JPS581520Y2 - Submarine pipeline connection equipment - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Undersea oil production wells are now being drilled offshore, far from the coast.

As a result, oil is refined in the ocean and loaded onto tankers at sea.

These always use undersea pipelines, and vertical pipes are used to guide the pipelines above the surface of the water.

A conventional example will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Figure 1 shows a single point mooring puy 1'1 and a flexible pipe 2'.
However, they are susceptible to damage in tidal currents or at great depths, and the mooring lines are expensive at great depths.

In FIG. 2, a steel pipe 3' is used and supported by a jacket 4', so there is no damage to the pipe, but there is a drawback that the jacket construction cost is high when the pipe is at a deep depth, for example, 300 meters.

To join without using a diver, we use a technology that uses high-pressure air to drain the water and reduces the pressure indoors after the water is drained, allowing for a strong bond underwater.

This technology has been used in some cases to seal between relatively small devices, but when applied to large offshore structures, the seabed is not horizontal, so it is not necessary to consider how to vertically erect the vertical pipes. Must not be.

Even if you stand vertically, you have to deal with the fact that the seabed becomes a slope due to scouring.

The present invention was devised for the purpose of obtaining a connection device that does not break the connection even under the above-mentioned seabed fluctuations.

The present invention includes a trolley installed on the seabed, a connecting seat installed on the platform 1 via a universal joint and an expansion joint, a partition plate above the lower end, and a sealing member on the upper surface of the connecting seat. a vertical pipe that is erected through the pipe and whose upper end protrudes into the ocean; a refueling pipe that communicates with a connection chamber formed by the partition plate and the connection chamber and is connected to an undersea pipeline that has been previously installed on the sea bed; Relating to a submarine pipeline connection device characterized by comprising an air pipe that communicates with the connection chamber and pumps high-pressure air into the chamber, and a discharge valve that communicates with the connection chamber and exhausts the high-pressure air in the chamber, A cylindrical expansion joint and a universal joint are placed under the joint surface to create a submarine pipeline connection device that does not damage the joint due to changes in the seabed surface or movement of the vertical pipe, and does not apply excessive force to the submarine pipeline. This system can be applied to offshore oil handling equipment, offshore powder handling equipment, and offshore oil refining equipment.

An embodiment of the submarine pipeline connecting device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a cargo handling device using the submarine pipeline connecting device of the present invention, Fig. 4 is a side sectional view of one embodiment of the submarine pipeline connecting device of the present invention, and Fig. 5 is an illustration of the connecting vehicle. A plan view is shown.

A high pressure air pipe 3 and a discharge valve 4 are provided in a connection chamber 2 at the lower end of the vertical pipe 1, and a watertight rubber 5 is provided on the lower surface.

A universal joint 9 and an expansion joint 10 are provided between a connecting car 7 and a bogie 8 into which a fuel supply pipe 6 connected to an undersea pipeline is inserted.

The oil supply pipe 6, the connecting seat 71, the trolley 8, the universal joint 9, the expansion joint 10, the scour prevention device 11, and the guide 12 are parts prepared on the seabed.

14 indicates a partition plate located above the lower end of the vertical tube 1.

The operation of the present invention will be explained.

When the vertical pipe 1 is placed on the trolley 8 and high pressure air is introduced, the connection chamber 2
The water inside passes under the watertight rubber 5 and is discharged together with the air.

When the air jet is stopped and the discharge valve 4 is opened by remote control, the connection chamber 2
The inside becomes atmospheric pressure, and the difference in pressure between the inside and outside causes the connecting car I to seal with watertight rubber 5.
Crimp.

Oil or powder flows through the route of the oil supply pipe 6, the connection chamber 2 and the discharge pipe 4.

The present invention has the above configuration and has the following effects.

1 The bogie 8 and the hardware on its upper part are connected via a universal joint 9 and an expansion joint 10, which prevents the bogie 8 from being lifted by the vertical pipe 1 or receiving overturning moment. The ability to maintain a fixed point can be maintained.

2. If the seabed is tilted, even if the connection chamber 2 is drained, the connection car 7 will not come into close contact with the watertight rubber 5, but since there is a universal joint 9, there is no risk of this happening.

3 When a ship is moored on the water surface of the vertical pipe 1, the vertical pipe 1 can tilt horizontally around the universal joint 9 hanging down from the seabed connection, so this inclination gives the vertical pipe 1 a restoring force. This allows ships to be moored without the need for mooring cables to the ocean floor.

Another embodiment of the submarine pipeline connecting device of the present invention is shown in the sixth embodiment.
The figure and FIG. 7 will be explained.

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the submarine pipeline connecting device of the present invention, in which a telescopic joint and a universal joint are used as a pipe structure, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the universal joint.

1 is a vertical pipe, 2 is a connection chamber, 3 is a high-pressure air pipe, 4 is a discharge valve, 5 is a watertight rubber, 6 is a fuel supply pipe, I is a connection car, 8 is a trolley,
9' is a universal joint, 10' is an expansion joint, 1
1 is a scour prevention device, 12 is a guide, 13 is a check valve, 14
indicates a partition plate.

In this embodiment, the telescopic joint 10' and the universal joint 9' are constructed as pipes, and oil from the oil supply pipe 6 is supplied through them.

The check valve 13 at the outlet is provided in the embodiment to prevent seawater from flowing in through the universal joint 9' before connecting the vertical pipe, and is not necessarily provided.

In this embodiment, even if the vertical pipe tilts, no force is applied to the submarine pipeline.

The embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5 provide force and require additional flexible structures in the pipeline.

The fuel supply pipe 6 can also be attached to a fallen tree.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 and 2 are explanatory diagrams of a conventional submarine pipeline connecting device, Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of a cargo handling device using the submarine pipeline connecting device of the present invention, and Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram of a submarine pipeline of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a connecting vehicle; FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of another embodiment of the submarine pipeline connecting device of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a universal joint. An explanatory diagram is shown. 1...Single point mooring 7"A, 2'...Flexible pipe, 3'...Steel pipe, 4'...
...Jacket, 1...Vertical pipe, 2...
・Connection chamber, 3... High pressure air pipe, 4...
Discharge valve, 5...Watertight rubber, 6...Refueling pipe, I...Connection car, 8...Dolly, 9.
9'...universal join), 10,10
'... Telescopic joint, 11... Scour prevention device, 12... Guide, 13... Check valve, 14... Partition Board.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A bogie installed on the seabed, a connecting seat provided on the bogie via a universal joint and an expansion joint, and a partition plate provided above the lower end of the bogie, which is erected on the upper surface of the connecting seat via a sealing member. A vertical pipe whose upper end protrudes into the ocean, an oil supply pipe that communicates with the connection chamber formed by the partition plate and the connection 5 and is connected to an undersea pipeline previously arranged on the seabed, and the connection chamber A submarine pipeline connection device comprising: an air pipe that communicates with the connection chamber to forcefully feed high-pressure air into the chamber; and a discharge valve that communicates with the connection chamber and exhausts the high-pressure air in the chamber.