WO2017204649A1 - A riser hanger and method - Google Patents

A riser hanger and method Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2017204649A1
WO2017204649A1 PCT/NO2016/050106 NO2016050106W WO2017204649A1 WO 2017204649 A1 WO2017204649 A1 WO 2017204649A1 NO 2016050106 W NO2016050106 W NO 2016050106W WO 2017204649 A1 WO2017204649 A1 WO 2017204649A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
riser
flexible hose
pivot joint
fluid conduit
hanger according
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NO2016/050106
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Erlend Hovland
Rolf BAARHOLM
Original Assignee
Statoil Petroleum As
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Statoil Petroleum As filed Critical Statoil Petroleum As
Priority to PCT/NO2016/050106 priority Critical patent/WO2017204649A1/en
Publication of WO2017204649A1 publication Critical patent/WO2017204649A1/en

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
    • E21B19/002—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables specially adapted for underwater drilling
    • E21B19/004—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables specially adapted for underwater drilling supporting a riser from a drilling or production platform
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B22/00—Buoys
    • B63B22/02—Buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel
    • B63B22/021—Buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel and for transferring fluids, e.g. liquids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B22/00—Buoys
    • B63B22/02—Buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel
    • B63B2022/028—Buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel submerged, e.g. fitting into ship-borne counterpart with or without rotatable turret, or being releasably connected to moored vessel

Definitions

  • the invention relates to offshore hydrocarbon production systems, in particular to rigid risers and means to connect such risers to a host facility.
  • a semi-flexible system is described for example in US 2010/0006300 which provides a hang-off arrangement for catenary risers suspended from an offshore or inshore platform by using a rigid spool with limited flexibility.
  • the prior art tailored for connection to Tension Leg Platforms (TLP) or semi-submersible platforms.
  • TLP Tension Leg Platforms
  • a common problem for areas with surface ice, ice bergs, typhoons or hurricanes is that the Floater needs to be disconnectable.
  • the risers and mooring system are hung off at a flotation device (Riser Mooring Buoy) and the space and weight margins of the buoy are particularly limited. Hence, increased flexibility is required for these areas.
  • the invention provides a riser hanger for connecting a riser to a host facility, the riser hanger comprising, a pivot joint, and a fluid conduit connected to the pivot joint for pivotable movement and connectable to a riser end for transporting fluid from the riser to a host facility, the fluid conduit comprising a flexible hose.
  • an armoured and/ or unbonded flexible "hose” is provided at the top of the riser.
  • Armoured or unbonded flexible hose allows reduced length of the flexible member, reducing the amount of flexible member that requires inspection.
  • the required length can be determined in advance by calculating the likely maximum deflection of the riser to the platform to which it is connected.
  • the invention can be tailored to fit on a disconnectable buoy for Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) purposes, in particular turret/buoy systems for FPSOs.
  • FPSO Floating Production Storage and Offloading
  • the pivot may comprise a ball joint.
  • the flexible hose may be an unbonded flexible hose.
  • the flexible hose may be an armoured flexible hose.
  • the riser hanger may comprise a connector affixed to the ball joint and providing a connection for the riser end and for an end of the flexible hose to complete the fluid path.
  • the riser hanger may comprise an arm pivotally connecting the fluid conduit to the pivot joint.
  • the riser hanger may be adapted for use with a disconnectable buoy for Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) purposes, in particular turret/buoy systems for FPSOs.
  • the invention also provides a method of connecting a riser end to a host facility, comprising connecting the riser to a pivot joint connected to the host end facility and providing a fluid path from the riser end to the host facility via a fluid conduit comprising a flexible hose.
  • Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a riser connected to a platform in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
  • a hang-off device for a riser is illustrated in Figure 1 , where the hang off device is identified by reference numeral 1 , and the riser is identified by reference numeral 2.
  • the hang-off device is able to provide increased flexibility, which may reduce risk, weight, space needed and ultimately cost.
  • an exemplary hang-off device 1 which preferably comprises a ball joint 3. Any other type of long lasting bearing type joint with the ability to take up large offset angles can however be used.
  • a connector 5 hangs from the ball joint 3 by an arm 9 allowing pivotable movement either freely constrained only by the ball joint, or the movement of the arm might be constrained by constructional features of the joint assembly or an assembly of which the joint is a part. For example, movement might be constrained in a single plain as shown notionally in the figure; movement outside of the plain would allow the hanger to deal with more complex movements of the riser relative to the host facility such as a floater.
  • Hydrocarbons or fluids/gases are not transferred through the joint. Instead the riser content is transferred through a fluid conduit which is connected to the riser end 4 via a connector 5 hanging from the joint 3.
  • the fluid conduit includes a flexible jumper 6 from the connector 5 and over to a floater stationary connection point 7.
  • the flexible jumper 6 comprises an unbonded and/ or armoured flexible hose. In the case of a disconnectable system the jumper 6 will be from the connector 5 and over to the riser mooring buoy 8. This will allow enough flexibility in the system to take relatively large rotations of the riser without having to have hydrocarbons passing a gasket / bearing assembly and without having to take any stress in the connection / riser hang-off.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)

