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WO2024121580A1 - Adaptateur de libération pour un raccord d'extrémité et ensemble raccord sous-marin - Google Patents

Adaptateur de libération pour un raccord d'extrémité et ensemble raccord sous-marin Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024121580A1
WO2024121580A1 PCT/GB2023/053185 GB2023053185W WO2024121580A1 WO 2024121580 A1 WO2024121580 A1 WO 2024121580A1 GB 2023053185 W GB2023053185 W GB 2023053185W WO 2024121580 A1 WO2024121580 A1 WO 2024121580A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
engagement member
assembly according
connector assembly
male connector
release adapter
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.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/GB2023/053185
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Richard Pattison
Michael Stanton
Paul Groves
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.)
S3N Ventus Ltd
Original Assignee
S3N Ventus Ltd
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 S3N Ventus Ltd filed Critical S3N Ventus Ltd
Priority to JP2025532611A priority Critical patent/JP2025540207A/ja
Priority to EP23825437.9A priority patent/EP4630646A1/fr
Priority to KR1020257022749A priority patent/KR20250121070A/ko
Priority to CN202380083937.7A priority patent/CN120569545A/zh
Publication of WO2024121580A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024121580A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
    • E21B17/02—Couplings; joints
    • E21B17/08—Casing joints
    • E21B17/085—Riser connections
    • 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
    • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
    • E21B17/02—Couplings; joints
    • E21B17/04—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like
    • E21B17/046—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like with ribs, pins, or jaws, and complementary grooves or the like, e.g. bayonet catches
    • E21B17/0465—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like with ribs, pins, or jaws, and complementary grooves or the like, e.g. bayonet catches characterised by radially inserted locking elements
    • 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
    • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
    • E21B17/02—Couplings; joints
    • E21B17/04—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like
    • E21B17/06—Releasing-joints, e.g. safety joints
    • 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
    • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/02—Surface sealing or packing
    • E21B33/03—Well heads; Setting-up thereof
    • E21B33/035—Well heads; Setting-up thereof specially adapted for underwater installations
    • E21B33/038—Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to the field of subsea tubulars and manifolds, and more particularly, to the field of subsea tubular connections of flexible umbilicals (e.g. cables) to a fixed structure including devices for limiting the bend of the flexible tubulars or umbilicals.
  • the present invention relates to an improved release adapter suitable for a an end-fitting of a string of tubulars (e.g. cables) to releasably connect to a male connector (BSC) for engagement with a female connector of a subsea connector assembly.
  • BSC male connector
  • a string of tubulars also called ‘riser’
  • the string of tubulars or riser may include conduits or a plurality of conduits used for safe transport of material or subsea cables (e.g. solid, multi copper core cables for electrical connections between a renewable energy generators, such as, wind turbines of a Wind farm).
  • the string of tubulars or risers may also comprise cabling or control lines so as to allow remote control of any equipment from the surface structure (i.e. the platform or vessel).
  • Figure 1 shows an example of a typical setup for subsea operation, which could be production fluid that is transferred from at least one subsea well 10 to a floating production, storage and offloading unit 20, also referred to as FPSO 20, or a power cable 92 connecting wind turbines 95 of an FOW.
  • FPSO 20 floating production, storage and offloading unit 20
  • a power cable 92 connecting wind turbines 95 of an FOW.
  • a flexible riser 30 string of tubulars
  • turret 40 installed on the FPSO 20.
  • one or more bend stiffeners 50 are typically used at the junction where the flexible riser 30 enters the fixed structure (i.e. through an T- or ‘J’ tube 60).
  • the bend stiffener 50 is installed to the T- or ‘J’-tube 60 via a releasable connector assembly 70.
  • the releasable connector assembly 70 may comprises a male connector member 72 that is fitted to the bend stiffener 50, and a female connector member 74 that is fitted to the T- or ‘J’-tube 60.
  • the male connector member 72 is attached to the bend stiffener 50 and an end-fitting 32 of the riser 30 is located within and attached to the male connector member 72.
  • the end-fitting 32 of the riser 30 is moved through the bend stiffener 50 into the throughbore of the male connector member 72 and locked into place by, for example, a cam device, a simple clamp mechanism 78, a latch mechanism or any other suitable interlocking mechanisms (not shown).
