EP4528069A1 - Mechanismus zur kopplung und unterstützung einer biegeversteifung mit einzelbetätigung - Google Patents
Mechanismus zur kopplung und unterstützung einer biegeversteifung mit einzelbetätigung Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP4528069A1 EP4528069A1 EP23885235.4A EP23885235A EP4528069A1 EP 4528069 A1 EP4528069 A1 EP 4528069A1 EP 23885235 A EP23885235 A EP 23885235A EP 4528069 A1 EP4528069 A1 EP 4528069A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- pull
- coupling
- mechanism according
- articulated yoke
- bend stiffener
- 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.)
- Pending
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- 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
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/01—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations
-
- 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
- E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
- E21B17/01—Risers
- E21B17/017—Bend restrictors for limiting stress on risers
-
- 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
- E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
- E21B19/002—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables specially adapted for underwater drilling
- E21B19/004—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables specially adapted for underwater drilling supporting a riser from a drilling or production platform
Definitions
- the present invention is related to the oil and gas industry; more specifically, to the deepwater oil and gas production system. According to this system, technologies, mechanisms or devices that use risers in their compositions are used. In this way, the coupling process between risers and/or other structures is something of great relevance in this segment. Thus, more particularly, the present invention is related to coupling and supporting mechanisms for connecting Bend Stiffeners in Bell Mouths.
- Flexible risers are usually connected to offshore oil production platforms by devices that decouple the riser's traction force from the lateral loads caused by displacements of the floating unit, with the traction being supported in a region close to the platform deck (Hang-off) and the lateral loads being transferred to a connection device located in a position close to the bottom of the platform hull, with a sliding coupling between such device and the riser.
- a connection device located in a position close to the bottom of the platform hull
- NPT non-productive time
- the Bell Mouth is usually positioned in a shallow water depth, in a region with strong influence from waves and flows induced by the movement of the production platform.
- the use of equipment that requires divers to work in this region, associated with high water mass movements brings additional risks to the diver's physical integrity. It is important to note that shallow diving was recently mapped as one of the work activities with the greatest risk to the professional's physical integrity, with fatal accidents even being recorded in recent years.
- the first Bell Mouths as disclosed in document US5947642 , used the philosophy of always requiring shallow diving during riser installation and uninstallation operations. Prior to the arrival of the PLSV and the subsequent transfer of the riser to the platform, diving was necessary to check the operation of the Bell Mouth locking mechanism.
- the development of the DLBM prioritized the increase in operational efficiency during the pull-in operation.
- the aspects related to diver safety despite the significant improvements made to the human-equipment interface, the DLBM still required shallow diving actuation during the riser disconnection (pull-out) operations.
- a hydraulic actuation system was developed whose unit is coupled to each of the tongue mechanisms, thus requiring up to 8 actuators per DLBM, whose hydraulic power is supplied, via control umbilical, by the platform's HPU system.
- a significant reduction in the number of actuators/support components would allow only one actuation system, which could be mechanical or hydraulic, to open/close the Flexural Stiffener support system.
- Document US7967070 discloses a connector to be used in subsea structures, which has a shaft, and comprises a funnel and a set of locks, one of the objectives being to inhibit unwanted movement between the set and its components.
- the set of locks includes a base plate, a cam plate and/or other components that operate to lock the set to the shaft.
- the cam plate only has a control function to lock or unlock locking dogs.
- the connector in one of its embodiments can be installed using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and without the use of divers.
- ROV remotely operated vehicle
- Document PI1106877-9 discloses an accessory for installing and positioning lines connected to the hull of oil production units.
- the proposed technology ensures the coupling of the assembly formed by the Shaft and the Bend Restrictor to the Bell Mouth.
- Document BR102018011452-2 discloses a coupling system between a Bend Stiffener and a Bell Mouth, which includes reliable automatic locking to the point that the shallow diving step is dispensed with in this operation.
