Rapid release emergency disconnect system utilizing a linear subsea connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9709201-B2
Application number	US-201414496270-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2014
Priority date	Sep 27, 2013
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

In various embodiments, fluid conduits such as high pressure hoses deployed in-between two sea-fairing vessels may be released during an emergency by using a rapid release emergency disconnect system as described herein, where the rapid release emergency disconnect system may engage with a hanger such as an industry standard frac hanger and be used in-line with fluid conduits such as high-pressure lines. Various skid embodiments are described which can be configured to interface with one or more of the described rapid release emergency disconnect systems.

First claim

We claim:

1. An emergency quick disconnect system, comprising:
a. a connector comprising a first fluid interface and a second fluid interface in fluid communication with the first fluid interface;
b. a connector interface configured to receive the connector, the connector interface configured to be removably accepted into a hanger and support the connector when the connector interface is received into the hanger, the connector interface further comprising:
i. a retraction fork; and
ii. a retraction fork actuator operatively in communication with the retraction fork; and

c. a drop away assembly, comprising:
i. a valve, the valve comprising a third fluid interface and a fourth fluid interface in fluid communication with the third fluid interface, the valve configured to stop flow of a fluid in-between the third fluid interface and the fourth fluid interface, the valve disposed downstream with respect to and in fluid communication with the connector, the valve further configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid conduit; and
ii. a vertical structural interface, comprising:
1. a support bucket configured to be removably connected to the hanger; and
2. a structural interface configured to be received into and be supported by the hanger.

2. The emergency quick disconnect system of claim 1 , wherein the drop away assembly further comprises a hose end connector connected to the valve.

3. The emergency quick disconnect system of claim 2 , further comprising a seal disposed intermediate the hose end connector and the valve.

4. The emergency quick disconnect system of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator operatively connected to the valve.

5. The emergency quick disconnect system of claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a check valve configured to automatically close at a pre-defined delta-pressure.

6. The emergency quick disconnect system of claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a selectively activated ball valve.

7. The emergency quick disconnect system of claim 4 , wherein the ball valve comprises a spring-actuated, normally closed ball valve.

8. The emergency quick disconnect system of claim 4 , wherein the ball valve comprises at least one of a remotely operated or manually operated ball valve.

9. The emergency quick disconnect system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first fluid interface and the fourth fluid interface comprises an interface configured to interface with a co-flex hose.

10. The emergency quick disconnect system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first fluid interface and the fourth fluid interface is configured to connect to a high-pressure hose.

11. The emergency quick disconnect system of claim 1 , wherein the connector interface is configured to interface to a standard frac hanger design.

12. The emergency quick disconnect system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the connector and the valve are configured to allow a fluid conduit to be connected and sealed while offshore.

13. The emergency quick disconnect system of claim 1 , wherein the connector and the valve are configured to seal a fluid connection up to around 15,000 psi of internal fluid.

14. The emergency quick disconnect system of claim 1 , further comprising a support seal disposed intermediate the connector and the vertical structural interface.

15. The emergency quick disconnect system of claim 1 , further comprising a valve seal disposed intermediate the vertical structural interface and the valve.

16. The emergency quick disconnect system of claim 1 , further comprising a hose end seal ( 173 ) disposed intermediate the hose end connector and the valve.

17. The emergency quick disconnect system of claim 1 , wherein the connector interface ( 110 ) further comprises a padeye.

18. The emergency quick disconnect system of claim 1 , wherein the hanger further comprises an alignment pin configured to allow the connector to move in a predetermined direction when opening the seal.

19. The emergency quick disconnect system of claim 1 , wherein the retraction fork actuator comprises at least one of a pneumatic cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder configured to selectively move the retraction fork in a predetermined plane.

20. A method of using an emergency disconnect system, comprising:
a. terminating a downstream fluid hose with a hose terminator;
b. temporarily stowing the terminated fluid hose;
c. retrieving an emergency disconnect system, the emergency quick disconnect system, comprising:
i. a connector comprising a first fluid interface and a second fluid interface in fluid communication with the first fluid interface;
ii. a connector interface configured to receive the connector, the connector interface configured to be removably accepted into a hanger and support the connector when the connector interface is received into the hanger, the connector interface further comprising:
1. a retraction fork; and
2. a retraction fork actuator operatively in communication with the retraction fork; and

iii. a drop away assembly, comprising:
1. a valve, the valve comprising a third fluid interface and a fourth fluid interface in fluid communication with the third fluid interface, the valve configured to stop flow of a fluid in-between the third fluid interface and the fourth fluid interface, the valve disposed downstream with respect to and in fluid communication with the connector, the valve further configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid conduit; and
2. a vertical structural interface, comprising:
a. a support bucket configured to be removably connected to the hanger; and

iv. a structural interface configured to be received into and be supported by the hanger;

d. connecting the emergency disconnect system to the hose terminator;
e. positioning the emergency disconnect system and its connected hose terminator proximate a hanger;
f. securing the emergency disconnect system and its connected hose terminator into the hanger; and
g. when activated, the following occurs:
i. closing the valve;
ii. opening the connector;
iii. retracting the fork;
iv. allowing the drop away assembly to fall away; and
v. allowing the check valve to close automatically due to lack of pressure.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising using a torque tool to open the connector seal.

22. The method of claim 20 , further comprising attaching a flotation system to the drop away assembly.

23. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:
a. retrieving a hose terminator with a crane; and
b. temporarily stowing the terminator onto frac hanger pins.

Assignees

• Oceaneering Int Inc

Inventors

• Spexarth Gary R
• Myers Richard Allan
• Gebhardt Kyle William
• Mesa Jorge Ramon
• Carter Jordan Ashley

Classifications

• F16L37/30

  with fluid cut-off means in each of two pipe-end fittings · CPC title

• F15B2211/214

  the pressure sources being hydrotransformers · CPC title

• F15B2211/212

  the pressure sources being accumulators · CPC title

• F15B11/032

  by means of fluid-pressure converters · CPC title

• F15B1/024

  used as a supplementary power source, e.g. to store energy in idle periods to balance pump load · CPC title