JPH0274784A - Recoverable guide post - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a retrievable guide post which is free to be fixed on and released from a template receiving part with a hydraulic tool and to release from engagement in the receiving part by shearing a shearing pin with another drawing tool. CONSTITUTION: When a tool 40 is actuated for setting, its upper ring is engaged with a tubular body part 24, and its lower ring is engaged with a sleeve 28. Additionally, a sleeve locking ring 43 to lock the sleeve 28 on an engaging position enables setting of the tool 40, and when the tool 40 is actuated, the sleeve 28 is moved downward and pushes a split engagement ring 38 into a receiving part groove 36. Furthermore, when setting of the tool 40 is completed, engagement of the upper ring and the lower ring of the tool 40 is released by hydraulic pressure, the tool 40 is removed and retrieved on the sea.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention allows for easy removal and replacement of a new guide post when the guide post is damaged or bent. Permanent subsea guide base or template retrievable guide post system.

(B) Prior Art Guide posts prior to the present invention were installed and retrieved by remote control, but these conventional guide posts were retrieved by applying a downward force to the latch release sleeve at the upper end of the post. hand,
This is done by releasing a latch that is locked in the guide post receptacle, so it is not suitable for bent or damaged guide posts. An example of such a type of guide post can be found in the "Remote Control Guide Post System" as shown on page 1502 of the 1988-1989 General Catalog published by Gulf Publishing.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,878 discloses a structure for replacing a damage guide post attached to a receptacle that is part of an undersea structure. In this patent, the guide post includes a spring-loaded radially extending locking pin that engages within a groove in the guide post receptacle and locks the guide post when damage occurs. By pulling the guide post upward with a force large enough to shear the pin, the post is pulled out of the receptacle and retrieved to sea. The replacement guide post is then installed in the receiving area, oriented correctly using the TV left camera.

Problem to be Solved by the Invention It is an object of the present invention to be able to be retrieved and installed using normal retrieval tools and to be able to be mounted on a guide post without damaging the receiving part or the template on which it is attached. To provide an improved retrievable guide post which can be retrieved simply by applying a directional load.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved retrievable guide post which ensures retrieval regardless of damage to the guide post as long as the subsea receptacle remains intact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention therefore provides a retrievable guide post installed in a subsea tensile plate, which is secured to and released from the template receptacle by means of a hydraulic tool, and which is also provided with a separate tensioning tool. To provide a retrievable guide post which can also be released from a lock in a receiving part by shearing a shear pin using a shear pin.

The receiving part has a conventional funnel, a groove provided in the cylindrical inner surface of the receiving part below the funnel. A guide post body is installed within the receiving section. A tool is lowered onto and engaged with the guide post body. The tool includes a ring equipped to engage a groove in the sleeve. The sleeve slides into the split locking ring and engages the locking ring within the receptacle 12 by a wedge action. An actuator moves the ring downwardly relative to the tool to move the sleeve downwardly, and also lifts the ring to slide the sleeve upwardly, thereby causing the splitter i1J to move into the receiving groove. removed from Further, the guide post body and the sleeve are connected by a shear pin, and when an upward load is applied to one body, the shear pin shears and the wood moves upward, thereby causing the sleeve to separate from the split locking ring. lifted up,
Thereupon, the guide post is disengaged from the receiving section internal groove and is recovered.

(E) Embodiment As shown in FIG. 1, the improved guide post 10 of the present invention is installed within a receiving portion 12 of an undersea structure 14, such as a guide base or template. A well head 16 is installed within the opening of structure 14 . Information post 1
A guide frame 18 having tubular legs 20 surrounding the 0 is used to lower tools and strings into the well head;
The guide frame can also be used for recovering and installing the guide boss (10). In this case, the tool and the replacement guide post are guided in position by the guide cable 22 and other guide posts while being lowered. The guide post 10 has a tubular body 24 to the upper end of which is secured a cable attachment 26 from which a cable 22 extends to the sea surface (not shown). A sleeve 28 surrounds the lower portion of the tubular body 24 and extends into the receiving portion 12 as shown. Acceptance section 12
teeth.

It includes a funnel 50 that extends upwardly and outwardly, and a tubular body 62 that extends downwardly from the funnel and is fixed as part of the submarine structure fjf-14. The upper portion of the body 62 includes a counterbore 34 and is provided with a locking groove 66 therein, as shown in detail in FIGS. 6 and 7, so that the split locking ring 38 can be pushed outwardly. and is fitted into the groove 66.

