IE44852B1 - Submersible pipe installation systems - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates generally to systems associated with the drilling, completing and depleting of underwater wells, such as oil, gas or the like, and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to apparatus for bending and straightening pipes beneath the surface of a body of water It has been the practice for a number of years to use drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and the oceans for the purpose of drilling and completing oil and gag wells and the like. Early offshore rigs were adapted to rest on the floor or bottom of a body of water and drill in a so-called sit on hottom position. Thereafter, floating rigs were developed which could drill while floating. While this permitted the drilling of wells in water depths on the order of 1,000 feet or more it left substantial problems such as how to convey fluid products to the surface, for example.

For commercial reasons, when wells are drilled in deeper water, it is desirable to provide an under20 water oil or gas collecting station and to convey the oil or gas from a number of wells to such collecting station from whence it is conveyed to a surface collection station.

Moreover,- it is not always commercially practical to use divers at such depths because of the limited time - 3 that they can remain at such depths, the cost of sophisticated support equipment required, as well as the relatively high salaries of the various personnel involved.

A major problem in perfecting such a deep water collecting system is that of laying and installing the marine pipelines to inter-connect the wells with the underwater collection station. Further, various problems are encountered in making the terminal pipeline connections underwater, such as the problems associated with the alignment of the pipelines to be connected.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for bending and straightening a pipe, comprising: a support structure; frame assembly means connected to the support structure; at least three surfaces movably supported on the frame assembly means in a spaced apart relationship for forming a pipe passageway defined via the space between the surfaces, the surfaces being movable to an engaged position for engaging and bending portions of the pipe passing through the pipe passageway and the surfaces being movable to a disengaged position for disengaging the surfaces from the pipe in the pipe passageway to permit separation of the pipe from the surfaces and the frame assembly means; first movable means for movably positioning the surfaces of the frame assembly means to the engaged position wherein the surfaces engage the pipe passing through the pipe passageway for bending the pipe in a predetermined radius and movably positioning the surfaces on the frame assembly means to the disengaged position for disengaging the surfaces from the pipe in the pipe passageway to permit separation of the pipe from the pipe passageway; and second movable means for moving the frame assembly means away from the pipe for separating the frame assembly means from the pipe in the disengaged position of the surfaces.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing an 5 embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention mounted on an offshore platform; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of 10 Figures 1 and 2, the pipe forming system being shown in Figure 3 in one operative position in solid-lines and in one other operative position in dashed-lines; and Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the 15 apparatus of Figure 1, 2 and 3; Referring now to Figures 1 to 4 there is shown a pipe installation assembly 10K in which frame assemblies 14 and 18 are supported on a support structure 12K.

The frame assemblies 14 and 18 referred to in this specification have been described in detail in Fatent Specification Nos. &46SQ 44851 , especially with reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the respective specifications. Accordingly, and for the sake of clarity, no further detailed description of these frame assemblies will be given in this specification. It suffices fo say that the reference herein to frame assemblies 14 and 18 is to be taken as reference to frame assemblies described in Applicant's above referenced Irish Applications.

The support structure 12K includes a frame-work 276K and an offshore platform 400 or other offshore structure which is supported on the floor 44 of the body of water, a portion of the platform 400 being disposed in the body of water generally below the surface 42. 485 ;> - 5 The platform 400 is of the type commonly utilized with respect to various offshore operations relating to the drilling and production of oil and gas, for example, and generally comprises a plurality of support legs 402 which are anchored in the floor 44 and a plurality of brace members 404 which are securedly inter-connected to the support legs 402 (only two of the brace members 404 being designated via a reference numeral in Figure and only three support legs 402 being shown in Figure for clarity). A portion of a deck 406 is secured to a portion of each of the support legs 402, and the deck 406 is supported a distance above the surface 42 of the body of. water via the support legs 402 and the interconnected brace members 404. The construction and utilization of various types of offshore platforms; such as the platform 400, are well known in the art and a detailed description is not required herein.

The framework 276K is removably connected to one of the support legs 402 via a connector assembly 407, and, in general, the connector assembly 407 is constructed such that the connector assembly 407 and the framework 276K are movably positioned on the support leg 402.

More particularly, the connector assembly 407 is slidably connected to one of the support legs 402 such that the connector assembly 407 and the framework 276K connected thereto are slidable in a first direction 408 generally from the surface 42 toward the floor 44 of the body of water and in a second direction 410 generally from the floor 44 toward the surface 42 of the body of water.

