, the locking of the pump assembly also sealing the assembly in the tube concurrently. After the pump assembly has been installed, the hose and a running and retrieving tool in the hose are removed from the wellhead.
Inventors
- 👤 James N. Zehren
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:51
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B33/00; E21B33/02; E21B33/03; E21B33/04; E21B33/043; E21B33/035; E21B33/038; E21B33/0385; E21B41/00; E21B41/0007; E21B41/0014
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
Underwater wellhead apparatus comprising a tube having means for supporting the same upright above and in communication with a well bore extending below a body of water, means including a pump assembly suspension head for suspending a submergible pump assembly in said tube at an operating position, a housing adjacent to said tube and having its interior isolated from said body of water, and means in said housing for locking said suspension head in said tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
Underwater wellhead apparatus comprising a tube having means for supporting the same upright above and in communication with a well bore extending below a body of water, means including a pump assembly suspension head for suspending a submergible pump assembly in said tube at an operating position, a housing adjacent to said tube and having its interior isolated from said body of water, and means in said housing for locking said suspension head in said tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said locking means has means for remote control thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said remote control means comprises hydraulic actuator means in said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
119 words
Underwater wellhead apparatus comprisng a tube having means for supporting the same upright above and in communication with a well bore extending below a body of water, means for suspending a submergible pump assembly in said tube, a housing adjacent to said tube and having its interior isolated from said body of water, means in said housing for locking said pump assembly in said tube, said locking means comprising bolt means movable into said tube to engage a portion of said pump assembly, said suspending means comprising a shoulder in said tube and a suspension head of said pump assembly with base means for supporting the suspension head on said shoulder, and said bolt means engaging said suspension head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
119 words
Underwater wellhead apparatus comprisng a tube having means for supporting the same upright above and in communication with a well bore extending below a body of water, means for suspending a submergible pump assembly in said tube, a housing adjacent to said tube and having its interior isolated from said body of water, means in said housing for locking said pump assembly in said tube, said locking means comprising bolt means movable into said tube to engage a portion of said pump assembly, said suspending means comprising a shoulder in said tube and a suspension head of said pump assembly with base means for supporting the suspension head on said shoulder, and said bolt means engaging said suspension head.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein said suspension head has means actuated by said bolt means for sealing said suspension head in said tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said suspension head has a central stem extending from said base means along said tube and wherein said sealing means comprises washer means supported on said base means and surrounding said stem and means actuated by said bolt means for compressing said washer means against said base means and causing said washer means to expand against the inner surface of said tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein said washer means comprises a stack of elastomeric washers alternating with spacers, there being a cam ring at the top of said stack engaged by said bolt means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
Underwater wellhead apparatus comprising a tube having means for supporting the same upright above and in communication with a well bore extending below a body of water, means for suspending a submergible pump assembly in said tube, a housing adjacent to said tube and having its interior isolated from said body of water, means in said housing for locking said pump assembly in said tube, and means in said housing for establishing electrical connections to said pump assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
Underwater wellhead apparatus comprising a tube having means for supporting the same upright above and in communication with a well bore extending below a body of water, means for suspending a submergible pump assembly in said tube, a housing adjacent to said tube and having its interior isolated from said body of water, means in said housing for locking said pump assembly in said tube, and means in said housing for establishing electrical connections to said pump assembly.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein said establishing means has means for the remote control thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said remote control means comprises hydraulic actuator means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein said establishing means comprises female connector means on said pump assembly and male connector means movable into said tube to engage said female connector means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11, further comprising cooperating means in said tube and on said pump assembly for automatically orienting said pump assembly to align said female connector means with said male connector means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said establishing means comprises a carriage supporting said male connector means for movement laterally of said tube, and actuator means in said housing for moving said carriage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 13, further comprising electric conductor means extending through a sealed opening in a wall of said housing to said male connector means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
85 words
