Apparatus, systems and methods for disconnecting an elongated member extending from a waterborne vessel
AssigneeBJ Services Company
InventorBlake Burnette
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In some embodiments, apparatus for disconnecting at least one elongated member extending between a waterborne vessel and at least one other object includes a cable extendable between the waterborne vessel and the other object. When the distance between the waterborne vessel and the other object exceeds a certain distance, the cable causes the at least one elongated member to be released from the vessel or other object.
Claims22
Apparatus useful for automatically disconnecting at least one elongated member extending between a waterborne vessel and a structure when the distance therebetween exceeds a desired distance, the at least one elongated member originating from and being releasably engageable with the waterborne vessel, the waterborne vessel including a decoupler capable of releasing the at least one elongated member from the waterborne vessel, the apparatus comprising:
- a cable extendable between the waterborne vessel and the structure, said cable including at least a first portion useful to anchor said cable to the structure and at least a second portion useful to releasably attach said cable to the waterborne vessel, said second portion being associated with and capable of actuating the decoupler,
- wherein said second portion of said cable is capable of both causing the decoupler to release the at least one elongated member from the waterborne vessel and disconnecting said cable from the waterborne vessel when the distance between the waterborne vessel and the structure exceeds a desired distance.
Apparatus useful for automatically disconnecting at least one elongated member extending between a waterborne vessel and another object when the distance therebetween exceeds a desired distance, the at least one elongated member originating from and being releasably engageable with the other object, the other object including a decoupler capable of releasing the at least one elongated member from the other object, the apparatus comprising:
- a cable extendable between the other object and the waterborne vessel, said cable including at least a first portion useful to anchor said cable to the waterborne vessel and at least a second portion useful to releasably attach said cable to the other object, said second portion being associated with and capable of actuating the decoupler,
- wherein said second portion of said cable is capable of both causing the decoupler to release the at least one elongated member from the other object and disconnecting said cable from the other object when the distance between the waterborne vessel and the structure exceeds a desired distance.
Apparatus for disconnecting a waterborne vessel from another object, the waterborne vessel and the other object being connectable by at least one elongated member, the at least one elongated member originating from and being releasably engageable with the waterborne vessel, the waterborne vessel including a decoupler capable of releasing the at least one elongated member therefrom, the apparatus comprising:
- a rip cord extendable between the waterborne vessel and the other object, said rip cord including at least a first portion useful to anchor said rip cord to the other object and at least a second portion useful to releasably attach said rip cord to the waterborne vessel, said second portion being associated with the decoupler and capable of causing the decoupler to release the at least one elongated member from the waterborne vessel,
- whereby when the distance between the waterborne vessel and the other object exceeds the length of said rip cord between said first and second portions thereof, said second portion of said rip cord causes the decoupler to release the at least one elongated member from the waterborne vessel.
System for disconnecting at least one fluid conduit extending from a waterborne vessel to a structure when the distance therebetween exceeds a desired distance, the waterborne vessel including at least one pump capable of pumping fluid into the at least one fluid conduit and a fluid conduit disconnect capable of releasing the at least one fluid conduit from the waterborne vessel, the system comprising:
- a first switch capable of causing the pump to stop pumping fluid into the at least one fluid conduit;
- a second switch capable of causing the fluid conduit disconnect to release the at least one fluid conduit from the waterborne vessel;
- and
- a rip cord releasably engageable between the waterborne vessel and the structure, said rip cord being associated with and capable of actuating said first and second switches to cause the pump to stop pumping fluid into the at least one fluid conduit and the at least one fluid conduit to be separated from the waterborne vessel, respectively, when the distance between the waterborne vessel and the structure exceeds a desired distance.
Method of automatically disconnecting a waterborne vessel from a structure releasably connectable by at least one elongated member extending from the waterborne vessel, the method comprising:
- providing a decoupler on the waterborne vessel, the decoupler capable of releasing the at least one elongated from the waterborne vessel;
- anchoring a first portion of a cable to the structure;
- associating a second portion of the cable with the decoupler, the second portion being capable of causing the decoupler to release the at least one elongated member from the waterborne vessel;
- releasably connecting the second portion of the cable to the waterborne vessel;
- and
- when the distance between the waterborne vessel and the structure exceeds a particular distance, the second portion of the cable causes the decoupler to release the at least one elongated member from the waterborne vessel and causing the cable to disconnect from the waterborne vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.