Apparatus and methods for providing VIV suppression to a riser system comprising umbilical elements
AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorsDavid Wayne McMillan, Donald Wayne Allen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for suppressing vortex induced vibrations on a marine element of a riser system wherein the riser system comprises at least one umbilical element. Systems comprising and methods of using said apparatus to suppress vortex induced vibrations. The apparatus, systems, and methods comprise module elements which provide: i) a surface around a marine element for installing VIV suppression devices; and ii) passages for housing the at least one umbilical element.
Claims30
An apparatus for housing umbilical elements of a riser system comprising a cylindrical marine element and at least one umbilical element, wherein the apparatus comprises a substantially tubular module element, the module element is designed to at least partially enclose the circumference of said cylindrical marine element, wherein said module element is substantially tubular and comprises an inner surface and an outer surface wherein both surfaces are curvilinear, wherein said outer surface is contiguous and has at least one umbilical housing passage which forms a channel for housing a portion of said umbilical element;
- a vortex induced vibration suppression device selected from the group consisting of a strake and a fairing, the vortex induced vibration suppression device installed about said outer surface of said module element.
A system for suppressing vortex-induced vibration comprising:
- a. a substantially cylindrical marine element;
- b. at least one umbilical element wherein a portion of said umbilical element runs alongside a portion of said cylindrical marine element;
- and
- c. an apparatus installed on any part of said portion of said marine element, wherein said apparatus is a substantially tubular and comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein both surfaces are curvilinear, wherein said outer surface is contiguous and has at least one umbilical housing passage which forms a channel for housing a part of said portion of said umbilical element, wherein said apparatus encloses at least 180 degrees of the circumference of said marine element;
- d. a vortex-induced vibration suppression device selected from the group consisting of a strake and a fairing, the vortex induced vibration suppression device installed about said outer surface of said apparatus.
A method for suppressing vortex-induced vibration of a system comprising a substantially cylindrical marine element and at least one umbilical element, wherein a portion of said umbilical element runs alongside a portion of said marine element, the method comprising:
- a. installing an apparatus on said marine element, wherein said apparatus is substantially tubular and comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein both surfaces are curvilinear, wherein said outer surface is contiguous and has at least one umbilical housing passage which forms a channel for housing a part of said portion of said umbilical element, wherein installing results in said apparatus enclosing at least 180 degrees of the circumference of said marine element;
- and
- b. installing a vortex-induced vibration suppression device selected from the group consisting of a strake and a fairing, about said outer surface of said apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.