A subsea vertical drilling machine is disclosed, having: a drill assembly formed by: a riser pipe having a first end, a second end, and a length extending between the first and second ends; and a drilling machine body, including a drilling head, coupled to the first end of the riser pipe;
and a vertical feed system configured for advancing the drill assembly in a vertical direction.

The riser pipe is provided with at least one rack extending along at least a part of the length of the riser pipe, and the vertical feed system comprises a motor coupled to a pinion, the pinion arranged for engaging with the rack for advancing the drill assembly.

The invention concerns a bend stiffener (10, 32) for locally protecting an elongate flexible member (14) from excessive curvature when the elongate flexible member is deployed in water. The bend stiffener comprises an elongate stiffener body (34) which has a root end, a free end, and a passage (36) extending through the stiffener body from the root end to the free end for receiving and embracing the flexible member. A coupling (16) at or toward the root end of the stiffener body serves to mount the stiffener body. The stiffener body is sufficiently flexible to curve somewhat along with the flexible member when the flexible member suffers a bending load and carries a sensor module which is located proximate the free end of the bend stiffener and is configured to sense inclination and/or orientation and/or movement of the free end of the bend stiffener.

An installation frame for a horizontal directional drilling operation can include a pair of front uprights supporting a front crossbar disposed therebetween and selectively vertically movable. An installation frame can include a pair of rear uprights supporting a rear crossbar disposed therebetween and selectively vertically movable, wherein the front crossbar and the rear crossbar are configured to support a casing for a drill at a predetermined drill angle relative to a floor of a body of water.

A subsea vertical drilling machine is disclosed, having: a drill assembly formed by: a riser pipe having a first end, a second end, and a length extending between the first and second ends; and a drilling machine body, including a drilling head, coupled to the first end of the riser pipe;
and a vertical feed system configured for advancing the drill assembly in a vertical direction. The riser pipe is provided with at least one rack extending along at least a part of the length of the riser pipe, and the vertical feed system comprises a motor coupled to a pinion, the pinion arranged for engaging with the rack for advancing the drill assembly.

A semi-submersible drilling vessel has a deckbox structure, one or more pontoons, and multiple support columns extending upward from the one or more pontoons and supporting thereon the deckbox structure. An annular riser joints storage caisson extends downwardly from the deckbox structure, wherein the storage caisson delimits an annular storage space configured for storage therein of an annular array of riser joints in vertical orientation thereof. A riser joints carousel device is provided in the annular storage space, which riser joints carousel device is configured to carry an annular array of riser joints in vertical orientation thereof in a mobile manner relative to the annular storage caisson so that the array of riser joints is movable along an annular path through the storage spaced between the inner and outer wall of the storage caisson. The deckbox structure is provided with a riser joint transfer passage at a riser joint transfer location above the annular path of the riser joints carried by the riser joints carousel device through the storage space. The vessel is provided with a riser joint vertical transfer device configured to lift and lower a riser joint out of and into the riser joints carousel device, passing therein vertically through the riser joint transfer passage of the deckbox structure.

There is provided a wireline coring recovery system of a seafloor drilling rig, including: a winch, a rope, a submersible tension sensor, a cover, a main shaft and a catcher. One end of the rope is wound on the winch, and the other end of the rope is connected to an upper end of the catcher after the rope passes over a first pulley provided below the submersible tension sensor and then through a tapered hole on the cover. The catcher is provided in a center hole of the main shaft. The present application further provides a method of using the wireline coring recovery system. By the cooperation of the compression rod skewed teeth, the first rotating core skewed teeth, the second rotating core skewed teeth and the compression spring, the inner core barrel is readily recovered or released.

There is provided a wireline coring recovery system of a seafloor drilling rig, including: a winch, a rope, a submersible tension sensor, a cover, a main shaft and a catcher. One end of the rope is wound on the winch, and the other end of the rope is connected to an upper end of the catcher after the rope passes over a first pulley provided below the submersible tension sensor and then through a tapered hole on the cover. The catcher is provided in a center hole of the main shaft. The present application further provides a method of using the wireline coring recovery system. By the cooperation of the compression rod skewed teeth, the first rotating core skewed teeth, the second rotating core skewed teeth and the compression spring, the inner core barrel is readily recovered or released.

A releasable tool using an electronic motor to drive a collet and associated collet arms to engage or release a quick change sub that may be coupled to additional downhole tools, such as a perforating gun string.

The invention concerns a bend stiffener (10, 32) for locally protecting an elongate flexible member (14) from excessive curvature when the elongate flexible member is deployed in water. The bend stiffener comprises an elongate stiffener body (34) which has a root end, a free end, and a passage (36) extending through the stiffener body from the root end to the free end for receiving and embracing the flexible member. A coupling (16) at or toward the root end of the stiffener body serves to mount the stiffener body. The stiffener body is sufficiently flexible to curve somewhat along with the flexible member when the flexible member suffers a bending load and carries a sensor module which is located proximate the free end of the bend stiffener and is configured to sense inclination and/or orientation and/or movement of the free end of the bend stiffener.

A semi-submersible drilling vessel has a deckbox structure, one or more pontoons, and multiple support columns extending upward from the one or more pontoons and supporting thereon the deckbox structure. An annular riser joints storage caisson extends downwardly from the deckbox structure, wherein the storage caisson delimits an annular storage space configured for storage therein of an annular array of riser joints in vertical orientation thereof. A riser joints carousel device is provided in the annular storage space, which riser joints carousel device is configured to carry an annular array of riser joints in vertical orientation thereof in a mobile manner relative to the annular storage caisson so that the array of riser joints is movable along an annular path through the storage spaced between the inner and outer wall of the storage caisson. The deckbox structure is provided with a riser joint transfer passage at a riser joint transfer location above the annular path of the riser joints carried by the riser joints carousel device through the storage space. The vessel is provided with a riser joint vertical transfer device configured to lift and lower a riser joint out of and into the riser joints carousel device, passing therein vertically through the riser joint transfer passage of the deckbox structure.