What is provided is a method and apparatus wherein a swivel can be detachably connected to an annular blowout preventer thereby separating the drilling fluid or mud into upper and lower sections and allowing the fluid to be displaced in two stages, such as while the drill string is being rotated and/or reciprocated. In one embodiment the sleeve or housing can be rotatably and sealably connected to a mandrel. The swivel can be incorporated into a drill or well string and enabling string sections both above and below the sleeve to be rotated in relation to the sleeve. In one embodiment the drill or well string does not move in a longitudinal direction relative to the swivel. In one embodiment, the drill or well string does move longitudinally relative to the sleeve or housing of the swivel.

A drilling riser running system includes a water filling system and a pressure testing system that can fill and pressure test auxiliary lines of the riser system, while simultaneously running a riser joint.

A joint assembly allows a riser system to have a weak point that can fail at a known location and tension value without reducing the riser pressure containment capacity. The joint assembly includes a standard riser pipe machined to remove material, for example, to form a groove. The joint assembly also comprises means for restoring pressure capacity. For example, the means for restoring pressure capacity include a combination of a thick-bodied clamp and a split insert ring. The split insert ring can bridge between the groove and the clamp, at least partially transferring the pressure load contained inside the machined pipe to the clamp.

A connection assembly for connecting first and second tubular members. The first tubular member has an external latching formation and there is a latch which is radially movable and configured to selectively engage the latching formation. A cam or drive ring is in surrounding relationship to the latch. There is a collar threadedly received on the second tubular body. Rotation of the collar to effect downward movement forces the drive ring downwardly and into engagement with the dog such that the dog is moved radially inwardly to engage the latching formation.

The method of providing a clamping connection comprising providing one or more clamping hubs, providing two or more clamping segments to engage the clamping hubs, constraining the clamping segments to move approximately radially with respect to the clamp hubs, providing a tension band around the clamping segments which slides circumferentially relative to the clamping segments, and adjusting the ratio of the contact area of the tension band to the clamping hubs and the area of the clamping hubs to compensate for the difference in loading on the clamping hub due to sliding friction between the tension band and the clamping hubs.

This invention relates to oil and gas exploration and comprises a direct connection system referred to as a Lower Riser Termination Assembly (LRTA), between risers made of composite material and horizontal lines installed on the seabed (flowlines). The system is applicable to a hybrid riser and its construction method allows cost reduction and system assembly/installation time optimization. The LRTA connection system is applicable to both rigid and flexible flowlines without need for any intermediate connection section/equipment between these and the risers. The construction of the system allows free vertical expansion of the risers along the entire structure. In addition, in the construction method developed for this system, the required area is significantly reduced.

A riser assembly includes a riser with a first and second riser joint, an auxiliary line, and a first and second flange. The auxiliary line has an auxiliary line joint which connects a first and second auxiliary line section. The auxiliary line joint has a first joint assembly connected to the first auxiliary line section, and a second joint assembly connected to the second auxiliary line section. The first and second joint assembly each have a bearing surface. A bearing surface of the first flange engages the bearing surface of the first joint assembly. A bearing surface of the second flange engages the bearing surface of the second joint assembly. The bearing surface of the first flange or of the first joint assembly also has a rocker formation which contacts the bearing surfaces of the first flange and of the first joint assembly while permitting a relative angular movement therebetween.

A method of monitoring a condition of a connection between two bodies which are connected using a connector. The connector has a sensor assembly which provides an output representing a degree of movement of one or both of the two bodies. The method includes installing the connector and the two bodies in a use position in which the connector joins the two bodies, and using the output from the sensor assembly and a numerical model to determine a force on one or both of the two bodies or of the condition of the connector. The numerical model is a record of test forces applied to a test element secured to the connector or of a test connector having a same configuration as the connector and a corresponding output from the sensor assembly of the connector or of the test connector during and/or after the application of each test force.

Present embodiments relate to a riser bolt torque device that is configured to couple a first riser joint to a second riser joint to form a riser of a subsea drilling system. The riser bolt torque device includes a first arm and a second arm, multiple torque tools supported on the first arm and the second arm, and one or more actuators configured to drive the first arm and the second arm to pivot relative to one another from an open configuration to a closed configuration to enable alignment between the multiple torque tools and a flange of the first riser joint.

The invention involves utilizing variable reluctance measurement technology (“VRMT”) sensors to monitor forces and stresses on drilling risers and riser towers. The tension monitoring system described herein includes an optimized configuration of variable reluctance measurement technology sensors, wherein the sensors have increased wire turns around each end of their C-cores or alternatively are mounted on mechanical amplifiers or both. An array of optimized variable reluctance measurement technology sensors can be configured at multiple points on a riser system. The VRMT sensors may be integrally attached to the risers or flexible joints for the risers, or may be installed on existing riser or flexible joint systems.