SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONNECTING A TERMINATION BODY TO A PORTION OF A RISER

Abstract

A system has a riser and a termination body, the termination body being arranged to connect at least one first conduit arranged along the riser and at least one second conduit extending from the riser to a drilling rig, where the termination body has a first clamp body and a second clamp body arranged for mutual joining and radial enclosure of a portion of the riser, and at least one receptacle block for connecting the at least first conduit, where the portion of the riser is unsplit. A method for connecting the termination body to the riser is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system comprising a riser and a termination body, the termination body being arranged to connect at least one first conduit arranged along the riser and at least one second conduit extending from the riser to a drilling rig, wherein characterised in that the termination body comprises: i) a first clamp body and a second clamp body arranged for mutual joining and radial enclosure of a portion of the riser, and ii) at least one receptacle block for connecting the at least one first conduit and the at least one second conduit; and in that the portion of the riser is unsplit.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the termination body is arranged for being releasably attached to the riser.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the first clamp body and the second clamp body comprise at least one abutment surface arranged to lie supportive against the riser or an element surrounding the riser.

4. A termination body for use in a system comprising a riser and the termination body, the termination body being arranged to connect at least one first conduit arranged along the riser and at least one second conduit extending from the riser to a drilling rig, wherein the termination body comprises: i) a first clamp body and a second clamp body arranged for mutual joining and radial enclosure of a portion of the riser, and ii) at least one receptacle block for connecting the at least one first conduit and the at least one second conduit; and in that the portion of the riser is unsplit.

5. The termination body according to claim 4, wherein the at least one receptacle block is releasably attached to at least one of the clamp bodies.

6. The termination body according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising means for engaging with corresponding means on the riser for preventing the termination body from moving in at least one direction along the riser.

7. The termination body according to claim 4, wherein the termination body comprises means for preventing the termination body from rotating around the riser.

8. The termination body according to claim 4, wherein the termination body comprises means for preventing the termination body from rotating around the riser.

9. The termination body according to claim 4, wherein at least one receptacle block comprises a housing for receiving an alignment means for a connection body.

10. A coupling system for connecting a first conduit 410 arranged along a riser and a second conduit extending from the riser to a drilling rig, wherein the coupling system comprises a termination body, the termination body being arranged to connect at least one first conduit arranged along the riser and at least one second conduit extending from the riser to a drilling rig, wherein the termination body further comprises: i) a first clamp body and a second clamp body arranged for mutual joining and radial enclosure of a portion of the riser, and ii) at least one receptacle block for connecting the at least one first conduit and the at least one second conduit; and in that the portion of the riser is unsplit wherein the termination body is mounted on the riser.

11. A method for connecting the termination body according to claim 4, to the riser, wherein the method comprises the steps of: arranging the clamp bodies around a portion of the riser; joining the clamp bodies to each other; connecting at least one first conduit to at least one corresponding first conduit connection on the receptacle block; and connecting at least one second conduit to at least one corresponding second conduit connection on the receptacle block, so that a fluid may flow between the at least one first conduit and the at least one second conduit.

12. The system according to claim 2, wherein each of the first clamp body and the second clamp body comprise at least one abutment surface arranged to lie supportive against the riser or an element surrounding the riser.

13. The termination body according to claim 5, further comprising means for engaging with corresponding means on the riser for preventing the termination body from moving in at least one direction along the riser.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] In the following is described an example of a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0064] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a termination body;

[0065] FIG. 2 shows the termination body and a pipe arrangement comprising a plurality of first conduits.

[0066] FIG. 3 shows the termination body being positioned to the riser;

[0067] FIG. 4 shows the termination body positioned to the riser;

[0068] FIG. 5 shows a first high-pressure conduit connected with a second high-pressure conduit; and

[0069] FIG. 6 shows a rotational lock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0070] FIG. 1 shows a termination body 1 for a riser 9 (FIGS. 3-6). The termination body 1 is multi sectional, comprising a first clamp body 10a and a second clamp body 10b, a first receptacle block 130a and a second receptacle block 130b.

[0071] The two clamp bodies 10a, 10b are arranged for a mutual joining and a radial enclosure of a portion of the riser 9. The receptacle blocks 130a, 130b illustrated are arranged for being connected to the first clamp body 10a, where a pair of recesses 132 in the receptacle blocks 130a, 130b corresponds with a pair of sliding rails 102 in the first clamp body 10a.

[0072] A bolt connection 105 comprising multiple bolts locks first clamp body 10a with the second clamp body 10b. The bolt connection 105 may create a bias for creating friction between the clamp bodies 10a, 10b and the riser 9. The friction helps to hold the termination body 1 to the riser 9.

