Abstract:
A riser hanger (1) for connecting a riser (2) to a host facility (8), the riser hanger (1) comprising a pivot joint (3), and a fluid conduit (5, 6) connected to the pivot joint (3) for pivotable movement and connectable to a riser end for transporting fluid from the riser (2) to a host facility (8), the fluid conduit (5, 6) comprising a flexible hose (6).
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a drillship (100) for performing offshore drilling, the drillship (100) having a hull (160), a main deck (110) and a moon pool (120) through which a marine riser (140) may extend into the sea (150) and towards the seabed and through which offshore drilling may be performed, the drillship (100) comprising a riser retention system (300) for retaining a retention point (170) of the marine riser (140) within a predetermined lateral area, the riser retention system (300) having a riser retention element (180) defining the retention point (170) substantially flush or under the hull (160).
Abstract:
A removable riser hang-off connector is equipped with a flexible element that, in one embodiment, comprises rubber-encapsulated steel plates. The connector is designed for attachment to a hang-off collar provided on a steel catenary riser below the tapered stress joint or flex joint. Connection of the removable riser hang-off connector may be made by an ROV. With the removable riser hang-off connector attached, the tapered stress joint and/or flex joint may be raised out of the water (for inspection, maintenance, repair or replacement) by lifting the upper end of the SCR out of its porch receptacle with a chain jack (or other lifting device) and inserting the removable riser hang-off connector into the porch receptacle. This temporarily supports the SCR in an elevated state with the tapered stress joint and/or flex joint above the surface of the water.
Abstract:
Flexible riser hang-off for rigid risers deployed offshore is provided. The hang-off utilizes combined torsional and bending flexibilities of a rigid tubular jumper deployed between a top of the riser and a floater piping. The rigid jumper transports fluids, contains the fluid pressure and accommodates angular deflections of the riser. The riser top is suspended from a pivoting arrangement that transfers the riser tension to the floater structure. The rigid jumper can be made of titanium or of other metallic or nonmetallic materials. The flexible riser hang-off provided has rotational stiffness independent on riser tension. Low static and fatigue bending loads on the riser and on the floater structure result. The hang-off allows large riser deflection angles.
Abstract:
A vessel (100) floating in a body of water and comprising a water intake system (10), said water intake system (10) including within the hull of the vessel an intake compartment (18) for taking in water from the body of water and a distribution compartment (20) for distributing and supplying the water to one or more consumer units within the floating vessel. The intake compartment (18) is arranged below a lowest operational draught (51) of the vessel and has an inlet (14) in a bottom region of the intake compartment. The intake compartment (18) is coupled by a conduit (27) to the distribution compartment for allowing water to flow into the distribution compartment (20). The water intake system further includes a water lift hose (12) that is connected to the inlet (14) and is extendible below the hull of the vessel.
Abstract:
A drilling riser (102) configured to convey drilling materials between a drilling vessel (104) and a subsea wellhead (106). The drilling riser (102) has an upper section (112), and a lower section (108) coupled via a connector (110) to the upper section (112). The lower section (108) has a buoyant material (118) for distributed passive buoyancy of the lower section (108). The overall drilling riser (102) is neutrally or negatively buoyant, whereas the lower section (108) is positively buoyant when decoupled from the upper section (112) and coupled to the subsea wellhead (106).
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for operating a drilling vessel adapted to run large diameters surface casing joints having a diameter of over 20 inch (51cm) and a length of 30- 50 feet (9-15 meters), and build a surface casing string. According to the invention three or more surface casing joints are interconnected into pre-assembled surface casing stands having a length of over 100 feet (30 meters). These surface casing stands are substantially horizontally stored and transferred by a casing stand handling system to a surface casing string handling capacity hoisting device, which subsequently lowers the surface casing string.
Abstract:
High-strength, fatigue-resistant pipe connectors suitable for use in offshore risers, tendons and pipelines, such as may be connected to floating production systems (FPSs) principally used in the production of oil and gas. The present connectors include tubular pin and box components with mating frusto-conical, concentrically-grooved mating surfaces which threadingly interlock, and non-threaded (e.g., flat) mating surfaces that seal and preload (e.g., preload at least a portion of each component in compression), via axial advancement of the pin component into the box component. In such connectors, axial movement of the pin into the mating box results the in radial expansion of the box and radial contraction of the pin until the concentric thread patterns match and interlockingly snap into the connected position.
Abstract:
A tension ring lifting assembly (1) for applying an upwards tension to a pipe has a plurality of collar segments (14, 16) that are assembled into a ring around the pipe, and a plurality of slip segments (4) adapted to fit between the collar segments and the pipe. The collar segments (14, 16) are held together by means (11, 12, 13) for tensioning adjacent collar segments against one another to secure the ring around the pipe. The slip segments (4) have an arcuate inner face (5) adapted to make direct contact with an outer surface of the pipe. The collar segments and the slip segments when assembled have inclined mutually contacting surfaces (9, 19) such that an inner diameter across the assembled ring, between the inner faces (5) of the slip segments (4), varies as the slip segments move up and down inside the assembled collar segments (14, 16). Each slip segment has a main body (15) and a plurality of elongate vertically extending die inserts (17), each die insert being removably fitted to the main body and having on the radially inner face a granular particle gripping surface (22) for gripping the outer surface of the pipe. The main body (15) has a plurality of vertically extending die insert channels (41) that hold the die segments, each channel having an open end (42) that is closed by a retaining plate (18) removably fixed to each collar segment (14, 16).
Abstract:
A connector assembly for connecting a hose to a tubular element, the connector assembly comprising a tubular housing which encloses a main passage extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing and which is provided with a side passage extending through the housing from the exterior of the housing into the main passage, the side passage further extending through a connector tube which is mounted on the exterior of the housing, the connector further being provided with a hose connector adapted to be secured to an end of the hose and to engage with the connector tube for connecting the hose to the tubular element, the hose connector comprising a pipe portion which is adapted to mate with the connector tube so that the interior of the hose is connected to the side passage, wherein the assembly is further provided with a latch which is operable to urge the connector tube and pipe portion into engagement and to prevent separation of the connector tube and pipe portion when the two are mated to connect the interior of the hose with the side passage.