Robert J Voss

US Patent:

6902005, Jun 7, 2005

Filed:

Feb 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/366241

Inventors:

Amin Radi - Nassau Bay TX, US
Michael E. Capesius - Santa Paula CA, US
Fife B. Ellis - Houston TX, US
Robert K. Voss - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Vetco Gray Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B034/04

US Classification:

166345, 166348, 166368

Abstract:

A subsea wellhead assembly allows communication between a production tubing annulus and a conduit in fluid communication with a platform above. The wellhead assembly has a tubing hanger that is held relative to a tubular wellhead member of a subsea well by a tubing hanger support. A string of tubing extends from the tubing hanger into the well, defining an annulus around the tubing. The conduit communicates with the tubing annulus through a tubing annulus passage. The tubing annulus passage has a portion extending through the tubing hanger support. The wellhead member supports a valve block located between the tubing hanger support and the riser. The tubing annulus passage has another portion that registers with the portion of the passage in the tubing hanger support. The conduit stabs into valve block portion of the tubing annulus passage when the riser connects to the upper end of the valve block.

US Patent:

7647973, Jan 19, 2010

Filed:

Jul 18, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/488747

Inventors:

Marc Minassian - LaPorte TX, US
Robert K. Voss - Houston TX, US
Kevin G. Buckle - Tipperty By Ellon, GB
Steven P. Fenton - Balmedie, GB

Assignee:

Vetco Gray Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 41/04

US Classification:

166338, 166336, 166339, 166368, 16625017, 16625008

Abstract:

A tool is employed with a subsea wellhead assembly for preventing the collapse of a wear bushing located in a drill-through tubular member due to external test forces being applied to it. The tool has a connector that connects to the drill-through tubular member. A stem extends downward from the connector and has a reacting member at its lower end. The reacting member engages an inner diameter of the wear bushing to resist inwardly directed forces due to fluid pressure on the exterior of the wear bushing. The tool can be incorporated with a running tool or with a blowout preventer isolation test tool.

US Patent:

20030019632, Jan 30, 2003

Filed:

Jul 23, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/201704

Inventors:

Bernard Humphrey - Potterton, GB
Jeffrey Goetz - Inverurie, GB
Kevin Ingram - Aberdeen, GB
Norman Brammer - Aberdeen, GB
Robert Voss - Houston TX, US

International Classification:

E21B033/035

US Classification:

166/368000, 166/382000

Abstract:

The wellhead assembly has a production tree with multiple safety barriers. A tubing hanger lands and seals in the bore of the tree. The tubing hanger has a lateral production flow passage that registers with a lateral passage in the tree. A tubing annulus passage extends upward from the tubing annulus to an exterior port. A second portion of the tubing annulus passage extends upward from the exterior port into the bore above the tubing hanger seal. The external port may be used for gas injection. If so, two closure members are located in the upper portion of the tubing annulus above the seal. The upper closure member may be either a check valve or a removable plug.

US Patent:

20090014184, Jan 15, 2009

Filed:

Jul 11, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/776171

Inventors:

Robert K. Voss - Houston TX, US
Perry J. Stokes - Houston TX, US
David W. Hughes - Hilltop Lakes TX, US
Robert N. Rogers - Tomball TX, US

International Classification:

E21B 7/12
E21B 43/36
F16L 37/06

US Classification:

166345, 285306

Abstract:

A wellhead connector for connecting a riser or production tree to a wellhead of a subsea well utilizes a singular annular piston to lock the connector onto the wellhead. The wellhead connector includes a housing that contains dogs for engagement with the exterior of the wellhead housing. A cam ring is also included, which has an inner side for engaging the dogs and moving them inward into a locked position with the wellhead housing. Connecting rods connect the piston to the cam rings. As the piston moves downward, the cam ring also moves downward, forcing the dogs inward into a locked position. As the piston moves upward, the cam ring also moves upward, thereby unlocking the connector. A secondary annular piston is also provided to guarantee unlocking.

US Patent:

20120168169, Jul 5, 2012

Filed:

Dec 29, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/980649

Inventors:

Robert K. Voss - Cypress TX, US

Assignee:

VETCO GRAY INC. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 41/04
E21B 34/04

US Classification:

166341, 166345, 166344

Abstract:

An electrical and hydraulic configuration on a subsea tree that facilitates the use of an ROV control system to operate the tree during well installations, interventions, and workovers. An SCM at the tree is in communication with a fixed junction plate that receives a production umbilical during normal operation. The ROV can be deployed to disconnect and park the production umbilical during well installations, interventions, and workovers to prevent accidental operation of the SCM or tree. The junction plate is configured to connect with the ROV and thereby establish communication with the hydraulic lines of the SCM. The ROV may carry an umbilical from a vessel to provide electrical and hydraulic service to the SCM during well operations. In addition, the ROV has facilities to repressurize spent control fluid to thereby allow reuse of the control fluid by the SCM.

US Patent:

20130000918, Jan 3, 2013

Filed:

Jun 29, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/172429

Inventors:

Robert Karl Voss - Cypress TX, US

Assignee:

VETCO GRAY INC. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 43/01

US Classification:

166344

Abstract:

A subsea wellhead assembly positions a flow module between an outboard flowline of a subsea tree and a tubing hanger spool flowline. The subsea production assembly includes a wellhead, a tubing hanger spool disposed on the wellhead, and a subsea tree disposed on the tubing hanger spool. Production fluid may flow from the wellhead through the tubing hanger spool, and then through the tree. A tubing hanger spool frame mounts to and extends laterally from the tubing hanger spool and supports a downstream flowline having an upward facing hub. A tree frame mounts to and extends laterally from the subsea tree and supports an upstream flowline having an upward facing hub. A flow module having downward facing flowlines that couple to the hubs so that the weight of the flow module is distributed between the frames of the tubing hanger spool and the subsea tree.

US Patent:

20140060850, Mar 6, 2014

Filed:

Sep 6, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/605556

Inventors:

Robert Karl Voss - Houston TX, US
William Munro - Aberdeen, GB

International Classification:

E21B 33/035

US Classification:

166363

Abstract:

A control system for a subsea well is provided. The control system comprises a tree comprising a hydraulic control supply line for use in opening a downhole safety valve as a result of hydraulic pressure in the line. A part of the line is carried by a structure which is subject to the pressure of a production fluid from the well used in the control system so that the line is separable in response to a failure of the integrity of the structure.

US Patent:

53660170, Nov 22, 1994

Filed:

Sep 17, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/122994

Inventors:

Robert K. Voss - Houston TX

Assignee:

ABB Vetco Gray Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 4300

US Classification:

166368

Abstract:

A subsea well has communication passages to enable annulus pressure between the inner and intermediate strings of casing to be monitored at the surface. The communication passages include a passage through the upper casing hanger. This passage registers with a passage through the tubing hanger assembly. The passage in the tubing hanger assembly registers with a passage in the tree assembly. The passage in the tree assembly has an outlet at the exterior of the tree assembly, where it connects to a communication line that extends to production equipment at the surface.