NO20160338A1

NO20160338A1 - Clamp connector arrangement

Info

Publication number: NO20160338A1
Application number: NO20160338A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Olav Hånde; Odd Marius Rosvold
Original assignee: Vetco Gray Scandinavia As
Priority date: 2016-02-29
Filing date: 2016-02-29
Publication date: 2017-01-03

Description

Clamp connector arrangement

FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to a clamp connector arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1. The clamp connector arrangement comprises a clamp connector and an associated heat bank and it is intended for use in a horizontal connection system designed for subsea connection of a first hub arranged at an end of a first tubular member to a second hub arranged at an end of a second tubular member.

In connection with oil and gas producing installations it is well known that rapid cooling of the p rod u eti on fluid during normal production and particularly during a temporary interruption of the production may result in the formation of hydrates, which may cause clogging of pipes and pipe connections. The cooling is caused by the ambient coid sea water. To delay cooling of the production fluid in case of an interruption of the production, some form of thermai insulation and heat storage medium has to be provided to the element through which the production fluid flows. WO 01/63088 A1 and WO 2006/106406 A1 disclose the use of a so-called heat bank for thermally insulating an element included in a subsea installation. The heat bank comprises a casing, which is arranged to enclose a fluid håving heat-storing capacity, for instance water, and which has an internai space for receiving said element and said fluid with the fluid surrounding the element so as to allow the fluid to delay cooling of the element by means of heat stored in the fluid. The casing and the fluid enclosed therein form a thermai barrier between said element and the ambient sea water on the outside of the casing. By means of heat stored in the fluid inside the casing, the heat bank protects the element from cooling too rapidly. The fluid in the heat bank is heated by heat emitted from the protected element during normal operation. This heat emanates from the production fluid flowing through the element. If the heat input to the protected element from the production fiuid is decreased or interrupted for some reason, the heat stored in the fiuid inside the casing will slow down the cooling of the protected element caused by the ambient coid sea water on the outside of the casing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to make it possible to gain access to a clamp connector inside a heat bank without håving to demount the heat bank.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a clamp connector arrangement håving the features defined in claim 1.

The clamp connector arrangement of the present invention comprises: - a clamp connector for connecting and securing a first hub arranged at an end of a first tubular member to a second hub arranged at an end of a second tubular member; and - a heat bank for thermally insulating the clamp connector from ambient coid sea water, the heat bank comprising a casing which encloses an internai fluid chamber, wherein this fluid chamber is configured to accommodate a fluid håving heat-storing capacity, preferably sea water, and wherein the clamp connector is to be recetved in the fluid chamber with the fluid surrounding the clamp connector.

The clamp connector is accessible through an access opening provided in the casing of the heat bank and the clamp connector is provided with a first coupling member which projects through or towards the access opening or is fixed to a part of the clamp connector received in the access opening, wherein this coupling member is provided with a locking shoulder on its periphery. The heat bank comprises a cover which is releasably connectable to the casing in order to cover and thereby close said access opening, wherein this cover is provided with a second coupling member which is configured for connection to the first coupling member in order to keep the cover secured to the casing. The second coupling member comprises coupling fingers which are configured to be in locking engagement with the locking shoulder on the first coupling member when the first and second coupling members are connected to each other, wherein the coupling fingers are flexibly mounted to a base part of the second coupling member to thereby allow the coupling fingers to flex outwards and slide in to engagement with said locking shoulder when the second coupling member is moved axially into contact with the first coupling member. A locking member is moveably mounted to the cover, wherein the locking member is moveable in relation to the coupling fingers between an unlocking position, in which the coupling fingers are free to flex outwards and thereby may be engaged with or disengaged from the locking shoulder on the first coupling member, and a locking position, in which the locking member prevents the coupling fingers from flexing outwards and thereby prevents the coupling fingers from being disengaged from said locking shoulder.

The second coupling member may easily be engaged with the first coupling member by being pushed axiatly towards the first coupling member as the cover is pushed towards the casing of the heat bank in order to cover and close the access opening in the casing, whereupon the locking member may be moved from the unlocking position to the locking position in order to prevent the second coupling member from being disengaged from the first coupling member and thereby secure the cover to the casing. When there is a need to uncover the access opening in the casing of the heat bank and gain access to the clamp connector provided inside the casing, the locking member is moved from the locking position to the unlocking position, whereupon the second coupling member easily can be disengaged from the first coupling member by being pulled axially away from the first coupling member as the cover is pulled away from the casing of the heat bank.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the locking member is connected to a handle, which is accessible on the outside of the cover and by means of which the locking member may be moved between said unlocking position and locking position. Hereby, the locking member may be manipulated in a simple manner from the outside of the cover, for instance by means of an ROV (ROV = Remotely Operated Vehicle).

