Buoyant ring gasket installation tool

Patent · Tue Oct 21 00:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:5124646

Ahlstone, A G

This patent describes a method of attaching underwater a ring gasket to a ring gasket retainer assembly located in a submerged wellhead connector having an opening defined upwardly therethrough. The method employs the use of an underwater vehicle. The ring gasket is mounted on a buoyant ring gasket installation tool, and the tool is operatively engaged in a bouyant manner to the underwater vehicle. The method comprises: lowering the underwater vehicle, ring gasket, and buoyant ring gasket installation tool downwardly through the water together to a location adjacent the submerged wellhead connector, transporting the bouyant installation tool carrying the ring gasket from the location adjacent the wellhead connector to a position substantially centrally beneath the wellhead connector opening, floating the ring gasket and the bouyant tool upwardly into the wellhead connector opening into engagement therewith, and connecting the ring gasket to the wellhead connector.

• Assignee: Shell Offshore, Inc., Houston, TX
• Patent Number(s): US 4618285
• OSTI ID: 5124646
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
42 ENGINEERING
423000 -- Engineering-- Marine Engineering-- (1980-)
BUOYS
CONDUCTOR DEVICES
CONNECTORS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FASTENERS
GASKETS
HOISTING
INSTALLATION
MATERIALS HANDLING
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OFFSHORE OPERATIONS
OIL WELLS
POSITIONING
SEALS
SHIPS
SUBMARINES
TRANSPORT
UNDERWATER OPERATIONS
WELLHEADS
WELLS