Improved inner drilling riser tie-back internal connector
AssigneeDril-Quip, Inc.
InventorsJohn E. Nelson, Oscar Maldonado, Bruce J. Witwer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for coupling a platform to a subsea wellhead are provided. The systems may include a riser extending between the platform and the subsea wellhead. The systems may further include an inner drilling riser tie-back connector (“ITBC”) coupled to an inner riser and having an outer body and an inner body. The inner body is at least partially disposed within the outer body, and the inner body is translatable along a longitudinal axis of the ITBC between a first unlocked position and a second locked position. The systems may additionally include a locking mechanism for the ITBC.
Claims20
A system for coupling a platform to a subsea wellhead comprising:
- a riser extending between the platform and the subsea wellhead, wherein the riser comprises an inner riser and an outer riser;
- and
- an inner drilling riser tie-back connector (ITBC) coupled to the inner riser, wherein the ITBC comprises:
- an outer body;
- an inner body at least partially disposed within the outer body, wherein the inner body is translatable through the outer body along a longitudinal axis of the ITBC between a first unlocked position and a second locked position;
- and
- a locking mechanism comprising a first threaded ring disposed about an outer circumference of the inner body and a second threaded ring disposed along an inner circumference of the outer body, wherein the second threaded ring comprises a series of teeth extending along an outer circumference of the second threaded ring and the outer body comprises a series of corresponding and complementary alterating teeth extending along an inner circumference of the outer body.
A method of coupling a subsea wellhead to a platform, comprising:
- coupling a first terminal end of a riser to the platform and a second terminal end of the riser to the subsea wellhead, the riser comprising an inner riser and an outer riser;
- coupling the second terminal end of the inner riser to an inner drilling riser tie-back connector (ITBC) having an outer body and an inner body at least partially disposed within the outer body;
- landing and locking the outer body of the ITBC within the subsea wellhead;
- and
- applying a downward weight to the inner body to at least partially actuate a locking mechanism of the ITBC, wherein applying the downward weight to the inner body translates the inner body through the outer body along a longitudinal axis of the ITBC from a first unlocked position to a second locked position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.