Apparatus, System and Method For Releasing Fluids From A Subsea Riser

An apparatus for releasing fluid from a riser assembly, the riser assembly being adapted for connection to a drilling structure positioned above or upon the surface of the sea, the riser assembly being adapted for extending below the sea to a lower marine riser package mounted upon a blowout preventer adjacent the top of a well, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a housing defining an interior space and an exterior region, the housing further comprising a plurality of ports;
• (b) a first set of gates in mating configuration with the housing, the first set of gates each being selectively moveable from:
• (i) a sealed position that restricts fluid flow through the ports from the interior space to the exterior region of the housing to (ii) an open position that facilitates fluid flow through the ports from the interior space to the exterior region of the housing;
• (c) a first set of actuator assemblies connected to the first set of gates and configured for moving the first set of gates from the sealed position to the open position;
• and
• (d) a first control system, the first control system being configured for activating the first set of actuator assemblies to move the first set of gates to the open position to release fluid from the housing of the riser assembly.

A system for receiving a drill string, the system being suspended from a drilling structure, the system comprising:

• (a) a riser, the riser being configured for the transport of drilling fluid,
• (b) an apparatus in sealed connection to the riser, the apparatus comprising:
• (i) a housing defining an interior space and an exterior region,
• (ii) a port;
• (iii) a first gate in mating configuration with the housing, the gate being moveable from a sealed position to an open position that facilitates fluid flow through the port;
• and
• (iv) a first actuator assembly connected to the first gate and configured for moving the first gate from the sealed position to the open position.

A fluid release apparatus in sealed connection to a drilling riser, the fluid release apparatus comprising:

• a housing defining an interior space and an exterior region,
• a port,
• a gate in mating configuration with the housing, the gate being moveable from a sealed position to an open position that facilitates fluid flow out of the apparatus through the port, and
• a first actuator assembly connected to the gate and configured for moving the gate from the sealed position to the open position.

A method of releasing fluids from a drilling riser in the event of an emergency disconnect of the riser from a well, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a fluid release apparatus in sealed connection to a riser, the fluid release apparatus comprising a housing defining an interior space and an exterior region, the apparatus further comprising at least one port and a gate in mating configuration to the port, the gate being moveable from a sealed position which blocks fluid flow through the port to an open position that facilitates fluid flow through the port,
• (b) providing a first actuator assembly, the first actuator assembly configured for moving the gate from the sealed position to the open position,
• (c) activating the first actuator assembly to move the gate to the open position, and
• (d) flowing fluid from the interior space of the riser through the port to the exterior region of the riser.