Patent US3645563A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3645563A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for making submerged pipeline connections
Assignee: Brown and Root Inc
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Filing: 1969-05-07
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Granted: 1972-02-29
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Expires: 1989-05-07
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for making a connection between conduits, either submerged or to be submerged, characterized by the provision of a telescoping terminus on a flowline. In some operations where the flowline is laid either toward or away from an underwater installation, it may be lowered, while maintaining the terminus substantially fixed with respect to the remainder of the flowline, to a submerged position where the terminus is spaced from the installation. Subsequently, the terminus is telescoped into engagement with an alignment means, such as a riser adapter, either through diver assistance, or by remote operation of a terminus moving means. This means may be provided by a flexible drawline, which may be threaded through the alignment means, attached to the terminus, and subsequently tensioned to telescope the terminus. Release of the drawline may be accomplished through the application of fluid pressure. Means are provided for latching the terminus into the riser adapter and for locking a slip joint between the terminus and the remainder of the flowline. Other connections between the terminus and an installation conduit may be accomplished adjacent the surface of the water. The conduit and pipeline may be lowered together, with the terminus locked, and after lowering the terminus may be freed to permit proper positioning of the installation conduit relative to the installation. Alternatively, the lowering operation may take place with the installation conduit in its proper position relative to the installation and with the terminus unlocked, whereupon relative movement of the telescoping terminus facilitates the operation of lowering the installation conduit and the connected flowline. After lowering the slip joint may be locked.
Inventors
- 👤 William R Rochelle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:43
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L23/00; F16L23/02; F16L23/16; F16L23/162; F16L37/00; F16L37/002; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S285/00; Y10S285/92; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49828
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of remotely connecting a conduit to an underwater installation, the method comprising: providing the conduit with an internally telescoping terminus; providing the underwater installation with an alignment means for receiving the internally telescoping terminus of the conduit; threading a flexible drawline through the alignment means; connecting the flexible drawline to the internally telescoping terminus; applying tension to the flexible drawline to telescope the internally telescoping terminus outward with respect to the remainder of the conduit and to bring the telescoping terminus into the alignment means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of remotely connecting a conduit to an underwater installation, the method comprising: providing the conduit with an internally telescoping terminus; providing the underwater installation with an alignment means for receiving the internally telescoping terminus of the conduit; threading a flexible drawline through the alignment means; connecting the flexible drawline to the internally telescoping terminus; applying tension to the flexible drawline to telescope the internally telescoping terminus outward with respect to the remainder of the conduit and to bring the telescoping terminus into the alignment means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein: the flexible drawline is threaded through the alignment means from a surface station at which the drawling tension is applied.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein: the flexible drawline is attached to the telescoping terminus at a surface station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
110 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the underwater installation is provided with a conduit portion communicating with the alignment means and extending toward a surface station, with said method further comprising: providing the telescoping terminus with a fluid pressure responsive, releasable housing, with the step of connecting the drawline to the telescoping terminus comprising attaching the drawline to the releasable housing; releasing the connection of the drawline to the terminus, subsequent to bringing the telescoping terminus into the alignment means, by causing the housing to release from the terminus through the application of fluid pressure; and retrieving the drawline and housing through the alignment means and the conduit portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein: the fluid pressure is applied by flooding the conduit portion of the underwater installation, with said flooding being operable to transmit fluid pressure to said housing operable to release said housing from said telescoping terminus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 1, further including the step of: remotely releasing the drawline from the terminus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein: the drawline is remotely released from the terminus through the application of fluid pressure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1, including the step of: latching the terminus in the alignment means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1, including the step of: locking the terminus to prevent relative movement with respect to the conduit body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 9, wherein: the terminus is locked to prevent relative movement with respect to the conduit body by remotely applied fluid pressure.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of connecting an underwater flowline to an underwater installation, the method comprising: providing one of the flowline and underwater installation with a telescoping terminus movable, within a range of movement, generally longitudinally with respect to a remaining body portion by an amount within that range; providing the other of the flowline and the underwater installation with means for aligning the telescoping terminus; laying the flowline to a position wherein the end of alignment means and the end of the telescoping terminus are separated by an undetermined distance within the range of telescoping movement of the telescoping terminus, while maintaining the terminus substantially longitudinally fixed with respect to said remaining body portion; and then telescoping the telescoping terminus, within its range of movement, into fluid communication with the alignment means so as to accommodate for the undetermined separation distance between the end of the alignment means and the end of the telescoping terminus.