It should be noted that, although the framework 276K is described herein as being connected to one of the suport legs 402 of an offshore platform 400, the framework 276K and the connector assembly 407 could be connected to any support leg type of structure and the particular support leg structure associated with the platform 400 has been shown in Figures 1 to 4, merely for the purpose of illustrating one embodiment.

The connector assembly 407 (shown more clearly in Figure 2) includes: a connector base 412, having a * / first end 414 and a second end 416; a first connector arm 418, having one end 420 which is connected to the connector base 412 generally near the first end 414 thereof, and an opposite end 422 which is journally or otherwise movably connected to the framework 276K generally near the first end 278K thereof; and.a second connector arm 424 having one end 426 which is connected to the connector base 412- generally near the second end 416 thereof, and an opposite end 428 which is journally or otherwise movably connected to the framework 276K generally near .the second end 28OK thereof. Thus, the framework 276K with· the forming assemblies 14 and 18 connected thereto is movable in a first direction 430 and in an opposite, second direction 432 relative to the connector base 412 about the journal connection between connector arms 418 and 424 and the framework 276K, for reasons to be described in greater detail below.

As shown more clearly in Figure 3, the connector base 412 has an arcuately shaped surface 434 extending between the first and the second ends 414 and 416 and forming a first and a second side 436 and 438, The connector base 412 is sized and shaped such that the first side 436-engages one of the brace members 404 when the connector base 412 rotates about the support leg 402 in a first direction-440, thereby limiting the movement of the connector base 412 about the support leg 402 in the first direction 440. Also, the connector base 412 is sized and shaped such that the second side 438 engages one of the brace members 404 when the connector base 412 rotates about the support leg 402 in a second direction 442, thereby limiting the 4 8 5 2 - 7 movement of the connector base 412 about the support leg 402 in the second direction 442. Thus the engagement between the first and the second sides 436 and 438 and the brace members 404 positions the connector assembly 407 and the framework 276K connected thereto in a predetermined position relative to an axis substantially corresponding to the axially extending centerline axis of the support leg 402.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 3, a plurality of bearing members 444 (only one of the bearing members 444 being designated via a reference numeral in Figure 3 for clarity) are interposed between the arcuately shaped surface 434 of the connector base 412 and an outer surface 446 of the support leg 402. The bearing members 444 bearingly engage the connector base 412 and the support leg 402 to reduce the friction therebetween as the connector assembly 407 is moved in the first and the second directions 408 and 410 along the support leg 402.

An opening 448 is formed through the first connector arm 418, as shown more clearly in Figure 3.

As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, one end of a riser extension 450 is connected to the first flange 282K which is secured to the first end 278K of the framework 276K, and a portion of the riser extension 450 extends through the opening 448 in the first connector arm 418, the diameter formed via the outer peripheral surface of the riser extension 450 being less than the diameter of the opening 448, A first bearing plate 452 is connected to the riser extension 450 and the first bearing plate 452 extends a distance radially from the outer peripheral surface of the riser extension 450, thereby providing a bearing surface 456 which bearingly engages a portion of a first surface 458 of the first connector arm 418 generally near the opening 448. A - 8 second bearing plate 460 is connected to the riser extension and the second bearing plate 460 extends a distance radially from the outer peripheral surface of the riser extension 450, thereby providing a bearing surface 462 which bearingly engages a portion of a second surface 464 of the first connector arm 418 generally near the opening 448.

The second bearing plate 460 is spaced a distance from the first bearing plate 452 along an axis substantially corresponding to the axial centerline axis of the riser extension 450,' and a portion of the first connector arm 418 generally near the end 422 thereof is interposed between the first and the second bearing plates 452 and 460. The first bearing plate 452 engages a portion of the first connector arm 418, thereby limiting the movement of the riser extension 450 through the opening 448 in the second direction 410. The second bearing plate 460 engages a portion of the first connector arm 418, thereby limiting the movement of the riser extension 450 through the opening 448 in the first direction 408. Thus, the bearing plates 452 and 460 cooperate to secure the framework 276K to the first connector aim 418. It should be noted that bearing members, similar to the bearing member 444, can be interposed between the first connector arm 418 and the riser extension 450, generally about the opening 448, or bearing members can be interposed between the bearing surfaces 456 and 462 and the surfaces 458 and 464 of the first connector arm 418 to reduce the friction between the first connector arm 418 and the riser extension 450 when.the framework 276K is rotated in the first and the second directions 430 and 432 duringthe operation of the pipe installation system 10K.

