Inside riser tree controls adapter and method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9556685-B2
Application number	US-201514685771-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 14, 2015
Priority date	Apr 14, 2015
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

A riser tree controls adapter comprises an outer riser tree controls adapter, placed outside a first tubular, and an inner riser tree controls adapter placed outside a second tubular and configured to be received into the outer riser tree controls adapter. Once inserted into the outer riser tree controls adapter, one or more control signal pathways are provided between a junction plate control connection receiver and a corresponding set of inner connection interfaces.

First claim

We claim:

1. A riser tree controls adapter, comprising:
a. an outer riser tree controls adapter, comprising:
i. an outer riser tree controls adapter housing defining an inner outer riser tree controls adapter housing annulus;
ii. an orientation port extending from an outer surface of the outer riser tree controls adapter housing into the inner outer riser tree controls adapter housing annulus;
iii. an orientation pin configured to be slidingly received into the orientation port and extend a predetermined length into the inner outer riser tree controls adapter housing annulus;
iv. an inner connection interface disposed at a predetermined location within the inner outer riser tree controls adapter housing annulus and having a predetermined portion accessible from the inner outer riser tree controls adapter housing annulus; and
v. a control umbilical junction plate attached to the outer surface of the outer riser tree controls adapter housing, the control umbilical junction plate comprising:
1. a junction plate housing configured to removably receive a controls umbilical; and
2. a junction plate control connection receiver adapted to receive a controls umbilical connection and provide a control signal pathway between the junction plate control connection receiver and the inner connection interface; and

b. an inner riser tree controls adapter, comprising:
i. an inner riser tree controls adapter housing configured to be received into the inner outer riser tree controls adapter housing annulus, the inner riser tree controls adapter housing defining an inner riser tree controls adapter inner annulus configured to receive a tubular therethrough;
ii. an orientation pin guide disposed about an outer surface of the inner riser tree controls adapter housing and configured to slidingly receive the orientation pin; and
iii. an adapter control connector configured to operatively mate with the inner connection interface and provide communication between the controls umbilical connection and a conduit.

2. The riser tree control system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a. a clamp disposed about a predetermined portion of the tubular; and
b. a spring disposed intermediate the clamp and the inner riser tree controls adapter at a predetermined location, the spring configured to allow for a predetermined amount of vertical movement of the inner riser tree controls adapter with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tubular.

3. The riser tree control system of claim 2 , wherein the spring is located in-between the clamp and the inner riser tree controls adapter to allow for between around one foot to around ten feet of vertical movement.

4. The riser tree control system of claim 1 , wherein:
a. the outer riser tree controls adapter further comprises an outer riser tree controls adapter shelf disposed at a predetermined portion within the inner outer riser tree controls adapter housing annulus, the outer riser tree controls adapter shelf configured to accept the inner connection interface therethrough; and
b. the inner riser tree controls adapter housing comprises a substantially tubular inner riser tree controls adapter housing which further comprises an inner riser tree controls adapter housing shelf configured to selectively engage the outer riser tree controls adapter shelf, the inner riser tree controls adapter housing shelf configured to support the adapter control connector.

5. The riser tree controls adapter system of claim 1 , further comprising a first protective covering disposed about the inner connection interface and a second protective covering disposed about the adapter control connector, each protective covering configured to prevent damage when the inner riser tree controls adapter is not in use.

6. The riser tree controls adapter of claim 1 , wherein:
c. the inner outer riser tree controls adapter housing annulus is further configured to accept a subsea test tree or a tubing hanger running tool therethrough; and
d. the conduit is in communication with the subsea test tree or the tubing hanger running tool.

7. The riser tree controls adapter of claim 1 , wherein the orientation pin further comprises a mechanical drive attached to a distal end, the mechanical drive adapted to be maneuvered by a remotely operated vehicle when inserting the orientation pin into or retrieving the orientation pin out from the orientation port.

8. The riser tree controls adapter of claim 1 , wherein the inner riser tree controls adapter further comprises a plurality of inner riser tree controls adapter housings configured to cooperatively and securely engage each other and clamp to the tubular at a predetermined location about the tubular.

9. The riser tree control system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of inner riser tree controls adapter housings are configured to be bolted together.

10. The riser tree controls adapter of claim 1 , wherein the orientation pin is configured to slidingly engage the inner riser tree controls adapter at the orientation pin guide, force the inner riser tree controls adapter to rotate about the tubular, and properly align the adapter control connector and the inner connection interface.

11. The riser tree control system of claim 10 , wherein the inner riser tree controls adapter is configured to be able to rotate about the tubular without requiring the tubular to rotate.

12. The riser tree control system of claim 1 , wherein the orientation pin guide comprises an orientation pin travel limiter.

13. The riser tree control system of claim 12 , wherein the tubular inner riser tree controls adapter housing further comprises an initial engagement section comprising a tapered insertion end which is tapered at an angle starting at one side of the initial engagement section and angling to an opposite side of the initial engagement section, the tapered insertion end configured to slidingly receive the orientation pin and guide the orientation pin into the orientation pin guide.

14. A method of providing a riser tree controls adapter, comprising:
a. deploying an outer riser tree controls adapter about a first predetermined portion of an outer surface of a tubular, the outer riser tree controls adapter comprising:
ii. a substantially tubular outer riser tree controls adapter housing defining an inner outer riser tree controls adapter housing annulus;
iii. an orientation port extending from an outer surface of the substantially tubular outer riser tree controls adapter housing into the inner outer riser tree controls adapter housing annulus;
iv. an orientation pin configured to be slidingly received into the orientation port and extend a predetermined length into the inner outer riser tree controls adapter housing annulus;
v. an inner connection interface disposed at a predetermined location within the inner outer riser tree controls adapter housing annulus and having a predetermined portion accessible from the inner outer riser tree controls adapter housing annulus; and
vi. a control umbilical junction plate attached to the outer surface of the substantially tubular outer riser tree controls adapter housing, the control umbilical junction plate comprising:
1. a junction plate housing configured to removably receive a controls umbilical; and
2. a junction plate control connection receiver adapted to receive a controls umbilical connection and provide a control signal pathway between the junction plate control connection receiver and the inner connection interface;

b. deploying an inner riser tree controls adapter about a second predetermined portion of the tubular, the inner riser tree controls adapter comprising:
i

Assignees

• Oceaneering Int Inc

Inventors

• Blanchard Chad
• Vela Daniel
• Pfiester Stephen
• Marino Nicole

Classifications

• E21B34/045

  adapted to be lowered on a tubular string into position within a blow-out preventer stack, e.g. so-called test trees · CPC title

• E21B17/01 Primary

  Risers · CPC title

• E21B41/04

  Manipulators for underwater operations, e.g. temporarily connected to well heads · CPC title