  • the endfitting 32 of the string of tubulars 30 is typically installed to the male connector member 72 in a workshop.
  • the assembly i.e. riser 30, end-fitting 32, bend stiffener 50 and male connector member 72
  • the assembly is then transported to a desired subsea location and pulled towards and into connection with the female connector member 74 using a wire line 80 that is attached to the end-fitting 32 of the riser 30.
  • the male connector member 72 is correctly positioned within the female connector member 74, it is retainingly interlocked with the female connector member 74, forming a secure connection between the bend stiffener 50 and the T or ‘J’ tube 60.
  • the end-fitting 32 is released from engagement with the male connector portion 72 and the riser 30 is drawn up and through the bend stiffener 50 and the T-or ‘J’-tube to be fixed into place at the FWO or FPSO 20.
  • the locking and unlocking of the male and female connector members 72, 74, as well as, the release of the riser end-fitting 32 from engagement with the male connector member 72 is done through external intervention, such as, for example, subsea divers 90 or Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV’s) 92.
  • ROV Remotely Operated Vehicles
  • currently available connector assemblies have since been improved to also use remotely operable latch-mechanisms and/or end-fitting release mechanisms, e.g. through hydraulic or pneumatic systems controlled from topside of the FOW facility.
  • the releasable coupling between an end-fitting of the string of tubulars and the male connector member can be realised using an adapter device (not shown in Figure 1) that is typically mounted to an underside of the end-fitting, and which is configured to releasably couplingly engage with the male connector, such that the male connector can be pulled into engagement with the female connector (e.g. using a cable or wire attached to the end-fitting).
  • an adapter device (not shown in Figure 1) that is typically mounted to an underside of the end-fitting, and which is configured to releasably couplingly engage with the male connector, such that the male connector can be pulled into engagement with the female connector (e.g. using a cable or wire attached to the end-fitting).
  • a release adapter assembly for releasably coupling a string of tubulars to a male connector assembly, comprising: a tubular base member, having a tubular housing extending along a central axis, operably coupleable to an end portion of the string of tubulars; at least one first engagement member, rotatingly moveable about a first rotational axis between a first engaged position, where said first engagement member is protruding radially outward from an outer wall of said tubular housing, and a first disengaged position, where said first engagement member is fully retracted into said tubular housing; at least one second engagement member, arranged downward of said first engagement member, during use, slidably moveable between a second engaged position, where said second engagement member is protruding radially outward from said outer wall, and a second disengaged position, where said second engagement member is fully retracted into said tubular housing; at least one locking mechanism, operably coupled to said first engagement member and actuatable
  • the release adapter of the present invention provides the advantage of a selectively lockable collet, latch or pawl couplingly engageable with a retainer member of a male connector that is actuatable automatically through contact engagement with an actuator of the male connector by simply moving the male connector through a central passage of the female connector.
  • the release adapter allows for automatic disengagement of the end-fitting from the male connector while moving in a single direction (i.e. upwards) which simultaneously unlocks the collet, pawl or latch (i.e. first engagement member), moves the now rotatable latch out of engagement with the male connector’s retainer member (e.g. a groove) and drops the male connector into coupling engagement with the female connector’s latch mechanism, all in a single movement.
  • the biased sliding collet i.e. second engagement member
  • the biased sliding collet provides for a simple automatic coupling engagement between the downward moving end-fitting (with string of tubulars) and the male connector still coupled with the female connector latch mechanism, so that the male connector can be lifted out of engagement with the latch mechanism of the female connector which can then be actuated to retract and allow the male connector to move out of the central passage of the female connector.
  • the release adapter assembly provides the advantage of a more secure and reliable connection between the end-fitting and the male connector.
  • said at least one locking mechanism comprises a locking pin, radially slidable within said tubular housing, and a locking link, rotati ngly moveable about a second rotational axis at its proximal end portion, and wherein said locking pin is operably coupled to said locking link, so as to translate sliding movement of said locking pin into rotational movement of said locking link.
  • said locking link is moveable between a first rotational position, lockingly engaged with said first engagement member when in said first engaged position, and a second rotational position, lockingly disengaged from said first engagement member.
