David A Huete

US Patent:

8157481, Apr 17, 2012

Filed:

Jan 2, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/778114

Inventors:

David Armstrong Huete - Spring TX, US
Richard Garside - Kenner LA, US
Dale Richard Snyder - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E02D 13/00

US Classification:

405228

Abstract:

A method of installing a foundation system for securing the tendons of a TLP to the ocean floor. The foundation system is installed in templateless operations in which a pile is secured to the ocean floor and a tendon receptacle is secured to the pile such that the load from a tendon secured therein is transferred to the ocean floor through coaxially aligned load paths of tendon-to-tendon receptacle-to-pile-to-ocean floor.

US Patent:

55670865, Oct 22, 1996

Filed:

Dec 23, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/370766

Inventors:

David A. Huete - Spring TX

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E02D 2300

US Classification:

4052231

Abstract:

A tension leg caisson is disclosed for supporting surface facilities on a deck for conducting hydrocarbon recovery operations in deepwater location applications. The tension leg caisson has an elongated, buoyant central vertical column or caisson with a plurality of outrigger pontoons. A plurality of tendons are connected on one end to the outrigger pontoons at a location which is spaced apart from the vertical. The other end is anchored to the ocean floor. Another aspect of the invention is a method of improving the dynamic response of a buoyant central caisson type platform.

US Patent:

51598914, Nov 3, 1992

Filed:

Aug 22, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/748402

Inventors:

Curtis J. Lohr - Mandeville LA
David A. Huete - Spring TX

Assignee:

Shell Offshore Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

B63B 2202
B63B 2150

US Classification:

114230

Abstract:

A backdown buoy-type mooring is provided which will pull supply vessels away from a tension leg platform while the supply vessel is being unloaded. The boat mooring system will consist of surface buoys attached to the top pad-eye of the lateral mooring intermediate buoys. The boat mooring system of the invention is configured for centering over a spaced array of ocean floor wells, being moved over to the farthest well, and adapted to be moved over to the nearest well.

US Patent:

53421485, Aug 30, 1994

Filed:

Mar 23, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/035849

Inventors:

David A. Huete - Spring TX
Lee K. Brasted - Kingwood TX
George Rodenbusch - Houston TX

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E02B 1700

US Classification:

4052231

Abstract:

A method and system are disclosed for establishing hydrocarbon production for offshore reservoirs in which a compliant platform is installed at a selected site, an offshore drilling vessel is docked to the compliant platform and the vessel is positioned over a selected well site for conducting drilling operations, and the production riser is transferred from the vessel to the compliant platform and secured there. Communication between a surface tree installed on the production riser and facilities supported by the compliant platform is established and these steps are repeated for each selected well site served by the compliant platform.

US Patent:

54802660, Jan 2, 1996

Filed:

Dec 30, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/177088

Inventors:

Peter W. Marshall - Northumberland, GB2
David A. Huete - Spring TX
Denby G. Morrison - Houston TX
Susan L. Smolinski - Houston TX

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E02R 1702

US Classification:

4052242

Abstract:

A tensioned riser deepwater platform suitable for offshore oil and gas applications is disclosed having a foundation secured to the ocean floor, a topside facility above the ocean surface, and a vertically extending tower jacket secured to the foundation and supporting the topside facility. A plurality of substantially vertically extending risers provide fluid communication between the wells and the topside facility. These risers are connected to riser supports near their upper ends and the riser supports provide the principal load transfer between the risers and the tower jacket. Thus, the conductor guides and attendant horizontal bracing of conventional deepwater design can be substantially eliminated.

US Patent:

55887813, Dec 31, 1996

Filed:

Dec 30, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/175898

Inventors:

Susan L. Smolinski - Houston TX
Denby G. Morrison - Houston TX
Peter W. Marshall - Stocksfield, GB2
David A. Huete - Spring TX

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E02B 1700

US Classification:

4051951

Abstract:

The present invention is a deepwater compliant platform that has enhanced dynamic characteristics by virtue of its wide stance, eliminates conventional conductor drivepipe guides and supporting framework, and reduces the net material requirements with a substantially open interior permitted in the absence of the conductor guides. This utilizes the wide body stance to accommodate a wide riser suspension corridor through the open interior thereby allowing suspended risers to be spaced apart sufficiently to avoid interference in response to normal tower motions.

US Patent:

54860709, Jan 23, 1996

Filed:

Sep 30, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/316200

Inventors:

David A. Huete - Spring TX

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E02B 1700

US Classification:

405202

Abstract:

A method for conducting offshore well operations is disclosed in which a compliant platform is restrained out of its normal position substantially over a well pattern by adjusting a first lateral mooring system connecting the compliant platform to a first array of anchors secured to an ocean floor. An offshore drilling vessel is then positioned over a selected well site of the well pattern at a location at the surface of the water not accessible to the offshore drilling vessel with the compliant platform in its normal position by adjusting a second lateral mooring system connecting the compliant platform to a second array of anchors on the ocean floor. Well operations are then conducted through a substantially vertical riser while maintaining a clearance to prevent direct contact between the compliant platform and the offshore drilling vessel.

US Patent:

54802652, Jan 2, 1996

Filed:

Dec 30, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/175894

Inventors:

Peter W. Marshall - Stocksfield, GB2
David A. Huete - Spring TX
Denby G. Morrison - Houston TX
Susan L. Smolinski - Houston TX

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E02B 1700

US Classification:

405224

Abstract:

The present invention is a method for reducing the natural period of the second harmonic response in a deepwater compliant tower by decoupling the mass of the production risers from the vertically extending compliant framework.