Further advantages as wetl as advantageous features of the clamp connector arrangement according to the present invention wiil appear from the dependent claims and the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the appended drawings, a specific description of preferred embodiments of the invention cited as examples follows beiow. In the drawings: Fig 1 is a perspective view of a clamp connector arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention, as seen with the heat bank secured to a first holding unit of a horizontal connection system and with the cover of the heat bank removed from the casing of the heat bank, Fig 2 is a perspective view of the clamp connector arrangement of Fig 1, as seen with the heat bank located between said first holding unit and a second holding unit of the horizontal connection system, Fig 3 is a perspective view of the casing and the cover of the heat bank included in the clamp connector arrangement of Fig 1, Fig 4 is a lateral view of two coupling members included in the clamp connector arrangement of Fig 1, as seen with the coupling members disconnected from each other, Fig 5 is a sectional view of the coupling members of Fig 4, as seen with the coupling members connected to each other, Fig 6 is a perspective view of a handle mounted to the cover of the heat bank included in the clamp connector arrangement of Fig 1, Fig 7 is a sectional view of parts included in the clamp connector arrangement of Fig 1, as seen with a locking member in an unlocking position, and Fig 8 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig 7, but with the

locking member in a locking position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A clamp connector arrangement 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figs 1 and 2. The clamp connector arrangement 1 is intended to be used in a horizontal connection system designed for subsea connection of a first hub 2 arranged at an end of a first tubular member (not shown) to a second hub (not shown) arranged at an end of a second tubular member (not shown). In the illustrated exa mp le, the first hub 2 is fixed to a first holding unit 3 of the horizontal connection system, whereas the second hub is fixed to a second holding unit 4 of the horizontal connection system. The first holding unit 3 is configured to be horizontally displaced towards the second holding unit 4 so as to allow the first hub 2 to be displaced towards the second hub in order to bring the hubs into contact with each other.

The clamp connector arrangement 1 comprises a clamp connector 10 for connecting and securing the first hub 2 to the second hub. The clamp connector 10 comprises two arc-shaped clamping elements 11a, 11b which are configured to clamp together the first hub 2 with the second hub in order to form a fluid-tight connection between the first and second tubular members. The clamping elements 11 a, 11b may be designed and operated in a conventional manner well known to a person skilled in the art. A space for receiving the hubs to be connected to each other is formed between the clamping elements 11a, 11b. The clamping elements 11a, 11b have a hinged first end and an opposite second end. An operating shaft (not shown) is connected to the clamping elements 11a, 11b, the operating shaft being moveable by means of a remotely operated actuating tool (not shown) in order to move said second ends of the clamping elements 11a, 11b towards each other and thereby pivot the clamping elements into engagement with the first and second hubs. The operating shaft is for instance an externally threaded shaft which is in threaded engagement with an internally threaded first trunnion member (not shown) pivotally mounted to the first clamping element 11a at said second end thereof and with an internally threaded second trunnion member (not shown) pivotally mounted to the second clamping element 11b at said second end thereof. In this case, the actuating tool is a torque tool configured to rotate the operating shaft about its longitudinal axis in a first direction in order to pivot the clamping elements 11a, 11b towards the hubs and in the opposite direction in order to pivot the clamping elements 11a, 11b away from the hubs. The actuating tool may be detachabty mounted to a torque bucket 12 on the clamp connector 10 by means of an ROV or a dtver.

Each clamping element 11a, 11b has opposed bevelled wedging surfaces for engaging corresponding bevelled wedging surfaces provided on the first and second hubs. The clamping elements 11a, 11b are moveable between an open position and a closed position under the effect of the operating shaft. In the closed position, the clamping elements 11a, 11b are pivoted towards each other and the wedging surfaces of the clamping elements 11a, 11b are in engagement with the corresponding wedging surfaces of the hubs and thereby keep the hubs ttghtly clamped to each other. In the open position, the clamping elements 11a, 11b are pivoted away from each other and do not exert any clamping action on the first and second hubs.

The clamp connector arrangement 1 further comprises a heat bank 30 for thermally insulating the clamp connector 10 from ambient coid sea water. The heat bank 30 comprises a casing 31 which encloses an internal fluid chamber, wherein this fluid chamber is configured to accommodate a fluid håving heat-storing capacity, preferably sea water. The clamp connector arrangement 1 is to be installed subsea with some of the outer surfaces of the casing 31 exposed to ambient sea water. The heat-storing fluid is enclosed by the casing 31 and thereby separated from the ambient sea water by the casing 31. The clamp connector 10 is to be received in the fluid chamber with the heat-storing fluid surrounding the clamp connector so as to allow the fluid to delay cooling of the clamp connector 10 and the above-mentioned hubs by means of heat stored in the fluid. Hereby, the fluid inside the casing 31 of the heat bank 30 will protect the hubs from too rapid cooling.