  • said locking pin is movable between a first sliding position, protruding radially outward from said outer wall, and a second sliding position, fully retracted into said tubular housing.
  • said locking pin is adapted to be indexed in any one of said first sliding position and said second sliding position via a first indexing mechanism.
  • said first engagement member is free to rotate relative to the base member.
  • said second rotational axis is aligned in a direction parallel to said first rotational axis.
  • said first engagement member is adapted to be indexed in any one of said first engaged position and said first disengaged position via a second indexing mechanism.
  • said second engagement member is biased towards said second engaged position.
  • said second engagement member is lockable when in said second disengaged position.
  • said tubular housing comprises an access aperture adapted to allow access to said first engagement member, so as to manually move said first engagement member from said first disengaged position to said first engaged position.
  • a subsea connector assembly for automatically coupling and decoupling a moveable mobile subsea structure to a tubular fixed subsea structure, comprising: a male connector assembly, removably mountable to the mobile subsea structure, comprising a throughbore, at least one actuator member, a first retainer member, arranged upward of said actuator member, and a second retainer member, arranged downward of said actuator member, and a release adapter assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, coupleable to an end fitting of a string of tubulars.
  • said first retainer member is adapted to retainingly engage with a first engagement member of said release adapter assembly when locked in a first engaged position by a locking mechanism.
  • said first engagement member when lockingly disengaged from said locking mechanism, said first engagement member is operable to be acted upon by said first retainer member, so as to release a locked engagement with said male connector assembly and allowing said release adapter assembly to be moved through said throughbore of said male connector assembly.
  • said first retainer member is a circumferential groove on an inner wall of said throughbore, shaped so as to allow mating engagement with said first engagement member.
  • said second retainer member is adapted to retainingly engage with a second engagement member of said release adapter assembly when in a second engaged position.
  • said second retainer member is a circumferential shoulder portion on said inner wall of said throughbore, adapted to allow contact engagement with said second engagement member.
  • said actuator member is operable by matingly interlocking said male connector assembly with a corresponding female connector.
  • said actuator member is a pin slidingly arranged in an aperture through said male connector assembly, said aperture is positioned so as to coincide with said locking mechanism of said release adapter assembly when retainingly coupled to said male connector assembly.
  • said actuator member is adapted to move between a first pin position, where at least part of a proximal end portion projects out of said aperture and a distal end portion is spaced apart from said inner wall of said throughbore, and a second pin position, where said distal end portion is level with said inner wall of said throughbore.
  • said actuator member is adapted to be indexed in any one of said first pin position and said second pin position via a third indexing mechanism.
  • said male connector assembly comprises a plurality of circumferentially arranged actuator members each one operably alignable with a corresponding locking mechanism of said release adapter assembly, during use.
  • Figure 1 shows a simplified illustration of a typical offshore setup for producing hydrocarbons from a subsea well and transferring the fluids to and from a FPSO via a flexible riser, wherein the riser is protected by a bend stiffener at the point of entering an T- ‘J’-tube of the FPSO;
  • Figure 2 shows (a) a perspective top view and (b) a perspective bottom view of the release adapter assembly of the present invention (removed from the end-fitting);
  • Figure 3 shows an axially exploded release adapter assembly in (a) a perspective top view and (b) a perspective bottom view;
  • Figure 4 shows an exploded perspective top view of the release adapter assembly, with the flip latch or collet and lock lever assembly and the biased collet exploded out of the respective housing;
  • Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional perspective side view of the release adapter assembly of Figure 2;
  • Figure 6 shows a series of cross sectional side views of the release adapter assembly with the flip collet or latch and lock lever assembly (a) in a locked and engaged position, (b) in an unlocked but engaged position and (c) in an unlocked and disengaged position;
  • Figure 7 shows a series of cross sectional side views of the release adapter assembly with the biased collet (a) in a locked and retracted position and (b) in an unlocked and biasingly retracted position;
  • Figure 8 shows a side view of the end-fitting and string of tubulars (a) before installation of the release adapter assembly and (b) after installation of the release adapter assembly;
  • Figure 9 shows a side view of the end-fitting and string of tubulars with installed release adapter assembly (a) before entering the male connector, and (b) after entering and couplingly engaging with the male connector;
  • Figure 10 shows a sequence of cross sectional side views of couplingly engaging the end-fitting with the male connector using a tool
  • Figure 11 shows a perspective top side view of the end-fitting and string of tubulars coupled to the male connector (a) before entering the female connector, and (b) after entering and couplingly engaging with the female connector;
  • Figure 12 shows perspective cross sectional side view of the subsea connector assembly with the male connector coupled to the latch mechanism of the female connector
  • Figure 13 (a) to (d) shows a coupling sequence of the male connector to the female connector with simultaneous disengagement of the end-fitting from the male connector so as to pull through to the T tube, including close up views of the interaction between the release adapter assembly and the male connector;
  • Figure 14 (a) to (d) shows a decoupling sequence of the male connector from the female connector with prior engagement of the end-fitting to the male connector;
  • Figure 15 (a) to (k) shows a full sequence of the coupling and decoupling process between a male connector, with attached bend stiffener and engaged string of tubulars, and a female connector.
