Drilling Riser Adapter Connection with Subsea Functionality

A system for connecting a lower marine riser package (LMRP) to a marine riser, the lower marine riser package to be placed subsea at a wellhead so that the riser extends from the LMRP to a drilling rig located at a sea surface, the system comprising:

• a plurality of engaging members;
• the engaging members moveable between an engaged position radially inward and a disengaged position radially outward;
• an engagement assembly configured to actuate the engaging members between the engaged and the disengaged positions;
• a crossover riser joint having a lower end profile for mating with the engagement assembly when the engagement assembly is in the engaged position and an upper end connection assembly for connecting to the riser;
• a control panel communicatively coupled to the engagement assembly for actuating the engagement assembly to engage to and disengage the lower end of the marine riser;
• a hot stab receptacle on the control panel for engagement by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to supply hydraulic fluid pressure to the engagement assembly.

A method for disconnecting a marine riser joint from a lower marine riser package (LMRP), the method comprising:

• (a) providing a marine riser adapter having a hydraulically actuated engagement assembly and a control panel with a hydraulic fluid pressure receptacle;
• (b) connecting the adapter to the LMRP;
• (c) inserting an end of a riser joint into a central bore of the marine riser adapter;
• then
• (d) supplying hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic fluid pressure receptacle to actuate the hydraulically-actuated engagement assembly to engage the riser joint;
• (e) lowering the LMRP, marine riser adapter, and riser joint to a subsea location;
• and
• (f) stabbing a probe of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) into the hydraulic fluid pressure receptacle and supplying hydraulic fluid to actuate the engagement assembly to disengage the riser joint from the marine riser adapter.

A system for connecting a lower marine riser package to a drilling rig located at a sea surface, the lower marine riser package (LMRP) to be placed subsea at a wellhead, the system comprising:

• a plurality of marine riser joints for extending between the drilling rig and the LMRP, each marine riser joint having at least one end coupleable to an adjacent marine riser joint;
• a drilling riser adapter for mounting to the lower marine riser package and having a hydraulically actuated engagement assembly for selectively engaging and disengaging a lower end of at least one marine riser joint of the plurality of marine riser joints;
• a control panel mounted to the adapter and communicatively coupled to the engagement assembly for actuating the engagement assembly to engage and disengage the lower end of the marine riser;
• and
• a receptacle for receiving hydraulic fluid pressure on the control panel for engagement by a remote operated vehicle (ROV) to supply hydraulic fluid pressure to the engagement assembly.

A system for connecting a lower marine riser package to a marine riser, the lower marine riser package (LMRP) to be placed subsea at a wellhead so that the riser will extend from the LMRP to a drilling rig located at a sea surface, the system comprising:

• a blowout preventer (BOP) mounted at an upper end of the LMRP;
• a drilling riser adapter for mounting to the BOP and having a hydraulically actuated engagement assembly for selectively engaging and disengaging a lower end of the marine riser;
• a control panel mounted to the adapter and communicatively coupled to the engagement assembly for actuating the engagement assembly to engage and disengage the lower end of the marine riser;
• and
• a receptacle for receiving hydraulic fluid pressure on the control panel for engagement by a remote operated vehicle (ROV) to supply hydraulic fluid pressure to the engagement assembly.

A method for connecting a marine riser joint to a marine riser adapter located at a subsea location, the method comprising:

• (a) stabbing a probe of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) into a hydraulic fluid pressure receptacle of a marine riser adapter having a hydraulically actuated engagement assembly and a control panel with a hydraulic fluid pressure receptacle;
• (b) supplying hydraulic fluid from the probe of the ROV to the hydraulic fluid pressure receptacle to actuate the engagement assembly to disengage a first riser joint from the riser adapter;
• (c) removing the first riser joint from the riser adapter;
• (d) disposing a second riser joint into the riser adapter;
• (e) stabbing the probe of the ROV into the hydraulic fluid pressure receptacle of the marine riser adapter;
• and
• (f) supplying hydraulic fluid from the probe of the ROV to the hydraulic fluid pressure receptacle to actuate the engagement assembly to engage the second riser joint with the riser adapter.