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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8096253 | Cable fairing attachment Systems and methods for automatically applying fairings to a cable as the cable is deployed from a winch are provided. Each fairing has two halves, with each half having a recess, or groove, to accommodate the cable. Like halves are connected together and the two ha... | 01/17/2012 |
| 7845299 | Compliant banding system The present invention discloses a compliant banding system for use in a marine environment comprising a flexible compliant member and an abaxial relatively rigid strap, both constructed to extend circumferentially around an underlying structure such as a strake or f... | 12/07/2010 |
| 7513209 | Twin fin fairing A fairing for the reduction of vortex-induced vibration and the minimization of drag about a substantially cylindrical element immersed in a fluid medium. The fairing also eliminates the galloping phenomenon typically associated with a teardrop-shaped fairing. The f... | 04/07/2009 |
| 7406923 | Systems and methods for reducing vibrations There is disclosed a system comprising a substantially cylindrical element, at least one strake element about a circumference of the cylindrical element, wherein at least one of the strake elements are closed and comprise a thickness measured in a direction along a ... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7370918 | Wheel assembly for a tracked vehicle and anti-accumulation sleeve therefor The present disclosure concerns embodiments of an improved wheel assembly for a drive track unit of an all-terrain vehicle that inhibits the accumulation of snow, ice and/or other matter between the track and the wheel assembly. In one implementation, an improved gu... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7337742 | Twin fin fairing A fairing for the reduction of vortex-induced vibration and the minimization of drag about a substantially cylindrical element immersed in a fluid medium. The fairing also eliminates the galloping phenomenon typically associated with a teardrop-shaped fairing. The f... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7328747 | Integrated buoyancy joint A buoyancy system includes a plurality of buoyancy joints distributed along a riser system. Each joint can include a riser pipe, an external frame disposed around a riser and a vessel, and a buoyant cladding disposed between the vessel and the frame. ... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7316525 | Vortex induced vibration optimizing system There is disclosed a system comprising a structure, a vortex induced vibration monitoring system, adapted to monitor a vortex induced vibration level of the structure, a tensioner connected to the structure, and a controller adapted to calculate a tension on the str... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7270214 | Method and apparatus for reducing and extracting wing-tip vortex energy The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for reducing wing-tip vortex energy during seismic exploration. The apparatus includes a vortex concentrator of deployed proximate a tip of a hydrofoil and a vortex reducing device deployed proximate the vorte... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7239781 | Composite fiber radial compression members in an umbilical The present inventions relate generally to umbilicals comprising at least one inner tube and at least one composite fiber element to provide greater resistance to radial compressive forces. Such umbilicals may be used in subsea hydrocarbon production applications. | 07/03/2007 |
| 7210531 | Protective element for a riser segment A protective element for a riser segment, including an elongated buffer body, at least one foot connected with the buffer body, the at least one foot being provided with an engagement part arranged to engage on a main pipe of a riser segment, the distance between th... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7184365 | Unitary multi-cable towing system In one aspect the invention comprises a system and a method for marine geophysical exploration, which includes a first cable connected to a vessel and a plurality of streamer cables connected to the first cable. The first cable includes all towing strength members a... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7121767 | Rugged foam buoyancy modules and method of manufacture A buoyancy module comprises a multi-layer outer protective shell that has an exterior surface and an interior surface. A first layer of foam buoyancy material is located adjacent to the interior surface. A second layer of foam buoyancy material that includes macrosp... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7097387 | Engineered material buoyancy system and device There is provided a buoyancy system for a structure having at least one component being substantially stationary with respect to the bottom of a water covered area. The system comprises a set of buoyancy modules of engineered materials to apply an identified amount ... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7070361 | Apparatus and methods for providing VIV suppression to a riser system comprising umbilical elements Apparatus for suppressing vortex induced vibrations on a marine element of a riser system wherein the riser system comprises at least one umbilical element. Systems comprising and methods of using said apparatus to suppress vortex induced vibrations. The apparatus, ... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7059416 | Buoyancy can for offshore oil and gas riser A buoyancy can for supporting an offshore oil and gas riser includes an axial bore through which the riser extends coaxially, and a radio-axial slot extending through a side of the can and into the axial bore. A pair of spaced-apart support features are disposed coa... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7017666 | Smooth sleeves for drag and VIV reduction of cylindrical structures A method for controlling drag and vortex induced vibration in a substantially cylindrical element by providing an ultra-smooth surface about the cylindrical element. The system for controlling drag and vortex induced vibration utilizes a substantially cylindrical ma... | 03/28/2006 |
| 6994492 | Methods for remote installation of devices for reducing drag and vortex induced vibration Methods for remotely installing vortex-induced vibration (VIV) reduction and drag reduction devices on elongated structures in flowing fluid environments. The devices installed can include clamshell-shaped strakes, shrouds, fairings, sleeves and flotation modules. | 02/07/2006 |
| 6896447 | Vortex induced vibration suppression device and method A vortex induced vibration suppressor and method is disclosed. The apparatus includes a body that is a flexible member of a polymeric (e.g., polyurethane) construction. A plurality of helical vanes on the body extend longitudinally along and helically about the body... | 05/24/2005 |
| 6848863 | Engineered material buoyancy system and device There is provided a buoyancy system for a structure having at least one component being substantially stationary with respect to the bottom of a water covered area. The system comprises a set of buoyancy modules of engineered materials to apply an identified amount ... | 02/01/2005 |