  • the described example embodiment relates to release adapter assembly for an end-fitting used with a subsea connector assembly.
  • the invention is not limited to subsea applications and may be used for any other type of couplings connecting two tubular components using a wire or cable.
  • top refers to the side of the equipment directed towards the surface when in situ
  • bottom refers to the side of the equipment directed towards the seabed or seafloor when in situ
  • inner refers to directions toward and away from, respectively, a designated centreline or a geometric centre of an element being described (e.g. central axis), the particular meaning being readily apparent from the context of the description.
  • the terms ‘connected', ‘attached’, ‘coupled’, ‘mounted’ are intended to include direct connections between two members without any other members interposed therebetween, as well as, indirect connections between members in which one or more other members are interposed therebetween.
  • the terminology includes the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.
  • latching dog or ‘dog’ may be understood to mean a mechanical device suitable for holding, gripping and/or fastening, comprising a spike, bar, hook, deadbolt, pin or the like.
  • the term ‘bend stiffener’ may refer to any one of a bendstiffener, -restrictor or -limiter.
  • the terms ‘fixed structure’, ‘turret’, ‘l-tube’ and ‘J-tube’ may be used interchangeably.
  • a ‘riser’ is understood to mean any string of tubulars or umbilicals suitable to operatively connect the subsea well or any other seafloor equipment with the fixed structure, e.g. a FPSO vessel.
  • connection assembly I ‘connector’ and ‘adapter assembly’ I ‘adapter’ I ‘adapter ring’ may be used interchangeably.
  • an example embodiment of the release adapter 100 comprises three ring shaped main component parts coaxially arranged and assembled.
  • the main component parts include an interface ring 102 that is mounted to the top end of a mounting ring 104 forming respective first housings 108 (three in this particular example) for a flip or pivotable latch and lock lever assembly 110.
  • a release ring 106 is mounted to the bottom of the mounting ring 104 comprising respective second housings 112 for biased sliding collets 114.
  • Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the release adapter assembly 100 from the top (Figure 3(a)) and from the bottom ( Figure 3(b)).
  • the three rings 102, 104, 106 are connected via three fastening bolts 116 passing from the interface ring 102, through the mounting ring 104 into the release ring 106 so as to securely fasten the three rings into one unit.
  • Six attachment bolts 118 are provided to mount the assembled release adapter 100 to a bottom surface 202 of an end-fitting 200 (see Figure 8).
  • the respective rings 102, 104, 106 of the release adapter 100 comprise axially aligned throughbores 120 adapted to receive the attachment bolts 118. It is understood by the person skilled in the art that any number of bolts and/or any suitable fastening means may be used to secure the rings 102, 104, 106, as well as, mount the assembled release adapter 100 to the end-fitting 200.
  • each one of the interface ring 102 and mounting ring 104 comprise respective portions that, when combined, form the first housing 108 configured to accommodate the latch and lock lever assembly 110.
  • Figure 4 shows another exploded view of the release adapter assembly into its separate rings, interface ring 102, mounting ring 104 and release ring 106, but without the fastening bolts 116 and the attachment bolts 118.
  • one of the three latch and locking lever assemblies 110 is exploded out of its first housing 108
  • one of the three biased sliding collets 114 is exploded out of its second housing 112.