- a coupling system between a Bend Stiffener and a Bell Mouth comprising a plurality of locking mechanisms wherein each locking mechanism is externally fixed to the Bell Mouth and comprises a movable tongue positioned in a downwardly inclined manner, wherein the tongue accesses the interior of the Bell Mouth and is actuated by an elastic element adapted to exert pressure on the tongue towards the interior of the Bell Mouth.
- the document does not present a mechanism compatible with pull-in/pull-out operations by ROV.
- the proposed invention allows for the automatic coupling of the shaft-bend stiffener assembly with the Bell Mouth during the pull-in of the riser, an operation that includes considerably different particularities in relation to what was proposed in the State of the Art, notably due to the simplification of the Bell Mouth locking devices.
- the proposed invention allows for the decoupling of the Bend Stiffener from the Bell Mouth during the pull-out of the riser without the use of divers, since it would be fully operable through a remotely operable vehicle (ROV).
- ROV remotely operable vehicle
- the present invention is related to coupling/decoupling and supporting mechanisms for connecting Bend Stiffeners to Bell Mouths and aims at reducing operational costs by reducing the acquisition cost of riser supports (simplification of components and reduction in the number of actuators) and also the total replacement of shallow diving with operations without associated MHER, such as with the use of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV).
- the proposed solution provides a coupling/decoupling and supporting mechanism for Bend Stiffeners that comprises a front drive means, with the feature of being easily accessed and operated by ROVs, thus replacing the multiple tongue mechanisms previously used.
- FIG. 1 An overview of the Bend Stiffener coupling and supporting mechanism proposed in this invention is shown in Figure 1 .
- the external geometry of the Bell Mouth is similar to that of the DLBM, although replacing the multiple tongue mechanisms with a front drive means M, with the feature of being easily accessed and operated by ROVs.
- the multiple DLBM tongues, responsible for supporting the Bend Stiffener Shaft 2, are replaced with an Articulated Yoke 3, pivoted on an Axis 4, with a fixed position in the Bell Mouth, as illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B.
- the natural position of the Articulated Yoke 3 is in the closed condition, that is, supporting the Shaft 2, as illustrated in Figure 3A.
- Shaft 2 acts to open Articulated Yoke 3, allowing it to be coupled to the structural body of the Bell Mouth 1, as illustrated in Figure 3B.
- a Return Element 6 which may be a coil spring, as shown in Figure 3B.
- the structure of the Bell Mouth 1 is manufactured with Bearings 5 that are positioned at its interface with the Articulated Yoke 3. These bearings are selected with material with adequate tribological properties to support the weight of the Shaft 2 and allow the smooth movement of the Articulated Yoke 3 in a submerged environment, as illustrated in Figure 5 .
- a Safety Lock 8 must be installed, preferably by ROV, to kinematically prevent the movement of the Articulated Yoke 3 and avoid the risk of unintentional disconnection of the Bend Stiffener Shaft 2, as illustrated in Figure 6 .
- the ROV couples a Drive Spindle 7 to the Articulated Yoke 3, so that the ROV itself exerts a force in the opposite direction to that exerted by the Return Element 6, allowing the disconnection of the Bend Stiffener Shaft 2, as illustrated in Figure 7.
- the Return Element 6 can be replaced with a hydraulic cylinder with spring return, which allows the disconnection of the Bend Stiffener Shaft 2 remotely by the platform.
- the spring return is necessary for the cylinder to act as described in Figure 7, that is, with automatic pull-in operation, without the need for hydraulic power.
