Systems And Methods For Tethering Subsea Structure Mounted On A Wellhead
AssigneeTrendsetter Vulcan Offshore, Inc.
InventorsElizbar Buba Kebadze, John D. Henderson, James V. Maher, Mario Lugo, Brent Cox
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Abstract
A system for tethering a subsea blowout preventer (BOP) includes a plurality of anchors disposed about the subsea BOP and secured to the sea floor, a plurality of tensioning systems, and a plurality of flexible tension members. Each tensioning system is coupled to a frame of the BOP and is configured to apply a tensile preload to one of the tension members. Each tension member is coupled to one of the anchors and extends from a first end coupled to one of the tensioning systems to a second end coupled to an anchor.
Claims22
A system for tethering a subsea blowout preventer (BOP), the system comprising:
- an anchor disposed about the subsea BOP and secured to the sea floor;
- and
- a flexible tension member extending from a first end to a second end coupled to a tensioning system, wherein the flexible tension member extends horizontally and vertically from the first end to the second end to impart a lateral preload and a vertical preload to the subsea BOP;
- wherein the tensioning system includes a winch configured to pay in and pay out the flexible tension member, the winch including a base, a spool rotatably coupled to the base, and a locking mechanism coupled to the spool and the base, the locking mechanism having a locked position preventing the spool from rotating relative to the base, and
- wherein the winch is coupled to a frame of the subsea BOP, and the first end of the flexible tension member is coupled to the anchor.
A method for tethering a subsea blowout preventer (BOP) coupled to a subsea wellhead to an anchor disposed about the subsea BOP and secured to the sea floor, the method comprising:
- providing a flexible tension member extending from a first end to a second end coupled to a tensioning system, wherein the tensioning system includes a winch configured to pay in and pay out the flexible tension member, the winch including a base, a spool rotatably coupled to the base, and a locking mechanism coupled to the spool and the base, the locking mechanism having a locked position preventing the spool from rotating relative to the base;
- coupling the first end of the flexible tension member to the anchor;
- coupling the winch to a frame of the subsea BOP;
- extending the flexible tension member horizontally and vertically from the first end to the second end;
- imparting a lateral preload and a vertical preload to the subsea BOP;
- and
- moving the locking mechanism into the locked position.
A system for tethering a subsea blowout preventer (BOP), the system comprising:
- a plurality of anchors disposed about the subsea BOP and secured to the sea floor;
- a plurality of tensioning systems, wherein each tensioning system is coupled to a frame of the BOP;
- and
- a plurality of flexible tension members, wherein each tension member is coupled to one of the anchors,
- wherein each tension member extends from a first end coupled to one of the tensioning systems to a second end coupled to an anchor;
- wherein each tensioning system is configured to apply a tensile preload to one of the tension members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.