  • the latch and locking lever assembly 110 comprises a flip latch member 122, which may also be termed a pivot latch member 122, a locking lever 124, a hinge pin 126 and an actuator pin 128.
  • the biased sliding collet 114 further comprises two parallelly arranged biasing members 130, such as for example, two coil springs 130.
  • Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the assembled release adapter 100.
  • the flip latch member 122 When assembled, the flip latch member 122 is rotatably coupled with the hinge pin 126 within the first housing 108, thus, allowing the flip latch member 122 to rotate about the hinge pin 126 between an engaged position, i.e. allowing coupling engagement with a retainer member of the male connector 300 (see Figure 9), and a disengaged position, i.e. retracted into the first housing 108.
  • the actuator pin 128 is arranged under the flip latch member 122 and slidably movable in a radial direction within the first housing 108 between an outer sliding position, protruding radially outward from the first housing 108, and an inner sliding position, fully retracted into the first housing 108.
  • the locking lever 124 is operably positioned within the first housing 108 between a housing pivot portion 132 and a coupling slot or groove 134 of a proximal end portion of the actuator pin 128.
  • the locking lever 124 is configured to rotatably move about the housing pivot portion 132 between a locked position, where the actuator pin 128 is in its outer sliding position, and an unlocked position, where the actuator pin 128 is in its inner sliding position.
  • the locking lever 124 and the flip latch member 122 are operably coupled within the first housing 108, such that the locking lever 124 is adapted to block any rotational movement of an engaged flip latch member 110 about its hinge pin 126, when the actuator pin 128 is in its outer sliding position and the locking lever 124 is pivoted forward into its locked position, and allow rotational movement of the flip latch member 110 about its hinge pin 126, when the actuator pin 128 is in its inner sliding position and the locking lever 124 is pivoted back into its unlocked position.
  • An tool access aperture 136 is provided through an outer wall of the interface ring 102 into the first housing 108, so as to allow a tool (not shown) to manually push the flip latch member 122 from its disengaged position into its engaged position when the locking lever 124 is in its unlocked position.
  • index pin 140a is configured to index the flip latch member 122 in its engaged and disengaged position, and respective recesses 142 are provided on the flip latch member to engage with the index pin 140a.
  • Index pin 140b is configured to index the actuator pin 128 in its outer and inner position, and respective recesses 144 are provided on the actuator pin 128 to engage with the index pin 140b.
  • the biased sliding collet 114 is slidably arranged within the second housing 112 allowing the collet 114 to move between an extended position, where a portion of the collet 114 is protruding radially out of the second housing 112, and a retracted position, where the collet 114 is fully retracted into the second housing 112.
  • the range of the sliding movement of the collet 114 within the second housing 112 is limited by a guide pin 146 protruding into the second housing 112 and operably engaging with an elongated slot 148 provided at the top portion of the collet 114.
  • the collet 114 is biased towards its extended position by two coil springs 130 provided within the second housing 112 at the proximal end of the collet 114.
  • the springs 130 are housed within the collet 114 extending out of the collet’s proximal end. Furthermore, the biased siding collet 114 is adapted to be securely locked in its retracted position by a locking bolt 150 that is inserted through an aperture 152 on the bottom side of the release ring 106 into locking engagement with the collet 114 (e.g. via a screw thread provided at the collet 114).
  • FIG. 6 cross sectional side views of the release adapter assembly 100 are shown to describe the function and movement of individual component parts of the latch and locking lever assembly 110 and the biased sliding collet 114 during operation.
  • Figure 6(a) shows the flip latch member 122 in its engaged position and the actuator pin 128 and coupled locking lever 124 moved into respective outer and locked position. Both, the flip latch member 122 and the actuator pin 128 are also indexed via index pins 140a and 140b.
  • the release adapter assembly 100 is couplingly engaged with the male connector 300, during use.
  • the collet 114 is fully retracted and locked in position by locking bolt 150.
  • the actuator pin 128 is moved and indexed into its inner position (e.g. by an actuator member of the male connector, see Figures 11 and 12) rotating the locking lever 124 into its unlocked position, thus, “freeing” the flip latch member 122, while still indexed in the engaged position.
  • Figure 7 shows the biased sliding collet 114 (a) locked in its retracted position, and (b) unlocked and in its extended position.
