MARINE DRILLING RISER JOINT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a marine drilling riser joint, adapted for the securement of one or more umbilicals (36) thereto. The marine drilling riser joint comprises one or more umbilical gutter assemblies (8), connected to or formed integral in an outer surface of a buoyancy module on the exterior of the marine drilling riser joint and provided parallel to the riser pipe, the umbilical gutter assembly comprising: an umbilical gutter (8) adapted to accommodate one or more umbilicals; and a resilient gutter cover (82a, 82b), which is elastically deformable by a loom tool, which resilient gutter cover in a closed position covers the umbilical gutter and in an elastically deformed position provides a working clearance to allow the one or more umbilicals to be introduced into the umbilical gutter.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A marine drilling riser joint, adapted for the securement of one or more umbilicals thereto, the riser joint comprising: a riser pipe; one or more peripheral lines extending parallel to the riser pipe; one or more buoyancy modules arranged circumferentially around the riser pipe; and connector fitting arrangements at each end thereof, wherein the marine drilling riser joint further comprises one or more umbilical gutter assemblies, connected to or formed integral in an outer surface of a buoyancy module on the exterior of the marine drilling riser joint and provided parallel to the riser pipe, the umbilical gutter assembly comprising: an umbilical gutter adapted to accommodate one or more umbilicals; and a resilient gutter cover, which is elastically deformable by a loom tool, which resilient gutter cover in a closed position covers the umbilical gutter and in an elastically deformed position provides a working clearance to allow the one or more umbilicals to be introduced into the umbilical gutter.

15. The marine drilling riser joint according to claim 14, wherein the outer surface of a buoyancy module is provided with a groove, parallel to the riser pipe.

16. The marine drilling riser joint according to claim 15, wherein at least the umbilical gutter of the umbilical gutter assembly is connected to or formed integral in the groove.

17. The marine drilling riser joint according to claim 15, wherein the resilient gutter cover in the closed position covers the groove and is provided flush with the outer surface of the buoyancy module.

18. The marine drilling riser joint according to claim 14, wherein the umbilical gutter and/or resilient gutter cover is provided with one or more anchoring protrusions, and wherein the umbilical gutter and/or resilient gutter cover is molded integral with the buoyancy module.

19. The marine drilling riser joint according to claim 14, wherein the resilient gutter cover is formed integral with the umbilical gutter.

20. the marine drilling riser joint according to claim 14, wherein the resilient gutter cover is composed of overlapping cover portions.

21. In combination: the marine drilling riser joint of claim 14; and a loom tool adapted to elastically deform a section of the resilient gutter cover and provide a working clearance for the one or more umbilicals to be introduced into the umbilical gutter.

22. An offshore drilling vessel adapted to perform subsea wellbore related operations involving the building of a riser string between the subsea wellbore and the vessel, comprising: a hull; and a number of the marine drilling riser joints according to claim 14, each marine drilling riser joint comprising: a riser pipe; one or more peripheral lines extending parallel to the riser pipe; one or more buoyancy modules arranged circumferentially around the riser pipe; connector fitting arrangements at each end thereof; one or more umbilical gutter assemblies, connected to or formed integral in an outer surface of a buoyancy module on the exterior of the marine drilling riser joint and provided parallel to the riser pipe, the umbilical gutter assembly comprising: an umbilical gutter adapted to accommodate one or more umbilicals; and a resilient gutter cover, which is elastically deformable by a loom tool, which resilient gutter cover in a closed position covers the umbilical gutter and in an elastically deformed position provides a working clearance to allow the one or more umbilicals to be introduced into the umbilical gutter; one or more umbilicals; and a loom tool adapted to elastically deform a section of the resilient gutter cover and provide a working clearance for the one or more umbilicals to be introduced into the umbilical gutter.

23. The offshore drilling vessel according to claim 22, wherein the vessel is provided with a riser handling capacity hoisting device having a riser hanger device, which is adapted to raise and lower a riser string that is suspended from said riser hanger device, wherein the loom tool is provided adjacent the riser hanger device.

24. The offshore drilling vessel according to claim 22, wherein the vessel is provided with an ROV comprising the loom tool.

