COupling arrangement for components in subsea structures and a r

Details COupling arrangement for components in subsea structures and a r COupling arrangement for components in subsea structures and a r

1991-05-13

1992-10-27

Neuder, William P.

Wells

Submerged well

Connection or disconnection of submerged members remotely...

166344, E21B 33043

Patent

active

051581418

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention in general relates to an arrangement for interfacing retrievable subsea components particularly for hydrocarbon production, and a remotely operated tool unit (ROT) intended to cooperate with such components for performing operations thereon, for example locking or unlocking to/from the subsea structure and carrying a component between the surface and its subsea location.
The components of interest in this regard may be of various types, such as valves, control units or other types of separate retrievable units. During operations these components are mounted in fixed positions and in such a manner that they may be retrieved by means of a remotely operated tool unit (ROT).


OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An important aspect of this invention is a common interface to several or all components concerned. The common interface has been devised in order to limit the number of different installation tools for the various components.
The invention also comprises features related to the ROT as such, as well as mechanisms belonging to some types of components, since the interface arrangement to some extent will influence the structure and functions incorporated in both the ROT and the components concerned
Essentially this invention is directed to the task of making it possible for an ROT to access and interface a subsea structure with equipment modules installed therein, comprising retrievable components or units as mentioned above. A particularly important aspect in this regard is the ability of an ROT to provide locking and unlocking forces to mechanical connectors fixing the retrievable components or units to mating connector means on the subsea structure. However, also other operations on subsea installed components may be contemplated here.
A basic principle behind the solutions to be presented in the following description, and in particular in the claims, may be seen in the generally vertical application of forces or vertical movements involved, this being related to the orientation of the components or units concerned, these being mounted for retrieval in a substantially vertical direction from a fixed position on the subsea structure.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is now made to the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 somewhat simplified and in elevation shows a remotely operated tool unit (ROT) embodying aspects of this invention
FIG. 2 shows the ROT of FIG. 1 from below,
FIG. 3 shows details on the same ROT as in FIGS. 1 and 2, landed on a subsea structure and interfaced with a subsea structure component for effecting an operation on or with that component.
FIG. 4 is a vertical section showing the interface arrangement between the ROT and the component in FIG. 3
FIG. 5 shows the ROT on FIGS. 1 and 2 handling another type of component,
FIG 6 is a vertical section through the interface arrangement between the ROT and the component shown in FIG. 5,
FIG. 7 in elevation and partial section shows another example of component having an interface arrangement according to an embodiment of this invention, and
FIG. 8 in plan view shows a device for securing a component in an ROT during transportation or retrieval.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The subsea ROT illustrated in the drawings, is a self-contained unit serving primarily as a manipulating and transport tool for the installation and recovery of subsea components. The ROT is usually deployed on a lift wire, or a drill pipe from a surface vessel, and is built up within a support and protection frame more or less shaped as a cage. Guidance and landing of such an ROT on a subsea structure will generally be by the conventional haul-down method, but a guideline system or full thruster positioning may be used during deployment from a surface vessel.
As seen particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the illustrated embodiment of the ROT has a cage-like support and protection frame 1 within which a manipulating tool comprising an interface arrangement is mounted. FIG. 2 specifically shows haul-down

REFERENCES:
patent: 3096999 (1963-07-01), Ahlstone et al.
patent: 3913669 (1975-10-01), Brun et al.
patent: 4364433 (1982-12-01), Fisher et al.
patent: 4387771 (1983-06-01), Jones
patent: 4411317 (1983-10-01), Gieswein
patent: 4443130 (1984-04-01), Hall
patent: 4848472 (1989-07-01), Hopper
patent: 4856594 (1989-08-01), Jennings

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