A third bearing plate 466, having a bearing surface 468, Is connected to the second connector arm **8S2 - 9 424. As shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 4, the bearing surface 468 bearingly engages a portion of the framework 276K, thereby limiting the movement of the framework 276K in the second direction 410, the bearing plates 452, 460 and 466 cooperating with the connector arms 418 and 424 to support the framework 276K on the connector base 412 in a manner such that the framework 276K is rotatable in the first and the second directions 430 and 432.

During the operation, the connector assembly 407 is connected to the support leg 402 and the framework 276K, with the forming assemblies 14 and 18 connected thereto, is connected to the connector base 412 via the connector arms 418 and 424. The unit comprising the connector assembly 407, the framework 276K and the forming assemblies 14 and 18 is then lowered in the first direction 408 via a cable 470, having one end connected to the first end 414 of the connector base 412 and an opposite end connected to a winch 472 located on the deck 406 of the platform 400, as diagranmatically shown in Figure 1. It should be noted that other arrangements and devices can be utilized to raise and lower the connector assembly 407 along the support leg 402 and the winch 472.and cable 470 have been shown and described herein merely for the purpose of illustrating one embodiment.

The connector assembly 407 is lowered in the first direction 408 until the connector assembly 407 is located on the support leg 402 at a desired position. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the riser 22K, more particularly, comprises a plurality of riser sections 474, 476, 478 and 480 (four riser sections being shown in Figure 1, for example). One end of the riser section 474 is connected to the second bearing plate 460 and the opposite end ofthe,riser section 474 is connected to one end of the riser section 476, the opposite end of the riser section 476 being connected to one end of the riser section 478 and the opposite end of the riser section 478 being connected to one end of the riser section 480. It will be apparent from the foregoing that more or less riser sections can be connected to form the riser 22K in a manner like that just described.

During the operation, the riser section 474 can be connected to ti|e second bearing plate 460 and fhe connector assembly 407 then can be lowered along the support leg 402 until the riser section 474 has been lowered a sufficient distance to. position the end thereof, opposite the end connected to the second bearing plate 460, in a predetermined position so the riser section 476 can be connected to the riser section 474. Then, the connector assembly 407 is further lowered in. the. first direction 408 and the remaining riser sections 478 and 480 are each connected to form the riser 22K in a manner like that just described v/ith respect to the connection of the riser sections 474' and 476.

After .the riser 22K has. been connected to the framework 276K and the unit comprising the riser 22K, the connector assembly 407 and the frame or forming . assemblies 14 and 18 has been positioned on the support leg 402 in the desired positions, the rollers 124 (only some of the rollers 124 being designated via a reference numeral, for clarity) of the forming assemblies 14 and 18 are positioned to engage the pipe 32 passing therethrough. Then, the pipe 32 is passed through the riser 22K and through the forming assemblies 14 and 18 for forming the pipe 32 in a predetermined radius through a predetermined angle in a manner described in detail in Patent Specifications- 44235 and 44857 The pipe 32 can be passed through the forming assemblies 14 and 18 in the first and secorid directions 34K and 36K during the operation of the pipe installation 448 52 - 11 system 10K, in a manner and for reasons described in detail in Patent Specification No. 44850 · In W event, assuming the pipe 32 has been passed through the forming assemblies 14 and 18 in the first direction 36K and it is desired to disengage the pipe 32 from the forming assemblies 14 and 18, the rollers 124 of the forming assemblies 14 and 18 are each moved to a pipe disengaging position, as diagrammatically shown in Figure 4. The distance between opposed rollers is greater than the diameter formed via the outer peripheral surface of the pipe 32 and, in the pipe disengaging position, the rollers 124 of the first and the second forming assemblies 14 and 18 are positioned such that the outer peripheral surface of the pipe 32 is spaced a distance from each of the rollers 124.

In the pipe disengaging position of the rollers 124, the framework 276K with the forming assemblies 14 and 18 connected thereto is rotated in the first direction 430 and, since there is a clearance between the pipe 32 and the rollers 124, the pipe 32 will remain in a relatively stationary position as the frame-work 276K and the forming assemblies 14 and 18' are moved in the first direction 430 to a position {indicated in dashedlines in Figure 3) wherein the pipe 32 is disengaged and removed from the forming assemblies 14 and 18.

After the pipe 32 has been disengaged from the forming assemblies 14 and 18, the pipe 32 is severed generally near the riser extension 450 and the portion of the pipe 32 remaining in the riser 22K is withdrawn therefrom in the general direction 36K.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4, the forming assemblies 14 and 18 preferably include control units like the control unit 200, described and shown in Figures fe> “δ 'if and 6 of Patent Specification No. 44850 , for positioning the rollers 124 in the pipe engaging position and the pipe disengaging position from some remote location, such as from the deck 406, for example.