The tubular members which are secured to each other by means of the clamp connector 10 could for instance constitute parts of a subsea piping system for processing or transporting oil and/or gas. During normal operation, production fluid will flow through the tubular members, and the heat-storing fluid accommodated in the internal fluid chamber of the heat bank 30 will receive and store heat emitted from the production fluid. The casing 31 of the heat bank 30 and the fluid enclosed therein form a thermai barrier between the clamp connector 10 and the ambient sea water on the outside of the casing 31.

The casing 31 of the heat bank 30 is preferably of thermally insulating material and/or lined or coated with one or more layers of thermally insulating material.

The casing 31 comprises a rear wall 33a (see Fig 3) and an opposite front wall 33b. The rear wall 33a is provided with a central opening 34a configured to receive the first hub 2 and the front wall 33b is provided with a central opening 34b configured to receive the second hub. The clamp connector 10 is secured to the first holding unit 3 by means of fastening members (not shown) which extend between the clamp connector 10 and the first holding unit 3 through holes 35 in the rear wall 33a of the casing 31, wherein the rear wall 33a of the casing 31 is clamped between the clamp connector 10 and the first holding unit 3 to thereby keep the casing 31 fixed to the first holding unit 3.

The clamp connector 10 is accessible through an access opening 36 (see Fig 1) provided in the casing 31 of the heat bank 30 to thereby allow the actuating tool to be mounted to the torque bucket 12 of the clamp connector 10 in order to move the clamping elements 11a, 11b from the open position to the closed position when the first and second hubs are to be secured to each other or from the closed position to the open position when the first and second hubs are to be reieased from each other.

The heat bank 30 comprises a cover 37 which is releasably connectable to the casing 31 in order to cover and thereby close the access opening 36.

The clamp connector 10 is provided with a first coupling member 18. ln the illustrated embodiment, the first coupling member 18 is fixed to a part 14 of the clamp connector received in the access opening 36. As an alternative, the first coupling member 18 may be arranged to project through or towards the access opening 36 from a part of the clamp connector which is not received in the access opening 36 but accessible through the access opening 36. The cover 37 is provided with a second coupling member 38 which is configured for connection to the first coupling member 18 in order to keep the cover 37 secured to the casing 31 of the heat bank 30.

The first coupling member 18 is provided with a locking shoulder 19 on i ts periphery and the second coupling member 38 comprises several coupling fingers 39 which are configured to be in locking engagement with the locking shoulder 19 on the first coupling member 18 when the first and second coupling members 18, 38 are connected to each other. The coupling fingers 39 are flexibly mounted to a base part 40 of the second coupling member 38 to thereby allow the coupling fingers 39 to flex outwards and slide into engagement with the locking shoulder 19 on the first coupling member 18 when the second coupling member 38 is moved axially into contact with the first coupling member 18. The coupling fingers 39 are evenly distributed about a centre axis of the second coupling member 38 and separated from each other by slits. The base part 40 of the second coupling member 38 is fixed to a wall 41 of the cover 37.

The base part 40 and the coupling fingers 39 of the second coupling member 38 are preferably of polymeric material.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first coupling member 18 has the form of a pin with a head 20 at its outer end, wherein the locking shoulder 19 constitutes an inwardly facing surface on the head 20. The outer end of the head 20 is cone-shaped in order to facilitate for the coupling fingers 39 to slide onto the head 20.

A locking member 42 is moveably mounted to the cover 37, as illustrated in Figs 7 and 8. The locking member 42 is moveable in relation to the coupling fingers 39 between a retracted unlocking position (see Fig 7), in which the coupling fingers 39 are moveable in relation to each other in a radial direction outwards and thereby may be engaged with or disengaged from the locking shoulder 19 on the first coupling member 18, and an advanced locking position (see Fig 8), in which the locking member 42 prevents the coupling fingers 39 from moving in relation to each other in a radial direction outwards and thereby prevents the coupling fingers 39 from being disengaged from said locking shoulder 19. Each coupling finger 39 has an outer side facing the locking member 42 and an opposite inner side, wherein each coupling finger 39 is provided with a locking shoulder 43 (see Fig 5) on its inner side configured for engagement with the locking shoulder 19 on the first coupling member 18.