  • Figure 8 shows the assembly between the release adapter 100 and the end-fitting 200 of a string of tubulars using attachment bolts 118. As shown in Figure 9, the assembled endfitting 200 is then moved into a central passage of the male connector 300, where the release adapter assembly 100 is coupled into engagement with the male connector 300 (e.g. workshop based) using a suitable tool 500.
  • the male connector 300 e.g. workshop based
  • Figure 10 (a) to (d) shows a sequence of coupling the end-fitting 200 to the male connector 300 via the release adapter assembly 100 of the present invention.
  • a tool 500 is inserted through a male access aperture 308 and tool access aperture 136 to push and rotate the flip latch member 122 out of the first housing 108 into an upper retainer groove 302 of the male connector 300 (for example, a circumferential groove on the interior wall of the male connector 300).
  • the tool 500 inserted through the male actuator member 306 and fastened to a distal end of the actuator pin 128 of the release adapter assembly 100 and pulled back to move the actuator pin 128 into its outer position (i.e. into the male actuator aperture) thus rotating the locking lever 124 from its unlocked position into locking engagement with the flip latch member 122.
  • the end-fitting is now securely fastened to the male connector 300 and the tool 500 is removed.
  • FIG 11 the end-fitting 200 and attached male connector 300 are pulled into engagement with the female connector 400, for example, using a wire or cable attached to the end-fitting 200.
  • the male connector 300 is typically coupled with the female connector 400 via a plurality of latch mechanism.
  • Figure 12 shows a cross sectional side view of the coupled male and female connector 300, 400, with the end-fitting detached from the male connector 300 and ready to be pulled up and through to an T or ‘J’ tube.
  • FIG. 13(a) to (d) A full sequence of coupling the male connector 300 with the female connector 400 using an end-fitting 200 that is pulled through to the T tube after the male member is engaged with the latch mechanism is shown in Figures 13(a) to (d).
  • steps (a) and (b) the male connector 300 is pulled into the central passage of the female connector 400 until the male actuator member 306 engages with an interior wall of the female connector 400 such that the male actuator member 306 is pushed in, thereby pushing the actuator pin 128 from its outer position into its inner position and moving the locking lever 124 out of locking engagement with the flip latch member 122.
  • the male connector 300 has passed the latch mechanism of the female connector 400 and the weight of the now disconnected dropping male connector 300 rotates the flip latch member 122 into the first housing 108 and out of engagement with the upper retainer groove 302 (see (c)) allowing the end-fitting 200 and attached string of tubulars to be pulled up and through to the floating structure.
  • Figure 14 (a) to (d) shows a full sequence of coupling the end-fitting 200 with a male connector 300 coupled with the female connector 400 and moving the male connector 300 out of engagement with the female connector 400 to then lower the male connector 300 out of the female connector 400.
  • step (a) the end-fitting 200 is lowered into the central passage of the male connector 300 with the flip latch member 122 fully retracted and indexed and the locking lever 124 moved to its inner unlocked position.
  • the locking bolt of the biased sliding collet 114 has been removed and the collet 114 is urged towards its extended position by springs 130, though the movement of the collet 114 is stopped by the male connector inner wall so that the end-fitting 200 can slide through the central passage of the male connector 300.
  • step (c) the latch mechanisms are retracted (preferably by a remotely controlled actuator) and the male connector 300 can be lowered out of the female connector 400, as shown in step (d).
  • Figure 15 (a) to (k) An alternative illustration of the coupling and decoupling sequence between the male connector and the female connector is shown in Figure 15 (a) to (k).