25. A method for attaching one or more umbilicals to a riser joint, comprising the steps of: providing the marine drilling riser joint according to claim 14, comprising: a riser pipe; one or more peripheral lines extending parallel to the riser pipe; one or more buoyancy modules arranged circumferentially around the riser pipe; connector fitting arrangements at each end thereof; and one or more umbilical gutter assemblies, connected to or formed integral in an outer surface of a buoyancy module on the exterior of the marine drilling riser joint and provided parallel to the riser pipe, the umbilical gutter assembly comprising: an umbilical gutter adapted to accommodate one or more umbilicals; and a resilient gutter cover, which is elastically deformable by a loom tool, which resilient gutter cover in a closed position covers the umbilical gutter and in an elastically deformed position provides a working clearance to allow the one or more umbilicals to be introduced into the umbilical gutter; providing one or more umbilicals; lowering the drilling riser joint into the sea; lowering the one or more umbilicals into the sea; and providing and operating a loom tool to elastically deform a section of the resilient gutter cover and provide a working clearance, allowing the one or more umbilicals to be introduced into the umbilical gutter.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the loom tool is provided above sea level, and wherein the one or more umbilicals are attached to a riser joint prior to launching the riser joint with the one or more umbilicals into the sea.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the loom tool is provided on an ROY, and wherein the one or more umbilicals are attached to a riser joint after launching the riser joint and the one or more umbilicals into the sea.

28. Offshore drilling vessel according to claim 23, wherein the vessel is provided with an ROV comprising the loom tool.

Description

[0093] The invention is elucidated further in relation to the attached drawings, in which:

[0094] FIG. 1 is a part of a cross section through an offshore drilling vessel according to the invention;

[0095] FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of a marine drilling riser joint of FIG. 1, provided with two umbilicals,

[0096] FIG. 3a is a schematic cross section of an umbilical gutter assembly of a riser joint is shown in closed position,

[0097] FIG. 3b is a schematic cross section of the umbilical gutter assembly of FIG. 3a in an elastically deformed position,

[0098] FIG. 4 is a detailed schematic perspective view of a loom tool and umbilical guide reel of the vessel of FIG. 1.

[0099] In FIG. 1 part of an offshore drilling vessel 10 is shown, which is adapted to perform subsea wellbore related operations involving the building of a riser string between the subsea wellbore (not shown) and the vessel 10. The vessel may be a mono-hull vessel, but also a catamaran-type vessel or vessel having a different type of hull is also conceivable.

[0100] In the shown embodiment, the offshore drilling vessel 10 comprises a hull 11 and a moonpool 12 that extends through the hull 11. It is also conceivable that the subsea wellbore related operations take place from a side or rearside of the hull, and the moonpool may be dispensed with.

[0101] The moonpool 12 has, as is preferred, a rectangular shape with opposed lateral sides, a front side and a rear side. A front main deck 13 extends between the moonpool 12 and the front side of the vessel (not shown). A rear main deck 14 extends between the moonpool 12 and the stern of the vessel (not shown). Likewise, the moonpool comprises a rear moonpool area 12b and a front moonpool area 12a.

[0102] The vessel is equipped with a tower 20, which is, as is preferred, embodied as a hollow construction mast having a top 21 and having a base 22 that is integral with the hull 11.

[0103] At the rear moonpool area, the vessel is provided with a working deck 25 arranged above the rear moonpool area 12b. In view of assembly and disassembly of a riser string 30 along a firing line 31 through the rear moonpool area 12b the vessel is equipped with a riser string assembly hanger 27 that is adapted to suspended therefrom a riser string 30 in the firing line 31 into the sea during the riser assembly and disassembly process. As preferred, this hanger 27 is mounted on the working deck 25, e.g. embodied as a riser spider, e.g. provided with a gimballing support so as to allow for angular variation between the riser string and the working deck, e.g. due to sea motion of the vessel.

[0104] The vessel 10 has a riser string handling capacity hoisting device including a riser string lifting tool 28 which is movable up and down relative to the mast 20 and that is adapted to connect to an end of a drilling riser joint, and is embodied to support the weight of a riser string in the firing line 31 when released from the riser string assembly hanger 27.

[0105] The riser string lifting tool 28 here is suspended from a travelling hanger device 29 that is movable up and down along the rear side of the mast 20 along one or more vertical rails.

[0106] The hanger device 29 is suspended by one or more cables from a sheave arrangement at the top of the mast, which one or more cables are connected to one or more winches 29a, e.g. arranged within the mast 20.

[0107] The offshore drilling vessel 10 comprises a number of marine drilling riser joints according to claim 1, which are to be interconnected to build a riser string. Three interconnected marine riser drilling riser joints 1a, 1b and 1c are shown. Each of the shown marine riser joints comprises a centrally provided riser pipe 4, two peripheral lines 5a, 5b extending parallel to the riser pipe and five buoyancy modules 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e arranged circumferentially around the riser pipe of riser joint 1c. The buoyancy modules of riser joint 1b are labelled 6a′, 6b′, 6c′, 6d′, 6e′. Furthermore, connector fitting arrangements 7 are at each end thereof. The umbilical gutter assemblies of the invention are not visible in this overview, but is shown in detail in FIG. 2 as will be elucidated below.

[0108] In FIG. 1, furthermore an umbilical reel 35 is visible, provided on the offshore drilling vessel 10, comprising an umbilical 36. The umbilical 36 is unspooled in a horizontal direction towards an umbilical guide reel 37 adjacent the firing line 31 and riser string 30, to change the direction from horizontal to vertical to be lowered with the riser string 30, and according to the invention secured to a riser joint.

