U.S. patent application number 13/653029 was filed with the patent office on 2013-04-18 for dynamic riser string hang-off assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION. Invention is credited to David L. Gilmore, William F. Puccio.
Application Number | 20130092390 13/653029 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48085210 |
Filed Date | 2013-04-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130092390 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gilmore; David L. ; et
al. |
April 18, 2013 |
DYNAMIC RISER STRING HANG-OFF ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A dynamic hang-off assembly for supporting a riser string from
an off-shore drilling rig including a dynamic tensioning system.
The hang-off assembly includes a housing with a passage through the
housing. The housing also includes a locking mechanism. The
assembly further includes an adapter positionable within the
housing passage. The outer surface of the adapter includes a
profile. The riser string is also attachable to the adapter. The
locking mechanism actuates to engage the adapter profile and secure
the adapter to the housing. When the riser string is connected to
the adapter and the adapter is secured by the housing, the riser
string is supportable by the housing. The housing is also
dynamically supportable by the dynamic tensioning system to
dynamically support the riser string.
Inventors: |
Gilmore; David L.; (Baytown,
TX) ; Puccio; William F.; (Katy, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; |
Houston |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
CAMERON INTERNATIONAL
CORPORATION
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
48085210 |
Appl. No.: |
13/653029 |
Filed: |
October 16, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61548937 |
Oct 19, 2011 |
|
|
|
61548192 |
Oct 17, 2011 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
166/367 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 19/004
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/367 |
International
Class: |
E21B 17/01 20060101
E21B017/01 |
Claims
1. A dynamic hang-off assembly for supporting a riser string from
an off-shore drilling rig including a dynamic tensioning system,
including: a housing dynamically supportable by the tensioning
system, the housing including a passage through the housing; an
adapter positionable within the housing passage, the adapter
including a profile on an outer surface, the riser string being
attachable to the adapter; the housing further including a locking
mechanism actuatable to engage the adapter profile and secure the
adapter to the housing; wherein the assembly dynamically supports
the riser string when the housing is supported by the tensioning
system, the riser string is attached to the adapter, and the
adapter is secured in the housing.
2. The dynamic hang-off assembly of claim 1, further comprising
more than one locking mechanism.
3. The dynamic hang-off assembly of claim 2, wherein the locking
mechanisms are hydraulically actuated.
4. The dynamic hang-off assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing is
ring-shaped.
5. The dynamic hang-off assembly of claim 1, wherein the adapter
profile extends around the outer surface of the adapter.
6. The dynamic hang-off assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing
comprises a tension ring of the dynamic tensioning system.
7. An off-shore drilling rig including: a platform including a moon
pool; a riser string; a dynamic tensioning system; a dynamic
hang-off assembly including: a housing dynamically supportable by
the tensioning system, the housing including a passage through the
housing; an adapter positionable within the housing passage, the
adapter including a profile on an outer surface, the riser string
being attachable to the adapter; and the housing further including
a locking mechanism engageable with the adapter profile to secure
the adapter to the housing; and wherein the assembly is capable of
dynamically supporting the riser string.
8. The off-shore drilling rig of claim 7, further comprising more
than one locking mechanism.
9. The off-shore drilling rig of claim 8, wherein the locking
mechanisms are hydraulically actuated.
10. The off-shore drilling rig of claim 7, wherein the housing is
ring-shaped.
11. The off-shore drilling rig of claim 7, wherein the adapter
profile extends around the outer surface of the adapter.
12. The off-shore drilling rig of claim 7, wherein the dynamic
tensioning system comprises a tension ring and the tension ring
comprises the housing of the dynamic hang-off assembly.
13. A drilling system for an off-shore drilling rig including: a
riser string; a dynamic tensioning system; a dynamic hang-off
assembly including: a housing dynamically supportable by the
tensioning system, the housing including a passage through the
housing; an adapter positionable within the housing passage, the
adapter including a profile on an outer surface, the riser string
being attachable to the adapter; and the housing further including
a locking mechanism engageable with the adapter profile to secure
the adapter to the housing; and wherein the tensioning system is
capable of dynamically supporting the riser string.
14. The system of claim 13, further comprising more than one
locking mechanism.
15. The system of claim 15, wherein the locking mechanisms are
hydraulically actuated.
16. The system of claim 13, wherein the housing is ring-shaped.
17. The system of claim 13, wherein the adapter profile extends
around the outer surface of the adapter.
