B63B22/06

HYDROCARBON PRODUCTION AND STORAGE FACILITY
20180010312 · 2018-01-11 · ·

A subsea fluids storage facility comprises a tank for holding and separating fluids which is equipped with ballast capacity and a separable base to be deployed upon the seabed in shallow or deep water, and the storage facility is connectable to a surface production facility, especially a buoy for processing fluids. In deep water the tank is held at a depth above the base for temperature controlled stabilization of produced oil in the tank.

RELEASABLE FLOAT ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF OPERATING

A magnetic release assembly includes a housing defining a cavity, a permanent electromagnet positioned within the cavity, and a microcontroller electronically coupled with the permanent electromagnet. The microcontroller is configured to selectively provide power to the permanent electromagnet. A timer board is in communication with the microcontroller. A power source is electronically coupled with the microcontroller, the permanent electromagnet, and the timer board. The microcontroller is configured to provide power to the permanent electromagnet in response to an alarm from the timer board.

RELEASABLE FLOAT ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF OPERATING

A magnetic release assembly includes a housing defining a cavity, a permanent electromagnet positioned within the cavity, and a microcontroller electronically coupled with the permanent electromagnet. The microcontroller is configured to selectively provide power to the permanent electromagnet. A timer board is in communication with the microcontroller. A power source is electronically coupled with the microcontroller, the permanent electromagnet, and the timer board. The microcontroller is configured to provide power to the permanent electromagnet in response to an alarm from the timer board.

ROPELESS FISHING SYSTEM AND METHOD

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for ropeless fishing. The ropeless fishing system includes a surface subsystem installed on a vessel and at least one submerged subsystem submerged in a body of water. The surface subsystem includes acoustic transceiver and acoustic transducer units, which are configured to generate and omnidirectionally transmit an acoustic interrogation signal into the body of water surrounding the vessel and to directionally receive acoustic reply signals. The submerged subsystems include a compressed gas source and an enclosed flotation bag in fluid communication and an underwater acoustic actuator-transponder unit configured to receive the acoustic interrogation signal transmitted by the surface subsystem and to transmit an acoustic reply signal into the body of water. In addition, the submerged subsystem is further configured to control the flow of gas between the compressed gas source and the enclosed floatation bag to facilitate recovery of the submerged subsystem.

ROPELESS FISHING SYSTEM AND METHOD

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for ropeless fishing. The ropeless fishing system includes a surface subsystem installed on a vessel and at least one submerged subsystem submerged in a body of water. The surface subsystem includes acoustic transceiver and acoustic transducer units, which are configured to generate and omnidirectionally transmit an acoustic interrogation signal into the body of water surrounding the vessel and to directionally receive acoustic reply signals. The submerged subsystems include a compressed gas source and an enclosed flotation bag in fluid communication and an underwater acoustic actuator-transponder unit configured to receive the acoustic interrogation signal transmitted by the surface subsystem and to transmit an acoustic reply signal into the body of water. In addition, the submerged subsystem is further configured to control the flow of gas between the compressed gas source and the enclosed floatation bag to facilitate recovery of the submerged subsystem.

Acoustic-electric remote control release hook used on water and underwater

An acoustic-electric remote control release hook used on water and underwater includes a first shell and a cylindrical framework. The cylindrical framework is fixedly connected with the first shell in a detachable mode; the first underwater transducer is remotely matched with a second water transducer which extends to the underwater through a cable, and the second water transducer is connected with a control switch through a cable. An acoustic command receiving module is arranged inside the first shell, and a power supply end of the acoustic command receiving module is connected with the power supply. A signal input end of the acoustic command receiving module is connected with the first underwater transducer through a cable and a watertight connector assembly, and a signal output end of the acoustic command receiving module is connected with the driver of the direct-current motor.

Large Marine Animal Automatic Release Device for Use with Deep Sea Fishing Gear

A water pressure-activated end line severing device is configured to be attached to a lobster, crab or snow crab trawl end line and to automatically sever the end line if a large marine animal has snagged, bitten, seized, caught, become entangled with, or otherwise somehow attached itself to that end line. When any large marine animal, such as a whale, snags or becomes entangled in the end line, the normal, instinctive response of the large marine animal is to dive rapidly to a greater depth, which pulls the end line and the device attached to the end line to a greater depth in the water column. As the device descends to a greater depth in the water column, the water pressure exerted against the device rapidly increases. When the water pressure reaches and exceeds a predefined water pressure threshold, a trigger assembly on the device activates a spring-loaded cutter assembly, which forces movement of a cutting blade to sever the part of the end line that passes through an aperture in the device, thereby freeing the large marine animal from the end line and the weight of the lobster or crab trawl.

Large Marine Animal Automatic Release Device for Use with Deep Sea Fishing Gear

A water pressure-activated end line severing device is configured to be attached to a lobster, crab or snow crab trawl end line and to automatically sever the end line if a large marine animal has snagged, bitten, seized, caught, become entangled with, or otherwise somehow attached itself to that end line. When any large marine animal, such as a whale, snags or becomes entangled in the end line, the normal, instinctive response of the large marine animal is to dive rapidly to a greater depth, which pulls the end line and the device attached to the end line to a greater depth in the water column. As the device descends to a greater depth in the water column, the water pressure exerted against the device rapidly increases. When the water pressure reaches and exceeds a predefined water pressure threshold, a trigger assembly on the device activates a spring-loaded cutter assembly, which forces movement of a cutting blade to sever the part of the end line that passes through an aperture in the device, thereby freeing the large marine animal from the end line and the weight of the lobster or crab trawl.

AUTOMATIC FALLING-OFF DEVICE FOR SELF-SINKING AND FLOATING TYPE PROFILING FLOAT DIVERSION SHELL AND DIVERSION SHELL

The present invention relates to an automatic falling-off device for a self-sinking and floating type profiling float diversion shell and the diversion shell. An automatic falling-off device for a self-sinking and floating type profiling float diversion shell, comprises a locking device and an unhooking device; the locking device comprises a locking hook plate and a locking core plate; the locking hook plate is provided on one half diversion shell, and the locking core plate is fixed on another half diversion shell; a locking hook at a front end of the locking hook plate fits with a locking ring at a front end of the locking core plate for locking; the unhooking device comprises a base and a buoyancy airbag; and the base is provided below the locking hook plate, and the buoyancy airbag is mounted between the base and the locking hook plate.

Retrieval System for Underwater Objects
20170332612 · 2017-11-23 ·

A retrieval system and methods of preparing and using same to retrieve underwater objects from a selected depth, including a flotation device having at least a selected amount of buoyancy, a release mechanism that is capable of releasably engaging an anchor, and a controller to actuate the release mechanism when a selected condition is achieved. The system further includes a spool assembly having a frame for carrying (i) the floatation device, (ii) the release mechanism, (iii) the controller and (iv) in combination with the flotation device, a quantity of pre-wound line having a length greater than the selected depth.