Deployment of high-pressure iron from marine vessel to offshore rig

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016304170-A1
Application number	US-201415103134-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 22, 2014
Priority date	Jan 22, 2014
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system and method for the deployment of a conduit system to convey fluids from a marine vessel to an offshore rig are provided. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a conduit connected to a marine vessel, the conduit comprising: a plurality of sections of tubing; a plurality of flexible joints connecting the sections of tubing; and a buoyancy device at least partially surrounding at least one of the sections of tubing and having a density less than the density of seawater.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A conduit connected to a marine vessel, the conduit comprising:
a plurality of sections of tubing; a plurality of flexible joints connecting the sections of tubing; and a buoyancy device at least partially surrounding at least one of the sections of tubing and having a density less than the density of seawater.

2 . The conduit of claim 1 wherein the sections of tubing comprise high-pressure iron.

3 . The conduit of claim 1 wherein the flexible joint is enclosed by a sleeve.

4 . The conduit of claim 1 wherein both the sections of tubing and the flexible joints are capable of maintaining a pressure of at least about 15,000 psi.

5 . The conduit of claim 1 wherein the buoyancy device comprises compartments that can be selectively flooded.

6 . The conduit of claim 1 wherein the buoyancy device comprises polypropylene or polyethylene.

7 . The conduit of claim 1 wherein the conduit system is connected to the marine vessel using a quick release device.

8 . A system comprising:
a conduit comprising:
a plurality of sections of tubing;
a plurality of flexible joints connecting the sections of tubing; and
a buoyancy device at least partially surrounding at least one of the sections of tubing and having a density less than the density of seawater; and
a deployment frame that supports the conduit while the conduit is in a transportation configuration.

9 . The system of claim 8 wherein the deployment frame comprises a base portion and a plurality of elongate fingers.

10 . The system of claim 8 wherein the deployment frame is mounted to a marine vessel.

11 . The system of claim 10 wherein the deployment frame is rotatably mounted using a hinge.

12 . The system of claim 8 wherein the sections of tubing comprise high-pressure iron.

13 . The system of claim 8 wherein the flexible joint is enclosed by a sleeve.

14 . The system of claim 8 wherein the buoyancy devices comprise compartments that can be selectively flooded.

15 . A method comprising:
providing a conduit comprising:
a plurality of sections of tubing;
a plurality of flexible joints connecting the sections of tubing; and
a buoyancy device at least partially surrounding at least one of the sections of tubing and having a density less than the density of seawater;
connecting one end of the conduit to a marine vessel; connecting the other end of the conduit to an offshore rig; and transferring fluid through the conduit between the marine vessel and the offshore rig.

16 . The method of claim 15 wherein the sections of tubing comprise high-pressure iron.

17 . The method of claim 15 wherein the flexible joint is enclosed by a sleeve.

18 . The method of claim 15 wherein both the sections of tubing and the flexible joints are capable of maintaining a pressure of at least about 15,000 psi.

19 . The method of claim 15 wherein the buoyancy device comprises compartments that can be selectively flooded.

20 . The method of claim 15 wherein the buoyancy device comprises polypropylene or polyethylene.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Guffee Larry Edwin

Classifications

• B63B27/34 Primary

  using pipe-lines {(anchoring arrangements for special vessels with mooring turrets B63B21/507; buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel and for transferring fluids, e.g. liquids B63B22/021)} · CPC title

• B63B27/10

  of cranes · CPC title