CA1134265A

CA1134265A - Flowline connector seal

Info

Publication number: CA1134265A
Application number: CA361,821A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Charles D. Morrill
Original assignee: McEvoy Oilfield Equipment Co
Current assignee: McEvoy Oilfield Equipment Co
Priority date: 1979-10-24
Filing date: 1980-10-08
Publication date: 1982-10-26
Also published as: DE3039687A1; FR2468060B1; GB2063390B; JPH0235191B2; GB2063390A; DE3039687C2; JPS5663189A; FR2468060A1

Abstract

FLOWLINE CONNECTOR SEAL

ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION

A flangeless, disc-like seal plate is disclosed for insertion between opposing flowline hubs for sealingly connecting, blocking or rerouting fluid flow between various fluid carrying lines within said flowline hubs. For connect-ing flow lines, straight throughbores within the seal plate are provided with V-seals in channels on said seal plate around the throughbores, as well as O-ring seals around said V-seals and another O-ring near the periphery of the disc itself. No seals or seal grooves are necessary on the hub faces. For connecting hydraulic control lines, the seal plate is equipped with transverse channels interconnecting various throughbores but may also be provided with blind ports for totally blocking off certain control lines at the plate. Within said throughbores, fluid diverter plugs are inserted which are either equipped with protruding caps for opening up corresponding check valves housed within hub lines or flush plugs such that said check valves remain closed after clamp-up. Through this arrangement various lines may either be blocked, be fluidly connected, or have their fluid flow rerouted internally without rearranging the alignment between the lines within the flowline bundle.

Description

2~5 TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to flowline and hydraulic control line connections wherein two or more such lines must be sealingly connected with one another. More particularly, it relates to underwater connectors for connecting flowline and hydraulic control lines, sealing the connection, testing the connection and rerouting the fluid flow within the connection.
BACKGROUND ART
Originally offshore oil and gas wells were completed on platforms resting on the ocean bottom, or were completed on the bottom with surface production facilities installed on such a platform. Oil and gas produced at such platforms were either collected by tankers or by flowlines laid on the bottom.
To the extent that underwater work was required, it was performed by divers, by submarines, or by simple manipulations from the sux~ace.
More recently it has become necessary to drill oil and gas wells in water which is too deep or too dangerous for convenient underwater operations by divers or for platforms standing on the bottom. It has thus become necessary to devise methods of connecting subsea oil and gas wells at the ocean floor with flowlines, hydraulic control lines and electrical cables extending to the surface without the use of divers or any permanent surface structure adjacent the underwater well.
Various devices have been proposed for achieving such underwater connections, as shown for example in United States Patents

3,968,838 to Baugh, 4,019,334 to Sinclair, et al, and 4,086,778 to Latham, et al. A better understanding of the problems presented~may be obtained by reference to the January 1978 issue of Offshore Services magazine, published by Spearhead Publications Limited, at pages 26 - 51.
In connecting, by remote operation, flowlines and hydraulic lines to an underwater production unit, it is essential to insure that the connection is properly sealed.
One or more of the hubs or ends of the lines may become damaged during their descent to the ocean bottom, travel along the ocean floor, and pulling onto the production unit for connection thereto. Such damage may prevent sealing engagement with the hub on the production unit.
In the past clamp connectors for wlderwater flowline assemblies, such as the one disclosed in applicants' own prior patent, U.S. 3,843,168 to Morrill, et al, have not used seal plates between the hubs but merely clamped the hub faces together to achieve fluidtight engagement. Hence, the hub alignment is critical prior to clamping and sometimes the connection could not be tested hydraulically before full flow conditions are established. Other connections include elongated spool pieces, such as the one disclosed in U. S.
Patent No. 4,019,334 to Sinclair, et al, which require two clamps or sets of bolted flanges, one at each end of the spool piece, to establish a fluidtight connection.
Prior art connections require direct end-to-end align-ment between mating flowline and hydraulic control line ends and do not permit fluid interconnection between one line and any other line not directly aligned with each other without physically rearranging or realigning the ~ines within the connection.

