US3902843A - Flare for burning gas - Google Patents

Flare for burning gas Download PDF

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Publication number
US3902843A
US3902843A US453428A US45342874A US3902843A US 3902843 A US3902843 A US 3902843A US 453428 A US453428 A US 453428A US 45342874 A US45342874 A US 45342874A US 3902843 A US3902843 A US 3902843A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
flare
caisson
base
cables
tube
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US453428A
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English (en)
Inventor
Maurice Genini
Isaac Behar
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Technip France SAS
Original Assignee
Coflexip SA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Coflexip SA filed Critical Coflexip SA
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3902843A publication Critical patent/US3902843A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B22/00—Buoys
    • B63B22/18—Buoys having means to control attitude or position, e.g. reaction surfaces or tether
    • 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
    • E21B41/00—Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00
    • E21B41/005—Waste disposal systems
    • E21B41/0071—Adaptation of flares, e.g. arrangements of flares in offshore 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
    • E21B41/00—Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00
    • E21B41/10—Guide posts, e.g. releasable; Attaching guide lines to underwater guide bases
    • 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
    • E21B43/0107—Connecting of flow lines to offshore structures
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B2201/00—Signalling devices
    • B63B2201/04—Illuminating
    • B63B2201/06—Illuminating by combustion of fluid

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a flare of the semiimmersed type which is adapted to burn gas in installations for exploiting or treating oil beneath the sea or in fresh water of substantial depth.
  • the present invention relates to a semi-immersed flare which is mounted on a caisson which assures the flotation of the flare but is held beneath the water so as to shelter the flare from the effects of the wave action. with only the upper part of the flare remaining above the water.
  • the semi-immersed flare according to the invention has a particularly simple and economical construction and it may be put in place and maintained easily even when it is located in deep water.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a new article of manufacture which consists of a semiimmersed flare characterized by the fact that the chimney of the flare is mounted on a caisson which is constantly immersed but which has a positive buoyancy and is connected to a base which is resting on the ocean floor through at least one flexible tube under tension.
  • the caisson is also connected to the base by means of at least two anchoring and guiding cables which are normally sleek but which may be placed under tension in order to avoid tension on the flexible tube or tubes. These cables also make it possible to mount or replace flexible tube or tubes.
  • the flexible tube or tubes used are preferably of the type comprising metallic reinforcing means which resist radial pressure and longitudinal tension and comprise at least one fluid tight sheath.
  • each flexible tube is provided with an automatic connector which permits the automatic connection of the lower part of the flexible tube to a connector mounted on the base.
  • the connectors or connector mounted on the base themselves connected by other steps to the reservoir or to the place at which the gas to be burned in the flare is sepa rated.
  • the caisson comprises a device which makes it possible to ballast it. that is to say. to regulate its buoyancy to exert on the flexible tube or tubes any desired longitudinal tension.
  • the balancing means is mounted on the lower part of the caisson in such a way as to hold it in a substantially horizontal position and thus avoid any possibility that the chimney of the flare will incline too greatly away from the vertical under the effect of the current or the wind.
  • a semi-immersed flare comprises a single flexible tube which connects the caisson to the base.
  • several parallel fle ⁇ ible tubes may be located between the caisson and the base which make it possible to insure that a larger volume of gas will flow toward the chimney. Moreover. it is possible to replace one of these tubes while the other continues to supply the flare.
  • the present invention also relates to a method of loeating a flare of the type which has just been described in position.
  • which method is characterized by the fact that: the assembly of the caisson and the base is formed and the cables serving for anchoring and guiding are coiled in a figure 8 on the base; the assembly comprising the base and the caisson are progressively immersed by known means; after having ballasted the base when it is located at the bottom of the sea. a certain buoyancy is imparted to the caisson which is liberated from the base so that it can rise until the cables serving to anchor and guide it are subjected to tension.
  • a preferably automatic connector is located beneath the caisson and connected to the cable which anchors it and guides it.
  • the lower end of the flexible tube is attached to the connector; the flexible tube is immersed while permitting the connector to descend to the base; the upper end of the flexible tube is connected to the chimney of the flare and the lower end of the tube to the base; and the device regulating the tension on the cable is actuated to lengthen them and place the flexible tube under tension.
  • the connector which is located at the lower end of the flexible tube is an automatic connector which permits automatic engagement of the connector and the corresponding connector on the base.
  • the device according to the invention has the advantage of permitting the semi-immersed flare to be easily mounted and maintained under constant tension by the flexible tube which is a condition which is very favorable to its long life despite the movements to which it is subjected as a consequence of the agitation of the sea.
  • the upper ends of the tubes are connected to the chimney by vanes which make it possible to isolate certain tubes as bad.
  • FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the first embodiment of the semi-immersed flare according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention
  • FIGS. 38 schematically illustrate the successive steps in mounting the semi-immersed flare according to FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 1 shows the chimney l of the flare resting on a caisson 2 which has. in the present case. an annular shape but may have a different shape without thereby departing from the basic principles of the invention.
  • the chimney l is connected to the upper part 4 of the flexible tube 5 which. thanks to the connector 6 located at its lower part, is connected to a connector (not shown) on the base 7.
