Christopher Alan Cunningham

US Patent:

6365268, Apr 2, 2002

Filed:

Jun 5, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/587705

Inventors:

Michael R. Williams - Houston TX
Christopher E. Cunningham - Spring TX

Assignee:

FMC Corporation - Chicago IL

International Classification:

B32B 516

US Classification:

428327, 428323, 428325, 428332, 42840221, 42840224, 4284231

Abstract:

An insulation material useful in deep water well drilling applications includes an elastic polymer matrix, a plurality of rigid macro-beads within the elastic polymer matrix, an inelastic polymer matrix within the macro-beads, and a plurality of hollow, insulative micro-beads within the inelastic polymer matrix. The insulation material has adequate flexibility and elasticity to withstand thermal expansion and contraction, adequate compressive strength to withstand high water pressures, and good insulative properties at cold temperatures near the freezing point of water.

US Patent:

6408947, Jun 25, 2002

Filed:

Oct 9, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/685650

Inventors:

Christopher E. Cunningham - Spring TX
Christopher D. Bartlett - Spring TX

Assignee:

FMC Corporation - Chicago IL

International Classification:

E21B 4301

US Classification:

166339, 166345, 166364

Abstract:

A slimbore marine riser and BOP are provided for a subsea completion system which includes a tubing spool secured to a wellhead at the sea floor. The tubing spool has an internal landing profile for a reduced diameter tubing hanger which is arranged and dimensioned to pass through the bore of the riser and BOP at the end of a landing string. The tubing hanger, arranged and designed to be sealingly positioned in the tubing spool landing profile, has a production bore and a relatively large multiplicity of electric and hydraulic passages which terminate at a top end of the hanger with vertically extending electric and hydraulic couplers. A passage is provided through the body of the tubing spool which provides communication from above the tubing hanger to the well annulus below the hanger. A remotely controllable valve is placed in the annulus bypass passage. After the hanger is positioned in the tubing spool, the BOP may be set aside the wellhead, so that a substantially conventional xmas tree (with a BOP adaptor connected to its top profile) may be secured at its bottom end to the tubing spool.

US Patent:

6488083, Dec 3, 2002

Filed:

Mar 22, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/815351

Inventors:

Christopher D. Bartlett - Spring TX
Christopher E. Cunningham - Spring TX
Richard D. Kent - Newburgh, GB
Nicholas Gatherar - Juniper Green, GB

Assignee:

FMC Technologies, Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

E21B 1900

US Classification:

166 871, 166 951, 166321, 166 863

Abstract:

A tubing hanger for a flow completion system which comprises a Christmas tree connected above a wellhead housing that includes a central bore in which the tubing hanger is supported, the tubing hanger comprising a generally annular body; a production bore which extends generally axially through the body; an annulus bore which extends generally axially through the body; the annulus bore comprising a generally lateral first branch which is connected to a generally axial second branch; and a closure member which includes a gate that is moveable generally axially across the first branch between an open position in which a hole in the gate is aligned with the first branch and a closed position in which the hole is offset from the first branch.

US Patent:

6494257, Dec 17, 2002

Filed:

Mar 22, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/815437

Inventors:

Christopher D. Bartlett - Spring TX
Christopher E. Cunningham - Spring TX
Richard D. Kent - Newburgh, GB
Nicholas Gatherar - Juniper Green, GB
David Harrold - Houston TX

Assignee:

FMC Technologies, Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

E21B 1900

US Classification:

166 862, 166348, 166 871, 166 951

Abstract:

A flow completion system for controlling the flow of fluid from a well bore, the flow completion system comprising a tubing spool which includes a central bore that extends axially therethrough and a production outlet which communicates with the central bore; a tubing hanger which is supported in the central bore and which includes a production bore that extends axially therethrough and a production passageway that communicates between the production bore and the production outlet, the tubing hanger supporting a tubing string which extends into the well bore and defines a tubing annulus surrounding the tubing string; a first closure member which is positioned in the production bore above the production passageway; a first annular seal which is positioned between the tubing hanger and the central bore above the production passageway; wherein the first closure member and the first seal comprise a first pressure-containing barrier between the well bore and a surrounding environment; a second closure member which is positioned in the production bore above the first closure member; and a second annular seal which is positioned between the tubing hanger and the central bore above the first seal; wherein the second closure member and the second seal comprise a second pressure-containing barrier between the well bore and the environment; and wherein both the first and the second barriers are associated with the tubing hanger.