Installation and retrieval of the guide post 10 is typically performed using a running and retrieval tool 4 that engages the guide post 10, as described below.
This is done starting from positioning 0. Tool 40 engages its upper ring with body 24 and its lower ring with sleeve 28 when activated for installation. A sleeve locking ring 46 (best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5) that locks the sleeve 28 in a locked position allows for the installation of the tool 40, whereupon the sleeve 28 is moved downwardly when the tool 40 is actuated. is moved to push the split locking ring 68 into the receiving groove 66. Once installation is complete, the engagement between the upper and lower rings of tool 40 is hydraulically released as described below, whereupon tool 40
was removed and recovered at sea. Removal of the guide post 10 is accomplished by substantially reversing the process by lifting the sleeve 28, releasing the split locking ring 68, and retrieving the guide post 10. FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the guide post 10 secured within the receptacle 12 and fitted with a tensioning tool 44 at its upper end. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the sleeve 28 is slidable over the outer surface of the tubular body 24 below the downwardly facing shoulder 46 and, when the running and retrieval tool 40 is not installed, can A split sleeve locking ring 46 is secured in the locked position by engaging within an inner groove 48 on the inner surface of the sleeve 28 and also within a groove 51 on the outer surface of the body 24.

Balls 52 are provided within a plurality of boats 54 of the sleeve 28 and are positioned to partially protrude from the outer surface of the sleeve 28 until the tool 40 is installed thereon. When the tool 40 is installed, the lower ring 56 of the tool 40 engages and forces the balls 52 into the boat 54 and subsequent actuation of the sleeve 28 forces the balls 52
aligns with the split locking ring 46 and forces it back into the groove 50 or 51 in the outer surface of the tubular body 24, locking the sleeve 28 in the actuated position.

The running and retrieval tool 40 is attached to the upper ring 58. as shown in FIG. 2 and described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Lower ring 56, a device 60 for coupling and axial movement between rings 56 and 58 relative to each other. A device 62 for fixing the upper ring 58 to the outer surface of the tubular body portion 24 of the guide post 10 and a device 64 for fixing the lower ring 56 to the outer surface of the sleeve 28 are provided. Lifting eyes 66 (preferably three) for lowering and retrieving the tool are mounted on the upper surface of the upper ring 58 of the tool 40, allowing the tool 40 to be guided by the cable 22 and removed as shown in FIGS. It is lowered into position surrounding tubular body 24 and sleeve 28, as shown in FIG. 5, and retrieved therefrom.

Upper ring 58 has an upper white surface 68 that is larger than the diameter of outer surface 70 of tubular body 24 . The outer surface of the tubular body portion 24 is a surface 70.
tapers downwardly and outwardly from the lower end to outer surface 72. Surface 72 has a groove 7 approximately midway down to downward shoulder 46 which is its lower end and where outer surface 76 begins.
4.

Sleeve 28 is slidably mounted on surface 76 .

The upper ring 58 is tapered outwardly and downwardly from the lower end of its inner surface 68 to an inner surface 78. This inner surface 78 is slightly larger than the outer surface 72, so that the inner surface 78 is slightly larger than the outer surface 72.
4 and 5 to a position where the inner taper of the upper ring 58 seats on the outer taper of the tubular body 24, as shown in FIGS. The inner surface 80 of the lower ring 56 is large enough to easily pass over the tubular post body 240 surface 72 and the outer surface of the sleeve 28. As seen in FIG. 4, the upper ring 58 includes a plurality of spring loaded plungers 82. The plungers extend radially inwardly and are dimensioned so that their inner ends 84 engage grooves 74 in the outer surface of body 24, which engagement places the upper ring in an operative position on guide post 10. Fix it. Each plunger 82 is disposed within a radial bore 86 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and includes a sealing collar 88 fixed to the plunger shaft 90. A spring 92 is provided around the outer end of the shaft 90 and between the collar 88 and the inner surface of the cap 94. Collar 88 includes a seal 96 that seals against the inner surface of pore 86. When pressure is then applied to the inner surface of collar 88 through hole 98, this pressure overcomes the force of spring 92 and moves plunger 82 radially outward and out of groove 74. Plunger 82 thus constitutes a device 62 for securing upper ring 58 to the outer surface of tubular post body 24 . A plunger 100 of similar construction to plunger 82 constitutes a device 64 for securing lower ring 56 to sleeve 28. Each Granja 10
0 includes a shaft 102 mounted with a collar 104 which is sealed against the inner surface of a bore 108 by a seal 106 . A spring 110 surrounds the outer part of @3102,
Collar 104 and cap 112 are then engaged to push plunger 100 radially inward.

When pressure is applied to the inner surface of the sealing collar 104 through a through hole 114 passing through the body 116 of the actuator 118, the grunge 100 is moved radially outwardly from the groove 120 in the outer surface of the sleeve 28. It comes off.