  • This connector is connected to the tube which rests on the bottom of the sea 9.
  • Two cables 10 and II which may serve to anchor and/or guide are located between the caisson 2 and the base 7.
  • FIG. I shows the semi-immersed flare in its operating position.
  • the flexible tube I is placed under tension by reason of the buoyancy of the caisson 2 while the anchoring and/or guiding cables 10 and 11 are shown slack. It is also possible to hold a slight tension on the cables, the torch being nevertheless anchored by the flexible tube.
  • the anchoring and/or guiding cables 10 and 11 are connected at their upper part to the caisson 2 by means of a device which makes it possible to vary their useful length in such a manner that by lengthening them the tube I is placed under tension, whereas by shortening them and placing them under tension, axial tension on the flexible tube 5 is relieved, the buoy then being anchored by the cables.
  • Such devices may consist, for example, of winches which wind and unwind the guiding cables 10 and 11 for a certain length or by hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders which move the point of attachment of the guiding cables 10 and I] with respect to the caisson 2 or by any other conventional system.
  • the flexibility of the cable also permits the chimney to be displaced laterally even to tilt in re sponse to the movement of the sea or the wind.
  • ballasting means 13 is schematically represented mounted on the lower part of the caisson 2 so as to impart thereto a stability which tends to hold the chimney I vertical or at least to limit its inclination.
  • this figure shows the base 7 which is connected to the caisson 2 by four cables for anchoring or guiding purposes 10, ll, 10'. 11' and by two flexible tubes 5 and 5',
  • Each flexible tube is provided with a base 6, 6' mounted on the guide cables by guide means 12.
  • the heads 4 and 4' of the tube 5 and 5 are connected to the lower part of the chimney by vanes 14 and 14 which have been shown schematically.
  • the cables serving for anchoring and/or guiding purposes are in this case also provided with means for varying their length in order to permit them to keep under tension or relieve from tension the tubes 5 and 5.
  • valves 14 and I4 make it possible to isolate one of the tubes so as to repair or replace it.
  • A-description of how the flare may be placed in position over a great depth will now be given, for example, a depth of several dozen or several hundreds of meters or more.
  • FIG. 3 schematically shows how the base 7, supporting the caisson 1 while the cables 10 and 11 are coiled in the form of a figure 8, is progressively immersed by means ofa conventional device, for example, by means of a crane l5 equipped with antiramming means.
  • the duct 8 which is connected to the base may advantageously be already mounted thereon.
  • the assembly constituted by the base 7 and the caisson 10 is then progressively immersed until the base 7 rests on the sea floor 9.
  • the caisson 2 When the base is fixed on the sea floor the caisson 2 is released, for example, by means of a telemetric control device. Before carrying out this operation and libcrating the caisson 2 one may, if desired, ballast the caisson 7 either by filling it with water or by attaching thereto a heavy product which is sent down from the surface of the water through a tube.
  • the chimney is then mounted and this chimney I must be attached to the caisson 2 by stays or fixed to the caisson 2 by any suitable conventional means.
  • the ballast 13 is added beneath the caisson but does not form an integral part of the caisson and the flare.
  • the ballast l3 and the chimney l are fixed to each other and rest on the base 7, to which they are connected by the cables serving for anchoring and guiding purposes and which are coiled on the base.
  • the caisson. the ballast, the chimney and the base are simultaneously and progressively immersed an then the assembly constituted by the caisson. the ballast and the chimney are raised toward the surface by uncoiling the cables, as has already been described.
  • the connector 6 is then located at the end of the tube 5 and this connector is attached to the cables 10 and 11 by guide means 12. By progressively unrolling the tube 5, the base. which is guided by the cables 10 and I], is permitted to descend.
  • the connector 6 is then attached to connecting means positioned on the base 7 and the connection may then be automatically effectuated without using divers. This may also be done manually when the depth of the water is not too great to permit easy work by a diver.
  • the upper part 4 of the tube 5 is then connected to an appropriate attaching device located on the platform 3 of the caisson 2. It then suffices to actuate the device for attaching the cables 10 and II to the caisson 2 so as to slightly lengthen these cables so as to place the tube 5 under tension. which has the effect of relieving the tension on the cables 10 and II or reducing the tension on the cables 10 and I I if it is desired to retain a slight tension thereon.
  • the flare is then ready to operate.
  • the tube 5 may be It is also possible to proceed in the same way to inspect or replace the cables serving for anchoring or guiding purposes while the caisson is held by the tension of the flexible tube.
  • the operations which must be carried out at the level of sea bottom may be entirely automatized. if that is necessary. and if the bottom is sufficiently deep so that work thereon is difficult. la the contrary case. the work at the level of the base may be simplified when it is possible to carry it out by submarine divers.
  • a flare comprising a chimney which is mounted on a caisson having a positive buoyancy connected to a base having a negative buoyancy and adapted to rest on the sea floor.
  • first connecting means in the form of at least one flexible water-tight tube located between said caisson and said base.
  • second connecting means in the form of at least two cables positioned parallel to each other and connecting said caisson to said base
  • the flexible water-tight tube comprises metallic reinforcements which resist radial tension and presure and longitudinal tension as well as at least one water-tight sheath.
  • Flare as claimed in claim 1 which comprises a single flexible tube which connects the caisson to the base.
  • Flare as claimed in claim 1 which comprises several flexible tubes which are positioned parallel to each other between the caisson and the base. each of which is accompanied by cables for anchoring and/or guiding it.
  • Flare as claimed in claim 8 in which the upper ends of the tube are connected to the chimney by vanes.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Laying Of Electric Cables Or Lines Outside (AREA)
US453428A 1973-03-22 1974-03-21 Flare for burning gas Expired - Lifetime US3902843A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7310246A FR2222907A5 (no) 1973-03-22 1973-03-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3902843A true US3902843A (en) 1975-09-02