[0109] A loom tool 38 is provided adjacent the umbilical 36 and the marine drilling riser joint la. This is shown in more detail in FIG. 4, in which it is visible that in this embodiment the umbilical guide reel 37 and loom tool 38 are formed integral. In alternative embodiments, the umbilical guide reel and the loom tool are provided as separate components. In FIG. 4, it can be discerned that the loom tool 38 of this embodiment is provided with two cover deformers 38i and 38ii, which are each adapted to deform the resilient gutter cover and provide a working clearance, such as shown in FIG. 3b. It is conceivable that a loom tool comprises a leading cover deformer adapted to open the gutter cover and a trailing cover deformer adapted to close the gutter cover, which differ from one another. On the other hand, a symmetrical loom tool comprising two cover deformers adapted to elastically deform a gutter cover allow the same loom tool to be applied when introducing an umbilical into an umbilical gutter assembly and removing an umbilical from the umbilical gutter assembly.

[0110] The loom tool 38 is here provided above water level 19 and below riser string assembly hanger 27. The loom tool 38 is capable of elastically deforming a resilient gutter cover and providing a working clearance allowing the introduction of umbilical 36 into an umbilical gutter provided in buoyance module 6a′ of drilling riser joint 1b. Upon lowering the riser string 37, subsequently the umbilical 36 may be introduced into an umbilical gutter provided in buoyance module 6b′ of drilling riser joint 1b, etc. etc. As visible adjacent connector fitting arrangement 7 between drilling riser joints 1a and 1b, the umbilical 36 passes the connector fitting arrangement when crossing over from a buoyancy module of one drilling riser joint to a buoyancy module of a subsequent drilling riser joint.

[0111] The loom tool 38 and umbilical guide reel 37 are suspended via a flexible arm 38a from a rail-mounted trolley 39, which is horizontally translatable across rails 40 to the opposite side of the moonpool, the front moonpool area 12a.

[0112] In FIG. 2 a marine drilling riser joint 1 of FIG. 1 is shown in detail. The shown marine drilling riser joint 1 comprises a riser pipe 4 and four peripheral lines 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d extending parallel to the riser pipe 4. Around the riser pipe and peripheral lines are multiple buoyancy modules arranged, only one of which is visible here. Buoyancy module 6 is arranged circumferentially around the riser pipe 4, and is here composed of two “clamshell” longitudinal half-cylinder buoyancy elements 6i and 6ii that are clamped around the riser pipe 4 and peripheral lines 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d. In the shown embodiment, both buoyancy elements 6i and 6ii are provided with molded-in grooves at the inner surface, recesses and holes to accommodate attachment hardware and auxiliary lines 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d.

[0113] Buoyancy element 6i is provided with two grooves 6G at an outer surface 6S, in which two umbilical gutter assemblies 8a, 8b, are provided on the exterior of the marine drilling riser joint 1 and provided parallel to the riser pipe 4. In particular, umbilical gutters 81 are formed integral with the groove 6G. In each gutter assembly 8a, 8b, one umbilical 36a, 36b respectively is accommodated. A connector fitting arrangement at the end of the marine riser joint 1 is not visible.

[0114] In FIGS. 3a and 3b, an embodiment of an umbilical gutter assembly 8 is shown in detail, possibly the umbilical gutter assembly 8 of FIG. 2. The umbilical gutter assembly 8 comprises an umbilical gutter 81, adapted to accommodate one or more umbilicals. Here, one umbilical 36 is shown. The umbilical gutter assembly 8 furthermore comprises a resilient gutter cover, here composed of overlapping cover portions 82a, 82b, which is elastically deformable by a loom tool, such as loom tool 38 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The resilient gutter cover 82a, 82b comprises two overlapping flaps, overlapping each other above the umbilical gutter. In an alternative, not shown embodiment, the resilient gutter cover is formed integral with the umbilical gutter.

[0115] In FIG. 3a, the resilient gutter cover 82a, 82b is shown in a closed position, covering the umbilical gutter 81 and the umbilical 36 provided therein. In the shown embodiment, as visible in FIG. 2, the resilient gutter cover 82a, 82b in the closed position covers the umbilical gutter 81 and is provided flush with the outer surface 6S of the buoyancy module 6. In FIG. 3b, the resilient gutter cover 82a, 82b is shown in an elastically deformed position, in which a working clearance C is provided to allow the one or more umbilicals 36 to be introduced into, or removed from the umbilical gutter 81.

[0116] The umbilical gutter 81 of the shown embodiment is provided with one or more anchoring protrusions 83. This allows the umbilical gutter 81 to be molded integral with the buoyancy module, to form an integral element.