The framework 276K can be rotated in the directions 430 and 432 via divers or, in one other form, the framework 276K can be rotated in the directions 430 and 432 from a remote location, such as from the deck 406, for example. In this last mentioned embodiment, a driven, gear (not shown) can be secured to the outer peripheral surface of the riser extension 450, and a drive gear (not shown) which is connected to an electric or hydraulic motor (not shown) can be placed in gearing engagement with the driven gear (not shown) secured to the riser extension 450, the motor (not shown) being controlled from a remote location, such as the deck 406, for example. Thus, when the motor (not shown) is activated from the remote location, the drive gear (not shown) drivingly rotates the driven gear (not shown) and the riser extension 450 connected thereto, thereby rotating the framework 2761'. In this embodiment, the motor (not shown) is' reversible and thus the motor (not shown) can drivingly rotate the framework 276 in either the first direction 430 or the second direction 432 as controlled from the remote location.

In another embodiment, the third bearing plate 466 can be secured to the framework 276K (such as by welding, for example) and journally connected to the second connector arm 424. In this embodiment, a driven gear (not shown) is secured to the third bearing plate 466 and a drive gear (not shown) which is driven via a reversible, remotely controlled electric or hydraulic motor (not shown), the motor (not shown) drivingly - .tl rotating the third bearing plate 466 and the framework 276K in the directions 430 and 432 in a manner described before with respect to embodiment where the driven gear is connected to the riser extension 450.

In addition to the two embodiments described above, other apparatus for remotely rotating the framework 276K will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing, and the particular embodiments have been described above for the purpose of illustrating two operational embodiments only.

Apparatus for bending and straightening a pipe is also described and claimed in Patent Specification

Claims (9)

1. CLAIM Si1. An apparatus for bending and straightening a pipe, comprising: a support structure; frame assembly means connected to the support structure; at least three surfaces movably supported on the frame assembly means in a spaced apart relationship for forming a pipe passageway defined via the space between the surfaces, the surfaces being movable to an engaged position for engaging and bending portions of the pipe passing through the pipe passageway and the surfaces being movable to a disengaged position for disengaging the surfaces from the pipe in the pipe passageway to permit separation of tha pipe from the surfaces and the frame assembly means; first movable means for movably positioning the surfaces of the frame assembly means to the engaged position wherein the surfaces engage the pipe passing through the pipe passageway for bending the pipe in a predetermined radius and movably positioning the surfaces on the frame assembly means to the disengaged position for disengaging the surfaces from the pipe in the pipe passageway to permit separation ofthe pips frcm the pipe passageway; and second movable means for moving the frame assembly means away from the pipe for separating the frame assembly means, from the pipe in the.disengaged position of the surfaces.

2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising a framework for supporting the frame assembly; and a connector assembly, having a portion connectable to a support leg of the support structure and another portion movably connected to the frameworks, the framework being movable in a first direction with the respect to the connector assembly to a position for positioning the surfaces to engage and bend the pipe, and the framework being movable in a second direction with respect to the connector assembly for disengaging the surfaces from the pipe. 4 4 8b 2 - 15

3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein thv connector assembly further cimupnaesi a connector base connectable to the support leg, a first end and a second end: a first connector arm having one end connected to the connector base generally near the first end of the connector base and an opposite end movably connected to the framework; and a second connector arm having one end connected to the connector base generally near the second end of the connector base and an opposite end movably connected to the framework, the framework being movable in the first and the second directions generally about the connections between the framework and the first and the second connector arms.

4. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the connector base is defined further as being movably connected to the support leg for moving the connector base and the framework connected thereto in a first and a second direction generally along the support leg.

5. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, further comprising: means disposed between the connector base and the support leg for movably connecting the base of the support leg, the connector base and the framework connected thereto being movable in a first and a second direction generally along the support leg.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the support structure comprises an offshore structure, the support leg extending from the offshore structure beneath the surface of a body of water having a floor, and wherein the connector assembly is movably connected to the support leg for moving the connector assembly generally along the support leg between the surface and the floor of the body of water.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the 4 4® 1G preceding claims, wherein the second movable means comprises a drive gear connected to a hydraulic motor.

8.. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the second movable means comprises a 5 drive gear connected to an electric motor.

9. An apparatus for bending and straightening a pipe substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.