US Patent:

6494266, Dec 17, 2002

Filed:

Mar 22, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/815431

Inventors:

Christopher D. Bartlett - Spring TX
Christopher E. Cunningham - Spring TX
Timothy R. Goggans - Cypress TX
Jamie Patrick-Maxwell - Houston TX
Sylvester A. Joan - Houston TX
Stanley J. Rogala - Katy TX

Assignee:

FMC Technologies, Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

E21B 33038

US Classification:

166339, 166 651, 166 901, 166344, 166347, 166348, 166368

Abstract:

A controls bridge for a flow completion system which comprises a tubing spool having a production outlet, a tubing hanger having a production bore that communicates with the production outlet and at least one service and control conduit extending therethrough, and at least one external service and control line that terminates near the tubing spool, the controls bridge comprising a first body portion; a mechanism for securing the first body portion to the top of the tubing spool and/or the tubing hanger; at least one first coupling member which is adapted to engage a second coupling member that is mounted in the service and control conduit; at least one third coupling member which is adapted to engage a fourth coupling member that is connected to the external service and control line; a bridge line which is connected between the first coupling member and the third coupling member; a first actuator for moving the first coupling member into engagement with the second coupling member; and a second actuator for moving the third coupling member into engagement with the fourth coupling member; wherein the first and second actuators are selectively operable to connect the service and control conduit to the external service and control line through the coupling members and the bridge line.

US Patent:

6497277, Dec 24, 2002

Filed:

Mar 22, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/815436

Inventors:

Christopher E. Cunningham - Spring TX
Christopher D. Bartlett - Spring TX
Thomas L. Hergarden - Houston TX
Philip S. Hernandez - Stafford TX

Assignee:

FMC Technologies, Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

E21B 1900

US Classification:

166 951, 166348, 166 971, 166 871, 166 863

Abstract:

A gate valve for a component which includes an elongated body and a flow passage extending generally longitudinally through the body, the flow passage including a generally lateral first branch connected to a generally longitudinal second branch. The gate valve comprises a gate which is moveable generally longitudinally across the first branch between an open position in which a hole in the gate is aligned with the first branch and a closed position in which the hole is offset from the first branch; a conduit which extends through the body from the gate; an actuating mechanism positioned in the conduit for moving the gate from a first position to a second position; and a return biasing mechanism for moving the gate from the second position to the first position; wherein one of the first and second positions corresponds to the open position of the gate and the other position corresponds to the closed position of the gate; and wherein the conduit extends generally longitudinally through the body.

US Patent:

6520207, Feb 18, 2003

Filed:

Apr 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/844579

Inventors:

Christopher D. Bartlett - Spring TX
Christopher E. Cunningham - Spring TX
Addrew J. Canning - Clydebank, GB
David E. Cain - Houston TX
Taylor L. Jones - Houston TX
Paulo A. Couto - Rio de Janeiro, BR

Assignee:

FMC Technologies, Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

F16L 3728

US Classification:

13761419, 13761418

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a valve for controlling the flow of fluid through a component which includes a flow conduit extending therethrough. The valve comprises a first closure member for controlling the flow of fluid through the conduit, a second closure member for controlling the flow of fluid through the conduit, and a valve stem which is connected to both the first and second closure members. The stem is responsive to an external force to move the first and second closure members from a closed position, in which the fluid is blocked from flowing through the conduit by both the first and second closure members, to an open position, in which the fluid is permitted to flow through the conduit past both the first and second closure members.

US Patent:

6557638, May 6, 2003

Filed:

Sep 14, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/954458

Inventors:

Christopher E. Cunningham - Spring TX
Christopher D. Bartlett - Spring TX
Marcus A. Smedley - Mesquite TX
Russell E. McBeth - The Woodlands TX
Robert B. Baten - Houston TX

Assignee:

FMC Technologies, Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

E21B 2912

US Classification:

166348, 166344, 166345

Abstract:

The concentric tubing completion system of the present invention comprises a surface Christmas tree which is located on a surface structure, a tieback connector which is secured to a mudline wellhead that is installed at the upper end of a subsea well bore, a mudline tubing hanger which is supported in the tieback connector, and a pair of concentric tubing strings which are suspended from corresponding tubing hangers in the surface Christmas tree and connected to the mudline tubing hanger. The annulus between the concentric tubing strings communicates with a number of passages in the mudline tubing hanger which are connected to the tubing annulus below the mudline tubing hanger. Thus, lift gas or other fluids may be communicated between the surface christmas tree and the tubing annulus through this annulus between the concentric tubing strings.