Edward C Horton

US Patent:

45112878, Apr 16, 1985

Filed:

Dec 30, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/335886

Inventors:

Edward E. Horton - Rancho Palos Verdes CA

Assignee:

Global Marine, Inc. - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

E02B 1700

US Classification:

405204

Abstract:

A submerged tubular tower 10 is connected at its lower end 15 to an ocean floor 11 at a site where at least one subsea hydrocarbon well is to be drilled. A riser duct 22 for each well to be drilled extends from an upwardly accessible connection point 20 at the upper end 14 of the tower to the lower end of the tower. The tower is positively buoyant to stand erect in an unguyed manner. The upper end of the tower is located a substantial distance above the ocean floor at a depth sufficiently small to enable wells to be drilled through the riser ducts, through equipment 19 landed on the top of the tower, using floating drilling equipment 12 designed for use in substantially shallower water depths.

US Patent:

39657132, Jun 29, 1976

Filed:

May 28, 1974

Appl. No.:

5/473568

Inventors:

Edward E. Horton - Portuguese Bend CA

Assignee:

Deep Oil Technology, Inc. - Long Beach CA

International Classification:

B21D 1106
B21D 708

US Classification:

72146

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for laying continuous pipe particularly for offshore oil installations and wherein said continuous pipe is pre-formed into flat spirals of pre-selected inner and outer diameters depending upon available handling equipment and arranged in stacks in which each flat spiral is interconnected with the adjacent flat spiral. A stack of flat pipe spirals is positioned on a power driven rotatable pipe spiral carrier mounted on a deck of a pipe laying vessel. Pipe is withdrawn from the stack of spirals by rotating the pipe carrier and moving the pipe through pipe straightening and tensioning means, after which the pipe is fed to suitable pipe laying means for connecting the pipe to subsea installations.

US Patent:

44681577, Aug 28, 1984

Filed:

May 3, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/374240

Inventors:

Edward E. Horton - Rancho Palos Verdes CA

Assignee:

Global Marine, Inc. - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

E02B 1708
E02D 574
E02D 2100

US Classification:

405224

Abstract:

A tension-leg offshore platform comprises a positively buoyant, floating upper unit in which an operations platform is supported above an ocean surface by a plurality of spaced vertical columns defining buoyancy chambers. The lower ends of the columns are connected to the ocean floor by a corresponding plurality of tension-leg assemblies. Each tension-leg assembly is comprised of a plurality of positively buoyant tubular members having their lower ends connected securely against upward movement to the ocean floor. The tubular members are of substantially equal length less than the pertinent water depth by an amount adequate to cause their upper ends to be located below the area of significant surface wave action yet substantially above the ocean floor. A separate flexible tension member for each tubular member connects the lower ends of the columns to the upper ends of the corresponding tubular members. The positive buoyancy of the platform upper unit, as connected to the tubular members, is greater than the buoyancy it would have if floated at the same draft free of connection to the tubular members.

US Patent:

55584675, Sep 24, 1996

Filed:

Nov 8, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/336377

Inventors:

Edward E. Horton - Rancho Palos Verdes CA

Assignee:

Deep Oil Technology, Inc. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

E02B 1700

US Classification:

4051951

Abstract:

A deep water offshore apparatus for use in oil drilling and production in which an upper buoyant hull of prismatic shape is provided with a passage longitudinally extending through the hull in which risers run down to the sea floor, the bottom of the hull being located at a selected depth dependent upon the wind, wave, and current environment at the well site, which significantly reduces the wave forces acting on the bottom of the hull, a frame structure connected to the hull bottom and extending downwardly and comprising a plurality of vertically arranged bays defined by vertically spaced horizontal water entrapment plates and providing open windows around the periphery of the frame structure, the windows providing transparency to ocean currents and to wave motion in a horizontal direction to reduce drag, the vertical space between the plates corresponding to the width of the bay window, the frame structure being below significant wave action whereby wave action thereat does not contribute to heave motion of the apparatus but inhibits heave motion, the frame structure serving to modify the natural period and stability of the apparatus to minimize heave, pitch, and roll motions of the apparatus. A keel assembly at the bottom of the frame structure with ballast chambers for enabling the apparatus to float horizontally and for stabilization of the apparatus against tilting in vertical position, and taut anchor lines connected to the apparatus at a location of relatively little cyclic movement of the apparatus, the said lines being connected to suitable anchors.

