EP0235365A2 - Connecteur électrique sous-marin et méthode - Google Patents

Connecteur électrique sous-marin et méthode Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0235365A2
EP0235365A2 EP86116062A EP86116062A EP0235365A2 EP 0235365 A2 EP0235365 A2 EP 0235365A2 EP 86116062 A EP86116062 A EP 86116062A EP 86116062 A EP86116062 A EP 86116062A EP 0235365 A2 EP0235365 A2 EP 0235365A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
plug
receptacle
electrical
extension arm
housing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP86116062A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0235365A3 (fr
Inventor
Randall R. Seehausen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Vetco Gray LLC
Original Assignee
Vetco Gray LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Vetco Gray LLC filed Critical Vetco Gray LLC
Publication of EP0235365A2 publication Critical patent/EP0235365A2/fr
Publication of EP0235365A3 publication Critical patent/EP0235365A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
    • H01R13/52—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases
    • H01R13/523—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases for use under water
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/02—Surface sealing or packing
    • E21B33/03—Well heads; Setting-up thereof
    • E21B33/035—Well heads; Setting-up thereof specially adapted for underwater installations
    • E21B33/038—Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser
    • E21B33/0385—Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser electrical connectors

Definitions

  • This invention relates to equipment for producing from a subsea oil or gas well and is particularly directed to an improvement in the means by which conductive electrical connections are made between the various pieces of equipment.
  • the pieces of equipment used to produce from a subsea well conventionally include a completion tree which is connected to the wellhead located at or near the mudline, a control module containing various actuators for controlling valves located on the completion tree and within the well itself, and a tree cap having a plurality of hydraulic control lines for connecting the various actuators within the control module, the tree, and in the well itself to a surface vessel at the water level.
  • This data gathering is usually accomplished electrically and normally requires a remotely operated electrical connection between the subsea production tree and a separately retrievable control module.
  • a large diameter re-entry funnel is located at the top of the tree.
  • the funnel provides for a large capture zone to land the control module and guide the same onto the mating mandrel of the tree.
  • this large diameter funnel (one half of the connector) then requires the electrical connector to stroke several feet in order to mate with the receptacle (the other half of the connector). This causes a problem as it is difficult to achieve the proper alignment of the two electrical connector mating halves.
  • the remotely operable electrical connector which accomplishes the foregoing, comprises a movable extension arm with an electrical plug thereon in a housing located on one member, such as a control module, and which is hydraulically axially movable toward an electrical receptacle located on a second member, such as the production tree.
  • the connection of the plug and receptacle is a two step operation. The first step is initial engagement of the plug in the receptacle at which time the end of the plug and the receptacle are purged to clean all the electrical contact surfaces. Thereafter, the extension arm is moved to position the plug in its final connected position within the receptacle as the second step.
  • a spring biases the plug toward the final face-to-face position in the receptacle wall at all times to ensure good electrical contact and sealing against seawater intrusion.
  • the plug may also be hydraulically urged toward the final face-to-face contact.
  • the extension arm has a gimbal allowing relative universal movement between the extension arm and the housing and second alignment means between the extension arm and the electrical plug, both of which operate to compensate for any misalignment as the plug engages a receptacle.
  • the plug has a series of three mechanical springs which enable it to remain either in the retracted position or in the engaged, preloaded, sealed position, even in the event of a hydraulic fluid power failure.
  • the plug is retractable back to the housing at any time and capable of reconnection utilizing the same procedure.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of subsea equipment in which the remotely controllable electrical connection comprising this invention is used.
  • This invention is identified in its entirety as 10 and as shown comprises an electrical plug 12 located on a control module 14 together with means 16 for lowering and guiding this plug into a receptacle 20 located on a completion tree 22.
  • the plug 12 and receptacle 20 are the above referred to mating connector halves.
  • a temporary guide base 24 was positioned on the ocean floor (mudline) and used for drilling a well bore.
  • a permanent guide base 26 was positioned on the temporary guide base 24 which also had been lowered from the water surface and connected thereto.
