IMPROVED SUBSEA TIE BACK CONNECTOR

Abstract

A tie back connector having a telescoping section wherein a distal end of the telescoping section is sealed to a detachable component by a compression clamp and the telescoping section is sealed by a tension clamp. The detachable component and a second component are coupled by extending the telescoping section of the second component to fill a gap between the detachable component and second component and sealing the detachable component to the second component using the compression clamp and sealing the telescoping section using the tension clamp.

Claims

1. A connector (10) for connecting a detachable part (20) to a second part (30), the connector comprising a telescoping section (100), a compression clamp (200) and a tension clamp (300); wherein the telescoping section (100) comprises a first telescoping component (110) and a second telescoping section (120); the compression clamp is arranged to urge a distal end of the first telescoping section to seal against a distal end of said detachable part; and the tension clamp (300) is arranged to seal the first telescoping section (110) to the second telescoping section (120).

2. The connector (10) of claim 1, wherein the second telescoping section (120) is formed with an enlarged internal cross-sectional area.

3. The connector (10) according to claim 1, wherein the first telescoping section includes an outwardly extending lip and the second telescoping part comprises an inwardly extending rim, the rim and lip being arranged to abut each other as the telescoping section is extended and wherein a seal is arranged between the lip and rim and compression of the seal between the lip and rim provides a fluid tight seal

4. The connector (10) according to claim 1, wherein the tension clamp is pushes against two anchors fixed to the first and second telescoping parts respectively and acts to force the two anchors apart.

5. The connector (10) according to claim 1, wherein the tension clamp comprises first and second opposed surfaces and said surfaces are tapered, such that, as the surfaces are caused to move towards the central axis, the tapered surfaces act against corresponding tapered surfaces.

6. The connector (10) of claim 1, wherein the compression clamp is arranged to compress two parts and the compression clamp includes two oppositely tapered surfaces such that when the clamp is actuated, the tapered surfaces move toward the central axis and act against surfaces on the respective parts being clamped to compress said parts together.

7. The connector (10) of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a frame and said frame includes location points for detachably connecting the component to be joined.

8. The connector (10) of claim 7, wherein an actuator acts against the frame to actuate the extension of the telescoping part.

9. The connector (10) of claim 7 or 8, wherein the tension clamp includes a floating mechanism to allow relative movement between the tension clamp and frame.

10. A method of connecting a detachable part (20) to a second part (30), the method comprising using a connector (10) of any preceding claim, and extending a telescoping section (100) to fill a gap between said detachable part and a distal end of the telescoping section; actuating a compression clamp (200) to seal the distal end of the telescoping section to a distal end of the detachable part (20); and actuating a tension clamp (300) to seal a first telescoping section (110) to a second telescoping section (120).

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method comprises operating the compression clamp to compress a flange of the detachable part against a flange of the second part.

12. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein the method comprises operating the tension clamp to expand.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the method comprises locating the detachable part on a frame to form a tie back connector.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the method comprises actuating an actuator to cause the telescoping section to expand to fill the gap.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the tension clamp is arranged to float relative to the frame and the method comprises allowing axial movement of the compression clamp as the compression clamp is actuated.

Description

[0019] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a simplified cross-sectional view through a part mated tie back connector assembly according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a partial cut away perspective view of a tie back connector according to an exemplary embodiment in an unmated state;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a partial cut away perspective view of a tie back connector according to an exemplary embodiment in a pre mating state;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a partial cut away perspective view of a tie back connector according to an exemplary embodiment in an unsealed mated state; and

[0024] FIG. 5 is a partial cut away perspective view of a tie back connector according to an exemplary embodiment in a sealed and mated state.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 1 there is provided a connector 10. The connector 10 is arranged to connect between a detachable part 20 and a second part 30. Here the detachable part 20 is a pipeline having a fluid passageway 22, and the second part is a manifold having a corresponding fluid passageway 32. The connector 10 is connected to the manifold to act as an extension of the manifold 30. For instance, the connector is bolted to a flange 34 of the manifold 30. Alternatively, the connector 10 could be formed integrally to the manifold.

[0026] The connector comprises a telescoping part 100, a compression clamp 200 and a tension clamp 300. The telescoping section comprises a first telescoping part 110 and a second telescoping part 120. The first telescoping part 110 is arranged to extend and contract relative to the second telescoping part

[0027] The compression clamp 200 acts to seal a distal end 112 of the first telescoping section to a distal end flange 24 of the detachable part. Here, the distal end 112 is formed as a flange to correspond to the end of the detachable part. Compression clamps are known in the art and comprise a clamp 210 that fits over the respective flanges or hubs. The clamp 210 is activated to constrict. In doing so, tapered surfaces 212 of the clamp 210 bear against corresponding tapered surfaces 25, 113 of the flanges. As the clamp is constricted towards a central axis of the fluid passageway, the flanges are urged together. Known compression clamps include a seal ring that deflects against the inner surfaces of the flanges as the clamp draws the two flanges together to create a metal-to-metal seal. Any known compression clamp is envisaged. However, a particularly suitable compression clamp is supplied under the Trade Mark Grayloc and is well known in the industry.

