Robotic system for making or breaking a riser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12435582-B2
Application number	US-202418670291-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2024
Priority date	Sep 29, 2020
Publication date	Oct 7, 2025
Grant date	Oct 7, 2025

Abstract

The system for making or breaking the riser includes a robotic system. The robotic system includes one or more robotic arms configured to be disposed on a spider deck, and one or more riser-connection manipulation tools each having a camera and being configured to manipulate a riser connection, the camera being configured to capture an image of an object, wherein each robotic arm is configured to couple to one riser-connection manipulation tool. Further the system for making or breaking the riser includes a control system. The control system includes a robot controller in communication with the one or more robotic arms and configured to control the one or more robotic arms. The system for making or breaking the riser is configured to analyze the image to determine the location and orientation of the object and transmit the location and orientation of the object to the robot controller.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system configured to make or break a riser having a riser joint, the system comprising:
(a) a robotic system having:
one or more robotic arms, each having six degrees of freedom, and
a multi-function tool disposed on one of the one or more robotic arms, the multi-function tool having a socket, a driver operatively coupled to the socket and configured to rotate the socket, and a fork tool assembly having a retaining fork disposed in proximity to the socket and configured to pick and place an object using the retaining fork; and

(b) a control system having:
a robot controller in communication with the one or more robotic arms and configured to control the one or more robotic arms;
wherein the robot controller is configured to: (1) determine a location and orientation of an object; and (2) transmit signals to the one or more robotic arms based on the determined location and orientation of the object.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fork tool assembly further comprises a retainer fork actuation cylinder operatively coupled to the retaining fork and configured to extend and retract the retaining fork.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the fork tool assembly further comprises a fork position selector cylinder operatively coupled to the retaining fork and configured to extend to limit extension of the retaining fork and to retract to permit maximum extension of the retaining fork.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the object is a riser bolt and the fork position selector cylinder is extended.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the object is a stabbing guide pin and the fork position selector cylinder is retracted.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the retaining fork includes a first cut-out configured to handle a riser bolt and a second cut-out configured to handle stabbing guides.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the retaining fork is configured to execute vertical movement relative to the socket.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein a vertical position of the retaining fork is configured to be selected based on a type of the object.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a camera in communication with the robot controller, wherein the robot controller is configured to determine the location and orientation of the object based on one or more images captured by the camera.

10. A system configured to make or break a riser having a riser joint, the system comprising:
(a) a robotic system having:
one or more robotic arms, each having six degrees of freedom, and
a multi-function tool disposed on one of the one or more robotic arms, the multi-function tool having a front section with a socket, a compliance housing attached to the one of the one or more robotic arms and configured to allow vertical movement of the front section relative thereto, and one or more sensors, the compliance housing being configured to determine a position of the socket relative to a head of a riser bolt based at least on data received from the one or more sensors;

(b) a control system having:
a robot controller in communication with the one or more robotic arms and configured to control the one or more robotic arms;
wherein the robot controller is configured to: (1) determine a location and orientation of the riser bolt; and (2) transmit signals to the one or more robotic arms based on the determined location and orientation of the riser bolt.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more sensors includes at least one of a camera, a laser, an optical proximity sensor, or an ultrasound sensor.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the robot controller is configured to receive data from the one or more sensors and, based on the received data, adjust a position of the multi-function tool.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the compliance housing includes a driver for rotating the socket, and wherein the compliance housing is configured to at least one of rotate the socket or increase a rotational speed of the socket, using the driver, upon a determination that the socket is coupled to the head of the riser bolt.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the compliance housing is configured to move the socket vertically relative to the riser bolt.

15. A system configured to make or break a riser having a riser joint, the system comprising:
(a) a robotic system having:
one or more robotic arms configured to be deployed to and removed from a work area, each of the one or more robotic arms having six degrees of freedom, and
one or more riser-connection manipulation tools configured to manipulate a riser connection, wherein each robotic arm is configured to couple to one riser-connection manipulation tool;

(b) one or more sensors deployed in the work area configured to detect events related to making and/or breaking the riser; and
(c) a control system having:
a robot controller in communication with the one or more robotic arms and configured to control the one or more robotic arms;
wherein the robot controller is configured to: (1) analyze feedback from the one or more robotic arms to determine a location and orientation of an object, (2) transmit signals to the one or more robotic arms based on the determined location and the orientation of the object, and (3) in response to feedback from the one or more sensors detecting an event in the work area, transmit signals to the one or more robotic arms to change at least one of position, orientation, or configuration.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more sensors includes a sensor configured to detect whether one or more spider dogs are open or closed.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein when the robot controller receives feedback that (i) the one or more spider dogs is closed, the robot controller transmits signals to allow the one or more robotic arms to enter the work area, and (ii) the one or more spider dogs is open, the robot controller transmits signals to prevent the one or more robotic arms from entering the work area.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the control system further includes a spider system controller configured to control a movement of the one or more spider dogs.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the one or more sensors include at least one camera.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the control system further includes a spider system controller configured to control a movement of the one or more spider dogs.

21. The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more sensors includes a sensor associated with one of a riser joint or a crane configured to lift a riser joint.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein when the robot controller receives feedback that (i) a height of a riser joint is below a target height, the robot controller transmits signals to the one or more robotic arms to move away or stay away from the work area, and (ii) a height of the riser joint is above the target height, the robot controller transmits signals to the one or more robotic arms to be kept in or brought into the work area.

23. The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more sensors include at least one camera.

Assignees

• Transocean Sedco Forex Ventures Ltd
• Stebbins Innovations Llc

Inventors

• Mccormick Craig
• Coady Michael
• Martin John
• Lippold James
• Willey Michael
• Mcclaugherty Shane

Classifications

• E21B17/085 Primary

  Riser connections (connectors for wellhead E21B33/038) · CPC title

• B25J9/1697

  Vision controlled systems · CPC title

• G05B2219/40306

  Two or more independent robots · CPC title

• E21B19/165 Primary

  Control or monitoring arrangements therefor · CPC title

• G05B2219/37555

  Camera detects orientation, position workpiece, points of workpiece · CPC title