Self-Aligning, Multi-Stab Connections for Managed Pressure Drilling Between Rig and Riser Components

An apparatus for connecting rig lines of a managed pressure drilling (MPD) system on a rig to a riser, the rig lines including at least one MPD flow line and at least one MPD control line, the riser having an internal passage, the apparatus comprising:

• one or more managed pressure drilling (MPD) devices disposed on the riser and being configured to at least partially control communication of the internal passage of the riser;
• and
• a riser manifold disposed on the riser and comprising:
• at least one first mechanical connector disposed thereon, at least one first flow coupling communicating with the fluid controlled by at least one of the one or more MPD devices, and at least one first control coupling disposed in control communication with the at least one of the one or more MPD devices;
• and
• a rig manifold configured to removably position adjacent the riser manifold, the rig manifold comprising:
• at least one second mechanical connector disposed thereon, at least one second flow coupling disposed in fluid communication with the at least one MPD flow line, and at least one second control coupling disposed in control communication with the at least one MPD control line,
• the at least one first and second mechanical connectors configured to mechanically connect together, the at least one second flow coupling configured to mate with the at least one first flow coupling and configured to communicate therewith, the at least one second control coupling configured to mate with the at least one first control coupling and configured to communicate therewith.

A method of running a riser from a floating rig to a subsea wellhead, the floating rig having a managed pressure drilling (MPD) system connected to rig lines, the rig lines including at least one MPD flow line for conducting flow of the MPD system and including at least one MPD control line for conducting control of the MPD system, the riser having an internal passage, the method comprising not necessarily in sequence:

• positioning one or more MPD devices on the riser, the one or more MPD devices being configured to at least partially control communication of the internal passage of the riser;
• positioning a riser manifold on the riser, connecting at least one first flow coupling on the riser manifold in flow communication with at least one of the one or more MPD devices, and connecting at least one first control coupling on the riser manifold in control communication with at least one of the one or more MPD devices;
• connecting at least one second flow coupling on a rig manifold to the at least one MPD flow line, and connecting at least one second control coupling on the rig manifold to the at least one MPD control line;
• and
• mating the at least one first and second flow couplings in at least one flow connection and mating the at least one first and second control couplings in at least one control connection by manipulating the rig manifold on an arm toward the riser manifold and remotely mating at least one first and second mechanical connectors respectively of the riser and rig manifolds together.