| 6766755 | Hydraulic activated spreader arm aperture generation system A spreader arm aperture generation system for use with a towed array is provided. The spreader arm aperture generation system broadly comprises a plurality of lines and a plurality of hydraulically activated, inflatable tubes for generating horizontal and vertical s... | 07/27/2004 |
| 6755595 | Riser impact protection A shell for providing impact protection to a marine drilling riser, the shell comprising a body having at least one hollow chamber defined by inner and outer faces of the shell, the body being provided with a plurality of holes allowing flooding of the chamber. ... | 06/29/2004 |
| 6726407 | Retractable radome strake and method A retractable radome strake is provided that includes an assembly of finger elements. The assembly of finger elements, when coupled to a radome, deflect at wind speeds greater than approximately twenty mph or wind pressures greater than approximately one psf. Accord... | 04/27/2004 |
| 6702026 | Methods and systems for reducing drag and vortex-induced vibrations on cylindrical structures Apparatus for controlling drag and vortex-induced vibration exerted onto a substantially cylindrical element of a fixed position subjected to a fluid flowing environment. Apparatus of the invention comprise a sleeve comprising an ultra-smooth surface. Met... | 03/09/2004 |
| 6695540 | Vortex induced vibration suppression device and method A vortex induced vibration suppressor and method is disclosed. The apparatus includes a body that is a flexible member of a polymeric (eg. polyurethane) construction. A plurality of helical vanes on the body extend longitudinally along and helically about... | 02/24/2004 |
| 6685394 | Partial shroud with perforating for VIV suppression, and method of using Apparatus and methods for environments subject to vortex induced vibration. The system includes a shroud having a number of perforations, with the shroud encircling the flowing-fluid element less than 100%. The system further includes a separation member ... | 02/03/2004 |
| 6669408 | Self-orienting piling, fluid-flow reduction device A load reduction device is mounted on a piling to reduce flow-drag created by fluid flowing on and past the piling. Upper and lower collars engage the piling to support and guide a bi-directionally tapered hydrodynamic foil having a tapered leading vane p... | 12/30/2003 |
| 6644232 | Cable, in particular seismic streamer, including a plurality of chambers forming a necklace float, and tools for filling, degassing or connecting the chambers of the cable A marine cable includes chambers forming a necklace float. For filling, degassing the chambers and for connecting two successive chambers, the cable includes an intervention orifice between the chambers and with which the chambers communicate. Connection ... | 11/11/2003 |
| 6644894 | Passive apparatus and method for reducing fluid induced stresses by introduction of energetic flow into boundary layer around structures The use of fluid passages for structures in fluid environments such as offshore platform risers or spars to reduce and/or control vortex-induced vibrations and drag is disclosed. The use of fluid passages to protect a moored marine vessel by reducing and/... | 11/11/2003 |
| 6637513 | Riser pipe construction and module therefor A riser pipe construction for a drilling connection from a drilling vessel to a valve previously provided on a sea floor comprises a riser pipe through which drilling means can be passed by means of which an oil well can be drilled as well as pressure pip... | 10/28/2003 |
| 6571878 | Smooth buoyancy system for reducing vortex induced vibration in subsea systems Smooth buoyancy cylindrical elements having a surface roughness coefficient of K/D less than or equal to 1×10-4, where K is the average peak-to-trough roughness and D is the effective outside diameter of said the cylindrical element are affixe... | 06/03/2003 |
| 6565287 | Apparatus for suppression of vortex induced vibration without aquatic fouling and methods of installation Apparatus and methods for suppressing vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) of aquatic elements of underwater structures. The system includes use of a sleeve positioned around at least a portion of an aquatic element and at least one strake positioned along at ... | 05/20/2003 |
| 6561734 | Partial helical strake for vortex-induced-vibrationsuppression A partial helical strake system and method for suppressing vortex-induced-vibration of a substantially cylindrical marine element, the strake system having a base connected to the cylindrical marine element and an array of helical strakes projecting from ... | 05/13/2003 |
| 6551029 | Active apparatus and method for reducing fluid induced stresses by introduction of energetic flow into boundary layer around an element Discharge of fluid into or suction of fluid from the boundary region around such structures as offshore marine elements and moored marine vessels to reduce fluid current induced stress to marine elements and low frequency oscillations of moored vessels du... | 04/22/2003 |
| 6517289 | Inflatable vibration reducing fairing Components of a flexible fairing shroud are attached adjacent their leading edges to bushings through which the fairing shroud is angularly displaced about a protectively surrounded structure exposed to a fluid medium. Inflow of the fluid medium is thereb... | 02/11/2003 |
| 6457527 | Apparatus and method for adding buoyancy to riser with inflatable floatation collar A drilling unit comprises a floating drilling rig, a subsea wellhead, and a riser connecting the subsea drilling rig with the subsea wellhead. A floatation collar encircles the riser so as to reduce deck load on the floating drilling rig. The floatation c... | 10/01/2002 |
| 6415730 | Dimpled marine seismic fairing An apparatus and method for improving the efficiency of marine cable tow operations. Indentations such as dimples in the exterior surface of cable fairings reduce cable strumming and reduce frictional drag forces as the cables and fairings are towed throu... | 07/09/2002 |
| 6401646 | Snap-on rotating reduction fairing The present invention is directed to a fairing system for the reduction of vortex-induced vibration and minimization of drag about a substantially cylindrical element immersed in a fluid medium. The fairing system includes a plurality of cylindrical shell... | 06/11/2002 |
| 6257337 | Submerged riser tensioner A drilling unit comprises a floating drilling rig, a subsea wellhead, and a riser connecting the subsea drilling rig with the subsea wellhead. A floatation collar encircles the riser so as to reduce deck load on the floating drilling rig. The floatation c... | 07/10/2001 |
| 6257161 | Fairings for cables A fairing for reducing the drag produced by a lead-in cable which is being used to tow one or more seismic streamers forming part of a wide streamer array comprises a plurality of fairing sections, each having a central bore to receive the lead-in and a s... | 07/10/2001 |
