Connections for Use In High-Pressure Risers and Make-Up Equipment Therefor
AssigneeTrendsetter Vulcan Offshore, Inc.
InventorsJames V. Maher, Daniel McCelvey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Hang-off and/or torque 1 features are provided on the pipes and/or the connections of a high-pressure riser. The hang-off features may be useful to support the weight of the full length of the riser. Accordingly, the hang-off may be done directly in the middle of the connection, where the strength is the greatest. Also, by using the torque features, it is possible to accommodate large torque values. Accordingly, a large torque resistance may be provided while an upper pipe is being made up. A make-up tool taking advantage of the hang-off and/or torque features permits assembling the high-pressure riser more automatically and with less manual intensive labor.
Claims19
A high-pressure riser, comprising:
- a plurality of pipes, each of the plurality of pipes having a first end, a second end that is opposite of the first end, and an outer surface, each of the plurality of pipes including a first threaded pin located at the first end, a first slotted area located on the outer surface adjacent to the first threaded pin, and a second threaded pin located at the second end;
- a plurality of couplings, each of the plurality of couplings having a first end, a second end that is opposite of the first end, and an outer surface, each of the plurality of couplings including a first threaded box located at the first end, a second threaded box located at the second end, and a torque contour located on the outer surface;
- and
- a first plurality of collars, each of the first plurality of collars having an inner surface and an outer surface, each of the first plurality of collars including a gripping profile located on the inner surface, and a torque contour located on the outer surface,
- wherein the first threaded pin of each of the plurality of pipes is engageable with the second threaded box of each of the plurality of couplings,
- wherein the second threaded pin of each of the plurality of pipes is engageable with the first threaded box of each of the plurality of couplings, and
- wherein the gripping profile of each of the first plurality of collars is engageable with the first slotted area of each of the plurality of pipes.
A method of assembling a high-pressure riser, comprising:
- providing a first pipe, the first pipe having a first end, a second end that is opposite of the first end, and an outer surface, the first pipe including a first threaded pin located at the first end, a first slotted area located on the outer surface adjacent to the first threaded pin, and a second threaded pin located at the second end;
- providing a coupling, the coupling having a first end, a second end that is opposite of the first end, and an outer surface, the coupling including a first threaded box located at the first end, a second threaded box located at the second end, and a torque contour located on the outer surface;
- engaging the second threaded pin of the first pipe with the first threaded box of the coupling;
- providing a second pipe, the second pipe having a first end, a second end that is opposite of the first end, and an outer surface, the second pipe including a first threaded pin located at the first end, a first slotted area located on the outer surface adjacent to the first threaded pin, and a second threaded pin located at the second end;
- providing a collar, the collar having an inner surface and an outer surface, the collar including a gripping profile located on the inner surface, and a torque contour located on the outer surface;
- engaging the gripping profile of the collar with the first slotted area of the second pipe;
- providing a make-up tool including a spider having a spider opening, the spider opening including an inner diameter and a torque profile that aligns with the torque contour of the coupling, the make-up tool further including a rotatable ring having a ring opening, the ring opening including an inner diameter and a torque profile that aligns with the torque contour of the collar;
- preventing rotation of the collar by engaging the torque profile of the spider with the torque contour of the coupling;
- rotating the second pipe by engaging the torque profile of the rotatable ring with the torque contour of the collar, applying a torque to the rotatable ring, transmitting the torque from the torque profile of the rotatable ring to the torque contour of the collar, and transmitting the torque from the gripping profile of the collar to the first slotted area of the second pipe;
- and
- engaging the first threaded pin of the second pipe with the second threaded box of the coupling.
A make-up tool for assembling a high-pressure riser, the high-pressure riser including at least one coupling having a first end, a second end that is opposite of the first end, and an outer surface, the at least one coupling including a first threaded box located at the first end, a second threaded box located at the second end, and a torque contour located on the outer surface, the high-pressure riser further including at least one collar having an outer surface, the at least one collar including a torque contour located on the outer surface, the make-up tool comprising:
- a spider having a spider opening, the spider opening including an inner diameter and a torque profile that aligns with the torque contour of the at least one coupling;
- and
- a rotatable ring having a ring opening, the ring opening including an inner diameter and a torque profile that aligns with the torque contour of the at least one collar,
- wherein the rotatable ring is slidable relative to the spider along a longitudinal axis of the spider opening and the ring opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.