- 3 _ The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a seal plate between -the ends of lines in the connection. The seal plate eliminates critical hub alignment, provides improved sealing, permits testing of the connection and allows rerouting of flow ~etween the various lines, Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description.
- DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a seal plate for sealingly engaging two opposing fluid line hubs comprising: a flangeless disc-like metal body member having a diameter larger than its thickness; fluid communication means through said body member for providing fluid communication between the fluid lines of opposing hubs;
and mealls on each face of said body member for sealingly engaging each one of the hubs.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a connection for sealingly connecting fluid carryillg pipes for transporting liquids comprising: two hubs 2~ aligned opposite one another each having one or more ports connected to one or more such fluid carrying pipes; a seal plate disposed tetween said opposing hubs, said seal plate having one or more throughbores connected to said one or more ports;
and means for joining together said opposing hubs with said seal plate therebetween.
~RIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRA~INGS
For a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompany-ing drawings ~herein:
Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing the environment of ~ .

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the invention including a connecting tool for remotely connecting the mating faces of su~sea flowline and hydraulic line hubs;
Fig. 2 is an elevation vie~, partly in section, of the clamp conllector with the seal plate mounted between the clamp halves;

. - ;. :. ,~ : ,.-- c -Fig. 3 is a side view of the cl.~np connector and seal plate of Figure 2; , r Fig. 4 is a top view of the clamp connector and seal plate of Figure 2;
Fig. 5 is an elevation view of a flowline seal plate for both flowlines and hydraulic lines;
Figs. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of the seal plate of Figure 5, taken along lines 6-6 and 7-7, respec-tively;
Fig. 8 is a front view of a flowline hub with flowline flow ports and hydraulic line bores;
Fig. 9 is a side section view of the flowline hub of Figure 8;
Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a metal V-seal ring surrounding one of the flowline flow ports or hydraulic line bores;
Fig. 11 is a sectional view of one of the check valves disposed within the hydraulic control lines;
Fig. 12 is a sectional cut-away of one of the hydraulic fluid test valves used for testing the seal plate for leak-age after clamping engagement;
Fig. 13 is an elevation view of a seal plate for hy-draulic lines only;
Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the seal plate of Figure 13, taken at line 14-14 of Figure 13;
Fig. 15 is a sectional view of the seal plate of Figure 13 with two hydraulic line h~bs having fluid diverter plugs;
and Figs. 16 and 17 are partial sectional views of dif-ferent fluid suidance plugs of the type shown in Fig. 15.
DESCRlPTION OF THE PREFERRED El~i~30DIl~i:ENTS

Referring first to Figure 1, there is illustrated an environment of the present invention for connecting under-, .
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water flowlines and hydraulic lines to flowlines and hydrauliclines extending to the surface. Details of the environment are described in Canadian Patent Applications Nos. 342,616 filed December 27, 1979 and 342,733 filed December 28, 1979. A
portion of an underwater maniEold center, shown as production unit 10, gathers oil and gas produced from one or more wells and transfers the produced oil and gas to a central location.
Production unit 10, as shown in Figure 1, includes a Christmas tree (not shown) that has been landed on the base 12 having been guided into position. One or more flowlines, such as flowlines 22, 24 for transporting the oil or gas, and hydraulic control lines 26 terminate at an inboard hub 20 mounted on production unit 10. When it becomes desirable to transport the oil and gas from production unit 10 to the surface, it becomes necessary to lay underwater pipelines or flowlines extending to the surface and to connect such flowlines and hydraulic control lines to inboard hub 20. The present invention includes apparatus useful in achieving this underwater connection.
As disclosed in Applications Nos. 342,733 and 342,616, ~0 a floating vessel has drill pipe (not shown) and various ~uidelines 14 extending downwardly therefrom to underwater production unit 10. A pipe laying barge, such as is well known in the art, is used to lay underwater pipelines or flowlines for oil and gas. The barge has depending therefrom an outboard hub 30 connected to flowlines 32, 34 and one or more hydraulic control lines 36 for mating connection to inboard hub 20 with inboard flowlines 22, 24 and hydraulic control lines 26. To achieve the mating connection between inboard hub 20 and outboard hub 30, the floating vessel has a pull-in tool (not shown) which is lowered onto production unit 10 to pull, by means of a cable, a - .