- the invention guarantees advantages in relation to the State of the Art, namely: reduction of the acquisition cost of riser supports, mainly with the simplification of components and reduction of the number of actuators; optimization of access to the equipment by ROV, reducing the time of operations; lower maintenance costs; compatibility of connection with the first generation DLBM Shaft; replacement of shallow diving operations with operations with ROV; reduction of the number of hydraulic systems that need to operate simultaneously, thus reducing the probability of overall failure of the mechanism, among others.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (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)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Flexible Shafts (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| BR102022022377-7A BR102022022377A2 (pt) | 2022-11-03 | Mecanismo de acoplamento e suportação de enrijecedor de curvatura com acionamento externo único | |
| PCT/IB2023/061657 WO2024095248A1 (pt) | 2022-11-03 | 2023-11-17 | Mecanismo de acoplamento e suportação de enrijecedor de curvatura com acionamento externo único |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP4528069A1 true EP4528069A1 (de) | 2025-03-26 |
| EP4528069A4 EP4528069A4 (de) | 2026-03-04 |
Family
ID=90929873
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP23885235.4A Pending EP4528069A4 (de) | 2022-11-03 | 2023-11-17 | Mechanismus zur kopplung und unterstützung einer biegeversteifung mit einzelbetätigung |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP4528069A4 (de) |
| CN (1) | CN120569543A (de) |
| GB (1) | GB2639494A (de) |
| WO (1) | WO2024095248A1 (de) |
Family Cites Families (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BR9605669C1 (pt) | 1996-11-22 | 2000-03-21 | Petroleo Brasileiro Sa | xìvel submarina a uma estrutura localizada na superfìcie. |
| FR2861156B1 (fr) * | 2003-10-17 | 2007-04-27 | Technip France | Tube de guidage pour conduite flexible de transport des hydrocarbures. |
| US7967070B2 (en) | 2006-07-12 | 2011-06-28 | Deep Sea Technologies, Inc. | Diverless connector for bend restrictors and/or bend stiffeners |
| US8573305B2 (en) | 2009-07-24 | 2013-11-05 | Deep Sea Technologies, Inc. | Pull-head release mechanism for bend stiffener connector |
| BRPI0913772B1 (pt) * | 2009-10-09 | 2019-11-19 | Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras | enrijecedor para riser com puxada auto-travante e saque auto-destravante, e seu método de operação |
| FR2975121B1 (fr) * | 2011-05-13 | 2014-05-09 | Technip France | Dispositif de fixation d'un premier element sur une bride de retenue d'un deuxieme element, installation et procede associes |
| BRPI1106877B1 (pt) * | 2011-12-29 | 2020-07-28 | Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. -Petrobras | luva de amortecimento e método de ancoragem |
| BR102018011452B1 (pt) * | 2018-06-06 | 2021-08-10 | Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras | Sistema de acoplamento entre um enrijecedor de curvatura e uma boca de sino compreendendo uma pluralidade de mecanismos de travamento |
| EP4155502A4 (de) * | 2020-05-21 | 2024-08-21 | Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - PETROBRAS | Träger für steigrohre und verfahren zum kuppeln und entkuppeln |
-
2023
- 2023-11-17 CN CN202380076162.0A patent/CN120569543A/zh active Pending
- 2023-11-17 WO PCT/IB2023/061657 patent/WO2024095248A1/pt not_active Ceased
- 2023-11-17 EP EP23885235.4A patent/EP4528069A4/de active Pending
- 2023-11-17 GB GB2508191.0A patent/GB2639494A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB202508191D0 (en) | 2025-07-09 |
| GB2639494A8 (en) | 2025-10-22 |
| EP4528069A4 (de) | 2026-03-04 |
| GB2639494A (en) | 2025-09-24 |
| WO2024095248A1 (pt) | 2024-05-10 |
| CN120569543A (zh) | 2025-08-29 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CA2623963C (en) | Offshore vessel mooring and riser inboarding system | |
| US5273376A (en) | Back-up connector release tool | |
