Pipe joints or couplings – Having plural independent paths – For concentric tubes or pipes
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-27
2002-07-16
Lavinder, Jack (Department: 3628)
Pipe joints or couplings
Having plural independent paths
For concentric tubes or pipes
C285S124100, C285S124300, C166S367000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06419277
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention is related generally to the field of conduits used as marine drilling riser. More specifically, the invention is related to methods and apparatus for joining together sections of such riser where the riser includes external conduits.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Marine drilling riser is a conduit which extends generally from a valve system (called a “blowout preventer” or “BOP” stack) disposed on the sea floor up to equipment, typically a drilling rig, disposed on a floating drilling vessel. The riser is used to return drilling fluid (“mud”) and drill cuttings from a wellbore drilled through earth formations below the sea floor. Marine drilling riser typically includes a number of auxiliary conduits positioned generally externally to the main pipe or conduit. As is known in the art, the auxiliary conduits, including a choke/kill line, a mud boost line and hydraulic lines, provide communication from the drilling rig to the wellbore through the BOP stack, provide communication to the drilling riser through a riser adapter, and supply hydraulic power to control pods which operate the various control functions on the BOP stack.
Assembling a marine riser, particularly when the auxiliary conduits are used, can be time consuming and expensive. The difficulty in such assembly is a result of the need to keep the auxiliary conduits rotationally fixed. Various connection devices have been developed to increase the speed and efficiency of marine riser assembly where auxiliary conduits are used. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,496,173 issued to Roche et al. describes a threaded connector for segments of marine riser which enables the segments (“joints”) of riser to remain rotationally fixed while providing. substantial and evenly distributed axial force to couple the riser joints. Still other connections include flanges which can be bolted together, as explained in the Roche et al. '173 patent.
Riser connection methods and apparatus known in the art, while effective in reducing the time and expense of riser assembly, require expensive and difficult machining to the riser joints and/or the coupling mechanisms themselves.
It is desirable to have a marine riser connection which enables using conventional threaded couplings between the riser joints while enabling auxiliary conduits to remain rotationally fixed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a marine riser segment, which comprises a riser joint having a threaded coupling at each end and flanges disposed on an exterior of the joint. Each of the flanges is coupled to the joint by a bearing. The flanges including openings therein for auxiliary conduits, so that the conduit joint is connectible to another such conduit joint by relative rotation of corresponding ones of the threaded couplings, while the flanges remain rotationally fixed.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3858401 (1975-01-01), Watkins
patent: 4330140 (1982-05-01), Hampton
patent: 4487433 (1984-12-01), Miller
patent: 4496173 (1985-01-01), Roche et al.
patent: 4646840 (1987-03-01), Bartholomew et al.
patent: 4662785 (1987-05-01), Gibb et al.
patent: 4808035 (1989-02-01), Stanton et al.
patent: 4911243 (1990-03-01), Beynet
patent: 5423575 (1995-06-01), Parks
patent: 5657823 (1997-08-01), Kogure et al.
patent: 6004074 (1999-12-01), Shanks, II
“Series 500 Type 533 Tubing Connection, For Production Tubing and Workstring Applications” Bulletin 9403-C; Hydril Company, Undated.
“Series 500 Type 521 Casing Connection, An Excellent Choice for Horizontal Wells and Large Diameter Surface Casing” Bulletin 9001-C; Hydril Company, Undated.
“Series 500 Type 563 Casing Connection, For Structurally Demanding Production Casing and Thermal Applications” Bulletin 9101-C; Hydril Company, Undated.
“Series 500 Type 513 & Type 523 Integral Casing Connections, Combining the Benefits of a Metal Seal with the Superior Compression and Torque Capabilities of the Wedge Thread” Bulletin 9902-A; Hydril Company, Undated.
“Series 500 Type 553 Tubing Connection, Combining the Benefits of an Integral Connection with the Reduced Cost of One-End Upset (OEU) Pipe” Bulletin 9901-A; Hydril Company, Undated.
“Series 500 Type 563 Tubing Connection, For Production Tubing and Workstring Applications” Bulletin 9401-B; Hydril Company, Undated.
“Series 500 Type 503 Tubing Connection, Combining the Benefits of an Integral Connection with the Reduced Cost of API Upset Pipe” Bulletin 0001; Hydril Company, Undated.
“Series 500 Type 501, Type 531 and Type 561 Tubing Connections, For Production Tubing and Workstring Applications” Bulletin 9502-A; Hydril Company, Undated.
“Series 500 Type 511 Casing Connection, For Surface Casing, Drilling and Horizontal Liners, and Wash Pipe Application” Bulletin 9501-B; Hydril Company, Undated.
Hewitt James M.
Hydril Company
Lavinder Jack
Rosenthal & Osha L.L.P.
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