WO1999006754A1 - Connector for fluid flow lines - Google Patents
Connector for fluid flow lines Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1999006754A1 WO1999006754A1 PCT/NO1998/000216 NO9800216W WO9906754A1 WO 1999006754 A1 WO1999006754 A1 WO 1999006754A1 NO 9800216 W NO9800216 W NO 9800216W WO 9906754 A1 WO9906754 A1 WO 9906754A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- connector
- connector according
- main components
- pulling
- locking mechanism
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L39/00—Joints or fittings for double-walled or multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a connector for the tie-in of several fluid flowlines and optionally electrical conductors, which connector comprises two mutually independent main components capable of being separated and having respective interacting contact faces, and a pulling and locking mechanism which acts to pull the main components towards each other with great force and to secure a fixed connection and reliable seal.
- Pipelines are installed between different subsea connections on the seabed for the offshore production of oil and gas. As it is not possible to use divers at great ocean depths, the pipelines are connected with the aid of special remote-controlled tools.
- the connectors may have one or more ducts depending upon their intended use. It is customary to have one or two ducts, but in the case of control cables (umbilicals) there may be as many as ten pipes which are all to be connected simultaneously.
- One feature multi-duct connectors have in common is that they have a centrally mounted pipe having a diameter of from 50 to 150 mm. Around this lie electric cables and hydraulic lines having a diameter of up to about 25 mm. Optionally, the electric cables may be passed outside the mechanical connector and be connected separately.
- a connector of the type mentioned in the introduction which is characterised in that the pulling and locking mechanism is positioned centrally in that the fluid flowlines and the optional electrical cables are positioned peripherally relative to said mechanism.
- Each main component can advantageously include an annular part having an internal groove, which part surrounds the pulling and locking mechanism.
- the pulling and locking mechanism may include two or more pawls having radially projecting lugs for engagement with each groove in the annular parts on axial actuation by a wedge-acting mandrel which in turn effects radial movement of said pawl lugs.
- At least one of the contact faces of the main components may be slightly conical in shape so that first contact between the contact faces takes place along their periphery.
- the contact faces may also be orientable relative to one another with the aid of guide pins.
- one of the main components can include detachable sealing sleeves which are compressed or deformed on actuation of the pawl lugs.
- the sealing sleeves may be end-deformable against bevelled seats in respective main components.
- the bevelling of the sealing sleeves may be in the range of 30 to 50°, and preferably be about 46°.
- Fig. 1 shows the connector of the invention in longitudinal section, where the right-hand and left-hand halves show the connector in actuated and non-actuated state respectively;
- Fig. 2 shows in section the whole connector with the pulling and locking unit and pipes having respective choke valves
- Fig. 3 shows a different longitudinal section through the connector 10 than that shown in Figs. 1 and 2;
- Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view along the line A-A in Fig. 2.
- This unit includes the actual connector 10, choke valves 18, 18A with flowlines 5, 5 A and an clamping unit 15 which is operable, e.g., by means of a tool in connection with a ROV.
- the tool on the ROV engages with a square section 16 on a screw having internal threads, which interact with external threads on an operating shaft 17 projecting down to the actual connector 10.
- This operating part per se does not constitute an essential part of the invention, and other types are fully possible, e.g., hydraulic cylinders.
- the choke valves 18, 18A are to be used to control the production from several wells. All the wells must have gas injection facility. This gas is passed via separate choke valves 18A on the unit back to the oil wells. This means that for each well, one oil choke valve 18 and one gas choke valve 18A are mounted on the unit. It must be possible to pull up the choke valves 18, 18A for inspection and maintenance.
- two choke valves for gas and two for oil are to be mounted together on the connector/choke unit or module. This is to be disconnectable and retrievable to the surface as a unit. For this reason, each choke valve must be connected to a connector which has lead-through for incoming and outgoing oil or gas flow.
- the choke valves 18, 18A are in turn to be controlled by means of hydraulic pressure. It is therefore necessary to have two hydraulic passages in the connector. Since four choke valves are to be mounted in each module it will be necessary to run 16 ducts through the connector.
- Fig. 3 shows a different section through the connector 10 than that in Fig. 2. The only difference is that a guide pin 11 and a hydraulic control fluid line 19 are shown.
- Fig. 4 shows a section through the dividing surface A-A in Fig. 2 to illustrate a typical example of what the distribution of flowlines through the connector may be like.
- the connector 10 will now be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 1.