| US11946324B2 (en) | Support for risers and method for coupling and uncoupling | |
| CA1170566A (en) | Marine compliant riser system and method for its installation | |
| EP1893843B1 (de) | Vorrichtung und verfahren zum leiten von fluiden von einem wasserfahrzeug zu einem unterwassereingreifmodul | |
| US4400109A (en) | Complaint riser yoke assembly with breakway support means | |
| NO340377B1 (no) | Stigerørsfri modulær undervanns brønnintervensjon, fremgangsmåte og anordning | |
| NO336895B1 (no) | Utkoblbart fortøyningssystem for et fartøy | |
| US20250230717A1 (en) | Diverless unified support tube | |
| GB2180027A (en) | Subsea oil pipeline connection | |
| EP3384125A1 (de) | Verfahren und vorrichtung zur anhebung der konischen belastungsverbindung oder flexiblen verbindung eines scr über wasser | |
| GB2382636A (en) | Apparatus for connecting a pipe to a sub-sea structure | |
| US7487836B2 (en) | Riserless modular subsea well intervention, method and apparatus | |
| GB2639494A (en) | Mechanism for coupling and supporting a bend stiffener with single external actuation | |
| BR102016021963B1 (pt) | Sistema e método autônomo de travamento de suporte de riser | |
| US10330230B2 (en) | System for auto-alignment and tensioning of flexible pipes in a stationary production unit, and method for installing flexible pipes thereby | |
| BR102022022377A2 (pt) | Mecanismo de acoplamento e suportação de enrijecedor de curvatura com acionamento externo único | |
| US20230073977A1 (en) | Hydraulic actuation system for diverless bell mouth | |
| GB2625269A (en) | A connector assembly for emergency decoupling of a subsea end fitting of a movable subsea structure | |
| US10995559B2 (en) | Coupling system between a riser and an underwater supporting structure | |
| US20240344403A1 (en) | Rigid riser support automation | |
| EP4656837A1 (de) | Seitliches klemmmodul für starre steigrohre | |
| Aleksandersen et al. | Autonomous Subsea Tie In System (AUSTIN) for Large Diameter Pipelines in Deep Waters | |
| Dean et al. | ROV Installable Electrohydraulic Connector | |
| BR102020016574A2 (pt) | Sistema e métodos para acoplamento de enrijecedor de curvatura deslizante à receptáculos |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION HAS BEEN MADE |
|
| PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
| STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE |
|
| PUAB | Information related to the publication of an a document modified or deleted |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009199EPPU |
|
| PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
| 17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20240920 |
|
| AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC ME MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
| RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Ipc: E21B 17/02 20060101AFI20251219BHEP Ipc: E21B 17/01 20060101ALI20251219BHEP Ipc: E21B 19/00 20060101ALI20251219BHEP Ipc: E21B 43/01 20060101ALI20251219BHEP Ipc: F16L 37/084 20060101ALI20251219BHEP Ipc: F16L 37/14 20060101ALI20251219BHEP |
|
| RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Ipc: E21B 17/02 20060101AFI20260108BHEP Ipc: E21B 17/01 20060101ALI20260108BHEP Ipc: E21B 19/00 20060101ALI20260108BHEP Ipc: E21B 43/01 20060101ALI20260108BHEP Ipc: F16L 37/084 20060101ALI20260108BHEP Ipc: F16L 37/14 20060101ALI20260108BHEP |
|
| RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Ipc: E21B 17/02 20060101AFI20260112BHEP Ipc: E21B 17/01 20060101ALI20260112BHEP Ipc: E21B 19/00 20060101ALI20260112BHEP Ipc: E21B 43/01 20060101ALI20260112BHEP Ipc: F16L 37/084 20060101ALI20260112BHEP Ipc: F16L 37/14 20060101ALI20260112BHEP |
|
| A4 | Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched |
Effective date: 20260129 |
|
| RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Ipc: E21B 17/02 20060101AFI20260123BHEP Ipc: E21B 17/01 20060101ALI20260123BHEP Ipc: E21B 19/00 20060101ALI20260123BHEP Ipc: E21B 43/01 20060101ALI20260123BHEP Ipc: F16L 37/084 20060101ALI20260123BHEP Ipc: F16L 37/14 20060101ALI20260123BHEP |