WO2001075262A1 - Bend stiffener - Google Patents

Bend stiffener Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001075262A1
WO2001075262A1 PCT/GB2001/001498 GB0101498W WO0175262A1 WO 2001075262 A1 WO2001075262 A1 WO 2001075262A1 GB 0101498 W GB0101498 W GB 0101498W WO 0175262 A1 WO0175262 A1 WO 0175262A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
stiffener
bend stiffener
bend
bore
parts
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2001/001498
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
John Stephen Baross
Robin Stuart Colquhoun
Original Assignee
Brovig Rds Limited
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 Brovig Rds Limited filed Critical Brovig Rds Limited
Priority to AU44370/01A priority Critical patent/AU4437001A/en
Publication of WO2001075262A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001075262A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
    • E21B17/01—Risers
    • E21B17/017—Bend restrictors for limiting stress on risers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L35/00—Special arrangements used in connection with end fittings of hoses, e.g. safety or protecting devices

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a bend stiffener for a flexible member.
  • Flexible risers are used extensively in the offshore oil and gas industry as conduits to pass fluids between the seabed and a surface vessel or the topsides of a fixed structure.
  • Risers need to be flexible in order to cope with lateral movement caused by underwater currents, or other gravitational or environmental loadings .
  • the portion of the riser proximate to its connection with the hangoff flange is typically subjected to the largest bending forces due to a combination of tension and angular misalignment. These forces may exceed the bending capacity of the riser causing it to fracture.
  • the bend stiffener is typically threaded onto the riser before attaching the end fitting and typically has an inner bore of a suitable diameter to accommodate the outer diameter of the riser.
  • the stiffener is normally conically tapered providing a first thin end and a second wide end.
  • the conical stiffener is provided on the riser with its thicker end close to the hangoff flange of the vessel or platform, so that the diameter of the stiffener progressively increases towards the end of the riser.
  • a bend stiffener comprising a first member having a through-bore and being adapted to engage a second member, the first member being formed from a plurality of parts.
  • the bend stiffener has a force transmitter to transmit bending forces between the plurality of parts.
  • each part is of arcuate cross section.
  • the through-bore has a first opening and a second opening and the parts engage along mating faces which extend from the said first opening to the said second opening of the through-bore.
  • the mating faces extend in a direction substantially parallel with the main axis of the through bore of the first member.
  • the mating faces of the parts of the first member are provided with inter-engagement means .
  • the inter-engagement means comprise one or more inter-engaging castellations on each part of the first member.
  • the present invention also provides a multi-part bend stiffener having a through-bore and connectors to secure the parts of the bend stiffener around a second member located in the bore.
  • an engagement means is provided to engage the stiffener with the second member.
  • the engagement means comprises a portion extending radially outwards at one end of the first member to engage with the second member.
  • a sleeve is provided to connect the through-bore of the first member to the engagement means.
  • the sleeve is formed from a plurality of parts.
  • a second force transmitter to transmit bending forces between the plurality of parts of the sleeve.
  • a reinforced portion is provided between the engagement means and the first member.
  • At least one recess is provided on the outer face of the first member to receive means for holding the parts together.
  • the outer diameter of the first member has a substantially tapered cross section.
  • the stiffener is made substantially from a resilient material.
  • the second member may have a varying diameter and the stiffener is adapted to engage a portion of the second member, said portion being of constant diameter.
  • Fig. la is an end view of a split-shell bend stiffener
  • Fig. lb is a side view of the split-shell bend stiffener
  • Fig. lc is a second end view opposite to Fig. la, of the split-shell bend stiffener
  • Fig. Id is a top view of the split-shell bend stiffener
  • Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of one end of the split-shell bend stiffener showing a split end flange and steel inserts
  • Fig. 3a is a plan view of a strap which may be used to connect the split shell bend stiffener to a tubular member
  • Fig. 3b is a side view of the Fig. 3a strap.
  • the stiffener assembly 20 for connection to a riser (not shown) or the like.
  • the stiffener assembly 20 comprises a stiffener 21 with a through-bore 25 of generally constant diameter.