Abstract

A riser hanger (1) for connecting a riser (2) to a host facility (8), the riser hanger (1) comprising a pivot joint (3), and a fluid conduit (5, 6) connected to the pivot joint (3) for pivotable movement and connectable to a riser end for transporting fluid from the riser (2) to a host facility (8), the fluid conduit (5, 6) comprising a flexible hose (6).

Description

A RISER HANGER AND METHOD
Field of the Invention The invention relates to offshore hydrocarbon production systems, in particular to rigid risers and means to connect such risers to a host facility.
Background For deep water applications there is a cost reduction potential by utilizing rigid risers (e.g. steel catenary risers or Steel lazy wave risers) instead of flexible risers. Flexible risers are also prone to a number of failure modes, so in deep water the rigid risers have a robustness advantage. However, there are also many design issues with rigid risers, and one of these challenges is related to riser hang off which is used to connect the riser to the host facility. The hang-off system must be able to perform the following three basic functions:
1 . Support the riser weight
2. Accommodate the rotation between the riser and the host facility
3. Transfer fluid between the riser and the host facility
There are basically two riser hang off methods commonly used today, flexible joint and stress joint. The flexible joint has some issues related to leak potential and the stress joint is challenging to engineering and is relatively heavy and large. The maximum allowable rotation angle is also an issue for both alternatives. For some applications weight and space is limited in the riser hang off area.
A semi-flexible system is described for example in US 2010/0006300 which provides a hang-off arrangement for catenary risers suspended from an offshore or inshore platform by using a rigid spool with limited flexibility. In particular, the prior art tailored for connection to Tension Leg Platforms (TLP) or semi-submersible platforms.
A common problem for areas with surface ice, ice bergs, typhoons or hurricanes (e. g. Bay du Nord) is that the Floater needs to be disconnectable. The risers and mooring system are hung off at a flotation device (Riser Mooring Buoy) and the space and weight margins of the buoy are particularly limited. Hence, increased flexibility is required for these areas.
SUMMARY
The invention provides a riser hanger for connecting a riser to a host facility, the riser hanger comprising, a pivot joint, and a fluid conduit connected to the pivot joint for pivotable movement and connectable to a riser end for transporting fluid from the riser to a host facility, the fluid conduit comprising a flexible hose.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention an armoured and/ or unbonded flexible "hose" is provided at the top of the riser. Armoured or unbonded flexible hose, allows reduced length of the flexible member, reducing the amount of flexible member that requires inspection. In particular, the required length can be determined in advance by calculating the likely maximum deflection of the riser to the platform to which it is connected.
The invention can be tailored to fit on a disconnectable buoy for Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) purposes, in particular turret/buoy systems for FPSOs.
The pivot may comprise a ball joint.
The flexible hose may be an unbonded flexible hose. The flexible hose may be an armoured flexible hose.
The riser hanger may comprise a connector affixed to the ball joint and providing a connection for the riser end and for an end of the flexible hose to complete the fluid path. The riser hanger may comprise an arm pivotally connecting the fluid conduit to the pivot joint.
The riser hanger may be adapted for use with a disconnectable buoy for Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) purposes, in particular turret/buoy systems for FPSOs. The invention also provides a method of connecting a riser end to a host facility, comprising connecting the riser to a pivot joint connected to the host end facility and providing a fluid path from the riser end to the host facility via a fluid conduit comprising a flexible hose.
DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a riser connected to a platform in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Detailed description
A hang-off device for a riser is illustrated in Figure 1 , where the hang off device is identified by reference numeral 1 , and the riser is identified by reference numeral 2. As will be clear from the following discussion, the hang-off device is able to provide increased flexibility, which may reduce risk, weight, space needed and ultimately cost.
Referring to Figure 1 , there is provided an exemplary hang-off device 1 , which preferably comprises a ball joint 3. Any other type of long lasting bearing type joint with the ability to take up large offset angles can however be used.
A connector 5 hangs from the ball joint 3 by an arm 9 allowing pivotable movement either freely constrained only by the ball joint, or the movement of the arm might be constrained by constructional features of the joint assembly or an assembly of which the joint is a part. For example, movement might be constrained in a single plain as shown notionally in the figure; movement outside of the plain would allow the hanger to deal with more complex movements of the riser relative to the host facility such as a floater.
Hydrocarbons or fluids/gases are not transferred through the joint. Instead the riser content is transferred through a fluid conduit which is connected to the riser end 4 via a connector 5 hanging from the joint 3. The fluid conduit includes a flexible jumper 6 from the connector 5 and over to a floater stationary connection point 7. The flexible jumper 6 comprises an unbonded and/ or armoured flexible hose. In the case of a disconnectable system the jumper 6 will be from the connector 5 and over to the riser mooring buoy 8. This will allow enough flexibility in the system to take relatively large rotations of the riser without having to have hydrocarbons passing a gasket / bearing assembly and without having to take any stress in the connection / riser hang-off.
The invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment. Variations will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the inventions as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1 . A riser hanger for connecting a riser to a host facility, the riser hanger comprising:
a pivot joint; and
a fluid conduit connected to the pivot joint for pivotable movement and connectable to a riser end for transporting fluid from the riser to a host facility, the fluid conduit comprising a flexible hose.
2. The riser hanger according to claim 1 , wherein the pivot comprises a ball joint.
3. The riser hanger according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible hose is an unbonded flexible hose.
4. The riser hanger according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein the flexible hose is an armoured flexible hose.
5. The riser hanger according to any one preceding claim, comprising a connector affixed to the pivot joint and providing a connection for the riser end and for an end of the flexible hose to complete the fluid path.
6. The riser hanger according to any one preceding claim and adapted for use with a disconnectable buoy for Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) purposes, in particular turret/buoy systems for FPSOs.
7. The riser hanger according to any one preceding claim and further comprising an arm pivotally connecting the fluid conduit to the pivot joint.
8. A method of connecting a riser end to a host facility, comprising connecting the riser to a pivot joint connected to the host end facility and providing a fluid path from the riser end to the host facility via a fluid conduit comprising a flexible hose.
PCT/NO2016/050106 2016-05-26 2016-05-26 A riser hanger and method WO2017204649A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/NO2016/050106 WO2017204649A1 (en) 2016-05-26 2016-05-26 A riser hanger and method