Actuator 118 includes a collar 122 that seals against the inner surface of vertical bore 124 . Actuator body 116 extends downwardly into threaded engagement within the upper portion of lower ring 56 . Through hole 12
6 into the annular chamber above collar 122 moves body 116 downwardly from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. Pressure is applied from the through hole 128 to the collar 1.
Actuator 118 is retracted by sending pressure into the annular chamber below 22 and releasing pressure from through hole 126.

That movement by the actuator moves the lower ring 56 axially. If the lower ring is then secured to the sleeve 28, the sleeve 28 is slid along the outer surface of the lower portion of the tubular post body 24. Since each granger 82 and 100 can be controlled to be retracted from its respective groove 74 and 120, the tool 40 can be easily inserted into and removed from the outer surface of the tubular post body 24 and the outer surface of the sleeve 28. Proper operation of the actuator 118 allows the sleeve 28 to be moved as desired, thus causing the split locking ring 6 to move as desired.
8 can be set and released as desired. A guide pin 130 is attached to the outer surface of the tubular body 24 and extends outwardly therefrom and extends through the upper slot 132 of the sleeve 28.
Fits inside.

Operation of the lower end of the sleeve 28 and its split locking ring 6
8 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. A guide pin 164 fixed to the outer surface of the lower end of the tubular body 24 extends outwardly therefrom and fits within the lower slot 136. A stand 166 is secured to the outer surface of the lower end of the tubular body 24 below the guide pin 164 and extends outwardly therefrom to fit within a slot 165 in the lower end of the sleeve 28 .

The stud 133 engages the upper end of the locking ring 38 and
This is aligned with the groove 66 of the receiving portion. The lower end of the sleeve 28 is tapered to form a reduced rim 168. The rim has a tapered wedging lower surface 139 that engages within the tapered upper surface of the split locking ring 68. A support ring 140 is located within the lower end of the counterbore 64 and includes guide pins 142 (preferably one or more) as seen in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10.
are secured to the outer surface of tubular body 24 and extend outwardly to fit within vertical slots 144 of ring 140 . Additionally, shear pins 146 (preferably one or more) are attached to the outer surface of tubular body 24 and fit within support ring 140 . In this position, ring 140 positions split locking ring 68 in alignment with the groove on the inner surface of receiving portion 12 . When the sleeve 28 moves downward from the position shown in FIG. 6, its lower rim 138 wedges the split locking ring 68 from its inner position into the groove 66 as shown in FIG. Push it out to the locked position. Retrieval of the guide post 10 is performed simply by the reverse operation. That is, the sleeve 28
is lifted, and the split locking ring 68 is then retracted, so that the guide post 10 is pulled out from the receiving portion 12 and recovered to the sea surface.

Variant collection systems are shown in Figures 6, 8, and 9.

and shown in FIG. This collection system.

Normal retrieval of the guide post 10 is used to retrieve the guide post when it is disabled, often due to damage. A grunge 1 is inserted into the outer groove 150 on the upper outside of the tubular body portion 24.
A lifting pail 152 suitable for tensioning tool 44 is secured to the upper end of guide post 10 by engaging 48.
is attached and connected directly to the sea surface, and if the guide post 10 is stuck in the receiving part 12 and cannot be removed, a large lifting force is applied to the guide post through the pail.

This large force shears the shear pin 146.

