Rick L Stringfellow

US Patent:

8312933, Nov 20, 2012

Filed:

Mar 29, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/074858

Inventors:

Eric D. Larson - Tomball TX, US
Rick L. Stringfellow - Houston TX, US
Richard T. Trenholme - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Vetco Gray Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 7/12
E21B 19/16
F16L 55/00

US Classification:

166380, 1652426, 165344, 165345, 165359, 285 82, 285922

Abstract:

A marine drilling riser system for securing drilling riser joints in a drilling riser string is presented. The drilling riser string is assembled by connecting a pin end of one drilling riser joint to a box end of an adjoining drilling riser joint by using a moveable ring to drive a fastener of one drilling riser joint against the adjoining drilling riser joint. A spider is used to drive the movable ring axially from a position where the fastener is not engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint to a position where the fastener is engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint, and vice versa. A latch is used to prevent the moveable ring from moving inadvertently from the second position. The spider may also be used to support the marine drilling riser string during assembly.

US Patent:

8316948, Nov 27, 2012

Filed:

Mar 4, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/717738

Inventors:

Rick L. Stringfellow - Houston TX, US
Jesse L. Bullard - Houston TX, US
Tom A. Fraser - Spring TX, US
Brian N. Munk - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Vetco Gray Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 17/01
E21B 33/038

US Classification:

166367, 166338, 166341, 166360, 166378, 2851231

Abstract:

A box and pin coupling for a drilling riser having an actuator assembly with an attached dog. The actuator assembly includes an actuation rod having an end affixed to the dog. A portion of the rod is circumscribed by an annular sleeve, where the outer surface of the sleeve is threadingly attached to one of the box or pin. A shoulder is formed on the rod outer circumference between the sleeve and the end of the rod attached to the dog. A retainer cap is provided on the end of the rod opposite where it attaches to the dog. The sleeve abuts the rod on one end, and the retainer cap on the other, so that rotating the sleeve axially moves the actuation rod, that in turn moves the attached dog into or out of engagement with a profile on the other of the box or pin.

US Patent:

8322438, Dec 4, 2012

Filed:

Apr 16, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/761557

Inventors:

Eric D. Larson - Tomball TX, US
Rick L. Stringfellow - Houston TX, US
Jesse L. Bullard - Houston TX, US
Jim R. Reams - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Vetco Gray Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 17/01

US Classification:

166367, 166350, 166378, 138106, 405171, 441133

Abstract:

An offshore drilling riser joint has a central riser pipe, a number of auxiliary lines mounted around it, and a buoyancy module assembly of a buoyant material. A pair of upper thrust sleeves slide over two of the auxiliary lines, each of the upper thrust sleeves having a flange in contact with an upper end of the buoyancy module assembly. Each of the upper thrust sleeves transfer upward thrust imposed by the buoyancy module assembly to an upper support flange mounted to the central riser pipe. A pair of lower thrust sleeves slide over two of the auxiliary lines. Each lower thrust sleeve has a lower thrust flange that is engaged by a lower end of the buoyancy module assembly. Each of the lower thrust sleeves transfer weight of the buoyancy module assembly while out of water to a lower support flange mounted to the central riser pipe.

US Patent:

20090308658, Dec 17, 2009

Filed:

Jun 16, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/139793

Inventors:

Eric D. Larson - Tomball TX, US
Rick L. Stringfellow - Houston TX, US
Richard T. Trenholme - Houston TX, US

International Classification:

E21B 7/00

US Classification:

175 57, 285 26, 175 89

Abstract:

A technique for securing drilling riser joints in a drilling riser string is presented. The drilling riser joints have a tubular housing that has a box configuration on one end and a pin configuration on the other end. The drilling riser string is assembled by connecting the pin end of one drilling riser joint to the box end of an adjoining drilling riser joint. A moveable ring is used to connect adjoining drilling riser joints. The moveable ring is used to drive a fastener, such as a dog, of one drilling riser joint against the adjoining drilling riser joint. The moveable ring is driven axially from a first position, where the fastener is not engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint, to a second position where the fastener is engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint. A latch is used to prevent the moveable ring from moving inadvertently from the second position. This prevents the drilling riser joints from disconnecting inadvertently.