[0073] The first clamp body 10a and a second clamp body 10b comprise at least one abutment surface 108 arranged to lie supportive against the riser 9. The abutment surfaces 108 have an inner radius corresponding with an outside radius of the riser 9. Each of the illustrated clamp bodies 10a, 10b comprises three abutment surfaces 108, whereof one of the said abutment surfaces 108 is shaped as a clamping bracket 112.

[0074] The termination body 1 comprises means for engaging with corresponding means on the riser 9 for preventing the termination body 1 to move in at least one direction along a centre axis 9X of the riser 9. On the illustrated embodiment, said means is a recess 106 arranged to engage with a collar 91 (FIG. 3) arranged on the outside of the riser 9. The inner radius of the recess 106 corresponds with the outer radius of the collar 91. When connected to the riser 9, a first surface 109 of the recess 106 lies supportively against a corresponding surface 910 on the collar 91, keeping the termination body 1 in a fixed axial position.

[0075] The first clamp body 10a illustrated is formed from a compact block. The second clamp body 10b illustrated is formed by sheet metal plates.

[0076] The first clamp body 10a comprises guide sleeves 103 arranged to receive corresponding alignment means 50 for a connection body 5 (FIG. 5. The connection body 5 illustrated in FIG. 5 illustrates the applicant's own connection body 5, referred to as a click stab connection body.

[0077] FIG. 2 shows the connections between the receptacle blocks 130a, 130b and the first conduits 41a. The first receptacle block 130a is illustrated with three first conduit connections 136 and three corresponding second conduit connections 131. The second receptacle block 130b is illustrated with two first conduit connections 136 and two second conduit connections 131. The first conduit connections 136 are arranged to receive a connection portion 410 of the first conduits 41a. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the connection portion 410 may comprise a stab coupling having a diameter which is equal to or less than the first conduits 41a.

[0078] The second conduit connections 131 are arranged to receive corresponding conduit connection (not shown) being part of the connection body 5 shown in FIG. 5. The first conduit connections 136 are vertically arranged on an underside of the receptacle blocks 130a, 130b when the receptacle blocks 130a, 130b is in an operative position as illustrated. The second conduit connections 131 are horizontally arranged when the receptacle blocks 130a, 130b is in an operative position as illustrated. The first conduits 41a is supported by a pipe arrangement 2 arranged below the termination body 1.

[0079] Fluid channels (not shown) inside the receptacle blocks 130a, 130b enable a fluid to flow between the first conduits 41a and the corresponding second conduits 41b (FIG. 5). The first conduits 41a are shown with different diameters to illustrate that different conduits may be used.

[0080] FIG. 3 shows the first clamp body 10a positioned on the riser 9. The first surface 109 being part of the recess 106 is supported vertically by the corresponding surface 910 on the collar 91. The collar 91 is welded to the riser 9 designed to support the whole weight of the termination body 1. In FIG. 3, the first receptacle block 130a (hidden) is positioned into the first clamp body 10a. The receptacle blocks 130a, 130b may be dismantled from the termination body 1 in case of service or repair. The receptacle blocks 130a, 130b are locked to the first clamp body 10a by a bolt connection (not shown).

[0081] FIG. 4 shows the first clamp body 10a and the second clamp body 10b arranged to the riser 9, and the first receptacle block 130a (hidden) and the second receptacle block 130b positioned into the first clamp body 10a, forming the termination body 1.

[0082] FIG. 5 shows the termination body 1 in an operative position above the pipe arrangement 2. It should be noted that the pipe arrangement 2 may be present but is not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0083] When connecting the termination body 1 to the riser, the pipe arrangement 2 may be lowered along the riser to avoid any undesirable interaction between the termination body 1 and the conduits 41a. When the termination body 1 is fixed to the riser 9, the first conduits 41a may be raised and connected to the receptacle blocks 130a, 130b as illustrated. The second conduits 41b are connected to the receptacle blocks 130a, 130b via two connection bodies 5. The connection bodies 5 may be mounted by a hydraulically operated arm (not shown). The connection bodies 5 may be mounted by manual labour.

[0084] The connection bodies 5 illustrated comprises alignment means 50 positioned in corresponding guide sleeves 103 on the termination body 1. The alignment means 50 locks the connection bodies 5 to the termination body 1.

[0085] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of means for preventing the termination body 1 from rotating around the centre axis 9X of the riser 9. The means illustrated in FIG. 6 comprises a block 92 arranged to the collar 91, arranged to engage with a corresponding recess 111 arranged in the second clamp body 10b. When the second clamp body 10b is positioned to the riser 9, the engagement between the block 92 and the recess 111 prevents the termination body 1 from rotating around the centre axis 9X.

[0086] It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb “comprise” and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

[0087] The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.