The tubular body and sleeve 28 are then moved upwardly from the position of FIG. 8 to the position of FIG. 9. At this time, the support ring 14
0 and the split locking ring 68 remain in the locked position. When the guide pin 142 reaches the upper end of the slot 144, the support ring 140 engages the lower surface of the split locking ring 68 and pushes it upward. Due to the cam action in which the tapered surface 157 of the locking ring 68 engages with the upper end tapered surface of the groove 36, the upward force forces the locking ring 68 inward to bring it into the released position. The overall assembly of all components can then be moved upwards, as shown in FIG.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevational view of one of the guide posts of a subsea well head having a guide base or template having an upwardly extending guide post of the present invention mounted thereon; FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the guide post and the installation tool attached thereto, with the sleeve in the locked position. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the guide post and the tensioning tool attached to the upper end thereof. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the guide post installation tool of the present invention, with the sleeve in the unlocked position. FIG. 5 is another cross-sectional view of a portion of the installation tool with the sleeve moved to the locked position; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the guide post inserted into the seabed receiving portion but not yet locked therein. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the guide post locked within the receiving portion. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the guide post locked within the receptacle and showing the shear pin connecting the support ring to the guide post. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the guide post showing shearing of the shear pin and initial upward movement of the guide post. FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the guide post being pulled out from the receiving portion by shearing of the shear pin. 10... Information post, 12... Reception department, 14...
Submarine structure, 16... Well head, 22... Guide cable, 24... Tubular body, 28... Sleeve,
38...Split locking ring, 40...Recovery tool, 44
...Tension tool, 56...Lower ring, 58...Upper ring, 60...Coupling equipment, 62.64...Fixing equipment, 82,100...Plunger, 118...Actuator , 140... Support ring, 146... Shear pin. H(i, 1 F/G, 5 FIG9 FIG B FIG, 10 Procedural amendment 1 Display of case 1999 Patent Application No. 148218 2 Name of invention Recoverable guide post 3, person making amendment Relationship with case Patent Applicant's address 44 Agent (attached sheet) The statement of the claims is amended as follows:
a tubular body having an external arrangement, an upper end portion surrounding and movable axially along a lower portion of the tubular body;
a sleeve ζ having a lower end with a wedge-acting rim of reduced diameter, and a sleeve ζ having an upper end equipped with a wedge-acting rim; a split locking ring supported on the central part and cooperating with the sleeve-imitating rim; a support ring ζ disposed around the tubular body below the split locking ring, equipment ζ for removably securing the support ring to the tubular body, and a lifting force applied to the tubular body. and a device ξ for coupling the support ring to the tubular body so as to allow limited movement in the opening direction of the tubular body and the support ring to transmit the split locking ring to the split locking ring. Possible information post. 2. The retrievable guide post of claim 1, including a vc@ for removably securing said sleeve to said tubular body in its set and locked positions. 3. The removable sleeve fixing device is a tubular retrievable guide post according to 3. An upper outer groove ζ provided on the outer surface of the body, a lower outer groove ζ provided at a predetermined distance below the upper outer groove on the outer surface of the tubular body, and a split lock retaining ring disposed within the upper groove. ζ, a split lock ring installed in the lower groove; 5. A split lock ring installed in the sleeve and exposed in the inner sleeve groove; one in the inner sleeve groove in response to a ring therein engaging the inner sleeve groove area on the outer surface of the sleeve.
3. A retrievable guide post as claimed in claim 2, including a provision ζ for causing two of said locking rings to be pushed radially inward. 4. The cooperating device includes a plurality of balls installed in the recess provided in the sleeve and engaged with the split locking ring installed in the inner sleeve groove, and the ball a portion extends from the outer surface of the sleeve, so that when the ball is pushed entirely into the recess, the ball moves the split locking ring inwardly out of engagement within the internal sleeve groove;
5. The retrievable guide post of claim 1, further comprising means for securing a guide cable to the upper end of the tubular body. 6. The removable securing device includes a plurality of shear pins securing the support ring to the tubular body, and the coupling device includes:
2. The retrievable guide post of claim 1, including a plurality of vertical slots & in said support ring and a plurality of guide pins (ζ) secured to said tubular body portion and fitted within said slots. 7. a subsea receiving portion for receiving the guide post having a central bore and an upper counterbore with an internal locking groove, the locking groove being configured to lock the tubular body within the receiving portion; The retrievable guide post according to claim 1, wherein the retrievable guide post is provided at a position for receiving the split locking ring. 8. The retrievable guide post of claim 7, including an upper funnel and a lower tubular body extending downwardly from the funnel. 9. The retrievable guide post of claim 8, including a plurality of subsea structures secured to the receptacles, one guide post in each receptacle. 10. 10. The retrievable guide post of claim 9, wherein the subsea structure surrounds a subsea well head. 11. The retrievable guide post of claim 9, wherein the undersea structure is a template. 12. The retrievable guide post of claim 9, wherein the subsea structure is a permanent guide base. 13. A tubular body, a sleeve that is slidable on the lower body surface of the tubular body, a groove provided on the outer surface of the sleeve at a short distance below the upper end of the sleeve, a short distance above the uppermost position of the upper end of the sleeve setting of a retrievable guide post having a groove provided on the outer surface of the tubular body at and a split locking ring supported on the outer surface of the tubular body immediately below the lower end of the sleeve in the uppermost position; and a device for retrieving the first ring, the tool having an inner surface that is lowered to surround the tubular body and that engages within the tubular body groove to secure the first ring to the tubular body. a first ring comprising a first ring, and a second ring having an inner surface that is lowered to surround the upper end of the sleeve, and a second ring comprising features for engaging within a groove on the outer surface of the sleeve to secure the second ring to the sleeve; and,
Also, the first ring and the second ring are connected, and the rings are separated from each other in the axial direction! I! A tool comprising a J-ring and an actuating device ζ for moving the rings back into positions adjacent to each other. 14. The engagement device extends radially through each of the first ring and the second ring, and when extended inwardly into the groove of the tubular body and the groove of the sleeve. 14. The tool of claim 13, including a plurality of engaging plungers. 15. The tool of claim 14, further comprising means for biasing the plunger radially inwardly. 16. The tool of claim 15, wherein the plunger is retracted radially outwardly by fluid pressure. ” or later
”