[0028] As the compression clamp is applied, the detachable part and connector move relative to each other in the axial direction. Moreover, to enable the detachable part to be brought in to proximity with the connector with appropriate tolerances, the relative movement needs to be accommodated in the system. In the exemplary embodiments, it is the telescoping section 100 that accommodates the movement. Here, the first part 110 extends from the second part 120 to fill the gap. As shown, the first part 110 is arranged in a stowed position within the second part 120. It will be appreciated that it is necessary to seal between the two telescoping parts. Whilst simple o-ring seals between the sliding parts may be suitable in some applications, o-ring seals are not always suitable, for instance where metal-to-metal seals are required. In the exemplary embodiments, the seal is achieved using the tension clamp 300.

[0029] The tension clamp seals the telescoping parts by pushing an outwardly extending lip of one of the telescoping parts against an inwardly extending rim of the other. It will be appreciated that the rim and lip will be formed on the parts dependent on whether the first part slides externally or internally to the second part. The Figures show the first part sliding internally, and the description from herein will be limited to that arrangement. However, it will be appreciated that the same principals would apply with appropriate modifications to the first part sliding externally to the second part.

[0030] The first part slides within the second part. A distal end of the second part includes the inwardly extending rim 122. The rim constricts the bore within which the first part fits. The first part includes the outwardly extending lip 12. Abutment of the rim 122 and lip 114 limit the stroke of the telescoping section. In addition, the rim and lip act as the flanges of the compression clamp that are urged together to seal. For instance, in accordance with known compression clamps, the rim and lip may be appropriately arranged and a seal ring may be arranged there between to deform as the tension clamp forces draw the rim and lip together.

[0031] The tension clamp 300 acts against anchors fixed relative to the first and second telescoping parts respectively. In the figures, the anchors are shown as flanges formed directly on the first and second telescoping parts. For instance flange 124 and 116. The clamp 300 is arranged to expand to bear against the flanges and urge them apart. It will be appreciated that this urging apart generates the forces drawing the rim and lip into sealing arrangement. The tension clamp 300 comprises a clamp 310 having tapered surfaces 312, 314 that oppose each other. The tapered surfaces 312, 314 bear against tapered surfaces 117, 125 of the respective flanges. Again, the tapered surfaces are engineered in accordance with the respective tapered surfaces of the known compression clamps. The difference being the arrangement of the tapered surfaces. In compression clamps, the tapered surfaces of the clamp are internal. That is, the tapered surfaces are arranged to be spaced closer together at a location spaced from the central axis. In contrast, the clamp 310 of the tension clamp is arranged to have external tapered surface. Here the clamp 31 acts as a wedge between the flanges to urge them apart. That is, the opposed tapered surfaces 312, 314 of the clamp 310 are arranged to be closer together in an axial direction at a position spaced closer to the central axis.

[0032] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the clamp 310 may include many of the applicable features of known compression clamps. For instance, it is known to be beneficial to have different types of clamp 310, for instance multiple parts or split rings and many of these benefits and technologies are readily transferable to the clamp 310.

[0033] The operation of the connector 10 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2-5. FIGS. 2-5 show more detail of the connector. However, the principal operation of the connector is as described in relation to simplified FIG. 1 and therefore like reference numerals refer to like parts and a detailed description in relation to FIGS. 2-5 will not therefore be given.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows the connector in an unmated state. The connector 10 comprises a telescoping part 100, compression clamp 200 and tension clamp 300. A frame 400 carries the components. The frame 400 includes a locator 410 for locating pins 26 assembled to the detachable part. This enables the detachable part to be easily offered to the connector and such locators are known in the art. Consequently, the first stage of the connection process is to arrange the detachable part on the frame in position and as shown in FIG. 3.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 4, once offered up, the gap between the detachable part and distal end of the telescoping section is closed by extending the telescoping section. This is achieved using an actuator 420. The actuator acts against the frame and pushes the first telescoping section towards the detachable part. As shown, the compression clamp is assembled to the frame in a sliding manner so that the compression clamp is moved with the first telescoping part. For instance the compression clamp may be directly connected in the axial direction to the first telescoping part. Once the gap is closed as shown in FIG. 4, the compression clamp can be actuated to seal the flanges. Once sealed, the detachable part and first telescoping section are fixed fast to each other. ROV buckets 220 are provided to allow activation of the clamp 310 as is known in the art.

[0036] The tension clamp 300 is assembled to the frame on a sliding carriage 430. As shown the compression clamp is also assembled to the sliding carriage such that the tension clamp 300 moves with the compression clamp 200. To allow for tolerance, the tension clamp floats on the carriage so that as it is actuated, the clamp 310 can self-centre between the respective flanges. A spring 432 maintains urges the tension clamp to an initial optimal position.

[0037] The connection is fully sealed by operating the tension clamp 300. Again, as is known in the art, an ROV bucket 320 is provided to allow the ROV to operate the clamp 300. Once fully sealed a fluid passageway is formed through the connector to allow transmission of fluid between passageways 22 and 32.

[0038] The exemplary embodiments provide an improved connector wherein the gap between the respective parts being coupled is filled by a telescoping part rather than by stretching or movement elsewhere in the system. This allows the connection to be made using lower tolerances and reduced forces, which means the connector can be lower cost and complexity to known connectors. Advantageously, the connector provides metal-to-metal seals as is required in a number of applications.

[0039] Although a few preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.