The locking member 42 is with advantage ring-shaped or sleeve-shaped and configured to surround the coupling fingers 39 in the locking position, wherein the locking member 42 is configured to be axially moveable in relation to the coupling fingers 39 between the unlocking position and the locking position. An inner surface 44 of the ring-shaped or sleeve-shaped locking member 42 is in contact with the outer surface of the coupling fingers 39 when the locking member 42 is in the locking position, as illustrated in Fig 8. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking member 42 is sleeve-shaped.

In the illustrated embodiment, the locking member 42 is connected to a handle 45, which is accessible on the outside of the cover 37 and by means of which the locking member 42 may be axially moved between said unlocking position and locking position. The handle 45 is connected to the locking member 42 via connecting rods 46 which are slidabty mounted to and extend across the above-mentioned wall 41 of the cover 37. In the illustrated example, the connecting rods 46 are at an outer end fixed to the handle 45 and at an opposite inner end fixed to a plate 47, which is located on the inside of the cover 37 and which in its turn is fixed to the locking member 42. Each connecting rod 46 is slidably mounted to said wall 41 of the cover 37 via a guide sleeve 48 which is fixed to this wall 41. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide sleeves 48 are fixed to a mounting plate 49, which in its turn is fixed to the wall 41 of the cover 37 on the outer side thereof.

At least one of the guide sleeves 48 is provided with a through hole 50 (see Fig 6) which is configured to be aligned with a corresponding through hole 51 (see Fig 7) in the associated connecting rod 46 when the locking member 42 is in the unlocking position, to thereby allow the locking member 42 to be locked in the unlocking position by means of a locking pin 52 inserted into the through hole 50 in the guide sleeve 48 and into the corresponding through hoie 51 in the associated connecting rod 46. When each locking pin 52 has been removed, the handle 45 is free to be moved towards the wall 41 of the cover 37 so as to thereby move the locking member 42 from the unlocking position to the locking position. The locking member 42 may then be locked in the advanced locking position by inserting the locking pin 52 into the through hole 50 in the guide sleeve 48 and into another through hole 53 in the associated connecting rod 46.

At least one of the connecting rods 46 is with advantage provided with a marking 54 (see Fig 6) which is configured to come into level with an outer end of the associated guide sleeve 48 when the locking member 42 reaches the locking position, to thereby indicate that the locking member 42 is in the locking position.

A guide funnel 55 is with advantage provided at the free outer end of the locking member 42, wherein this guide funnel 55 is configured to co-operate with the first coupling member 18 in order to guide the second coupling member 38 into alignment with the first coupling member 18 when the second coupling member 38 is moved axially into contact with the first coupling member 18.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first coupling member 18 and the upper part of the torque bucket 12 are received in an inner space of the cover 37 when the cover is secured to the casing 31 of the heat bank 30. This inner space of the cover 37 is to be filled with the above-mentioned heat-storing fluid when the cover is secured to the casing 31.

A sealing member 56 (see Fig 1) is provided along the edge of the cover 37 facing the casing 31 of the heat bank 30. This sealing member 56 is to be pressed against the rim of the access opening 36 when the cover 37 is secured to the casing 31 so as to thereby form a fluid-tight joint between the cover 37 and the casing 31.

The invention is of course not in any way restricted to the embodiments described above. On the contrary, many possibilities to modifications thereof will be apparent to a person with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the basic idea of the invention such as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A clamp connector arrangement for use in a horizontal connection system designed for subsea connection of a first hub arranged at an end of a first tubular member to a second hub arranged at an end of a second tubular member, the clamp connector arrangement (1) comprising: - a clamp connector (10) for connecting and securing the first hub to the second hub; and - a heat bank (30) for thermally insulating the clamp connector (10) from ambient coid sea water, the heat bank (30) comprising a casing (31) which encloses an internal fluid chamber, wherein this fluid chamber is configured to accommodate a fluid håving heat-storing capacity, preferably sea water, and wherein the clamp connector (10) is to be received in the fluid chamber with the fluid surrounding the clamp connector, characterized in: - that the clamp connector (10) is accessible through an access opening (36) provided in said casing (31); - that the clamp connector (10) is provided with a first coupling member (18) which projects through or towards the access opening (36) or is fixed to a part (14) of the clamp connector (10) received in the access opening (36), wherein this coupling member (18) is provided with a locking shoulder (19) on its periphery; - that the heat bank (30) comprises a cover (37) which is releasably connectable to the casing (31) in order to cover and thereby close said access opening (36), wherein this cover (37) is provided with a second coupling member (38) which is configured for connection to the first coupling member (18) in order to keep the cover (37) secured to the casing (31); - that the second coupling member (38) comprises coupling fingers (39) which are configured to be in locking engagement with the locking shoulder (19) on the first coupling member (18) when the first and second coupling members (18, 38) are connected to each other, wherein the coupling fingers (39) are flexibly mounted to a base part (40) of the second coupling member (38) to thereby allow the coupling fingers (39) to flex outwards and slide into engagement with said locking shoulder (19) when the second coupling member (38) is moved axially into contact with the first coupling member (18); and - that a locking member (42) is moveably mounted to the cover (37), wherein the locking member (42) is moveable in relation to the coupling fingers (39) between an unlocking position, in which the coupling fingers (39) are free to flex outwards and thereby may be engaged with or disengaged from the locking shoulder (19) on the first coupling member (18), and a locking position, in which the locking member (42) prevents the coupling fingers (39) from flexing outwards and thereby prevents the coupling fingers (39) from being disengaged from said locking shoulder (19).