  • the completion tree 22 Positioned over the guide base 26 is the completion tree 22 which had been lowered from the water surface, oriented by posts 30 on the permanent guide base 26 and on the completion tree 22 and connected to the permanent guide base 26 by a suitable connector, not shown.
  • This completion tree 22 contains suitable valves and valve actuators 32 for controlling the various functions of the completion tree.
  • control module 14 Spaced above the completion tree 22 is the control module 14 which will be lowered onto the completion tree 22 and connected by a suitable connector.
  • the control module will be lowered with or without the aid of guidelines.
  • both the completion tree 22 and the control module 14 have a complementary funnel/cone system 36 to also guide the control module 14 with respect to the completion tree 22.
  • the control module 14 has control pods 40 with hydraulic control lines to be connected to hydraulic control lines 42 on the completion tree 22 for controlling the valve actuators 32. These control pods 40 are connected hydraulically to the vessel on the surface of the water by hydraulic control lines 44.
  • electric wiring 50 and hydraulic control lines 52 are shown connected to the plug 12 and electrical wiring 54 is shown connected to the receptacle 20 so that electrical power can be transmitted to and from the plug and receptacle for the purpose above described.
  • Figures 3-6 show the means 16 for stroking and connecting the plug 12 to the receptacle 20 as comprising an elongated tubular member or housing 60 connected in any suitable manner, as by bolts 62, to a mounting plate 64 on the control module 14, and orientated so as to open downwardly toward the receptacle 20 on the completion tree 22.
  • the receptacle 20 is attached by a mounting plate 66 to the completion tree 22 by any suitable means, such as bolts, through bores 70.
  • a second long tubular member or extension arm 72 with the plug 12 connected thereto and adapted to move axially of the housing 60, i.e., to be stroked toward the receptacle 20 by a hydraulic cylinder 74 pivotally attached at one end of the housing 60 and pivotally attached at the other end to a drive ring 76.
  • the connection of the drive ring 76 to the extension arm 72 will be described in detail later.
  • the housing 60 has an elongated slot 80 on one side of the housing to allow movement of the parts connecting the piston rod of the cylinder 70 to the drive ring 76.
  • Two hydraulic cylinders 74 and slots 80 are shown in Figure 4. There is also a key slot 82 in the housing 60.
  • This key slot acts, among other things, to guide the extension arm which has a key 84 fastened thereto by a bolt.
  • Guides 86 are also provided within the housing 60 for the extension arm 72. When the extension arm is retracted within the housing 60, the housing 60 serves to protect the extension arm and plug 12 during running and retraction of the control module.
  • the extension arm 72 is connected to the plug 12 which, as more clearly shown in Figure 5, has a socket 92 to loosely receive this end of the extension arm 72 and is attached thereto by set screws 94 in a peripheral groove 96 on the outside wall of the extension arm.
  • This groove 96 is wider than necessary for connecting the plug 12 to the extension arm and provides a loose connection therebetween to allow the plug 12 to have a slight angular adjustment to align itself with the receptacle 20 on their initial engagement.
  • a plurality of Belleville washers 100 which serve to maintain the plug 12 oriented and in operational engagement with the extension arm, yet at the same time allow for slight angular misalignment between the extension arm and the plug upon engagement of the plug with the receptacle. How the preloading of the Belleville washer assembly aids in producing an effective seal and good electrical contact will be discussed hereinafter.
  • the other end of the extension arm is capped by an end cap 102 having leg 104 telescoped into and sealed in the inner wall of the extension arm and fixed to the arm by set screws 106.
  • the end cap 102 extends in the direction of the drive ring 76 and has a piston chamber 110 with a reciprocable piston 112.
  • This chamber 110 has two hydraulic control fittings 114 and 116 located on each side of the piston 112 for directing fluid into the chamber to control the movement of the piston.
  • These control fittings are connected by hydraulic control lines 52 ( Figure 1) to the surface vessel. These control lines enter the housing 80 through the guide slot 82.
  • the piston 112 has a piston rod 120 extending beyond the cap through a helical spring 122 to be threadably connected at 124 to a thicker rod 126.
  • This thicker rod 126 extends through a bore 128 in the drive ring 76 and is threadably connected by a nut 130 to a hemispherical gimbal member 132 which seats in a complementary hemispherical seat 134 in the ring 76.
  • the bore 128 is oversized with respect to the thicker rod 126 to allow for any misalignment between the thicker rod 126 and the drive ring 76.
  • the spring force (rate) of the helical spring 122 is regulated by the threaded connection 124 between the piston rod 120 which controls the position of the piston rod 120 relative to the thicker rod 126 and a seat ring 140.
  • the piston 112 and its rod 120 responsive to fluid pressure in fitting 116, holds the helical spring 122 in its retracted position until the final positioning of the plug 12 is to be made, as will be described infra.