- the upper main component 2 of the connector 10 includes a cover 20 having a bushing and support for operating shaft 17.
- the upper main component 2 accommodates a mandrel 8 and a plurality of locking pawls 4.
- the locking pawls 4 and the mandrel 8 together constitute the pulling and locking mechanism 1.
- On the right-hand side of the figure the mechanism 1 is in a locked position and on the left-hand side the mechanism is in an unlocked position.
- the pulling and locking mechanism 1 is actuated in that the operating shaft 17 with the mandrel 8 is passed downwards and the external surface of the mandrel rides on the contoured surfaces 4C on the inside of each pawl 4.
- the pawls 4 are cam-guided so that they are turned about the groove 2B and the lug portions 4B are turned radially outwards into engagement with the groove or the shoulder 3B.
- the inclined planes that face each other on the pawl lugs 4 A and 4B cause a powerful pulling together of the main components 2, 3 so that sealed contact is obtained between the contact faces 2A and 3A.
- the mandrel 8 On release of the connector 10, the mandrel 8 is pulled upwards once more and the upper portion of the mandrel thrusts against the cam surface on the internal pawl lug 4D which turns the pawl lug 4B radially inwards out of engagement with the shoulder or groove 3B.
- the pawl lug 4A also turns a little, but not out of the groove 2B in the main component 2.
- the main component 2 includes as mentioned a cover portion 20 screwed to the annular part 6 which includes the internal groove 2B.
- the annular part 6 also has pipe couplings 21 A, 2 IB of different sizes and dimensions mounted thereon.
- the annular part 6 also includes a number of sealing sleeves 9 of various sizes and dimensions.
- Each sealing sleeve 9 consists of a metal sleeve, which is externally conical at both ends.
- the conical portion is designed for contact in seats 12 in the pipe coupling parts 21 A and 21B, and also corresponding seats 12 in the lower main component 3.
- the lower main component 3 also includes an annular part 7 having said groove 3B or shoulder.
- the main component 3 includes pipe fittings 31 A and 3 IB.
- the pipe fittings 31 A and 3 IB include respective seats 12 for abutment against and interaction with sealing sleeves 9.
- the sealing sleeves 9 are a little longer than theoretical length. In this way, the sleeve is compressed, optionally deformed, during mounting and a pressure on the conical sealing faces is obtained which makes the seal gas and liquid-tight.
- the angle of taper ⁇ may advantageously be in the range of 30° to 50°.
- One of the contact faces 2 A, 3 A of the annular parts 6, 7 may be slightly conical in shape so that the radial outer part of the contact faces 2 A, 3 A contact each other only when the main components 2, 3 are pulled together.
- the annular parts 6, 7 are pre-tensioned so much that there is no separation between the annular parts when the pipes and the seals passing through the connector 10 are pressurised.
- the illustrated embodiment is of the type where the lower main component 3 is first attached to the bottom structure. Subsequently, the upper main component 2 is brought down from above by the operating device 15 and is landed and oriented with the aid of the guide pins 11 to ensure that the respective pipes 5 communicate with the correct pipes in the lower component 3.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
- Non-Disconnectible Joints And Screw-Threaded Joints (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU84669/98A AU733049B2 (en) | 1997-07-18 | 1998-07-16 | Connector for fluid flow lines |
GB9930523A GB2341215A (en) | 1997-07-18 | 1998-07-16 | Connector for fluid flow lines |
BR9810919-7A BR9810919A (en) | 1997-07-18 | 1998-07-16 | Connector for mooring fluid flow lines |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NO973330A NO310121B1 (en) | 1997-07-18 | 1997-07-18 | Connector for connecting fluid flow tubes |
NO973330 | 1997-07-18 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1999006754A1 true WO1999006754A1 (en) | 1999-02-11 |
Family
ID=19900943
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/NO1998/000216 WO1999006754A1 (en) | 1997-07-18 | 1998-07-16 | Connector for fluid flow lines |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU733049B2 (en) |
BR (1) | BR9810919A (en) |
GB (1) | GB2341215A (en) |
NO (1) | NO310121B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1999006754A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2541015A (en) * | 2015-08-06 | 2017-02-08 | Ge Oil & Gas Uk Ltd | Subsea flying lead |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB0618401D0 (en) * | 2006-09-19 | 2006-11-01 | Energy Equipment Corp | Connector and method |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1300750A (en) * | 1916-03-06 | 1919-04-15 | Locomotive Superheater Co | Connecting means for superheater elements. |
