SALT ring handling system and method

A method for terminating an auxiliary line carried by a marine riser and vertically suspended through a moon deck of an offshore drilling rig, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) removably carrying a split auxiliary line termination ring by a parking stand of said rig;
• (b) operatively connecting an engaging mechanism of a platform to a carrier system located on said moon deck;
• (c) positioning said platform above said split auxiliary line termination ring using said carrier system;
• (d) lowering a pickle fork carried by said platform, engaging said split auxiliary line termination ring with said pickle fork and lifting said split auxiliary line termination ring with said pickle fork;
• then
• (e) moving said platform to a position near said marine riser using said carrier system;
• (f) positioning said split auxiliary line termination ring around said marine riser using a horizontal track assembly;
• and
• (g) locking said split auxiliary line termination ring around said marine riser.

A method for terminating an auxiliary line carried by a marine riser and vertically suspended through a moon deck of an offshore drilling rig, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a handling system comprising first and second platforms each having an engaging mechanism, a track system operatively connected to a lower side of said platform with horizontal and vertical track assemblies, and a pickle fork operatively connected to said vertical track assembly;
• (b) operatively connecting said engaging mechanism of said first platform and said engaging mechanism of said second platform to a carrier system on opposing sides of said marine riser;
• (c) positioning said first platform above a first split auxiliary line termination ring portion attached to a first parking stand and positioning said second platform above a second split auxiliary line termination ring portion attached to a second parking stand using said carrier system;
• (d) disengaging and lifting said first split auxiliary line termination ring portion from said first parking stand by said pickle fork of said first platform using said vertical and horizontal track assemblies of said first platform;
• (e) disengaging and lifting said second split auxiliary line termination ring portion from said second parking stand by said pickle fork of said second platform using said vertical and horizontal track assemblies of said second platform;
• (f) transferring said first platform with said first split auxiliary line termination ring portion to a first position near said marine riser using said carrier system;
• (g) transferring said second platform with said second split auxiliary line termination ring portion to a second position near said marine riser using said carrier system;
• (h) positioning said first split auxiliary line termination ring portion and said second split auxiliary line termination ring portion around said marine riser using said horizontal track assemblies of said first and second platforms, respectively;
• and
• (i) locking said first split auxiliary line termination ring portion to said second split auxiliary line termination ring portion around said marine riser.

An offshore drilling rig comprising:

• a moon deck;
• a marine riser passing through said moon deck and vertically supported by said rig, said marine riser including a telescopic joint and carrying an auxiliary line;
• a split auxiliary line termination ring removably carried by said rig, said split auxiliary line termination ring being structured to be removably fixed about said telescopic joint to couple an upper end of said auxiliary line to a flexible draping line;
• a platform having an engaging mechanism for operatively connecting said platform to a carrier system arranged to be located on said moon deck;
• a track system operatively connected to a lower side of said platform, said track system having a vertical track assembly and a horizontal track assembly for transferring said vertical track assembly in a substantially horizontal direction;
• and
• a pickle fork operatively connected to said vertical track assembly, said pickle fork adapted for carrying said split auxiliary line termination ring, wherein said vertical track assembly is capable of transferring said pickle fork in a substantially vertical direction.