  • extension arm 72 is stroked by the hydraulic cylinder 74 in and out of the housing 60 and that the extension arm 72 has two means for compensating for misalignment, that is, the last described gimbal/sent 132-134 and the set screw groove/Belleville washer arrangement 94, 96-100.
  • This misalignment compensating means makes the plug 12 a free floating member mentioned above.
  • the extension arm 72 When the extension arm 72 is retracted within the housing 60, it is held in place by a detent spring 142 in a detent groove 144 in the housing and located near the top thereof.
  • the detent spring 142 is a split-ring located on a reduced portion 146 on the drive ring 76 and held in place by a retaining ring 150 threaded on the drive ring 76 and fastened thereto by bolts (not shown).
  • the detent spring 142 retracts and moves along with the drive ring 76 to a second detent groove 154 ( Figure 6) in the housing 60 where the detent ring 142 again expands and locks the extension arm 72 in a first extended position.
  • the force necessary to move the detent ring 142 out of the detent groove 154 exceeds the force of the helical spring operable to move the extension arm 72 to its final position, the second step in the connection, when released by the piston 112 and rod 120.
  • the plug 12 is provided with a downwardly tapered conical midsection 160 which terminates in a stab 162 of lesser diameter than the overall diameter of the plug 12 to enter into a cylindrical counterbore 164 in the receptacle.
  • This tab 162 has circumferentially disposed O-ring seals 166 on its outer diameter which engage the counterbore in sealing relationship.
  • the plug is also provided with an orientation key 170 attached to the plug 12 by a suitable bolt 172. This orientation key engages an alignment slot 174 in the receptacle located at the outboard end of the counterbore.
  • the key is tapered at 176 to cooperate with a taper 178 on the alignment slot to facilitate entry and the plug 12 is capable of rotating so that the orientation key can enter the key slot because of the relationship of the set screws 94 and groove 96 loosely fastening the plug 12 onto the extension arm 72.
  • the plug 12 is hollow and is provided with a plastic insert 180 which contains suitable electrical conductive pin connectors 182 (one shown) which will engage electrical conductive sockets 184 (one shown) in a complementary plastic insert 186 in the receptacle 20.
  • the shown pin connector 182 is connected back to a fitting 190 in the wall of the extension arm by a line 192.
  • the fitting 190 is connected back to the vessel at the surface by lines 50 ( Figure 1) while the box connector 186 is connected subsea by line 54.
  • the end wall 200 of the insert 180 and base 202 of insert 186 are not engaged leaving a space so that these walls may be purged (washed) with a dielectric fluid.
  • the cap 102 at the other end of the extension arm is provided with a conduit 204 connected to a fitting 206 which, in turn is connected to one of the hydraulic lines 52 extending through the key slot 82.
  • the leg 104 of the cap 102 is also provided with a fitting 210 which connects with a fitting 212 on the plug 12 by a purge hose 214.
  • the fitting 21 is connected to a relatively small passage 216 extending axially of the plug 12 and opening at the end wall 200 of the stab.
  • Dielectric fluid is directed through the end cap 104 through the purge hose 214, out the end of the stab, and into the space created by the end wall 200 and the base 202 of the insert 186. This fluid is then flushed out to sea against a one-way spring-actuated purge check valve 218 connecting with this space and located in the connector housing.
  • the high pressure at the fitting 116 holding the piston 112 against the bias of the helical spring 122 is vented, allowing the helical spring to expand and urge the plug 12 toward its final position where the stab end wall 200 engages the base 202 of the insert 186, forms a face-to-face seal therewith, and connecting the electrical conductive pin connector 182 to the electrical conductive socket 184.
  • the conductive electrical connector i.e., the inserts 180 and 186, having a quantity of 45 pins/sockets, requires that the mating face-to-face of endwall 200 and base 202 be engaged with an opposing force maintained of approximately 350 pounds. This is to obtain and maintain an effective seal between the pins and environment (seawater).
  • the Belleville washer assembly 100 must be assembled in a pre-loaded condition such that,
  • the bias of the helical spring 122 is greater than the bias of the Belleville washer assembly 100 so that the face-to-face seal is maintained, but if additional loading is desired to further ensure maintenance of the face-to-face seal, fluid pressure can be communicated to fitting 116 to urge the piston toward the drive plug 76 where a hydraulic backup plug 220 ( Figures 3 and 6) will be forced toward the drive ring lifting the gimbal 132 off its seat if necessary. As shown, the back-up ring is threaded onto the thicker rod 124.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Pens And Brushes (AREA)
EP86116062A 1985-12-04 1986-11-20 Connecteur électrique sous-marin et méthode Withdrawn EP0235365A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US80501785A 1985-12-04 1985-12-04
US805017 1985-12-04

