Marine drilling riser connector with removable shear elements
AssigneeDiamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.
InventorsJason Post Curtiss, III, Harris A. Reynolds, JR.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A riser joint connection includes a box connector having a box preload fixture, a pin connector having a pin preload fixture, at least one shear element configured to fit into at least one shear element cavity defined by a box connector shear groove in alignment with a pin connector shear groove, wherein the at least one shear element contacts load surfaces of the pin connector and the box connector.
Claims28
A riser joint connection comprising:
- a box connector comprising a box preload fixture;
- a pin connector comprising a pin preload fixture;
- at least one shear element configured to fit into at least one shear element cavity defined by a box connector shear groove in alignment with a pin connector shear groove;
- wherein the at least one shear element contacts load surfaces of the pin connector and the box connector.
A method of connecting riser joints, the method comprising:
- landing a box connector over a pin connector;
- applying a selected axial preload to the box and pin connector;
- inserting at least one shear element through a shear element port into a shear element cavity formed between a box connector shear groove and a pin connector shear groove;
- removing the preload and compressively engaging the at least one shear element with load surfaces of the pin connector and the box connector.
A riser joint connection comprising:
- a box connector comprising a box preload fixture;
- a pin connector comprising a pin preload fixture;
- at least one shear element configured to fit into at least one shear element cavity defined by an internal box connector shear groove in alignment with an external pin connector shear groove;
- wherein the at least one shear element contacts load surfaces of the pin connector and the box connector.
A method of connecting riser joints, the method comprising:
- landing a box connector over a pin connector;
- applying a selected axial preload to the box and pin connector;
- inserting at least one shear element through a shear element port into a shear element cavity formed between an internal box connector shear groove and an external pin connector shear groove;
- removing the preload and compressively engaging the at least one shear element with load surfaces of the pin connector and the box connector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.