2. A clamp connector arrangement according to claim 1,characterized in thatthe locking member (42) is connected to a handle (45), which is accessible on the outside of the cover (37) and by means of which the locking member (42) may be moved between said unlocking position and locking position.

3. A clamp connector arrangement according to claim 2,characterized in: - that the base part (40) of the second coupling member (38) is fixed to a wall (41) of the cover (37); and - that that the handle (45) is connected to the locking member (42) via connecting rods (46) which are slidably mounted to and extend across said wall (41) of the cover (37).

4. A clamp connector arrangement according to claim 3,characterized in thateach connecting rod (46) is slidably mounted to said watl (41) of the cover (37) via a guide sleeve (48) which is fixed to this wall (41).

5. A clamp connector arrangement according to claim 4,characterized in thatthe guide sleeve (48) for at least one of the connecting rods (46) is provided with a through hole (50) which is configured to be aligned with a corresponding through hole (51) in the associated connecting rod (46) when the locking member (42) is in the unlocking position, to thereby allow the locking member (42) to be locked in the unlocking position by means of a locking pin (52) inserted into the through hole (50) in the guide sleeve (48) and into the corresponding through hole (51) in the associated connecting rod (46).

6. A clamp connector arrangement according to claim 4 or 5,characterized in thatat least one of the connecting rods (46) is provided with a marking (54) which is configured to come into level with an outer end of the associated guide sleeve (48) when the locking member (42) reaches the locking position, to thereby indicate that the locking member (42) is in the locking position.

7. A clamp connector arrangement according to any of claims 4-6,characterized in thatthe guide sleeves (48) are fixed to a mounting plate (49), which in its turn is fixed to said wall (41) of the cover (37).

8. A clamp connector arrangement according to any of claims 1-7,characterized in thata guide funnel (55) is provided at the outer end of the locking member (42), wherein this guide funnel (55) is configured to co-operate with the first coupling member (18) in order to guide the second coupling member (38) into alignment with the first coupling member (18) when the second coupling member (38) is moved axially into contact with the first coupling member (18).

9. A clamp connector arrangement according to any of claims 1-8,characterized in thatthe first coupling member (18) has the form of a pin with a head (20) at its outer end, wherein the locking shoulder (19) constitutes an inwardly facing surface on this head (20).

10. A clamp connector arrangement according to any of claims 1-9,characterized in thateach coupling finger (39) has an outer side facing the locking member (42) and an opposite inner side, wherein each coupling finger (39) is provided with a locking shoulder (43) on its inner side configured for engagement with the locking shoulder (19) on the first coupling member (18).

11. A clamp connector arrangement according to any of claims 1-10,characterized in thatthe coupling fingers (39) are evenly distributed about a centre axis of the second coupling member (38).

12. A clamp connector arrangement according to any of claims 1-11,characterized in thatthe base part (40) and the coupling fingers (39) of the second coupling member (38) are of polymeric material.

13. A clamp connector arrangement according to any of claims 1-12,characterized in thatthe clamp connector (10) comprises a torque bucket (12), which projects through or is accessible through the access opening (36) or is fixed to a part of the clamp connector (10) received in the access opening (36).

14. A clamp connector arrangement according to claim 13,characterized in thatthe torque bucket (12), or at least an upper part thereof, is received in an inner space of the cover (37) when the cover is secured to the casing (31).

15. A clamp connector arrangement according to any of claims 1-14,characterized in thatthe locking member (42) is ring-shaped or sleeve-shaped and configured to be axially moveable in relation to the coupling fingers (39) between the unlocking position and the locking position.