US4411317A (en) * | 1981-11-02 | 1983-10-25 | Cameron Iron Works, Inc. | Flowline connector |
SE449654B (en) * | 1984-12-05 | 1987-05-11 | Hans Hillerstrom | Pressure hose group connector |
EP0693667A1 (en) * | 1994-07-19 | 1996-01-24 | Valeo Thermique Moteur | Apparatus for the connection of the inlet and outlet tubes of heat exchanger |
-
1997
- 1997-07-18 NO NO973330A patent/NO310121B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1998
- 1998-07-16 BR BR9810919-7A patent/BR9810919A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1998-07-16 WO PCT/NO1998/000216 patent/WO1999006754A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1998-07-16 AU AU84669/98A patent/AU733049B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1998-07-16 GB GB9930523A patent/GB2341215A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1300750A (en) * | 1916-03-06 | 1919-04-15 | Locomotive Superheater Co | Connecting means for superheater elements. |
US4411317A (en) * | 1981-11-02 | 1983-10-25 | Cameron Iron Works, Inc. | Flowline connector |
SE449654B (en) * | 1984-12-05 | 1987-05-11 | Hans Hillerstrom | Pressure hose group connector |
EP0693667A1 (en) * | 1994-07-19 | 1996-01-24 | Valeo Thermique Moteur | Apparatus for the connection of the inlet and outlet tubes of heat exchanger |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2541015A (en) * | 2015-08-06 | 2017-02-08 | Ge Oil & Gas Uk Ltd | Subsea flying lead |
US10851606B2 (en) | 2015-08-06 | 2020-12-01 | Ge Oil & Gas Uk Limited | Subsea flying lead |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
BR9810919A (en) | 2000-08-15 |
GB9930523D0 (en) | 2000-02-16 |
NO310121B1 (en) | 2001-05-21 |
GB2341215A (en) | 2000-03-08 |
NO973330D0 (en) | 1997-07-18 |
AU8466998A (en) | 1999-02-22 |
NO973330L (en) | 1999-01-19 |
AU733049B2 (en) | 2001-05-03 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US4153278A (en) | Hydraulically operated misalignment connector | |
US3347567A (en) | Double tapered guidance apparatus | |
US4200312A (en) | Subsea flowline connector | |
US4260022A (en) | Through the flow-line selector apparatus and method | |
US8616586B2 (en) | Valve device provided with a sealing element | |
US4878783A (en) | Hydraulic stab connector with angular freedom | |
US4469136A (en) | Subsea flowline connector | |
CA1319166C (en) | Connector for fluid carrying conduits | |
WO2011056308A1 (en) | Wellhead tubular connector | |
US4728125A (en) | Grip and seal mechanically locking flowline connector | |
US6471250B2 (en) | Junction plate assembly for undersea hydraulic couplings | |
AU733049B2 (en) | Connector for fluid flow lines | |
EP0260237A1 (en) | Connector device for an underwater pipe system | |
EP0272770B1 (en) | Tubular connector | |
WO2019125176A1 (en) | Pipe quick connector | |
US7083201B2 (en) | Junction plate assembly for undersea hydraulic couplings | |
EP0533811B1 (en) | Connector for interconnecting conduits | |
US4326328A (en) | Method of releasably connecting a pair of pipes | |
EP0222228B1 (en) | Device for coupling and simultaneously locking of two components both radially and axially | |
EP4127390B1 (en) | Single line quick connector (sqc), a system comprising the single line quick connector and method of operating | |
US5667014A (en) | Self-removing choke insert system | |
RU2756756C1 (en) | Combined underwater wellhead equipment | |
RU2736524C1 (en) | Connecting device for small diameter pipelines | |
GB2318373A (en) | Oil field apparatus | |
EP3894657B1 (en) | Rotating indexing coupling (ric) assembly for installation and orientation of a subsea production tree |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AK | Designated states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ DE DK EE ES FI GB GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT UA UG US UZ VN YU ZW |
|
AL | Designated countries for regional patents |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW SD SZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG |
|
DFPE | Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101) | ||
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application | ||
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: GB Ref document number: 9930523 Kind code of ref document: A Format of ref document f/p: F |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 84669/98 Country of ref document: AU |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: KR |
|
REG | Reference to national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: 8642 |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 09463582 Country of ref document: US |
|
122 | Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase | ||
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: CA |
|
WWG | Wipo information: grant in national office |
Ref document number: 84669/98 Country of ref document: AU |