Connector assembly for emergency decoupling of a subsea end fitting of a movable subsea structure

#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 to a fixed structure including devices for limiting the bend of the flexible tubulars or umbilicals. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved connector assembly for emergency decoupling of an end fitting of a movable subsea structure (e.g. a subsea tubular) from a tubular fixed subsea structure (e.g. an I- or J-tube), which is adapted for intervention-less installation of marine equipment such as, for example, a bend-stiffener for cables connecting to Floating Offshore Wind (FOW) facilities, and which permits disconnection in the event of excessive tension in the subsea tubular.

#In subsea operations, it is often required to use a string of tubulars, also called a ‘riser’, to connect equipment on the seafloor with a fixed structure above, such as, for example, an offshore floating platform or a vessel. The string of tubulars or riser usually includes conduits or a plurality of conduits used for safe transport of material (e.g. hydrocarbon production fluid, such as, crude oil or gases). The string of tubulars or risers may include cabling or control lines so as to allow remote control of any equipment from the surface structure (i.e. the platform or vessel).

#FIG. 1 shows an example of a typical setup for subsea operation, where production fluid is transferred from at least one subsea well 10 to a floating production, storage and offloading unit 20, also referred to as FPSO 20. Also, Wind turbines 95 of an FOW (floating offshore wind) may be connected via subsea cables 97. A flexible riser 30 (string of tubulars) is used to transports the production fluid from the well 10, or a seabed production field in case of multiple wells, to the FPSO 20 via turret 40 installed on the FPSO 20. In order to protect the flexible riser 30 from excessive cyclic bending, for example, due to movement that may be caused by waves, current or wind, or which may simply be caused by the movement of the FPSO 20, one or more bend stiffeners 50 (only one connection is shown in FIG. 1) are typically used at the junction where the flexible riser 30 enters the fixed structure (i.e. through an ‘I’- or ‘J’ tube 60).

#By way of example only, a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 shows an example 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 ‘I-’ or ‘J-tube’ of the FPSO;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of connector assembly in accordance with the present invention, shown engaged with a corresponding female coupling element;

#The described example embodiment relates emergency decoupling of a subsea end-fitting used within a subsea connector assembly. However, the invention is not limited to subsea applications and may be used for any other type of couplings.

#Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words ‘right’, ‘left’, ‘lower’, ‘upper’, ‘front’, ‘rear’, ‘upward’, ‘down’, ‘downward’, ‘above’, ‘below’, ‘uphole’ and ‘downhole’ designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made and are with respect to the described component when assembled and mounted (e.g. in situ). In particular, the designated directions used in the description are with respect to the equipment installed within the arrangement so as to provide a connection between the FPSO and the subsea well/reservoir. In particular, the terms ‘top’, ‘upper’ and ‘uphole’ refer to the side of the equipment directed towards the surface when in situ, the terms ‘bottom’, ‘lower’ and ‘downhole’ refer to the side of the equipment directed towards the seabed or seafloor when in situ. The words ‘inner’, ‘inwardly’ and ‘outer’, ‘outwardly’ refer 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.

#Further, as used herein, 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.