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flowline bundle h~l~sing outboard hub 30 from the pipe laying barge to pLoduction unit 10. Upon proper alignment of hub 30 and the securement of said flowline bundle on pLoduclion unit 10, the pull-in tool is retrieved.
Referring again to Figure 1, a hub connector tool, generally indicated at 16, carrying a clamp 40 and seal plate 50 is lowered from the vessel along guide cable 14 and landed on base 12. Tool 16 is guided onto the base 12 by funnel 18 engaging base structure guide posts 28 and tool hub yokes engaging inboard and outboard hubs. Inboard hub 20, even though mounted on base 12, is horizontally slide-able, such movement being permitted by the flexibility of flowlines 22, 24 and hydraulic control lines 26.
The underwater flowline and hydraulic control line connection of the present invention connects hubs ~0 and 30 to achieve fluid communication between flowlines 22, 24 and hydraulic control lines 26 with flowlines 32, 34 and hydraulic control lines 36 respectively. The connection is accomplished using clamp 40 to clamp seal plate 50 between hubs 20 and 30 with guidance plugs 150 (shown in Figure 6) and check valves 110 (shown in Figure 11) housed therewithin.
The means for making the connection may be of the type shown in U S. Patent No. 3,843,168 issued October 22, 1974, entitled "Clamp Conu~ectors". Such a connector means is illustrated in part in Figures 2, 3, and 4 and includes a pair of plates 42, 44 supporting an upper and lower clamp half 46, 48 with seal plate 50 being suspended by plate 44 between clamp halves 46, 48. Clamp halves, 46, 48 are threadingly disposed between plates 42, 44 on screws 52, 54 ~hereby as scrcws 52, 54 are eneryized, clamp halves 46, 48 close around seal plate 50 and hubs 20, 30.

It can be appreciated that the seal plate and related connection may be used for connecting flowlines, hydraulic ~L~3~26~

control lines, electrical connections, other types of con1rol lines, and combinations thereof. Altho~gh seal plate 50 is shown adapted to connect hubs 20 and 30 having both flowlilles and hydralllic control lines, a seal plate for connecting only hydraulic control lines will be described later.
Referring now to Figures 2, 5, 6 and 7, seal plate 5~
used with hubs 20, 30 includes a flange~less disc-like ~ody member 56, approximately 2-1/2 inches thick and made of steel, having a generally circular shape conforming to hubs - 20, 30. Body member 56 has a diameter of approximately 18 inches and has two diametrically opposed holding ears 58, 60 having rectangular slots 62 for receiving the edges of plate 44 to mount seal plate 50 on the connector tool 16.
Two holes 64 through body member 56 are located adja-cent holding èars 58, 60 to receive two dowel pins 66 (shown in Fi~lres 1, 2 and 4). Dowel pins 66 fit tightly within holes 64 to secure them to seal plate 50. Hubs 20, 30 have apertures 68 to receive pins 66 upon final connection.
Aperture 68 of hub 30 is shown in Figures 8 and 9. Dowel pins 66 provide a final alignment of hubs 20~ 30 and seal plate 50 prior to clamping them together.
Referring to Figures 5 and 7, body me~er 56 of seal plate 50 further includes two flowline ports 70, 72 adapted for alignment with flowline passageways 80, 82 as illustrated in Figure 9 in hubs 20, 30 connected to flowlines 22, 24 and 32, 34 respectively. As shown in Figure 7, the flowline ports 70, 72 of seal plate 50 are encircled by metal V-seals 90 such às the ones disclosed in United States Patent 3,637,223 to Weber, which are housed in annular grooves 92 on each face of seal plate 50. V-seals 90 contact the face of hubs 20, 30 upon ma~e up of the connection to provide a sealing connection around the flowline ports 70, 72 and passa~eways 80, 82. 0-rings 170 and 172 are housed in annular groo~es ~3~