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/NO2016/050106 WO2017204649A1 (en) 2016-05-26 2016-05-26 A riser hanger and method

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2017204649A1 true WO2017204649A1 (en) 2017-11-30

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/NO2016/050106 WO2017204649A1 (en) 2016-05-26 2016-05-26 A riser hanger and method

Country Status (1)

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WO (1) WO2017204649A1 (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1998049050A1 (en) * 1997-04-25 1998-11-05 Fmc Corporation Riser mounting arrangement for a mooring system
WO2001030646A1 (en) * 1999-10-27 2001-05-03 Applied Manufacturing Technology As Suspension device for a riser
US20100006300A1 (en) * 2007-09-25 2010-01-14 Seahorse Equipment Corp Flexible hang-off arrangement for a catenary riser
WO2013189496A1 (en) * 2012-06-21 2013-12-27 National Oilwell Varco Denmark I/S An offshore top site system

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1998049050A1 (en) * 1997-04-25 1998-11-05 Fmc Corporation Riser mounting arrangement for a mooring system
WO2001030646A1 (en) * 1999-10-27 2001-05-03 Applied Manufacturing Technology As Suspension device for a riser
US20100006300A1 (en) * 2007-09-25 2010-01-14 Seahorse Equipment Corp Flexible hang-off arrangement for a catenary riser
WO2013189496A1 (en) * 2012-06-21 2013-12-27 National Oilwell Varco Denmark I/S An offshore top site system

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