Donald W Ray

US Patent:

42816130, Aug 4, 1981

Filed:

Nov 20, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/096075

Inventors:

Donald R. Ray - Houston TX
Riddle E. Steddum - Houston TX

Assignee:

The Offshore Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

B63B 2150

US Classification:

114230

Abstract:

A tension mooring system for a floating structure such as a drilling or production platform having a plurality of permanent mooring lines extending upwardly from a plurality of bottom anchors and terminating below the water level and having buoys connected to the upper ends thereof with sufficient buoyancy to maintain the upper end of the mooring lines in a generally vertical posture, replaceable mooring lines connecting from the buoys to the floating structure, the upper position of the permanent mooring lines being preselected to be below a highly corrosive area of the air-sea interface, and a pulling mechanism on the replaceable mooring lines to impart a preselected tension to the mooring lines, the bottom anchors being pre-positioned by drilling and cementing or driving piling through templates. The method of establishing a tension mooring system for a floating structure including the steps of placing a plurality of drilling templates on the bottom at the desired mooring site, drilling and cementing or driving anchor piles through the templates, lowering permanent mooring lines, remotely connecting them to the templates, connecting replaceable mooring lines from the floating structure to the buoys secured to the upper end of the permanent mooring lines, and tensioning the mooring lines to a preselected level.

US Patent:

60680695, May 30, 2000

Filed:

Apr 14, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/291483

Inventors:

Robert J. Scott - Sugarland TX
Robert P. Herrmann - Houston TX
Donald R. Ray - Houston TX

Assignee:

Transocean Offshore Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 712

US Classification:

175 5

Abstract:

A multi-activity drillship, or the like, method and apparatus having a single derrick and multiple tubular activity stations within the derrick wherein primary drilling activity may be conducted from the derrick and simultaneously auxiliary drilling activity may be conducted from the same derrick to reduce the length of the primary drilling activity critical path.

US Patent:

44114087, Oct 25, 1983

Filed:

Dec 3, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/446574

Inventors:

Felix S. Radovan - Cypress TX
Albert M. Koehler - Houston TX
Donald R. Ray - Houston TX

Assignee:

The Offshore Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

B66F 100

US Classification:

254108

Abstract:

A jack-up platform apparatus operable for effecting relative vertical motion between a leg chord of a platform and a deck of the platform. The jack-up apparatus includes at least one generally rectangular reaction member operable to be connected at one end thereof to the platform deck in a posture contiguous to but spaced from a leg chord of the platform. An abutment member is connected to the other end of the reaction member and first and second leg chord engaging members are mounted for selective translation along the reaction member between the abutment member and the platform deck. A jack asembly is mounted between the first and second leg engaging members for translating the members along the reaction member wherein selective actuation of the first and second leg engaging members and the jack assembly will function to effect relative vertical motion between the platform leg chord and the platform deck while the reaction member reacts bending moments across the width thereof.

US Patent:

44458053, May 1, 1984

Filed:

Nov 17, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/442463

Inventors:

Donald R. Ray - Houston TX
Eugene R. Facey - London, GB2

Assignee:

Sonat Offshore Drilling Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E02B 1700

US Classification:

405203

Abstract:

A variable bearing assembly (40) for a jack-up platform having a hull (12), at least one support leg (14) and jack means (16) to effect relative vertical movement between the hull and support leg wherein the variable bearing assembly (40) includes; a bearing pad or foot (42) surrounding the distal end of the support leg (14) and a lost motion assembly (62, 68) interconnecting the bearing pad and support leg such that the support leg may vertically penetrate the seabed to refusal while the bearing pad is essentially supported on the surface of the seabed.

US Patent:

43512585, Sep 28, 1982

Filed:

Apr 9, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/138478

Inventors:

Donald R. Ray - Houston TX
Riddle E. Steddum - Houston TX

Assignee:

The Offshore Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

B63B 2150

US Classification:

114230

Abstract:

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for tension mooring an offshore platform having a deck and a plurality of buoyancy columns. An anchor system is initially installed upon the bed of a body of water. Permanent mooring lines are then connected to the anchor system and extend upwardly for support by a buoyancy system located below a lowest portion of the offshore platform and a zone of high oxygen content water adjacent the surface of the body of water. Sacrificial mooring lines are connected to an upper portion of the buoyancy system and extend upwardly through internal conduits with the plurality of bouyancy columns of the floating platform. In the event one of the sacrificial mooring lines becomes damaged the line may be selectively released from the buoyancy system, drawn up through a corresponding interior column and replaced from the deck of the platform.

US Patent:

60858516, Jul 11, 2000

Filed:

May 3, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/642417

Inventors:

Robert J. Scott - Sugarland TX
Robert P. Herrmann - Houston TX
Donald R. Ray - Houston TX

Assignee:

Transocean Offshore Inc.

International Classification:

E21B 1502
B63B 3544

US Classification:

175 7

Abstract:

A multi-activity driliship, or the like, method and apparatus having a single derrick and multiple tubular activity stations within the derrick wherein primary drilling activity may be conducted from the derrick and simultaneously auxiliary drilling activity may be conducted from the same derrick to reduce the length of the primary drilling activity critical path.

US Patent:

60477814, Apr 11, 2000

Filed:

Apr 9, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/057466

Inventors:

Robert J. Scott - Sugarland TX
Robert P. Herrmann - Houston TX
Donald R. Ray - Houston TX

Assignee:

Transocean Offshore Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 1920

US Classification:

175 5

Abstract:

A multi-activity drillship, or the like, method and apparatus having a single derrick and multiple tubular activity stations within the derrick wherein primary drilling activity may be conducted from the derrick and simultaneously auxiliary drilling activity may be conducted from the same derrick to reduce the length of the primary drilling activity critical path.

US Patent:

41934555, Mar 18, 1980

Filed:

Apr 14, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/896264

Inventors:

Riddle E. Steddum - Houston TX
Donald R. Ray - Houston TX
Bruce L. Crager - Houston TX

Assignee:

Chevron Research Company - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

E21B 712

US Classification:

166359

Abstract:

A blowout prevention system for an offshore structure positioned on the underwater bottom in a body of water which contains moving ice masses that could force the structure off location wherein a surface blowout preventer stack for conventional well control is connected to the upper end of a riser with the lower end of the riser being disconnectably connected to a subsurface blowout preventer stack which provides the necessary well control should the structure be forced off location. The subsurface stack is positioned on a wellhead located in a chamber in the subsea bottom and is disconnectably connected to the riser so that the riser may be quickly removed from the subsea bottom should the structure be forced off location.