Wells – Submerged well – Riser
Patent
1998-11-12
2000-11-21
Lillis, Eileen D.
Wells
Submerged well
Riser
166355, 4052242, E21B 1707, E21B 1708, E21B 33043
Patent
active
061489220
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a slide joint for a riser between a well and a floating petroleum installation, for example, an oil platform, comprising an outer pipe and an inner pipe, which pipes are adapted to move telescopically relative to one another to compensate for changes in the distance between the sea bed and the platform.
2. Description of the Background Information
A known slide joint of this type is shown in FIG. 1. To maintain tension in the riser, a plurality of wires are attached to the upper end of the outer pipe, which wires in turn are connected to a plurality of tensioners, which exert a constant tension on the riser. The wires, tensioners, appurtenant collection reels and other equipment associated with the tensioning apparatus for the riser require considerable space and, in addition, are very heavy. Moreover, the wires are under substantial strain and must be inspected and changed relatively often.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to replace the wires, tensioners and collection reels, as well as the other equipment connected thereto, with far simple and lighter equipment requiring less space. It is also an objective to provide a slide joint having improved functional efficiency and greater reliability.
This is achieved by connecting the inner pipe to a piston, which piston is responsive to actuation by hydraulic fluid to provide tractive force on the riser.
This apparatus enables savings in equipment weight in the magnitude of 100 tons, which is a considerable weight even on a large oil platform. The equipment is, moreover, far less demanding in terms of space and provides increased functional efficiency in that the riser is able to swing freely in the vertical plane without obstruction by taut wires. The tractive force exerted on the riser is entirely axial, thus avoiding the incidence of adverse lateral forces on the riser. Maintenance is also simplified considerably, for the only components that must be replaced frequently are the hydraulic hoses. There is a double set of hydraulic hoses, permitting the changing of these hoses one by one without having to shut down the system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention shall now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a slide joint according to the known technique,
FIG. 2 shows a slide joint according to the invention,
FIG. 3 shows the slide joint in more detail,
FIG. 4 shows the riser with the slide joint in even greater detail,
FIGS. 5a-5f show sections of various parts of the slide joint and the riser, and
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the inventions hydraulic system.
FIG. 6a is a detail of a portion of the hydraulic system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows a slide joint 1 in accordance with the prior art. Slide joint 1 consists of an inner pipe 2 and an outer pipe 3. Outer pipe 3 is connected to the rest of the riser 4, which extends down into the well (not shown). Outer pipe 3 is provided at the upper end thereof with a collar 5 to which is connected a plurality of wires 6, which in turn are connected to tensioners 7. There are also provided collection reels 8 for wire. The inner pipe is connected via a flexible coupling 9 to the production equipment on the platform (not shown). In FIG. 1 there are also shown two hoses, which are connected via ducts in riser 4 with the blow out of preventer (BOP), one of these hoses being adapted to throttle the return from the well, while the other hose is adapted for pumping kill mud down into the well.
In FIG. 2 a slide joint 10 in accordance with the invention is shown. The slide joint here also consists of an inner pipe 11 and an outer pipe 12. Inner pipe 11 is here also connected to the platform's production equipment via a flexible coupling 13. Here, however, the slide joint is attached to hydraulic accumulators 14 which, via hydraulic hoses 15, supply hydraulic pressure to slide joint 10, causing riser 16 to be
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Lillis Eileen D.
Maritime Hydraulics AS
Mayo Tara L.
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