Device and process for lowering and connecting the four guide lines to guide posts of an underwater station

A process for lowering and positioning four guide cables having connectors at their bottom ends and connected with a frame having a plurality of arms each having a first fixed vertical tube and a second tube slidable therewithin, said frame having a central connector adapted to be engaged with a well head at an underwater station, said station having a guide column connected with a single guide line and four guide posts having upper ends below the level of the well head;

• comprising the steps of:
• lowering said frame into the sea along the single guide line by a train of rods fixed to the top of the central connector;
• stretching the cables under constant tension while limiting relative movement of said cables with respect to said second tubes;
• lowering said frame till the frame is angularly oriented and positioned on the well head;
• said location of the frame on the well head positioning and spacing the connectors on the bottom ends of the cables a selected distance above the upper ends of the guide posts;
• and
• releasing tension in said cables for lowering said connectors to position and lock the connectors in the guide posts.

In a device for lowering and connecting guide lines associated with a frame adapted to be positioned on a well apparatus and for connecting the guide lines to respective guide posts adjacent the well apparatus including:

• a guide frame having a central connector located on a longitudinal axis of the frame for engagement with the well head;
• means for angularly orienting said frame with respect to said guide posts;
• a plurality of first fixed tubes carried by the frame at its periphery and corresponding in position to the arrangement of the guide posts on said subsea installation;
• a plurality of second tubes each slidable in a fixed tube;
• a cable passing through each of said associated first and second tubes;
• an orientable connector at the end of each cable and at the bottom of the first fixed tube;
• means for retaining each cable in the associated first and second tubes;
• whereby said second tube accommodates a cable in downward movement of the second tube and cable;
• and means providing relative sliding movement between said first and second tubes upon release of tension in said cables.

A method for lowering and positioning four guide lines carried by a frame positionable on a well head at a subsea installation having guide posts for connection to said guide lines including the steps of;

• lowering said frame toward the well head;
• maintaining constant tension on said guide lines during such lowering;
• angularly orienting said frame with respect to said guide posts;
• positioning said frame on the well head and with selected spacing of the connectors at ends of the cable above the guide posts;
• and
• releasing tension in said cables to lower the connectors at end of the cable into engagement with said guide posts.