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0235365A2 true EP0235365A2 (fr) 1987-09-09
EP0235365A3 EP0235365A3 (fr) 1988-12-07

Family

ID=25190499

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86116062A Withdrawn EP0235365A3 (fr) 1985-12-04 1986-11-20 Connecteur électrique sous-marin et méthode

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0235365A3 (fr)
BR (1) BR8605929A (fr)
NO (1) NO864830L (fr)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2206146A (en) * 1987-05-21 1988-12-29 British Petroleum Co Plc Rov intervention on subsea equipment
GB2227776A (en) * 1988-11-10 1990-08-08 British Petroleum Co Plc ROV intervention on subsea equipment
WO1992012554A1 (fr) * 1991-01-11 1992-07-23 Tronic Electronic Services Limtied Appareil de raccordement
EP2853679A1 (fr) * 2013-09-30 2015-04-01 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Connecteur pour utilisation sous-marine
EP2853680A1 (fr) * 2013-09-30 2015-04-01 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Système de chasse d'eau
WO2015168266A1 (fr) * 2014-04-30 2015-11-05 Eaton Corporation Connecteur électrique étanche haute pression
CN112397945A (zh) * 2020-09-30 2021-02-23 厦门鼎芯科技有限公司 一种密封水下矩形电连接器
EP4092839A1 (fr) * 2021-05-21 2022-11-23 Varex Imaging Nederland B.V. Ensemble connecteur électrique hydraulique

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4080025A (en) * 1976-05-03 1978-03-21 Matra Automatic connector for underwater connection
EP0162543A2 (fr) * 1984-03-22 1985-11-27 Framo Developments (U.K.) Limited Systèmes de connexion électrique sous l'eau

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4080025A (en) * 1976-05-03 1978-03-21 Matra Automatic connector for underwater connection
EP0162543A2 (fr) * 1984-03-22 1985-11-27 Framo Developments (U.K.) Limited Systèmes de connexion électrique sous l'eau

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2206146A (en) * 1987-05-21 1988-12-29 British Petroleum Co Plc Rov intervention on subsea equipment
US4943187A (en) * 1987-05-21 1990-07-24 British Petroleum Co. P.L.C. ROV intervention on subsea equipment
GB2206146B (en) * 1987-05-21 1991-04-24 British Petroleum Co Plc Rov intervention on subsea equipment
GB2227776A (en) * 1988-11-10 1990-08-08 British Petroleum Co Plc ROV intervention on subsea equipment
WO1992012554A1 (fr) * 1991-01-11 1992-07-23 Tronic Electronic Services Limtied Appareil de raccordement
AU659820B2 (en) * 1991-01-11 1995-06-01 Tronic Electronic Services Limited Connecting apparatus
US5443328A (en) * 1991-01-11 1995-08-22 Tronic Electronic Services Limited Connecting apparatus
EP2853680A1 (fr) * 2013-09-30 2015-04-01 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Système de chasse d'eau
EP2853679A1 (fr) * 2013-09-30 2015-04-01 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Connecteur pour utilisation sous-marine
WO2015044208A3 (fr) * 2013-09-30 2015-06-25 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Système de rinçage
US9753230B2 (en) 2013-09-30 2017-09-05 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Connector for subsea use
US9843129B2 (en) 2013-09-30 2017-12-12 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Flushing arrangement
WO2015168266A1 (fr) * 2014-04-30 2015-11-05 Eaton Corporation Connecteur électrique étanche haute pression
US10340627B2 (en) 2014-04-30 2019-07-02 Eaton Intelligent Power Limited High pressure sealed electrical connector
CN112397945A (zh) * 2020-09-30 2021-02-23 厦门鼎芯科技有限公司 一种密封水下矩形电连接器
CN112397945B (zh) * 2020-09-30 2022-04-22 厦门鼎芯科技有限公司 一种密封水下矩形电连接器
EP4092839A1 (fr) * 2021-05-21 2022-11-23 Varex Imaging Nederland B.V. Ensemble connecteur électrique hydraulique
US11876319B2 (en) 2021-05-21 2024-01-16 Varex Imaging Nederland B.V. Hydraulic electrical connector assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0235365A3 (fr) 1988-12-07
NO864830D0 (no) 1986-12-02
BR8605929A (pt) 1987-09-15
NO864830L (no) 1987-06-05

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Inventor name: SEEHAUSEN, RANDALL R.