Apparatus for launch and recovery of flexible hose and method of use
AssigneeIKM Cleandrill AS
InventorHarald Hufthammer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus (130) for the deployment of a flexible hose having a hose coupling from an offshore platform or vessel. The apparatus comprises a support frame (134) and a rotating assembly (132) mounted on the support frame on a main rotation axis. The rotating assembly has a plurality of hose guide surfaces (142) arranged to contact a flexible hose and enable relative movement of the flexible hose with respect to the rotating assembly. The rotating assembly comprises at least one radial recess (139) disposed between a pair of adjacent hose guide surfaces, and which is configured to accommodate a hose coupling. Methods of use in riserless offshore drilling operations are described.
Claims10
An apparatus for the deployment and recovery of a flexible hose having a hose coupling, the apparatus comprising:
- a support frame;
- a rotating assembly mounted on the support frame on a main rotation axis;
- wherein the rotating assembly comprises a plurality of hose guide surfaces arranged to contact a flexible hose and enable relative movement of the flexible hose with respect to the rotating assembly;
- and wherein the rotating assembly comprises at least one radial recess disposed between a pair of adjacent hose guide surfaces, the at least one radial recess configured to accommodate a hose coupling;
- and wherein the rotating assembly is configured to freely rotate about its main rotation axis to position itself around the hose coupling in use.
A method of deploying a hose from an offshore structure or vessel, the method comprising:
- providing an apparatus comprising a rotating assembly mounted on the support frame on a main rotation axis and having a plurality of hose guide surfaces;
- deploying a flexible hose having hose coupling from a hose storage reel;
- passing the flexible hose over the hose guide surfaces and the rotating assembly;
- accommodating a hose coupling in a radial recess disposed between a pair of adjacent hose guide surfaces and passing the hose coupling over the rotating assembly;
- wherein the rotating assembly freely rotates about its main rotation axis to position itself around the hose coupling.
A method of recovering a hose to an offshore structure or vessel, the method comprising:
- providing an apparatus comprising a rotating assembly mounted on the support frame on a main rotation axis and having a plurality of hose guide surfaces;
- recovering a flexible hose having hose coupling from a subsea location;
- passing the flexible hose over the hose guide surfaces and the rotating assembly;
- accommodating a hose coupling in a radial recess disposed between a pair of adjacent hose guide surfaces and passing the hose coupling over the rotating assembly;
- wherein the rotating assembly freely rotates about its main rotation axis to position itself around the hose coupling.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.