18. The system of claim 13, wherein the dynamic tensioning system
comprises a tension ring and the tension ring comprises the housing
of the dynamic hang-off assembly.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Offshore oil and gas operations often utilize a wellhead
housing supported on the ocean floor and a blowout preventer stack
secured to the wellhead housing's upper end. A blowout preventer
stack is an assemblage of blowout preventers and valves used to
control well bore pressure. The upper end of the blowout preventer
stack has an end connection or riser adapter (often referred to as
a lower marine riser package, or LMRP) that allows the blowout
preventer stack to be connected to a series of pipes, known as
riser, riser string, or riser pipe. Each segment of the riser
string is connected in end-to-end relationship, allowing the riser
string to extend upwardly to the drilling rig or drilling platform
positioned over the wellhead housing.
[0002] The riser string is supported at the ocean surface by the
drilling rig and extends to the subsea equipment through a moon
pool in the drilling rig. A rotary table and associated equipment
typically support the riser string during installation. Below the
rotary table may also be a diverter, a riser gimbal, and other
sensitive equipment.
[0003] During installation of the riser string, it may be necessary
to temporarily move the entire drilling rig, such as for example
when a strong storm is approaching. Before moving the rig, it is
necessary to pull up the entire riser. If the riser were left in
place, movement of the rig would cause the riser string to damage
the rotary table, diverter, gimbal, and other sensitive equipment.
Pulling up each section of riser string takes a long time, adding
cost to the overall drilling operations. Additionally, there may
not be enough time to pull the entire riser string before the rig
needs to be moved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of
the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0005] FIGS. 1A-1B show a drilling system;
[0006] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a dynamic hang-off
assembly in accordance with various embodiments;
[0007] FIG. 3 shows a side elevation view of the dynamic hang-off
assembly of FIG. 2;
[0008] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the dynamic hang-off assembly of
FIG. 2;
[0009] FIG. 5A shows a side elevation view of the dynamic hang-off
assembly of FIG. 2 shown cutaway in a plane A-A of FIG. 4;
[0010] FIG. 5B shows a side elevation view of the detail area B of
FIG. 5A; and
[0011] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the dynamic hang-off
assembly of FIG. 2 shown cutaway in a plane A-A of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] The following discussion is directed to various embodiments
of the invention. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale.
Certain features of the embodiments may be shown exaggerated in
scale or in somewhat schematic form and some details of
conventional elements may not be shown in the interest of clarity
and conciseness. Although one or more of these embodiments may be
preferred, the embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or
otherwise used, as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including
the claims. It is to be fully recognized that the different
teachings of the embodiments discussed below may be employed
separately or in any suitable combination to produce desired
results. In addition, one skilled in the art will understand that
the following description has broad application, and the discussion
of any embodiment is meant only to be exemplary of that embodiment,
and not intended to intimate that the scope of the disclosure,
including the claims, is limited to that embodiment.
[0013] Certain terms are used throughout the following description
and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one
skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to
the same feature or component by different names. This document
does not intend to distinguish between components or features that
differ in name but not function. The drawing figures are not
necessarily to scale. Certain features and components herein may be
shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form and some
details of conventional elements may not be shown in interest of
clarity and conciseness.
[0014] In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms
"including" and "comprising" are used in an open-ended fashion, and
thus should be interpreted to mean "including, but not limited to .
. . " Also, the term "couple" or "couples" is intended to mean
either an indirect or direct connection. Thus, if a first device
couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct
connection, or through an indirect connection via other devices,
components, and connections. In addition, as used herein, the terms
"axial" and "axially" generally mean along or parallel to a central
axis (e.g., central axis of a body or a port), while the terms
"radial" and "radially" generally mean perpendicular to the central
axis. For instance, an axial distance refers to a distance measured
along or parallel to the central axis, and a radial distance means
a distance measured perpendicular to the central axis.
[0015] FIGS. 1A-1B show a drilling system 100 in accordance with
various embodiments. The drilling system 100 includes a platform of
a drilling rig 126 with a riser string 122 and a blowout preventer
stack 112 used in oil and gas drilling operations connected to a
wellhead housing 110. The wellhead housing 110 is disposed on the
ocean floor and connected with the blowout preventer stack 112 with
a hydraulic connector 114. The blowout preventer stack 112 includes
multiple blowout preventers 116 and kill and choke valves 118 in a
vertical arrangement to control well bore pressure in a manner
known to those of skill in the art. Disposed on the upper end of
the blowout preventer stack 112 is a riser adapter 120 to allow
connection of the riser string 122 to the blowout preventer stack
112. The riser string 122 is composed of multiple sections of pipe
or riser joints 124 connected end to end and extending upwardly to
the drilling rig 126.
