# US 10,767,436 B2 · Connections for use in high-pressure risers and make-up equipment therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,436 B2 - Document ID: US10767436B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/467,705 - Filed: 2017-12-11 - Published: 2020-01-02 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-09 - Assignees: Trendsetter Vulcan Offshore, Inc. - Applicants: Trendsetter Vulcan Offshore, Inc. - Inventors: James V. Maher; Daniel McCelvey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767436B2 ## CPC - E21B 17/006: {Accessories for drilling pipes, e.g. cleaners (wear protectors E21B17/10; handling drilling pipes E21B19/00; thread protectors B65D59/00)} - E21B 17/01: Risers - E21B 17/1085: {Wear protectors; Blast joints; Hard facing} - E21B 19/006: {including heave compensators} - E21B 33/035: specially adapted for underwater installations (E21B33/043, E21B33/064, E21B33/076 take precedence) - E21B 33/043: specially adapted for underwater well heads ({E21B33/0407,} E21B33/047 take precedence) - E21B 33/062: {with sliding rams} - E21B 33/064: specially adapted for underwater well heads - E21B 19/165: {Control or monitoring arrangements therefor} - F16L 37/08: in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members (F16L37/22 - F16L37/26 take precedence) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract Hang-off and/or torque 1 features are provided on the pipes and/or the connections of a high-pressure riser. The hang-off features may be useful to support the weight of the full length of the riser. Accordingly, the hang-off may be done directly in the middle of the connection, where the strength is the greatest. Also, by using the torque features, it is possible to accommodate large torque values. Accordingly, a large torque resistance may be provided while an upper pipe is being made up. A make-up tool taking advantage of the hang-off and/or torque features permits assembling the high-pressure riser more automatically and with less manual intensive labor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A high-pressure riser, comprising: a plurality of pipes, each of the plurality of pipes having a first end, a second end that is opposite of the first end, and an outer surface, each of the plurality of pipes including a first threaded pin located at the first end, a first slotted area located on the outer surface adjacent to the first threaded pin, and a second threaded pin located at the second end; one or more couplings, each of the one or more couplings having a first end, a second end that is opposite of the first end, and an outer surface, each of the one or more couplings including a first threaded box located at the first end, a second threaded box located at the second end, and a torque contour located on the outer surface; and a first plurality of collars, each of the first plurality of collars having an inner surface and an outer surface, each of the first plurality of collars including a gripping profile located on the inner surface, and a torque contour located on the outer surface, wherein the first threaded pin of each of the plurality of pipes is engageable with the second threaded box of each of the one or more couplings, wherein the second threaded pin of each of the plurality of pipes is engageable with the first threaded box of each of the one or more couplings, and wherein the gripping profile of each of the first plurality of collars is engageable with the first slotted area of each of the plurality of pipes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The high-pressure riser of claim 1, wherein the torque contour of each of the one or more couplings includes pairs of radial surfaces. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2) The high-pressure riser of claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the one or more couplings further includes a hang-off shoulder located on the outer surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The high-pressure riser of claim 3, wherein the hang-off shoulder of each of the one or more couplings includes a portion of a conical surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The high-pressure riser of claim 3, wherein the torque contour of each of the first plurality of collars includes pairs of radial surfaces. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The high-pressure riser of claim 5, wherein each of the first plurality of collars includes at least two bands clampable around the first slotted area of each of the plurality of pipes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The high-pressure riser of claim 6, wherein the gripping profile of each of the first plurality of collars includes keys sized to engage longitudinal slots of the first slotted area of each of the plurality of pipes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The high-pressure riser of claim 7 wherein the first slotted area of each of the plurality of pipes includes longitudinal blind slots equally distributed circumferentially. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The high-pressure riser of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of pipes further includes a second slotted area located on the outer surface adjacent to the second threaded pin, the high-pressure riser further comprising: a second plurality of collars, each of the second plurality of collars having an inner surface and an outer surface, each of the second plurality of collars including a gripping profile located on the inner surface, and a torque contour located on the outer surface, wherein the gripping profile of each of the second plurality of collars is engageable with the second slotted area of each of the plurality of pipes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The high-pressure riser of claim 1, wherein the torque contour of each of the first plurality of collars includes pairs of radial surfaces. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The high-pressure riser of claim 1, wherein each of the first plurality of collars includes at least two bands clampable around the first slotted area of each of the plurality of pipes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The high-pressure riser of claim 1, wherein the gripping profile of each of the first plurality of collars includes keys sized to engage longitudinal slots of the first slotted area of each of the plurality of pipes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The high-pressure riser of claim 1, wherein the first slotted area of each of the plurality of pipes includes longitudinal blind slots equally distributed circumferentially. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The high-pressure riser of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pipes further includes a second slotted area located on the outer surface adjacent to the second threaded pin, the high-pressure riser further comprising: a second plurality of collars, each of the second plurality of collars having an inner surface and an outer surface, each of the second plurality of collars including a gripping profile located on the inner surface, and a torque contour located on the outer surface, wherein the gripping profile of each of the second plurality of collars is engageable with the second slotted area of each of the plurality of pipes. ### Claim 15 A method of assembling a high-pressure riser, comprising: providing a first pipe, the first pipe having a first end, a second end that is opposite of the first end, and an outer surface, the first pipe including a first threaded pin located at the first end, a first slotted area located on the outer surface adjacent to the first threaded pin, and a second threaded pin located at the second end; providing a coupling, the coupling having a first end, a second end that is opposite of the first end, and an outer surface, the coupling including a first threaded box located at the first end, a second threaded box located at the second end, and a torque contour located on the outer surface; engaging the second threaded pin of the first pipe with the first threaded box of the coupling; providing a second pipe, the second pipe having a first end, a second end that is opposite of the first end, and an outer surface, the second pipe including a first threaded pin located at the first end, a first slotted area located on the outer surface adjacent to the first threaded pin, and a second threaded pin located at the second end; providing a collar, the collar having an inner surface and an outer surface, the collar including a gripping profile located on the inner surface, and a torque contour located on the outer surface; engaging the gripping profile of the collar with the first slotted area of the second pipe; providing a make-up tool including a spider having a spider opening, the spider opening including an inner diameter and a torque profile that aligns with the torque contour of the coupling, the make-up tool further including a rotatable ring having a ring opening, the ring opening including an inner diameter and a torque profile that aligns with the torque contour of the collar; preventing rotation of the collar by engaging the torque profile of the spider with the torque contour of the coupling; rotating the second pipe by engaging the torque profile of the rotatable ring with the torque contour of the collar, applying a torque to the rotatable ring, transmitting the torque from the torque profile of the rotatable ring to the torque contour of the collar, and transmitting the torque from the gripping profile of the collar to the first slotted area of the second pipe; and engaging the first threaded pin of the second pipe with the second threaded box of the coupling. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the coupling further includes a hang-off shoulder located on the outer surface, wherein the spider opening further includes an inner seat that opposes the hang-off shoulder of the collar, the method further comprising: engaging the hang-off shoulder of the collar with the inner seat of the spider to support the first pipe. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15, 16) The method of claim 15 or 16, further comprising sliding the rotatable ring of the make-up tool relative to the spider to engage the torque profile of the rotatable ring with the torque contour of the collar. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the collar includes at least two bands, and wherein engaging the gripping profile of the collar with the first slotted area of the second pipe comprises clamping the at least two bands around the first slotted area of the second pipe. ### Claim 19 A make-up tool for assembling a high-pressure riser, the high-pressure riser including at least one coupling having a first end, a second end that is opposite of the first end, and an outer surface, the at least one coupling including a first threaded box located at the first end, a second threaded box located at the second end, and a torque contour located on the outer surface, the high-pressure riser further including at least one collar having an outer surface, the at least one collar including a torque contour located on the outer surface, the make-up tool comprising: a spider having a spider opening, the spider opening including an inner diameter and a torque profile that aligns with the torque contour of the at least one coupling; and a rotatable ring having a ring opening, the ring opening including an inner diameter and a torque profile that aligns with the torque contour of the at least one collar, wherein the rotatable ring is slidable relative to the spider along a longitudinal axis of the spider opening and the ring opening. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The make-up tool of claim 19, wherein the spider opening further includes an inner seat that projects inward from the inner diameter of the spider opening. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The make-up tool of claim 20, wherein the inner seat includes a portion of a conical surface. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19, 20, 21) The make-up tool of claim 19, 20 or 21, wherein the torque profile of the spider opening includes pairs of radial surfaces. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The make-up tool of claim 19, wherein the torque profile of the ring opening includes pairs of radial surfaces. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The make-up tool of claim 19, further comprising at least one electric motor selectively coupled to the rotatable ring and at least one hydraulic motor selectively coupled to the rotatable ring.