  • the stiffener 21 is tapered from a radially thinner end 31 to a radially thicker end 32.
  • the stiffener 21 is normally made from a resilient material to allow a degree of bending, normally with an elastic modulus of approximately 70kPa.
  • the stiffener 21 is made from a polymeric material such as polyurethane.
  • a substantially hollow cap 23 At the thicker end 32 of the stiffener 21 there is provided a substantially hollow cap 23.
  • the cap 23 has a tapered outer face 24, co-planar with the outer face 22 of the stiffener 21.
  • a flange 5, is provided on the cap 23, and has tapped holes 10 to receive bolts or screws (not shown) from a supporting device or structure (not shown) which may be a hangoff flange (not shown) of the riser.
  • the flange 5 is normally made from a relatively strong material, for example a metal such as steel.
  • a circumferentially extending anchorage device 7 connects the flange 5 to the stiffener 21.
  • the device 7 is normally made form steel or other relatively strong material in order to support the connection to the support structure or riser via the flange 5.
  • a sleeve 6 is provided in the bore 25 of the stiffener 21 and extends from there into a central bore (not shown) of the flange 5.
  • connection of the flange 5 to the hangoff flange of the riser secures the stiffener assembly 20 onto the riser.
  • the stiffener 21 is split into two substantially symmetrical half-shells 1, 2.
  • the half-shells 1, 2 may be formed into the stiffener 21 when required by engaging the castellations 3 provided at their respective mating f ces.
  • the castellations 3 resist movement of the shell-halves with respect to each other along a longitudinal direction and secure a good shear connection between the half-shells 1, 2 to ensure that they act as a composite unit in bending.
  • the mating surfaces of the half- shells 1, 2 may be flat, and the half-shells 1, 2 bolted.
  • spring washers or other spring devices may be fitted under the bolt heads to ensure that polymer creep does not lead to de-tensioning of the bolts and reduction of the shear resistance at the mating surfaces.
  • the flange plate 5, sleeve 6, and anchorage device 7 are normally split on the same plane as the mating surfaces of the stiffener half-shells 1, 2.
  • a shear key 8 aligns the two halves of the sleeve 6 so that, in use, they bend as a composite unit.
  • Recesses 4 are provided in each half-shell 1, 2 of the stiffener 20 to receive straps 9 and hold the half-shells of the stiffener 20 together.
  • a strap 9, shown in Figs. 3a and 3b, comprises two arcuate portions 33, 34. Each portion 33, 34 of the strap 9 is provided with flanges 35, 36 at each end to engage, by screws, bolts or the like, with the corresponding flange on the other portion 34, 33 of the strap 9 .
  • the strap connections 35, 36 may be eye-bolts or quick release mechanisms.
  • the straps 9 may be of metal or fabric or other any other suitable material. Where longer operational periods are contemplated, the straps 9 may be made of elastic material in order to ensure that creep does not cause slackening.
  • the two half-shells 1, 2 may be bolted together.
  • the first half 1 of the stiffener assembly 21 is placed onto the riser and the bolts are inserted between the flange 5 on the stiffener assembly and the hangoff flange on the riser.
  • the second half is then placed around the riser so that the castellations 3 on the mating faces of the respective shell-halves engage with each other.
  • the straps are then placed in the recesses 4 of each shell-half and secured as previously described or by any suitable means .
  • the shell-halves are held together on the riser.
  • bend stiffeners are typically in the form of a solid cylinder, and so need to be threaded onto the flexible pipe before the end fitting is attached to the pipe. Thus, the supply of bend stiffeners has the potential to delay the completion and delivery of the complete flexible pipe riser for known bend stiffeners.
  • Certain embodiments of the invention have the advantage that when the bend stiffener is designed in the form of two half shells 1, 2, it is possible to assemble the bend stiffener assembly 20 on the riser after the end fitting has been attached to the riser.
  • the bend stiffener can then be assembled on the pipe either in the pipe factory or in the field during the offshore installation process. If required, the stiffener according to some embodiments of the present invention may be removed from a riser and reassembled in the field. This all provides for greater flexibility in the use of stiffeners and removes the potential to delay the completion, delivery, and repair of flexible pipe risers.
  • Such bend stiffeners may also be advantageous in situations where risers are repeatedly deployed and recovered and there is a need for the upper bend stiffener to be assembled on and removed from a moonpool cursor or other structure on a regular basis.
  • the bend stiffener according to the present invention is normally used proximate to a hangoff flange although may be used at the lower seabed ends of flexible risers, between any two risers, at any other point in the riser between the ends or in other applications.

Abstract

This invention relates to a bend stiffener for a riser or the like used in offshore oil and gas recovery. The stiffener comprises a tubular member adapted to engage the riser, said tubular member being formed from a plurality of parts. Certain embodiments of the present invention allow the assembly of bend stiffeners in the field increasing the convenience and ease of the offshore installation process.

Description

Bend Stiffener
This invention relates to a bend stiffener for a flexible member.
Flexible risers are used extensively in the offshore oil and gas industry as conduits to pass fluids between the seabed and a surface vessel or the topsides of a fixed structure.
Risers need to be flexible in order to cope with lateral movement caused by underwater currents, or other gravitational or environmental loadings . The portion of the riser proximate to its connection with the hangoff flange is typically subjected to the largest bending forces due to a combination of tension and angular misalignment. These forces may exceed the bending capacity of the riser causing it to fracture. To overcome this problem it is known to reinforce this portion of the riser by providing an outer tube known as a bend stiffener around the riser. The bend stiffener is typically threaded onto the riser before attaching the end fitting and typically has an inner bore of a suitable diameter to accommodate the outer diameter of the riser. The stiffener is normally conically tapered providing a first thin end and a second wide end. The conical stiffener is provided on the riser with its thicker end close to the hangoff flange of the vessel or platform, so that the diameter of the stiffener progressively increases towards the end of the riser.
According to the present invention there is provided a bend stiffener comprising a first member having a through-bore and being adapted to engage a second member, the first member being formed from a plurality of parts.
Typically, the bend stiffener has a force transmitter to transmit bending forces between the plurality of parts.
Preferably, each part is of arcuate cross section.
Preferably, the through-bore has a first opening and a second opening and the parts engage along mating faces which extend from the said first opening to the said second opening of the through-bore. Typically, the mating faces extend in a direction substantially parallel with the main axis of the through bore of the first member.
Preferably, the mating faces of the parts of the first member are provided with inter-engagement means .
Preferably, the inter-engagement means comprise one or more inter-engaging castellations on each part of the first member.
The present invention also provides a multi-part bend stiffener having a through-bore and connectors to secure the parts of the bend stiffener around a second member located in the bore.
Preferably, an engagement means is provided to engage the stiffener with the second member.
Preferably, the engagement means comprises a portion extending radially outwards at one end of the first member to engage with the second member.
Preferably, a sleeve is provided to connect the through-bore of the first member to the engagement means. Typically, the sleeve is formed from a plurality of parts. Preferably, there is provided a second force transmitter to transmit bending forces between the plurality of parts of the sleeve.
Preferably, a reinforced portion is provided between the engagement means and the first member.
Preferably, at least one recess is provided on the outer face of the first member to receive means for holding the parts together.
Preferably, the outer diameter of the first member has a substantially tapered cross section.
Preferably, the stiffener is made substantially from a resilient material.
The second member may have a varying diameter and the stiffener is adapted to engage a portion of the second member, said portion being of constant diameter.
A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of an example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. la is an end view of a split-shell bend stiffener, Fig. lb is a side view of the split-shell bend stiffener; Fig. lc is a second end view opposite to Fig. la, of the split-shell bend stiffener; Fig. Id is a top view of the split-shell bend stiffener; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of one end of the split-shell bend stiffener showing a split end flange and steel inserts; Fig. 3a is a plan view of a strap which may be used to connect the split shell bend stiffener to a tubular member; and, Fig. 3b is a side view of the Fig. 3a strap.
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a split-shell bend stiffener assembly 20 for connection to a riser (not shown) or the like. The stiffener assembly 20 comprises a stiffener 21 with a through-bore 25 of generally constant diameter. The stiffener 21 is tapered from a radially thinner end 31 to a radially thicker end 32.
The stiffener 21 is normally made from a resilient material to allow a degree of bending, normally with an elastic modulus of approximately 70kPa. Preferably, the stiffener 21 is made from a polymeric material such as polyurethane.
At the thicker end 32 of the stiffener 21 there is provided a substantially hollow cap 23. The cap 23 has a tapered outer face 24, co-planar with the outer face 22 of the stiffener 21. A flange 5, is provided on the cap 23, and has tapped holes 10 to receive bolts or screws (not shown) from a supporting device or structure (not shown) which may be a hangoff flange (not shown) of the riser. The flange 5 is normally made from a relatively strong material, for example a metal such as steel.
A circumferentially extending anchorage device 7 connects the flange 5 to the stiffener 21. The device 7 is normally made form steel or other relatively strong material in order to support the connection to the support structure or riser via the flange 5. A sleeve 6 is provided in the bore 25 of the stiffener 21 and extends from there into a central bore (not shown) of the flange 5.
The connection of the flange 5 to the hangoff flange of the riser secures the stiffener assembly 20 onto the riser.
The stiffener 21 is split into two substantially symmetrical half-shells 1, 2. The half-shells 1, 2 may be formed into the stiffener 21 when required by engaging the castellations 3 provided at their respective mating f ces. The castellations 3 resist movement of the shell-halves with respect to each other along a longitudinal direction and secure a good shear connection between the half-shells 1, 2 to ensure that they act as a composite unit in bending. As an alternative to the use of a castellations, the mating surfaces of the half- shells 1, 2 may be flat, and the half-shells 1, 2 bolted. In such an alternative, spring washers or other spring devices may be fitted under the bolt heads to ensure that polymer creep does not lead to de-tensioning of the bolts and reduction of the shear resistance at the mating surfaces.
The flange plate 5, sleeve 6, and anchorage device 7 are normally split on the same plane as the mating surfaces of the stiffener half-shells 1, 2. A shear key 8 aligns the two halves of the sleeve 6 so that, in use, they bend as a composite unit.
Recesses 4 are provided in each half-shell 1, 2 of the stiffener 20 to receive straps 9 and hold the half-shells of the stiffener 20 together. A strap 9, shown in Figs. 3a and 3b, comprises two arcuate portions 33, 34. Each portion 33, 34 of the strap 9 is provided with flanges 35, 36 at each end to engage, by screws, bolts or the like, with the corresponding flange on the other portion 34, 33 of the strap 9 . Alternatively, the strap connections 35, 36 may be eye-bolts or quick release mechanisms. The straps 9 may be of metal or fabric or other any other suitable material. Where longer operational periods are contemplated, the straps 9 may be made of elastic material in order to ensure that creep does not cause slackening. As an alternative to the use of straps the two half-shells 1, 2 may be bolted together. In use, the first half 1 of the stiffener assembly 21 is placed onto the riser and the bolts are inserted between the flange 5 on the stiffener assembly and the hangoff flange on the riser. The second half is then placed around the riser so that the castellations 3 on the mating faces of the respective shell-halves engage with each other.
The straps are then placed in the recesses 4 of each shell-half and secured as previously described or by any suitable means . Thus the shell-halves are held together on the riser.
Known bend stiffeners are typically in the form of a solid cylinder, and so need to be threaded onto the flexible pipe before the end fitting is attached to the pipe. Thus, the supply of bend stiffeners has the potential to delay the completion and delivery of the complete flexible pipe riser for known bend stiffeners.
Certain embodiments of the invention have the advantage that when the bend stiffener is designed in the form of two half shells 1, 2, it is possible to assemble the bend stiffener assembly 20 on the riser after the end fitting has been attached to the riser. The bend stiffener can then be assembled on the pipe either in the pipe factory or in the field during the offshore installation process. If required, the stiffener according to some embodiments of the present invention may be removed from a riser and reassembled in the field. This all provides for greater flexibility in the use of stiffeners and removes the potential to delay the completion, delivery, and repair of flexible pipe risers.
Such bend stiffeners may also be advantageous in situations where risers are repeatedly deployed and recovered and there is a need for the upper bend stiffener to be assembled on and removed from a moonpool cursor or other structure on a regular basis.
The bend stiffener according to the present invention is normally used proximate to a hangoff flange although may be used at the lower seabed ends of flexible risers, between any two risers, at any other point in the riser between the ends or in other applications.
Improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims
1. A bend stiffener comprising a first member having a through-bore and being adapted to engage a second member, the first member being formed from a plurality of parts.
2. A bend stiffener as claimed in claim 1, wherein each part is of arcuate cross section.
3. A bend stiffener as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the through-bore has a first opening and a second opening and the parts engage along mating faces which extend from the said first opening to the said second opening of the through-bore.
4. A bend stiffener as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mating faces of the parts of the first member are provided with inter-engagement means.
5. A bend stiffener as claimed in claim 4, wherein the inter-engagement means comprise one or more inter-engaging castellations on each part of the first member.
6. A bend stiffener as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an engagement means is provided to engage the stiffener with the second member.
7. A bend stiffener as claimed in claim 6, wherein the engagement means comprises a portion extending radially outwards at one end of the first member to engage with the second member.
8. A bend stiffener as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein a sleeve is provided to connect the through-bore of the first member to the engagement means .
9. A bend stiffener as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sleeve is formed from a plurality of parts.
10. A bend stiffener as claimed in claim 9, wherein there is provided a force transmitter to transmit bending forces between the plurality of parts of the sleeve.
11. A bend stiffener as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein a reinforced portion is provided between the engagement means and the first member .
12. A bend stiffener as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one recess is provided on the outer face of the first member to receive means for holding the parts together.
13. A bend stiffener as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first member is tapered.
14. A bend stiffener as claimed in any preceding claim, which is made substantially from a resilient material .
15. A bend stiffener as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second member has varying diameter and the stiffener is adapted to engage a portion of the second member, said portion being of constant diameter.
16. A multi-part bend stiffener having a through- bore and connectors to secure the parts of the bend stiffener around a second member located in the bore.
PCT/GB2001/001498 2000-03-31 2001-04-02 Bend stiffener WO2001075262A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU44370/01A AU4437001A (en) 2000-03-31 2001-04-02 Bend stiffener

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0007820.4 2000-03-31
GB0007820A GB0007820D0 (en) 2000-03-31 2000-03-31 Split-shell bend stiffener for flexible riser

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001075262A1 true WO2001075262A1 (en) 2001-10-11

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2001/001498 WO2001075262A1 (en) 2000-03-31 2001-04-02 Bend stiffener

Country Status (3)

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AU (1) AU4437001A (en)
GB (1) GB0007820D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2001075262A1 (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2008022274A1 (en) * 2006-08-16 2008-02-21 Technip France Control of flexible riser curvature at the keel of a floating structure
EP2503093A2 (en) 2011-03-21 2012-09-26 Nexans Module based bend stiffener
GB2492109A (en) * 2011-06-22 2012-12-26 Risertec Ltd A riser bend stiffener
WO2017006105A1 (en) * 2015-07-09 2017-01-12 Trelleborg Offshore Uk Ltd. Bend stiffener
US10053921B2 (en) 2014-05-23 2018-08-21 Ge Oil & Gas Uk Limited Contact pressure limitation

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2040014A (en) * 1979-01-19 1980-08-20 Coflexip Bending limiting device for pipes

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2040014A (en) * 1979-01-19 1980-08-20 Coflexip Bending limiting device for pipes

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2008022274A1 (en) * 2006-08-16 2008-02-21 Technip France Control of flexible riser curvature at the keel of a floating structure
US7556452B2 (en) 2006-08-16 2009-07-07 Technip France Control of flexible riser curvature at the keel of a floating structure
EP2503093A2 (en) 2011-03-21 2012-09-26 Nexans Module based bend stiffener
US8869840B2 (en) 2011-03-21 2014-10-28 Nexans Module based bend stiffener
GB2492109A (en) * 2011-06-22 2012-12-26 Risertec Ltd A riser bend stiffener
US10053921B2 (en) 2014-05-23 2018-08-21 Ge Oil & Gas Uk Limited Contact pressure limitation
WO2017006105A1 (en) * 2015-07-09 2017-01-12 Trelleborg Offshore Uk Ltd. Bend stiffener
US10472900B2 (en) 2015-07-09 2019-11-12 Trelleborg Offshore Uk Ltd. Bend stiffener

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU4437001A (en) 2001-10-15
GB0007820D0 (en) 2000-05-17

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