Method for connecting a submerged well head to a pipe consisting of steel tubes
AssigneeSubsea Equipment Associates Limited
InventorsRoger Andre Marie Marquaire, Michel Georges August Curtis, Robert Edouard Schappel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In the connection of a relatively inflexible pipe to a submerged well head at a depth which may be greater than that to which divers can descend, a pipe placing structure is first locked onto the well head and the pipe is then lowered and automatically connected to the placing structure, a bell housing a sub-assembly including the master valve is next lowered onto the well head and locked thereon by a bearing structure to which the bell is attached. A crew is transferred to the bell to connect the sub-assembly to the well head and to a connector which is automatically connected to the pipe.
Claims12
A method of connecting a relatively inflexible outflow pipe to a submerged well head at a depth which may be greater than that which can be reached by a diver, the method comprising the steps of;
- attaching a pipe connector at the surface to an end of said outflow pipe;
- locking said pipe connector onto a placing structure fixed relative to said well head;
- lowering a diving bell onto said well head, said diving bell being provided with a bearing structure which is connected to said well head to thus render watertight the volume formed by said well head, said structure and said bell;
- the orientation of said bell and said bearing structure being chosen as a function of the orientation of said pipe connector relative to said well head;
- attaching to said well head a sub-assembly coupled to the lining of said well head;
- connecting said sub-assembly to a device for automatic connection to said pipe connector, which automatic connection device is fixed to said bearing structure;
- and automatically connecting said device to said pipe connector.
Apparatus for connecting a relatively inflexible outflow pipe to a submerged well head casing comprising;
- means for guiding and receiving a pipe connector fixed to the end of said outflow pipe;
- means for locking said means for guiding and receiving onto the well head casing;
- said guide and receiving means including a portion serving as a stop for limiting passage therethrough of an end of said pipe connector, a conical guide portion and a cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion including means for locking said pipe connector relative thereto;
- and means for determining the orientation of said guiding and receiving means with respect to the well head casing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.