in both faces of seal plate 50 ~o provide a test seal around flowline ports 70, 72 respectively. ~ ' Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, body mel~er 56 also includes sixteen hydraulic control line bores 100 positioned for alignment with hydraulic control line orifices 102 tshown in phantom lines in Figure 8) in hubs 20, 30 comm-~ni-ca~ing with hydraulic control lines 26 and 36 respectively.
~s shown in Figures 6 and 10, metal V-seals 90 also surround hydraulic control line bores 100 in annular grooves 94 located in each face of seal plate 50 and contact the faces of hubs 20, 30 upon make up for sealing around bores 100 and orifices 102 ~shown in Figure 8).
As shown in Fisure 5, 0-rings 174 are housed in annular grooves around the periphery of both faces of seal plate S0 around all of the flowline ports 70, 72 and hydraulic control line bores 100 for testing purposes. Thus all seals are carried by seal plate 50 permitting hubs 20, 30 to be free of any seals or seal grooves on their faces.
Referring now to Figure 10 for a discussion of the V-seals 90, the V-seals 90 on both sides of the seal plate 50 have their apex 96 extending away from the face of the seal plate 5V such that, when clamped together, their legs 98, 99 are slightly depressed forming a fluidtight seal between the faces of plate 50 and hubs ?, 30. Each hydrau-lic control line bore 100 is provided with two diametrically opposed channels 104, 106 extending from the perimeter of bores 100 into V-seal groove 94. '~he function of channels 104, 106 is hest illustrated with reference to Figure 10.
In the ~bsence of channels 104, 106 fluid pressure from within bore 100 might conceivably establish sealing contacts, pressure transfer and deformation along leg 99 of V-seal 90.

Channels 104, 106, however, permit fluid flow underneath leg 99 and into the triangular center portion 108 of V-seal 90 ~3~
// -thereby equalizing the pressure on both sides of inner - leg 99 of V-seal 90. Thus, the desirejdlpressure seal is established along the outer leg 98 of V-seal 90.
Referring now to Figures 8 and 11, check valves 110 are disposed in each of the hydraulic con~rol line orifices 102 to control fluid flow theLethrough. As shown in Figure 11, valve 110 includes a tubular housing 112 having a valve seat 114 in one end and a closure ring 116 in the other. A tubu-lar valve rod 118 is disposed within the chamber 120 of housing 112 and has a tapered head 122 adjacent valve seat 114. A connection 124 on the other end of rod 118 protrudes outside of housing 112 having a center channel 144 for fluid communication between chamber 120 and hydraulic control line orifice 102. A spring 126 is biased between an annular shoulder 128 created by head 122 and the internal end 130 of closure ring 116. Valve rod 118 has an internal chamber 13 and ports 134 to permit fluid to flow into chamber 132.
Head 122 has a contact pin 136 threaded into its outer end.
Valve rod 118 includes a slot 138 which slideably receives a stop pin 140 protruding from the inner wall of housing 112 and into chamber 120. Pin 140 limits the travel of valve rod 118 within chamber 120. Closure ring 116 has an annular ring 142 to be bolted against an internal shoulder (not shown) within the hydraulic control line orifice 102.
Referring again to Figure~6, each hydraulic control line bore 100 may function to provide a throughbore for fluid flow, block fluid flow, or permit a pressure tap into the bore.~ ~7here a throughbore such as bore lOOA shown in Figure 6 is used to provide for a straight connection be-tween the mating hydraulic control lines 26, 36 of hubs 20, 30, a fluid guidance plug 150 is disposed within the hydrau-lic control line bore. Fluid guidance plug 150 consists of center pin 152 protruding beyond the faces of seal plate 50 ~, ~3~
_ /2 -when fully inserted in bore lOOA and fins 154 extending across that same bore opening lOOA whic~ abut a raised shoulder 105 within grooves 94. Fluid guidance plugs 150 are either flush with, or extend beyond, the faces of seal plate 50.
Referring to Figure 8, hydraulic control line orific~s 102 within hubs 20, 30 are all e~uipped with check valves 110 which seal off the hydraulic control lines 26, 36 unless the check valve 110 is depressed and opened by one of the fluid guidance plugs 150. Alternatively, if a guidance plug 150 has been chosen which is flush with the surface o~ plate 50, the check valve 110 inside the control line of the hub will remain closed even after seal plate 50 and hubs 20, 30 are clamped together. In operation upon engagement with seal plate 50 and the application of clamp 40, the protruding end of the hydraulic line fluid guidance pin 150 within the seal plate throughbore 100 engages head 122 and depresses spring 126 permitting fluid communication between the seal plate valve seat 114 and exit connection 124 from internal channel 132. Stop pin 140 provides a safety stop for restrict-ing the maximum travel of check valve rod 118 under depres-sion of spring 126.
Referring again to Figures 5-7, seal plate 50 has several means for remote sensing and testing of the hydrau-lic line V-seals 90 for leakage. A generally rectangular channel 160 adjacent holding ear 60 is cut along the peri-meter of seal plate 5~ and a second channel 162 at the top of seal plate 50 is also cut along the perimeter. Hydraulic test lines such as those shown in phantom lines in Figure 2 are laid within thcse channels 160, 162, respectively, which are connected to pressure reservoirs (not shown3 at one end and to test ports 164, 166 adjacent channels 160, 162 re-spectively, at the seal plate end thereof. Test port 164 is ~ 3~
located between 0-rings 174 and 170, 172. The V-seal grooves 94 of throughbores 100, as well as dowe~ pin throughbores 64, are connected by means of a semicircular groove 168.
Test port 164 is situated within semicircular groove 168 along which the test fluid is distributed throughout the sllrface of seal plate ~0. Test port 166 is positioned inside 0-ring 170 and terminates within semicircular groove 171. A similar groove 173 around flowline 72 is connected to test port groove 171 by means o connector bores 180 terminating in center bore 182 which in turn is sealed off against liquid loss by plug 184 (shown in Figure 7). Through this arrangement, a static test pressure may be applied through test port 166 inside both flowline 0-rings 170 and 172 which may thus be tested against leakage separate and apart from static pressure tests applied to 0-ring 174 through test port 164.
Referring now to Figures 2, 3, and 4, seal plate 50 is depicted as being suspended between the clamp halves 46, 48 by plate 44 on ears 58, 60. A test port valve 190 is car-ried in guide pin receiving sleeves 192 which are attached between plates 42, 44, e.g., by welding. Test port valves 190, as illustrated in Figure 12, are closed by a spring loaded stop 194 biased against shoulder 196 until the guide pin (not shown) on the connector tool 16 receiving structure of the subsea assembly depresses spring 198 and opens fluid col~unications between the hydraulic test fluid reselvoir (not shown) and test line 195.
Referring IlOW to Figures 13 and 14, a seal plate 250 is shown for connecting hubs containing only hydraulic control line bores 300. In the proximity of holding ears 358, 360, but inside 0-ring 374, are located two dowel holes 264.
Hydraulic bores 300 through seal plate 250 may function either as direct fluid communication channe;ls between the ( `

