Systems and methods for tethering subsea Blow-Out-Preventers
AssigneeTrendsetter Vulcan Offshore, Inc.
InventorsJames V. Maher, Ricky Brown, Daniel McCelvey, Donald La Vigne
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tensioning system includes a combined rope gripper and tension cylinder. A rope passes through the combined rope gripper and tension cylinder. Once the length and/or tension of the rope has been adjusted, a reel lock handle can be actuated to prevent further rotation of the reel. The combined rope gripper and tension cylinder can be actuated to hold the rope. The combined rope gripper and tension cylinder can also be actuated to reduce or prevent the release of tension in the rope.
Claims8
A tethering system for tethering a subsea BOP, comprising:
- an anchor;
- and
- a tensioning system, the tensioning system including:
- a frame;
- a tensioning cylinder attached to the frame;
- a tensioning piston reciprocally disposed in the tensioning cylinder;
- a mechanical lock releasably attached to the frame, wherein the tensioning cylinder is held by the mechanical lock;
- a mechanical lock handle configured to release the mechanical lock from the frame;
- a gripper assembly movable together with the tensioning piston, the gripper assembly being hollow;
- and
- a rope, a first end of the rope being attached to the tensioning system;
- wherein the gripper assembly allows the rope to pass through the gripper assembly and is capable of holding the rope;
- wherein a second end of the rope is attached to one of the subsea BOP and the anchor;
- wherein the tensioning system is mounted on the other of the subsea BOP and the anchor.
A method of tethering a subsea BOP, comprising:
- providing a tensioning system, the tensioning system including:
- a frame;
- a tensioning cylinder attached to the frame;
- a tensioning piston reciprocally disposed in the tensioning cylinder;
- a gripper assembly movable together with the tensioning piston, the gripper assembly being hollow;
- and
- a mechanical lock attached to the frame, wherein the tensioning cylinder is held by the mechanical lock;
- and
- attaching a first end of a rope to the tensioning system;
- attaching a second end of the rope to one of the subsea BOP and the anchor;
- mounting the tensioning system on the other of the subsea BOP and the anchor;
- and
- releasing the mechanical lock using a mechanical lock handle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.