JUNCTION BOX FOR CONNECTING TWO UMBILICAL SECTIONS

Abstract

The present invention relates to junction boxes for umbilicals. In this context, the present invention provides a junction box for connecting two umbilical sections, comprising a plurality of main pipes (2), suitable for individually connecting a plurality of hydraulic hoses (I) of a first umbilical section to a plurality of hydraulic hoses (I) of a second umbilical section, in which the junction box also comprises an auxiliary pipe network (3) hydraulically connecting all of the main pipes (2).

Claims

1. A junction box to connect two sections of an umbilical, wherein the junction box comprising: a plurality of main pipes to individually connect a plurality of hydraulic hoses from a first section of the umbilical to another plurality of hydraulic hoses from a second section of the umbilical; and an auxiliary piping network hydraulically connecting all the main pipes.

2. The junction box of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary piping network comprises an auxiliary valve for each of the main pipes, in which each auxiliary valve controls a hydraulic flow of each auxiliary piping element.

3. The junction box of claim 2, wherein each of the main pipes comprises a valve to control the flow from each of the hydraulic hoses of at least one of the two sections.

4. The junction box of claim 1, further comprising: a pressurization valve hydraulically connected to the auxiliary piping network of the junction box, wherein the pressurization valve is a ball valve or a check valve.

5. The junction box of claim 1, further comprising: a directional valve interconnecting the two sections, to divert a flow from the second section or invert a flow from one of the two sections.

6. The junction box of claim 2, further comprising: a pressurization valve hydraulically connected to the auxiliary piping network of the junction box, wherein the pressurization valve is a ball valve or a check valve.

7. The junction box of claim 3, further comprising: a pressurization valve hydraulically connected to the auxiliary piping network of the junction box, wherein the pressurization valve is a ball valve or a check valve.

8. The junction box of claim 2, further comprising: a directional valve interconnecting the two sections, to divert a flow from the second section or invert a flow from one of the two sections.

9. The junction box of claim 3, further comprising: a directional valve interconnecting the two sections, to divert a flow from the second section or invert a flow from one of the two sections.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0021] The detailed description presented below references the attached figures and their respective reference numbers.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a junction box as known in the current state of the art.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the proposed configuration of the junction box of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of an alternative configuration of the junction box proposed for the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a directional valve, which may or may not be used, in conjunction with the hydraulic circuit of the junction box of the present invention (FIG. 2) or with the alternative configuration (FIG. 3).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] First, note that the following description will begin from a preferred embodiment of the invention. As will be apparent to any person skilled in the art, however, the invention is not limited to that particular embodiment.

[0027] As noted earlier in this report, FIG. 1 shows a junction box as known in the current state of the art. In this traditional configuration, the junction box comprises hoses directly interconnected to subsequent sections of hoses.

[0028] The invention is in relation to the sophistication of this equipment, which uses piping and valve systems that allow each section to be isolated inside a junction box and to perform tests to outline the problem.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the proposed configuration of the junction box of the present invention. More broadly, the junction box of the present invention comprises a plurality of main pipes 2 (steel tubing) adapted to individually connect a plurality of hydraulic hoses 1 from a first umbilical section to a plurality of hydraulic hoses 1 from a second umbilical section, in which the junction box further comprises an auxiliary pipe network 3 hydraulically connecting all the main pipes 2.

[0030] Optionally, the auxiliary pipe network 3 may comprise an auxiliary valve 31 for each main piping element 2, wherein each auxiliary valve 31 is adapted to control the hydraulic flow of each auxiliary piping element 2.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of an alternative configuration of the junction box proposed for the present invention.

[0032] In addition, optionally, each main piping element comprises at least one valve 21 adapted to control the flow from each hydraulic line 1 of at least one of the sections.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, each main piping element 2 can comprise only one valve 21 to control the flow of hydraulic lines 1 from just one of the umbilical sections. In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, each main piping element 2 may comprise two valves 21 to control the flow from the hydraulic lines 1 of both umbilical sections. This second configuration allows the hoses to be tested independently and not just one of them independent of the second, allowing greater flexibility and assertiveness of the aforementioned tests, both for leakage and for blockages due to clogging.

[0034] Thus, a control system and valves 21, 31 is provided, which allows the flow to be diverted between non-subsequent hydraulic lines 1. In other words, the described junction box makes it possible to divert the flow from a hydraulic line from an umbilical section to a non-subsequent hydraulic line from the next umbilical section, through the described piping network.

[0035] All valves 21 and 31 must be accessible for operation by divers or using an ROV, including providing redundancies as a function of the position to be used by the junction box after its launch.

[0036] Optionally, a pressurizing valve 4 hydraulically connected to the network of pipes from the junction box can be used, which pressurization valve may be either a ball valve or a check valve. This valve must be accessible by divers or via ROV for its control.

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a directional valve that may optionally be used together with the junction box of the present invention. This configuration shows that the flow from an umbilical hydraulic hose can be diverted to a non-subsequent hydraulic valve of a second umbilical.

[0038] Other directional valve arrangements may be used, allowing combinations of alignments, bringing operational flexibility, independent of the hoses that fail, without the need to change the design of a Christmas tree layer, for example.

[0039] Another possibility allowed by this invention is the possibility of making several alignments that can resolve issues in a simplified manner, without having to replace a defective section, simply by changing the configuration and the circuit through which the hydraulic fluid runs.

[0040] Thus, the present invention makes it possible to identify whether the umbilical itself is the source of the problem, and in which section the leak is located, allowing the problem to be handled more effectively, and preventing replacement of the entire section, positively impacting costs using ship resources, which are traditionally very expensive in this type of situation.