control line ends, or as means to provide a pressure tap in any ~iven line, or, lastly, as interc~nnected bores to reroute fluid flow in any desired fashion.
Referring now to Figure 15, fluid guidance plugs 350 are positioned within hydraulic line bores 300A and 300B.
Such fluid guidance plugs consist of center pin 352 having one ènd 353 protruding beyond the surface of seal plate 250 when ~ully inserted in bore 300A, fins 354 extending across that same bore opening 300A which abut a raised shoulder 305 within chamlel 394 and a circular stop plug 400 sealing off bore opening 300A at the other end of the pin 352. Stop plug 400 in turn is sealed around its periphery against fluid escaping along the walls of channel 300A by an O-ring 402 positioned within annular groove 404.
As shown in Figure 15, hydraulic lines 406, 408, 410 and 412 within the h~bs are equipped with check valves 310 which seal off hydraulic control lines 406, 408, 410 and 412 against loss of hydraulic fluid when not connected to seal plate 250~ As the clamp halves pull the hubs toward each other the protruding end of stop pin 352 pushes open check valve 310A, thereby enabling hydraulic fluid to pass between fins 354 and t~ enter bore 300. Within seal plate 250 a number of transverse bores, e.g., 420, connect the various bores 300. Such transverse bores drilled inside seal plate 250 are sealed at the periphery by tapered plugs, such as 422. By positioning another stop plug 400 of the type just described above in bore 300B connected to bore 300A by transverse bore 420, fluid co~munication between the two bores may be arranged in two different ways. Positioning stop plug 400 in the manner shown in Figure 15, i.e , such that protruding pins 353 in bores 300A and 300B extend away from that side of seal plate ~50 which abuts hydraulic line 410, 408, respectively, the check valves 31;0 within the ..