Underwater wellhead apparatus comprising a tube having means for supporting the same upright above and in communication with a well bore extending below a body of water, means for suspending a submergible pump assembly in said tube, a housing adjacent to said tube and having its interior isolated from said body of water, means in said housing for locking said pump assembly in said tube, said housing having means for equalizing the pressure in said housing with respect to the pressure exterior to said housing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
85 words
Underwater wellhead apparatus comprising a tube having means for supporting the same upright above and in communication with a well bore extending below a body of water, means for suspending a submergible pump assembly in said tube, a housing adjacent to said tube and having its interior isolated from said body of water, means in said housing for locking said pump assembly in said tube, said housing having means for equalizing the pressure in said housing with respect to the pressure exterior to said housing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
120 words
Underwater wellhead apparatus comprising a tube having means for supporting the same upright above and in communication with a well bore extending below a body of water, means for suspending a submergible pump assembly in said tube, a housing adjacent to said tube and having its interior isolated from said body of water, means in said housing for locking said pump assembly in said tube, and means for introducing said pump assembly into said tube, said introducing means comprising a horn, a cable extending away from said horn, a hose having means for guiding the same along said cable and into said horn, and means for lowering said pump assembly through said hose and into said horn and said tube.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
120 words
Underwater wellhead apparatus comprising a tube having means for supporting the same upright above and in communication with a well bore extending below a body of water, means for suspending a submergible pump assembly in said tube, a housing adjacent to said tube and having its interior isolated from said body of water, means in said housing for locking said pump assembly in said tube, and means for introducing said pump assembly into said tube, said introducing means comprising a horn, a cable extending away from said horn, a hose having means for guiding the same along said cable and into said horn, and means for lowering said pump assembly through said hose and into said horn and said tube.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein said lowering means comprises a cable-suspended tool releasably engageable with said pump assembly.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus for installing a pump assembly in an underwater wellhead having an entrance horn, said apparatus comprising a cable extending away from said horn, a hose having means for guiding the same along said cable and into said horn, and means for lowering said pump assembly through said hose and into said horn.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus for installing a pump assembly in an underwater wellhead having an entrance horn, said apparatus comprising a cable extending away from said horn, a hose having means for guiding the same along said cable and into said horn, and means for lowering said pump assembly through said hose and into said horn.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
84 words
Underwater wellhead apparatus comprising a tube having means for supporting the same upright above and in communication with a well bore extending below a body of water, means including a submergible pump suspension head for suspending a submergible pump assembly in said tube at an operating position, a housing adjacent to said tube and having its interior isolated from said body of water, sealing means actuatable for sealing said suspension head in said tube and means in said housing for actuating said sealing means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
84 words
Underwater wellhead apparatus comprising a tube having means for supporting the same upright above and in communication with a well bore extending below a body of water, means including a submergible pump suspension head for suspending a submergible pump assembly in said tube at an operating position, a housing adjacent to said tube and having its interior isolated from said body of water, sealing means actuatable for sealing said suspension head in said tube and means in said housing for actuating said sealing means.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of installing a pump assembly in an underwater wellhead through an entrance horn thereof, which comprises extending a cable upwardly from said horn, coupling a hose to the upper end of said cable, moving said hose along said cable and into said horn, lowering the pump assembly through said hose and into said wellhead by means of a cable-suspended tool releasably coupled to said pump assembly, seating said pump assembly in said wellhead, releasing said tool from said pump assembly, and removing said hose and said tool from said wellhead.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of installing a pump assembly in an underwater wellhead through an entrance horn thereof, which comprises extending a cable upwardly from said horn, coupling a hose to the upper end of said cable, moving said hose along said cable and into said horn, lowering the pump assembly through said hose and into said wellhead by means of a cable-suspended tool releasably coupled to said pump assembly, seating said pump assembly in said wellhead, releasing said tool from said pump assembly, and removing said hose and said tool from said wellhead.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 20, further comprising sealing said pump assembly in said wellhead and establishing electrical connections thereto.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-01-18 | 1980-07-19 | 1981-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-18 | 1984-07-19 | 1985-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-18 | 1988-07-19 | 1989-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |