RU2723789C1 - Connecting unit of choke module and production tree - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: oil and gas industry.SUBSTANCE: present invention relates to oil and gas industry. In particular, to a connecting unit for connection of sleeves of a choke module and a production tree in equipment for underwater production of hydrocarbons. Connecting assembly comprises: a connecting bushing of the module choke and a connecting bushing of the production tree, which on their outer cylindrical surface of teeth, gaps between which form splines; mandrel having an inner cylindrical surface comprising a plurality of projections having a cross-section substantially in the form of a ring sector and located around the circumference of the mandrel, wherein on the upper surface of each of the projections at one of its edges there is a lead-in chamfer; protrusions of mandrel are made with possibility of passage through splines of connecting bushing of production tree, with provision of contact of chamfers of mandrel ledges with chamfers of teeth of connecting bushing of production tree equipment when mandrel is rotated relative to longitudinal axis of connecting sleeves.EFFECT: reduced dimensions, metal consumption, simplified design of connecting unit, design also provides for possibility to use standard tool of remote unmanned underwater vehicle and possibility of using both mechanical and hydraulic drive.6 cl, 10 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the oil and gas industry. In particular, to the connecting unit for connecting the bushings of the fitting module and the fountain fittings in equipment for underwater production of hydrocarbons.

BACKGROUND

Various knots for pipelines and pipes are known in the art.

Collet connectors are widely used in the art for connecting pipe ends. In particular, from the source EP 0250072, publ. 04/17/1991, IPC F16L 37/00, ЕВВ 33/038, a connection unit is known for connecting two ends of pipelines to each other, comprising a drive ring and a plurality of collet petals, means for moving the drive ring to move the collet petals, each collet petal having an adapter attached to the collet petal by fixing means and having a configuration that engages with the outer profile of the end of the pipeline.

The disadvantage of the source EP 0250072 is the complexity and cumbersome design of the connecting node.

The technical result consists in reducing the dimensions of the product, reducing the metal consumption of the connecting node, simplifying the design of the connecting node, the design also provides the ability to use the standard instrument telecontrol uninhabited underwater vehicle and the ability to use both mechanical and hydraulic drive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problem to which the invention is directed, is to create an elegant connecting node with minimizing its metal consumption and ensuring the use of standard equipment for its installation on the pipe ends of the fitting module of the fountain valves.

The problem is solved due to the fact that the proposed connecting unit of the choke module and fountain fittings is configured to be installed on the pipe ends of the choke module and fountain fittings and contains: a connecting sleeve of a choke module and a connecting sleeve of a fountain arm, each said connecting sleeve containing on its outer cylindrical surface one of its ends protrudes in the radial direction of the teeth, while the gaps between the teeth form slots; a mandrel configured to be mounted on the connecting sleeve of the choke module and having an inner cylindrical surface containing a plurality of protrusions having a cross section substantially in the form of a ring sector and arranged around the circumference of the mandrel, with an entry chamfer on the upper surface of each of the protrusions ; the mandrel protrusions are configured to pass through the splines of the connecting sleeve of the fountain arm to provide contact between the bevels of the mandrel protrusions and the chamfer teeth of the connecting sleeve of the fountain arm when the mandrel is rotated relative to the longitudinal axis of the connecting sleeves.

In the proposed connection node, said mandrel protrusions may protrude in the direction of the mandrel longitudinal axis.

In the proposed connecting node, these protrusions may protrude radially inward.

In the proposed connecting node, the mandrel may have a difference in internal diameters with the formation of a conical surface made with the possibility of abutment to the chamfers of the teeth of the connecting sleeve of the fitting module.

In the proposed connecting node, each tooth of the connecting sleeve of the fitting module and the connecting sleeve of the fountain fitting may contain a chamfer oriented in the direction of the opposite end of the connecting sleeve at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the connecting sleeve.

In the proposed connecting node, the upper surface of each of the protrusions of the mandrel can be made inclined relative to the inner cylindrical surface of the mandrel.

In the context of the present description, the words “upper”, “lower”, etc. used in the form of adjectives solely to distinguish the nouns to which they relate from each other, and not for the purpose of describing any specific connection between these nouns.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, as well as its other aspects and characteristics, the description is given with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

in FIG. 1 schematically shows a spatial view of a connecting sleeve of a connecting sleeve of a fitting module and a connecting sleeve of a fountain arm;

in FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a mandrel according to the invention;

in FIG. 3 is a schematic bottom view of a mandrel according to the invention;

in FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of a mandrel according to the invention;

in FIG. 5 schematically shows a spatial view of yet another embodiment of a mandrel according to the invention;

in FIG. 6 schematically shows the connecting sleeve of the fitting module with a mandrel mounted on it;

in FIG. 7 schematically shows the connecting sleeve of the fountain;

in FIG. 8 is a schematic top view of the mandrel indicating the direction of rotation of the rotary tool for installing the mandrel;

in FIG. 9 schematically shows the docked connecting sleeves of the fitting module and fountain valves with a mandrel mounted on them.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The proposed connecting unit of the choke module and fountain fittings is configured to be installed at the pipe ends of the choke module and fountain fittings and includes a connecting sleeve 1 of the choke module and a connecting sleeve 2 of the fountain fittings, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The mandrel 3 is illustrated in FIG. 2-5, where it is seen that the mandrel 3 has an inner cylindrical surface containing a plurality of protrusions 4 having a cross-section essentially in the form of a sector of the ring and located around the circumference of the mandrel 3 in its lower part, and on the upper surface of each of the protrusions 4 from one a chamfer 5 is made at its edges. A specific cross-sectional shape of the protrusion 4 is also due to at least the radius of the inner cylindrical surface of the mandrel 3, the number of protrusions 4 and the depth to which they extend in the radial direction. For example, in FIG. 5 shows that the cross section of the protrusion 4 has a slight curvature. In addition, the upper surface of each of the protrusions 4 can be made both perpendicular to the inner cylindrical surface of the mandrel 3, and inclined relative to the inner cylindrical surface of the mandrel 3, the latter is seen in FIG. five.

According to a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, said protrusions 4 of the mandrel 3 protrude radially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel 3.

According to a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the lead-in chamfer 5 is inclined at an angle α≤30 ° with respect to an imaginary plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel 3, as is illustrated in FIG. 2. However, other angles of inclination of the chamfer 5 are obvious to the specialist, ensuring the achievement of the specified technical result. An input chamfer 5 is made on each protrusion 4 of the mandrel 5 for identical parameters. When fixing the mandrel 3 on the docked connecting sleeves 1, 2 of the choke module and fountain fittings, the chamfer 5 provides engagement and preload with the structural elements of the connecting sleeves, which will be discussed in more detail below. In FIG. 4 schematically shows a top view of the mandrel, which shows the hole 6 for mounting a rotary tool 7 for fixing the mandrel 3.

According to yet another non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the mandrel 3 can be configured so that the protrusions 4 can protrude radially inwardly from the mandrel 3, as shown in FIG. 5. Furthermore, as also shown in FIG. 5, the mandrel 3 may have a difference in internal diameters to form a conical surface 8. The configuration of the conical surface 8 corresponds to the configuration of the teeth 9 of the connecting sleeve 1 of the fitting module.

The connecting sleeve 1 of the fitting module on its cylindrical outer surface of one of its ends, namely the end of the sleeve 1, which ends with the connecting surface of the connecting sleeve 1, contains radially outwardly protruding teeth 9 with chamfers 10 oriented at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the connecting sleeve 1 in the direction of the opposite end of the connecting sleeve 1, while the gaps between the teeth 9 form the slots 11 (see Fig. 1, Fig. 6-7). The presence of chamfers 10 is preferred, while chamfers 10 may be absent on the teeth 9 while maintaining the technical result according to the invention.

The conical surface 8 of the mandrel 3 is made to fit to the chamfers 10 of the teeth 9 of the connecting sleeve 1 of the fitting module.

The connecting sleeve 2 of the fountain valve also contains on its outer surface protruding outward radially teeth 12 with chamfers 13 and splines 14 formed by the gaps between the teeth 12.

Prior to welding the pipes of the production line, a mandrel 3 is mounted on the connecting sleeve 1 of the fitting module, as shown in FIG. 6.

The mandrel 3 is installed in the working position by turning it about the axis of the connecting sleeve 1 of the fitting module. Due to the presence of a chamfer 5, made on the upper surface of each protrusion 4 of the mandrel 3, the engagement and preload of the connection of the connecting sleeves 1, 2 of the fitting module and the fountain valves is ensured. The rotation of the mandrel 3 relative to the connecting sleeve 1 of the fitting module is carried out using a universal rotary tool 7 to secure the mandrel 3 (see Fig. 8). Depending on the orientation of the entry chamfer 5, namely the bevel chamfer clockwise or counterclockwise, the direction of rotation of the mandrel 3 is determined. FIG. 8 shows the direction of rotation of the mandrel 3, taking into account the orientation of the entry chamfer 5, as shown in particular in FIG. 2, FIG. 5-6. In FIG. 8, the reference numeral 15 denotes the working stroke of the rotary tool 7, and the reference numeral 16 denotes the interface for the rotary instrument, arrow A indicates the direction of travel of the tool 7 to rotate the mandrel 3 in the direction indicated by arrow B, taking into account the orientation of the entry chamfer 5, as shown in particular in FIG. 2, FIG. 5-6.

The rotary tool 7 is preferably a universal tool of a remote-controlled uninhabited underwater vehicle. The drive of the rotary tool 7 can be mechanical or hydraulic, the number of drives is determined depending on the preload of the connecting sleeves and is selected individually.

Before installing the connecting sleeve 1 of the fitting module on the connecting sleeve 2 of the fountain fittings, set the mandrel 3 in the position illustrated in FIG. 6, in which it contacts the conical surface 8 with the teeth 9, in order to ensure the passage of the protrusions 4 of the mandrel 3 through the splines 14 of the connecting sleeve 2 of the fountain arm when securing the mandrel on the connecting sleeve 2 of the fountain arm.

When installing the connecting sleeve 1 of the fitting module on the connecting sleeve 2 of the fountain valve, the preliminary orientation of the connecting sleeve 1 of the fitting module follows the guides (not shown in the drawings) related to the connecting sleeve 2 of the fountain valve.

Further, when the connecting sleeve 1 of the fitting module and the connecting sleeve 2 of the fountain valve are docked, the guides on the connecting sleeve 2 of the fountain valve are precisely oriented. The protrusions 4 of the mandrel 3 pass through the slots 14 on the connecting sleeve 2 of the fountain.

After installing the connecting sleeve 1 of the fitting module on the connecting sleeve 2 of the fountain fittings for tightening the seals of the hydraulic lines (not shown in the drawings), the mandrel 3 is rotated relative to the longitudinal axis of the connecting sleeves 1, 2 on the working stroke 15. The joined connecting sleeves 1, 2 of the fitting module and fountain fittings with a mandrel 3 fixed to them are shown schematically in FIG. nine.

In FIG. 10, another non-limiting embodiment is illustrated, showing how the mandrel 3 is fixed relative to the connecting sleeves 1, 2. It should be understood that the cross section of FIG. 10 such that only one of the two hydraulic lines shown, for example, in FIG. 1.

It should be understood that the invention is limited only by the scope of the claims. Modifications and improvements to the above-described embodiments of the present invention without departing from the scope of the claims are apparent to those skilled in the art. The present description is presented only as an example and does not impose any restrictions on the scope of protection of the invention. Thus, the scope of protection of the invention is limited only by the scope of the attached claims.

Claims (9)

1. The connecting node of the fitting module and the fountain fittings, made with the possibility of installation on the ends of the piping of the fitting module and fountain fittings and containing: the connecting sleeve of the fitting module and the connecting sleeve of the fountain fittings, each specified connecting sleeve containing on its outer cylindrical surface of one of its ends protruding in the radial direction of the teeth, while the gaps between the teeth form slots; a mandrel configured to be mounted on the connecting sleeve of the choke module and having an inner cylindrical surface containing a plurality of protrusions having a cross section substantially in the form of a ring sector and arranged around the circumference of the mandrel, with an entry chamfer on the upper surface of each of the protrusions ; the mandrel protrusions are configured to pass through the splines of the connecting sleeve of the fountain arm to provide contact between the bevels of the mandrel protrusions and the chamfer teeth of the connecting sleeve of the fountain arm when the mandrel is rotated relative to the longitudinal axis of the connecting sleeves. 2. The connecting node according to claim 1, wherein said mandrel protrusions protrude in the direction of the mandrel longitudinal axis. 3. The connecting node according to claim 1, in which these protrusions protrude radially inward. 4. The connecting node according to claim 1, in which the mandrel has a difference of internal diameters with the formation of a conical surface, made with the possibility of abutment to the chamfers of the teeth of the connecting sleeve of the fitting module. 5. The connecting unit according to claim 1, wherein said each tooth of the connecting sleeve of the fitting module and the connecting sleeve of the fountain valve comprises a chamfer oriented in the direction of the opposite end of the connecting sleeve at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the connecting sleeve. 6. The connecting node according to claim 1, in which the upper surface of each of the protrusions of the mandrel is made inclined relative to the inner cylindrical surface of the mandrel.

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