~ ~5--hydraulic lines will be pushed open so as to connect lines 408 and 410 in the fashion indicated in~Figure 15.
By reversing stop plug 400 in bore 300A, however, its sealed off end will close off line 408 from line 410 and the protruding end 353 of pin 352 will, in that position, open Up the check valve 310 within flowline 412, thus effectiv-ely reversing the fluid flow at the seal plate by rerouting all liquid coming in from line 410 to return through 412.
~ o other variations of the fluid guidance plugs 350 shown in Figure 15 are contemplated within the seal plates of the present invention and are sho~n in Figures 16 and 17.
Through-line plug 430 in Figure 16 has both ends of center pin assembly 352 protruding beyond the face of seal plate 250.
It is also provided with.fin connectors 354, similar to the ones described above, at both ends of the fluid bore, e.g., bore 300. When employed between two hydraulic fluid line hubs,`each sealed off by check valves 310 as described . .
above, the protruding ends 353A and 353B of pin 352 will open both check valves 310 and the ~ins 354 will permit straight-line fluid connections through seal p].ate 250.
Instead of sealing off one end of a real throughbore such as bores 300, a valve opener or fluid guidance plug 440 may also be employed in another type of seal plate port, such as channel 442 in Fi~lre 17 which does not extend all the way through seal plate 250, but does provide inter-connection with other fluid bores through internal channels within seal plate 250. In that embodiment, one end of protruding pin 352 is pressed against a center bore 444 within the fluid channel 442. Connector fins 354 abutting shoulders 305 pel~it fluid flow from the check valve 310 within the hydraulic line of the hub, once opened by pro-truding end 353 of pin 352, to enter channel a42 which does not extend straight through seal plate 250, but is connected ~3~'~65 to other flo~ ports of seal plate 250 via internal seal plate channels (not shown in the secti~nal plane of Figure 17) which terminate at semi-bore 442.
Lastly, hydraulic control lines may also be sealed off completely by not providing a througl~ore at their seal plate tel-minus. of the six hydraulic line seal ports of_ seal plate 250, for example, ports 301 are blind ports, as shown in Figures 13 and 1~. They may be used, for example, to put a pressure tap in the corresponding hydraulic line.
As sho~n in more detail in Figure 13, the hydraulic lines ending at blind ports 301 of seal plate 250 abut V-seal channels 394, and, their internal check valves 310 not being opened by a corresponding pin 352, remain effectively sealed against any fluid loss by both the internal check valves 310 and the V-seals 290 of blind ports 301 on the seal plate itself. Once again, an outer O-ring 374 and a test port 364 within semicircular test groove 133 permit the application of a test pressure on each surface of seal plate 250 to check the clamp application and the O-ring seal 374 for fluid tightness. As described above, all V-seal channels 394 in both blind and fluid communicable ports are equipped with pressure e~ualization grooves 304, 306. Test port hydraulic connection line 395 is again run in along a chan-nel 360 cut within the perimeter of the disk and extending through one of the holding ears 360 to clamp half 46. In this particular embodiment, only one test port 364, one test port line 395 and one test port valve 190 are needed in the absence `of the two main flowlines.
The diverless tree connection system for subsea tem-plate production units within which the seal plate of the present invention is to be employed is characterized by the fact that no hydralllic eguipment is left on the sea bottom to maintain the integ~ity of the joint and that all of the .

4æ~5 -~7-tools are re~rieved for further use on other installations.
This sytem recommends itself through ~ts simplicity of design, the eGonomics of its operation and the ease and speed of the connection and disconnection features. The diverless connection system is utilized where the wellhead or tree flowlines and the hydraulic control lines with pl-otective covers on the exposed hubs, are already laid to the well site and the other flowline hub with its infer-facing flowlines and service lines lies, similarly protected by a frontal cover plate, correctly aligned in a position which still permits one of them sli~ht lateral movement. On the surface, a co~mector tool is attached to the ~lide wires and is run down to a position above the interfacing hub members. The hub cover plates are pushed down~ard by the bottom half of the clamp so that it now straddles the con-nèction underneath the two hubs with its mating half sta-tioned directly above and already engaged with the clamping screws. During that process a guide pin on the connector tool opens up the test port valve by depressing its spring loaded valve stop. The hydraulic rams between the hub yokes are then actuated and the flowline hubs drawn into the mating engagement. The clamping motors are energized and the two screws close the two halves until a predetermined clamping load is reached and the connection is made. During that process the metal V-seals surrounding all flowline and throughbore ports are depressed so as to be sealingly seated against the hl~ faces. At the same time ~he protruding pins of the fluid guidance plugs housed within the seal plate throughbores open up the check valves positioned within the hydraulic control line ends inside the hubs. The O-ring seals may now be tested for pressure loss and if there are no leaks the connector tool is run back to the surface, leaving the joint made up and no equipment`on the seabed.