US Patent:

57047324, Jan 6, 1998

Filed:

Nov 29, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/564829

Inventors:

Edward E. Horton - Rancho Palos Verdes CA

Assignee:

Deep Oil Technology Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E02D 720

US Classification:

405228

Abstract:

A deep water pile and installation and removal method that eliminates the need for underwater hammers or pile drivers. The pile is a hollow tube that is open at the lower end and provided with a fitting at the upper end for attachment to a lowering pipe. The fitting at the upper end also for fluid communication between the lowering pipe and the pile. Injecting air into the lowering pipe draws water from the lowering pipe and pile. This creates a hydrostatic pressure differential whereby the greater pressure on the outside of the pile head forces the pile into the sea floor. Removal of the pile may be accomplished by injecting high pressure water into the pile through the pile head. The high pressure water injection aids in overcoming the hydrostatic pressure on the outside of the pile head.

US Patent:

58734163, Feb 23, 1999

Filed:

Sep 17, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/931978

Inventors:

Edward E. Horton - Rancho Palos Verdes CA

Assignee:

Deep Oil Technology, Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 3404

US Classification:

166344

Abstract:

A drilling, production, test, and oil storage caisson for use in deep water offshore well operations. Separate low pressure and high pressure drilling risers are independently supported on buoyancy modules. Multiple drilling and production risers are left in the water and connected to the drilling rig and well(s) as needed to prevent the need for the raising and lowering of different risers during the various steps involved in beginning and completing wells. Surface and lower BOP stacks are utilized. Means for controlling the accelerations and velocity of the drilling riser buoyancy modules in the event of riser failure is provided. A subsea tree with dual master valves allows for production directly through a vertical production riser, flowline, to the production manifold on the caisson. A twisted tubing production riser is formed from three strings of tubing that are used for the flowline, annulus, and conduit for control lines.

US Patent:

55446086, Aug 13, 1996

Filed:

Nov 29, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/564838

Inventors:

Edward E. Horton - Rancho Palos Verdes CA

Assignee:

Deep Oil Technology, Inc. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

B63B 2100

US Classification:

114230

Abstract:

A method of setting out long mooring lines that includes the use of both a traction, or drum, winch and a linear winch. An anchoring vessel is provided with supply drums that contain the mooring line, a traction winch, and a linear winch. When the mooring line is lowered or retrieved, the traction winch, is used to maintain tension on the line until a connector approaches the traction winch. The linear winch is then engaged to maintain tension on the line, with the traction winch under low tension, until the connector passes through the linear winch. The traction winch is then reengaged to maintain all the tension on the line and the linear winch is disengaged until the next connector approaches the traction winch.

US Patent:

40372901, Jul 26, 1977

Filed:

Aug 27, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/608045

Inventors:

James J. Rose - Sylmar CA
Edward L. Horton - San Gabriel CA

Assignee:

Enviro-Blast International - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

A47L 514

US Classification:

15345

Abstract:

To remove particles of debris from a floor surface, a hood is mounted on wheels to move over the floor with the open side of the hood facing downward to form a traveling chamber. An air jet nozzle inside the hood is directed downward and is moved in a circular horizontal orbit by a variable speed motor to agitate the debris particles as the hood travels. A pump is attached to the hood to maintain a vacuum therein and to withdraw from the hood a high velocity air stream entraining the agitated debris particles. The hood is manually steered and is driven by a variable speed motor.