# US 2014/0151058 A1 · Marine Riser with Side Tension Members

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- Number: US 2014/0151058 A1
- Document ID: US20140151058A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/690,543
- Filed: 2012-11-30
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30
- Assignees: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
- Applicants: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
- Inventors: James William Weir; Dean Allen Bennett
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151058A1

## CPC

- E21B 17/01: Risers
- E21B 17/0853: {Connections between sections of riser provided with auxiliary lines, e.g. kill and choke lines}
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A marine riser includes a plurality of central pipes assembled end to end to form a main conduit. A plurality of tension members runs the length of the main conduit. The tension members are coupled to the main conduit to support and constrain an axial motion of the main conduit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A marine riser comprising:
a plurality of central pipes assembled end to end to form a main conduit; and
a plurality of tension members each running a length of the main conduit, the tension members being coupled to the main conduit to support and constrain an axial motion of the main conduit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The marine riser of claim 1, wherein each tension member comprises a plurality of side pipes joined together by load-transfer pipe connections.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The marine riser of claim 1, wherein each tension member comprises a plurality of side pipes joined together by threaded pipe connections.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The marine riser of claim 2, wherein the plurality of side pipes are drill pipes.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The marine riser of claim 2, wherein the central pipes are assembled end to end by slip-type pipe connections.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The marine riser of claim 1, wherein each of the tension members defines an auxiliary conduit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The marine riser of claim 1, wherein the main conduit comprises one or more first pipe connections and each of the tension members comprises one or more second pipe connections, and wherein the first pipe connections are isolated from the second pipe connections.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The marine riser of claim 1, further comprising at least one buoyancy module surrounding at least a portion of each tension member and at least a portion of the main conduit.

### Claim 9

A marine riser segment, comprising:
a central pipe having central pipe connection members at opposing ends thereof; and
a plurality of side pipes circumscribing and coupled to the central pipe, each of the side pipes having side pipe connection members at opposing ends thereof, the side pipe connection members being adapted to form load-transfer pipe connections with other side pipes.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The marine riser segment of claim 9, wherein the side pipe connection members are threaded pipe connection members.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The marine riser segment of claim 9, wherein the central pipe connection members are adapted to form slip-type pipe connections.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The marine riser segment of claim 9, wherein the side pipes are drill pipes.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The marine riser segment of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of radial supports attached to the central pipe, each radial support having at least one hole for receiving one of the side pipes.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The marine riser segment of claim 13, wherein the radial supports arrange the side pipes in parallel to the central pipe.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The marine riser segment of claim 13, further comprising retainers for retaining the side pipes in the holes of the radial supports.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The marine riser segment of claim 15, wherein the retainers permit rotary motion of the side pipes in the holes while restricting axial motion of the side pipes.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

The marine riser segment of claim 9, wherein the central and side pipe connection members are separated such that the central and side pipe connection members can be individually made up with other pipe connection members of other central and side pipes.

### Claim 18 (depends on 9)

The marine riser segment of claim 9, further comprising a buoyancy module in which the side pipes and central pipe are at least partially embedded.