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a retrievable guide post, a tubular body having an externally engaging arrangement, surrounding and axially movable along a lower portion of the tubular body, and an upper end, a a sleeve having a lower end having a diameter wedging rim and an outer engagement feature proximate the upper end; a split locking ring supported on the body and cooperating with the sleeve wedging rim; a support ring installed around the tubular body below a locking ring; a provision for removably securing the support ring to the tubular body; a retrievable guide post comprising means for coupling the support ring to the tubular body to allow limited axial movement between the tubular body and the support ring to transmit the movement of the support ring to the tubular body; 2. A retrievable guide post according to claim 1, including means for removably securing said sleeve to said tubular body in its set and locked positions. 3. The removable sleeve fixing device includes: an upper outer groove provided on the outer surface of the tubular body; a lower outer groove provided at a predetermined distance below the upper outer groove on the outer surface of the tubular body; A split locking ring installed in the upper groove, a splitting locking ring installed in the lower groove, a groove provided on the inner surface of the sleeve, and a locking ring installed in the sleeve and exposed to the inner sleeve groove. one of the locking rings in the inner sleeve groove is pressed radially inward in response to a split locking ring therein engaging the inner sleeve groove area of the sleeve outer surface; 3. A retrievable guide post as claimed in claim 2, including equipment for enabling the retrievable guide post to be retracted. 4. The cooperating device includes a plurality of balls disposed within a recess provided in the sleeve and engaged with the split locking ring disposed within the inner sleeve groove, wherein a portion of the balls extending from an outer surface of the sleeve, whereupon the ball is pushed entirely into the recess, the ball moves the split locking ring inwardly out of engagement within the inner sleeve groove;
The retrievable guide post according to claim 3. 5. The retrievable guide post according to claim 1, further comprising means for fixing a guide cable to the upper end of the tubular body. 6. The removable securing device includes: a plurality of shear pins securing the support ring to the tubular body; the coupling device includes: a plurality of vertical slots provided in the support ring; and a plurality of vertical slots provided in the support ring; The retrievable guide post of claim 1, including a plurality of guide pins secured to the section and fitted within the slots. 7. including a subsea receiving portion for receiving the guide post having a central bore and an upper counterbore having an internal locking groove, the locking groove being adapted to lock the tubular body within the receiving portion; The retrievable guide post of claim 1, wherein the retrievable guide post is positioned to receive a split locking ring. 8. The retrievable guide post of claim 7, comprising: an upper funnel; and a lower tubular body extending downwardly from the funnel. 9. The retrievable guide post of claim 8, including a plurality of subsea structures secured to the receptacles, one guide post in each receptacle. 10. The retrievable guide post of claim 9, wherein the subsea structure surrounds a subsea well head. 11. The retrievable guide post of claim 9, wherein the undersea structure is a template. 12. The retrievable guide post of claim 9, wherein the subsea structure is a permanent guide base. 13. A tubular body, a sleeve slidable on the lower outer surface of the tubular body, a groove provided on the outer surface of the sleeve at a short distance below the upper end of the sleeve, a short distance above the uppermost position of the upper end of the sleeve a retrievable guide post having a groove provided in the outer surface of the tubular body, and a split locking ring supported on the outer surface of the tubular body immediately below the lower end of the sleeve in the uppermost position; In a tool for performing retrieval, a first ring having an inner surface that is lowered to surround the tubular body and is provided with a device that engages within the tubular body groove to secure the first ring to the tubular body. a second ring having an inner surface that is lowered to surround the upper end of the sleeve and is equipped with features that engage within an outer surface groove of the sleeve to secure the second ring to the sleeve; A tool that connects a first ring and a second ring and includes actuating equipment for moving the rings axially away from each other and moving the rings back into positions adjacent to each other. 14. The engagement device extends radially through each of the first ring and the second ring, and when extended inwardly into the groove of the tubular body and the groove of the sleeve. 14. The tool of claim 13, including a plurality of engaging plungers. 15. The tool of claim 14, further comprising means for biasing the plunger radially inwardly. 16. The tool of claim 15, wherein the plunger is retracted radially outwardly by fluid pressure.