Aramid composite well riser for deep water offshore structures
AssigneeConoco Inc.
InventorsMamdouh M. Salama, John A. Mercier
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Abstract
Lightweight well riser elements for offshore platforms are formed of an aramid fiber/resin matrix material. The well risers are preferably in tubular form and include metallic end connectors for interconnecting a plurality of tubular members to form a well riser. Alternatively, the well riser may be formed in one piece extending for the entire length from a subsea template to the well deck on a floating platform.
Claims14
In a floating tension leg platform wherein a plurality of substantially vertically oriented, tensioned well risers are connected so as to be constantly in tension between a subsea template located on a sea bottom and said floating platform, the improvement which comprises each of said well risers being a lightweight composite structure of a plurality of longitudinally and circumferentially oriented first aramid fibers embedded in a resin matrix, the aramid fibers having an elastic modulus of less than about twenty million psi, said composite structure having a resulting low axial stiffness permitting sufficient elongation of said riser to accommodate variations in distance between said subsea template and said floating platform without the use of a conventional riser tensioner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.