Apparatus for connecting drilling components between rig and riser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11629559-B2
Application number	US-202016797175-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 21, 2020
Priority date	Feb 21, 2019
Publication date	Apr 18, 2023
Grant date	Apr 18, 2023

Abstract

A riser extending from a floating rig has a riser manifold. A rig manifold can be manipulated by an arm to couple in an automated manner to the riser manifold when running the riser from the rig. The riser and rig manifolds have mechanical connectors that mechanically connect them. Additionally, the manifolds have flow couplings mating together for conducting flow in at least one flow connection, and the manifolds control couplings mating together for conducting control in at least one flow connection. At least one of the manifolds has at least one valve controllable with the at least one control connection and configured to control fluid communication for the at least one flow connection between at least one rig flow line and an internal passage of the riser.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for connecting rig lines on a floating rig to a riser, the rig lines belonging to a managed pressure drilling (MPD) system and a kill-choke system on the floating rig, the rig lines including a first MPD flow line in communication with the MPD system and including a first kill-choke flow line in communication with the kill-choke system, the riser having an internal passage, the apparatus comprising:
a riser manifold disposed on the riser and comprising: a first mechanical connector disposed thereon, a first flow coupling for conducting a first MPD flow of the MPD system, and a second flow coupling for conducting a first kill-choke flow of the kill-choke system; and
a rig manifold being configured to be removably positioned adjacent to the riser manifold, the rig manifold comprising: a second mechanical connector disposed thereon, a third flow coupling disposed in flow communication with the first MPD flow line for conducting the first MPD flow, and a fourth flow coupling disposed in flow communication with the first kill-choke flow line for conducting the first kill-choke flow,
the first and second mechanical connectors configured to mechanically connect together, the third flow coupling configured to mate in a first MPD flow connection with the first flow coupling for conducting the first MPD flow, the fourth flow coupling configured to mate in a first kill-choke flow connection with the second flow coupling for conducting the first kill-choke flow.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , the rig lines including at least one second MPD flow line in communication with the MPD system, wherein the riser manifold comprises at least one fifth flow coupling for conducting at least one second MPD flow of the MPD system; and wherein the rig manifold comprises at least one sixth flow coupling disposed in flow communication with the at least one second MPD flow line for conducting the at least one second MPD flow, the at least one sixth flow coupling configured to mate in at least one second MPD flow connection with the at least one fifth flow coupling for conducting the at least one second MPD flow.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , the rig lines including at least one second kill-choke flow line in communication with the kill-choke system, wherein the riser manifold comprises at least one seventh flow coupling for conducting at least one second kill-choke flow of the kill-choke system; and wherein the rig manifold comprises at least one eighth flow coupling disposed in flow communication with the at least one second kill-choke flow line for conducting the at least one second kill-choke flow, the at least one eighth flow coupling configured to mate in at least one second kill-choke flow connection with the at least one seventh flow coupling for conducting the at least one second kill-choke flow.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one second MPD flow conducted by the at least one second MPD connection is different from the first MPD flow conducted by the first MPD connection.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first mechanical connector comprises a pair of guide sleeve defined in a first face of the riser manifold; and wherein the second mechanical connector comprises a pair of guide posts extending from a second face of the rig manifold, the guide posts configured to insert into the guide sleeves to mechanically connect the rig manifold to the riser manifold.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first flow coupling comprises a female receptacle defined in a first face of the riser manifold; and wherein the second flow coupling comprises a male nipple extending from a second face of the rig manifold, the male nipple configured to insert into the female receptacle to make the first MPD flow connection.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an arm extending from the floating rig and supporting the rig manifold, the arm configured to: move the rig manifold relative to the riser manifold, mate the rig manifold to the riser manifold, and disconnect from the rig manifold.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein:
the arm is further configured to: connect to the rig manifold mated with the riser manifold, and remove the rig manifold from the riser manifold;
the rig manifold defines a plurality of carry slots therein and the arm comprises a plurality of carry posts removably inserted in the slots of the rig manifold;
and/or the second mechanical connector comprises a rotatable lock and the arm comprises a rotatable key removably engaging the rotatable lock.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , the rig lines including a control line for conducting control, wherein a first face of the riser manifold further comprises a first control coupling for conducting the control; and wherein a second face of the rig manifold further comprises a second control coupling for conducting the control, the second control coupling being configured to mate in a control connection with the first control coupling for conducting the control.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:
the first control coupling comprises a female electrical coupling, a female hydraulic coupling, and a female fiber optic coupling;
the second control coupling comprises a male electrical coupling, a male hydraulic coupling, and a male fiber optic coupling; and/or
each of the first and second control couplings is adjustable relative to the first and second face.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the riser manifold comprises a valve integrated therein, the valve controllable with the control connection and configured to control the flow communication for the first MPD flow connection.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , comprising:
a first mating plate disposed on the first face and having the first control coupling; and
a second mating plate disposed on the second face and having the second control coupling, at least one of the first and second mating plates being adjustable relative to the respective first and second faces.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein:
the second face defines a cavity therein and the second mating plate is disposed in the cavity; and/or
the second mating plate is adjustable longitudinally, laterally, or both relative to the second face.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a flow control device disposed on the riser and being configured to at least partially control communication of the internal passage of the riser, the flow control device being disposed in at least one of: (i) flow communication with the first flow coupling, (ii) flow communication with the second flow coupling, and (iii) control communication with the first control coupling.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the flow control device comprises a valve disposed in the flow communication with the first flow coupling and disposed in the control communication with the first control coupling, the valve being controllable to control the flow between the first flow coupling and the internal passage of the riser.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the flow control device comprises a seal being configured to at least partially control flow in the internal passage of the riser.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the seal comprises an actuator disposed in the control communication with the first control coupling.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 , the riser having riser lines including a riser flow line for conducting the flow and including a riser control line for conducting the control, wherein the first or second flow coupling is disposed in the flow comm

Assignees

• Weatherford Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Ziegler Robert
• Toralde Julmar Shaun S

Classifications

• E21B17/021 Primary

  Devices for subsurface connecting or disconnecting by rotation · CPC title

• E21B34/066

  electrically actuated · CPC title

• E21B33/038 Primary

  Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser · CPC title

• E21B33/0387

  Hydraulic stab connectors · CPC title

• E21B17/01

  Risers · CPC title