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention propose un ensemble adaptateur de libération pour coupler de manière amovible une chaîne d'éléments tubulaires à un ensemble connecteur mâle. L'adaptateur de libération comprend un élément de base tubulaire, ayant un boîtier tubulaire s'étendant le long d'un axe central, pouvant être couplé de manière fonctionnelle à une partie d'extrémité de la chaîne d'éléments tubulaires ; au moins un premier élément de mise en prise, mobile en rotation autour d'un premier axe de rotation entre une première position en prise, où ledit premier élément de mise en prise fait saillie radialement vers l'extérieur à partir d'une paroi externe dudit boîtier tubulaire, et une première position non mise en prise, où ledit premier élément de mise en prise est complètement rétracté dans ledit boîtier tubulaire ; au moins un second élément de mise en prise, disposé vers le bas dudit premier élément de mise en prise, pendant l'utilisation, mobile de manière coulissante entre une seconde position en prise, où ledit second élément de mise en prise fait saillie radialement vers l'extérieur à partir de ladite paroi externe, et une seconde position non mise en prise, où ledit second élément de mise en prise est complètement rétracté dans ledit boîtier tubulaire et au moins un mécanisme de verrouillage, couplé de manière fonctionnelle audit premier élément de mise en prise et actionnable pour verrouiller et déverrouiller sélectivement ledit premier élément de mise en prise lorsqu'il est dans ladite première position en prise.
PCT/GB2023/053185 2022-12-09 2023-12-11 Adaptateur de libération pour un raccord d'extrémité et ensemble raccord sous-marin Ceased WO2024121580A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2025532611A JP2025540207A (ja) 2022-12-09 2023-12-11 エンドフィッティングおよび海中コネクタ組立体用のリリースアダプタ
EP23825437.9A EP4630646A1 (fr) 2022-12-09 2023-12-11 Adaptateur de libération pour un raccord d'extrémité et ensemble raccord sous-marin
KR1020257022749A KR20250121070A (ko) 2022-12-09 2023-12-11 단부 피팅을 위한 해제 어댑터 및 해저 커넥터 어셈블리
CN202380083937.7A CN120569545A (zh) 2022-12-09 2023-12-11 用于端部配件的释放适配器和海底连接器组件

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2218537.5A GB2626302A (en) 2022-12-09 2022-12-09 A release adapter for an end-fitting and a subsea connector assembly
GB2218537.5 2022-12-09

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WO2024121580A1 true WO2024121580A1 (fr) 2024-06-13

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JP (1) JP2025540207A (fr)
KR (1) KR20250121070A (fr)
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GB (1) GB2626302A (fr)
WO (1) WO2024121580A1 (fr)

Citations (6)

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US4699215A (en) * 1986-08-18 1987-10-13 Hughes Tool Company External tie-back connector
US5947642A (en) * 1996-11-22 1999-09-07 Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras Method and apparatus for connecting an underwater flexible riser to a structure on the surface
US20070267197A1 (en) * 2006-05-19 2007-11-22 Vetco Gray Inc. Rapid Makeup Drilling Riser
US20150114659A1 (en) * 2012-04-05 2015-04-30 National Oilwell Varco, L.P. Wellsite connector with piston driven collets and method of using same
US20150337607A1 (en) * 2012-12-17 2015-11-26 Flexible Engineered Solutions Limited Subsea connector assembly
DK180095B1 (en) * 2017-03-24 2020-04-27 Lic Engineering A/S Lock mechanism with torus shaped surface for lock and automatic release of endfitting

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2590737A (en) * 2019-12-23 2021-07-07 Ntdrill Holdings Llc Riser adapter quick connection assembly
GB202116500D0 (en) * 2021-11-16 2021-12-29 Aquaterra Energy Ltd An improved pipe connection

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4699215A (en) * 1986-08-18 1987-10-13 Hughes Tool Company External tie-back connector
US5947642A (en) * 1996-11-22 1999-09-07 Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras Method and apparatus for connecting an underwater flexible riser to a structure on the surface
US20070267197A1 (en) * 2006-05-19 2007-11-22 Vetco Gray Inc. Rapid Makeup Drilling Riser
US20150114659A1 (en) * 2012-04-05 2015-04-30 National Oilwell Varco, L.P. Wellsite connector with piston driven collets and method of using same
US20150337607A1 (en) * 2012-12-17 2015-11-26 Flexible Engineered Solutions Limited Subsea connector assembly
DK180095B1 (en) * 2017-03-24 2020-04-27 Lic Engineering A/S Lock mechanism with torus shaped surface for lock and automatic release of endfitting

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KR20250121070A (ko) 2025-08-11
EP4630646A1 (fr) 2025-10-15
JP2025540207A (ja) 2025-12-11
CN120569545A (zh) 2025-08-29
GB2626302A (en) 2024-07-24
GB202218537D0 (en) 2023-01-25

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