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US453428A Expired - Lifetime US3902843A (en) 1973-03-22 1974-03-21 Flare for burning gas

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US3902843A (no)
JP (1) JPS5418645B2 (no)
FR (1) FR2222907A5 (no)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3968656A (en) * 1974-04-01 1976-07-13 Texaco Inc. Marine structure with hydraulic tensioner
US3976021A (en) * 1975-09-08 1976-08-24 Standard Oil Company (Indiana) Installation of vertically moored platform
US3983706A (en) * 1975-07-10 1976-10-05 Texaco Inc. Marine structure with hydraulic tensioner
US3996755A (en) * 1975-07-10 1976-12-14 Texaco Exploration Canada Ltd. Tension leg structure with riser stabilization
US4268245A (en) * 1978-01-11 1981-05-19 Combustion Unlimited Incorporated Offshore-subsea flares
US5057004A (en) * 1990-07-17 1991-10-15 Mcallister Ian R Spray burn floating combustible material burner
US5197826A (en) * 1992-10-22 1993-03-30 Imodco, Inc. Offshore gas flare system
FR2703021A1 (fr) * 1993-03-24 1994-09-30 Bertin & Cie Dispositif passif d'amortissement dynamique des mouvements de dérive d'un support flottant à ancrage souple.

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL169162C (nl) * 1976-09-20 1982-06-16 Single Buoy Moorings Fakkelboei.

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2894269A (en) * 1956-05-04 1959-07-14 Buoys Inc Off-shore gas flare line, and anchor and float therefor
US3652196A (en) * 1969-10-10 1972-03-28 Petroles Cie Francaise Floating torcher with permeable gas conduit for underwater oil fields
US3666395A (en) * 1970-07-29 1972-05-30 Shell Oil Co Offshore gas flare apparatus

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2894269A (en) * 1956-05-04 1959-07-14 Buoys Inc Off-shore gas flare line, and anchor and float therefor
US3652196A (en) * 1969-10-10 1972-03-28 Petroles Cie Francaise Floating torcher with permeable gas conduit for underwater oil fields
US3666395A (en) * 1970-07-29 1972-05-30 Shell Oil Co Offshore gas flare apparatus

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3968656A (en) * 1974-04-01 1976-07-13 Texaco Inc. Marine structure with hydraulic tensioner
US3983706A (en) * 1975-07-10 1976-10-05 Texaco Inc. Marine structure with hydraulic tensioner
US3996755A (en) * 1975-07-10 1976-12-14 Texaco Exploration Canada Ltd. Tension leg structure with riser stabilization
US3976021A (en) * 1975-09-08 1976-08-24 Standard Oil Company (Indiana) Installation of vertically moored platform
US4268245A (en) * 1978-01-11 1981-05-19 Combustion Unlimited Incorporated Offshore-subsea flares
US5057004A (en) * 1990-07-17 1991-10-15 Mcallister Ian R Spray burn floating combustible material burner
US5197826A (en) * 1992-10-22 1993-03-30 Imodco, Inc. Offshore gas flare system
FR2703021A1 (fr) * 1993-03-24 1994-09-30 Bertin & Cie Dispositif passif d'amortissement dynamique des mouvements de dérive d'un support flottant à ancrage souple.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS49127802A (no) 1974-12-06
FR2222907A5 (no) 1974-10-18
JPS5418645B2 (no) 1979-07-09

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