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US 5,447,392 AGranted
Backspan stress joint
AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorPeter W. Marshall
Life of this patent
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AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorPeter W. Marshall
Estimating the term…
An improved support system is disclosed for providing flexibility to a restrained termination of a highly pressurized, highly tensioned tubular element which extends from a subsea facility to a compliant structure. The tubular element is provided with an intermediate tension relief connection which separates a running span from a backspan and operably connects the tubular element to a support structure, transfering thereto a significant portion of the tension carried by the tubular element. This connection passes angular rotation of the tubular element but resists lateral motion, in effect forming a node in the deflection of the tubular element. A backspan is thus created in the tubular element having a tension load which is reduced from that in the running span, thereby increasing the flexibility apparent at the end of the running span, while maintaining a relatively restrained termination of the tubular element at the distal end of the backspan. Another aspect of the present invention is a method for increasing the flexibility at a termination of a highly tensioned, pressurized tubular element connecting a subsea facility to a compliant structure.
An improved support system for providing flexibility to a restrained termination of a highly pressurized, highly tensioned tubular element in an offshore application extending from a subsea facility to a compliant structure, comprising:
An improved riser support system for supporting a riser from an offshore compliant structure, comprising:
An improved riser support system for supporting a riser from a support structure associated with an offshore compliant structure, the riser support system comprising:
A method for increasing riser flexibility at a riser termination for an offshore riser connecting subsea facilities to a compliant structure, the method comprising:
A method for increasing flexibility at a termination of a highly tensioned, pressurized tubular element deployed in a deepwater, offshore application to connect a subsea facility to a compliant structure, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.