[0016] The drilling rig 126 further includes a moon pool 128 having
a telescoping joint 130 disposed therein. The telescoping joint 130
includes an inner barrel 132 that telescopes inside an outer barrel
134 to allow relative motion between the drilling rig 126 and the
wellhead housing 110. A dual packer 135 is disposed at the upper
end of the outer barrel 134 and seals against the exterior of inner
barrel 132. A landing tool adapter joint 136 is connected between
the upper end of the riser string 122 and the outer barrel 134 of
the telescoping joint 130. A tension ring 138 is secured on the
exterior of the outer barrel 134 and connected by tension lines 140
to a hydraulic tensioning system as known to those skilled in the
art. This arrangement allows tension to be applied by the hydraulic
tensioning system to the tension ring 138 and the telescoping joint
130. The tension is transmitted through the landing tool adapter
joint 136 to the riser string 122 to support the riser string 122.
The upper end of the inner barrel 132 is terminated by a flex joint
142 and a diverter 144 connecting to a gimbal 146 and a rotary
table spider 148.
[0017] Before, and even after installation of the riser string 122
to the subsea equipment, it may become necessary to detach the
riser string 122 from the diverter 144, the gimbal 146, rotary
table 148, and any other sensitive equipment. For example, the
drilling rig 126 may need to be moved from one location to another
and movement of the drilling rig 126 relative to the riser would
damage the equipment. In such cases, instead of pulling up and
dismantling the entire riser string 122, the drilling rig 126 may
include a dynamic hang-off assembly 200 as shown in FIGS. 2-6 to
support the riser string 122 after it is detached from the diverter
144 and other equipment.
[0018] As shown in FIGS. 2-6, the dynamic hang-off assembly 200
includes the tension ring 138 that includes a housing 210 with a
passage through the housing 210. Alternatively, the housing 210 may
be designed specifically for the hang-off assembly and replace the
tension ring 138. The housing 210 is connected by the tension lines
140 to a dynamic tensioning system such as described above and as
known to those skilled in the art. The housing 210 is shown as a
ring but it should be appreciated that the housing 210 may be any
suitable shape to support the riser string 122. Although not shown
connected in FIGS. 2-6, the tension lines 140 attach to the housing
210 at connection points 212 to support the housing 210 in the moon
pool 128.
[0019] The hang-off assembly 200 also includes an adapter 250
attachable to the riser string 122. The adapter 250 includes a
profile 252 on the outside of a radially extended portion of the
adapter 250 as shown. It should be appreciated that the
configuration of the adapter 250 and the profile 252 shown are
examples only and that different dimensions and locations may be
used. The profile 252 is shown as annular but need not be formed
continuously on the outside surface of the adapter 250. The adapter
profile 252 is shaped to enable the adapter 250 to be supported by
the housing 210 to support the riser string 122 as described
below.
[0020] Shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6, the housing 210 further
includes one or more locking mechanisms 218 that engage the adapter
profile 252 to secure the adapter 250 to the housing 210. In some
embodiments, the locking mechanisms 218 are hydraulically operated.
In other embodiments, the locking mechanisms 218 are mechanically
operated. The locking mechanisms 218 may be either hydraulically or
mechanically operated in some embodiments. Shown in the figures are
examples of hydraulically operated locking mechanisms 218 that
include a slide actuated between locked and unlocked positions with
a hydraulic piston. Additional back-up or secondary locking
mechanisms may also be included.
[0021] The hang-off assembly 200 is designed to be attached to the
tensioning system on the drilling rig 126 to hang the riser string
122 through the drilling rig moon pool 128. As shown, the riser
string 122 and the flex joint 142 are detached from the diverter
144, the gimbal 146, and the rotary table spider 148. The riser
adapter 250 is attached to the flex joint 142 using a connection
flange on the adapter 250. A riser string running tool 300 is
attached to the adapter 250 opposite the riser string 122. The
riser string running tool 300 is used on the drilling rig 126 to
support and move the riser string 122 into position so that the
riser string 122 can be supported by the hang-off assembly 200.
With the housing 210 and the adapter 250 positioned as shown, the
locking mechanisms 218 are actuated to lock the adapter 250 to the
housing 210. Once in position, the housing 210 thus secures the
adapter 250 and supports the riser 122 using the dynamic tensioning
system on the rig 126. This allows tension to be applied by the
tensioning system to the housing 210. The tension is transmitted
through the housing 210 and the adapter 250 to the riser string 122
to support the riser string 122. With the riser string 122 locked
in the dynamic hang-off assembly 200 and supported by the
tensioning system of the rig 126, the dynamic hang-off assembly 200
is able to dynamically adjust to maintain tension on the riser
string 122. The rig 126 may now be moved to a different location
while the riser string 122 remains suspended through the moon pool
128.
[0022] Although the present invention has been described with
respect to specific details, it is not intended that such details
should be regarded as limitations on the scope of the invention,
except to the extent that they are included in the accompanying
claims.
* * * * *