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Thereafter fluid flow tllrou~h the flow lines or throllyh the hydraulic control lines may be started up and normal opera-tions begin.
Seal plates can be disengaged again and exchanged for diferently configurated plates by lowering the clamp con-nector tool and reversing the clamp locking steps previously described. In this fashion fluid flow among various hydrau-lic lines may be rerouted by inserting seal plates having different internal channels and different guidance plug conigurations.
Various other embodiments and modifications will also be apparent from the foregoing description. The invention is therefore not limited to the specific embodiments dis-closed, but extends to every embodiment within the scope of the appended claims.

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Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A seal plate for sealingly engaging two opposing fluid line hubs comprising:
a flangeless disc-like metal body member having a diameter larger than its thickness;
fluid communication means through said body member for providing fluid communication between the fluid lines of opposing hubs; and means on each face of said body member for sealingly engaging each one of the hubs.

2. The seal plate defined by claim 1 further including alignment means on said body member for aligning said fluid line communication means with the opposing fluid line hubs.

3. The seal plate defined by claim 1 further including first seal means for sealing around the periphery of said body member and the fluid line hubs; and second seal means for sealing around said fluid communi-cation means and the fluid line hubs.

4. The seal plate defined by claim 3 wherein said second seal means includes metal seals whose cross-section has a V
shape.

5. The seal plate defined in claim 4 wherein said body member includes annular grooves around said fluid communica-tion means for housing said V seals of said second seal means.

6. The seal plate defined by claim 1 further including means on said body member for suspending said seal plate between the opposing fluid line hubs,

7. The seal plate defined by claim 1 further including guidance means disposed in said fluid communication means for regulating the fluid flow through said fluid communica-tion means.

8. The seal plate defined by claim 7 wherein said body member includes transverse fluid communication means for providing fluid communication means between said fluid communication means; and said guidance means including means for diverting fluid through said fluid communication means into said transverse fluid communication means.

9. The seal plate defined by claim 1 further including means on said body member for suspending said seal plate between the opposing fluid line hubs.

10. A connection for sealingly connecting fluid carrying pipes for transporting liquids comprising:
two hubs aligned opposite one another each having one or more ports connected to one or more such fluid carrying pipes;
a seal plate disposed between said opposing hubs, said seal plate having one or more throughbores connected to said one or more ports; and means for joining together said opposing hubs with said seal plate therebetween.

11. The connection defined in claim 10 further including:
valve means housed within one or more of said parts for sealingly closing off such fluid carrying pipes; and fluid guidance means disposed within one or more of said throughbores for controlling the flow of liquids between such opposite fluid carrying pipe.

12. The connection of claim 10 wherein said seal plate includes seal means for sealing said plate to said hubs upon application of said adjoining means, and said hubs include metal sealing surfaces free of any seals.

13. The connection of claim 12 wherein said seal means includes O-rings around one or more of said throughbores and metal V-seals of a generally triangular cross-section housed in grooves around one or more of said throughbores.

14. The connection of claim 13 wherein said grooves include radially linear rectangular channels connecting said grooves with said throughbores for equalizing fluid pressure within the concave portion of said triangular metal V-seal.

15. The connection of claim 10 wherein said seal plate includes one or more dowel pins disposed within dowel pin bores in said seal plate for aligning said seal plate and said hubs.

16. The connection of claim 11 wherein said fluid guidance means includes:
a pin substantially smaller in diameter than said throughbore;
a set of fins spaced on one end of said pin, said fins extending radially away from said pin toward the walls of said throughbore; and a protruding cap on top of said pin end adapted for extension beyond the surface of said seal plate.

17. The connection of claim 16 wherein one or more of said pins includes a seal plug on the end of said pin opposite the end having said fins, said seal plug being substantially flush with the surface of said seal plate.

18. The connection of claim 16 wherein one or more of said pins includes a pin having a length less than the diameter of said seal plate.

19. The connection of claim 11 wherein said seal plate includes transverse bores interconnecting two or more of said throughbores.

20. The connection of claim 13 wherein said seal plate includes one or more test port inside said seal means.

21. The connection of claim 10 or 11 wherein said joining means includes two clamp halves straddling said hubs, said seal plate being suspended between said clamp halves, and remotely operable means to pull together said clamp halves.