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of connecting an underwater flowline to an underwater installation, the method comprising: providing one of the flowline and underwater installation with a telescoping terminus movable, within a range of movement, generally longitudinally with respect to a remaining body portion by an amount within that range; providing the other of the flowline and the underwater installation with means for aligning the telescoping terminus; laying the flowline to a position wherein the end of alignment means and the end of the telescoping terminus are separated by an undetermined distance within the range of telescoping movement of the telescoping terminus, while maintaining the terminus substantially longitudinally fixed with respect to said remaining body portion; and then telescoping the telescoping terminus, within its range of movement, into fluid communication with the alignment means so as to accommodate for the undetermined separation distance between the end of the alignment means and the end of the telescoping terminus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 11 including the step of: latching the telescoping terminus to the alignment means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 11 including the step of: locking the telescoping terminus against substantial relative movement with respect to the said one of the flowline and installation to which it is attached, subsequently to telescoping the terminus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus for remotely coupling a conduit to an underwater installation, the apparatus comprising: a conduit having a body portion, and a telescoping terminus; an underwater installation including alignment means for aligning said telescoping terminus; flexible drawline means, threaded through said alignment means and connected to said telescoping terminus, for moving said telescoping terminus with respect to said body portion of said conduit and into engagement with said alignment means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus for remotely coupling a conduit to an underwater installation, the apparatus comprising: a conduit having a body portion, and a telescoping terminus; an underwater installation including alignment means for aligning said telescoping terminus; flexible drawline means, threaded through said alignment means and connected to said telescoping terminus, for moving said telescoping terminus with respect to said body portion of said conduit and into engagement with said alignment means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 14, including: fluid operable means for releasing said flexible drawline means from said telescoping terminus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
143 words
Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein: said underwater installation comprises riser means communicating with said alignment means and extending toward a surface station; said flexible drawline means extending from the surface station and being also threaded through said riser means. 17 Apparatus according to claim 14, including: fluid operable means, releasably coupled to said telescoping terminus, for releasing said flexible drawline means from said telescoping terminus, said fluid operable means being connected to said flexible drawline means, and comprising: a housing, fluid control means for selectively admitting fluid into said housing, and fluid responsive means for releasably coupling said housing to said telescoping terminus, said fluid responsive means being responsive to the admission of fluid into said housing to release said housing from said telescoping terminus; and said fluid operable means being dimensioned to pass through said alignment means and said riser means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 including: latching means on said alignment means and said telescoping terminus for substaNtially restraining relative movement therebetween upon movement of said terminus into engagement with said alignment means by said flexible drawline means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein: said fluid-responsive means includes at least two spaced coupling pin means normally biased into latched engagement with said telescoping terminus, and piston means, associated with each of said coupling pin means, for drawing said coupling pin means out of latched engagement with said telescoping terminus responsive to admission of fluid into said housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 14, including: slip joint means for selectively maintaining said telescoping terminus locked with respect to said body portion of said conduit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
130 words
Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein: said slip joint means comprises, an annular slip joint chamber defined between said telescoping terminus and said conduit body portion, an expansible packer seal means for sealing said chamber, locking dog means for locking said inner and outer barrels together, piston means for actuating said packer seal means and said locking dog means, said packer seal means, said locking dog means, and said piston means being each slidably mounted in said chamber and in direct communication with said telescoping terminus and said conduit body portion, and means for moving said piston means within said chamber to cause said expansible packer seal means to seal said chamber, and to move said locking means into locking engagement between said telescoping terminus and said conduit body portion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
195 words
An adjustable length conduit section comprising: an outer conduit barrel; an inner conduit barrel defining an adjustable conduit terminus slidably received in said outer conduit barrel; said inner and outer barrels being dimensioned to define an annular slip joint chamber therebetween; means for selectively locking and sealing said inner barrel with respect to said outer barrel, said locking and sealing means comprising, an expansible packer seal means for sealing said chamber, circumferentially spaced and generally longitudinally and radially movable locking dog means, biased to a radially outer position, for locking said inner and outer barrels together, piston means for actuating said packer seal means and said locking dog means, said packer seal means, said locking dog means, and said piston means being each slidably mounted in said chamber and in direct communication with said inner and outer barrels, and means for moving said piston means within said chamber to cause said expansible packer seal means to seal said chamber, and to move said locking dog means into locking engagement between said inner and outer barrels; said means for moving said piston means comprising a collar means threadedly engaging the inner wall of said outer barrel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
195 words
An adjustable length conduit section comprising: an outer conduit barrel; an inner conduit barrel defining an adjustable conduit terminus slidably received in said outer conduit barrel; said inner and outer barrels being dimensioned to define an annular slip joint chamber therebetween; means for selectively locking and sealing said inner barrel with respect to said outer barrel, said locking and sealing means comprising, an expansible packer seal means for sealing said chamber, circumferentially spaced and generally longitudinally and radially movable locking dog means, biased to a radially outer position, for locking said inner and outer barrels together, piston means for actuating said packer seal means and said locking dog means, said packer seal means, said locking dog means, and said piston means being each slidably mounted in said chamber and in direct communication with said inner and outer barrels, and means for moving said piston means within said chamber to cause said expansible packer seal means to seal said chamber, and to move said locking dog means into locking engagement between said inner and outer barrels; said means for moving said piston means comprising a collar means threadedly engaging the inner wall of said outer barrel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a method of remotely connecting a conduit to an underwater installation, wherein a flexible drawline is connected to the conduit and subsequently tension is applied to the drawline to move the conduit into aligned fluid communication with the underwater installation, the improvement comprising: releasing the drawline from the conduit through the application of fluid pressure adjacent the connection of the drawline to the conduit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a method of remotely connecting a conduit to an underwater installation, wherein a flexible drawline is connected to the conduit and subsequently tension is applied to the drawline to move the conduit into aligned fluid communication with the underwater installation, the improvement comprising: releasing the drawline from the conduit through the application of fluid pressure adjacent the connection of the drawline to the conduit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
81 words
In an apparatus for remotely connecting a conduit to an underwater installation, the apparatus including a flexible drawline, the conduit, means for connecting the drawline to the conduit, and means provided in the underwater installation for cooperating with the conduit to maintain the conduit in fluid communication with the underwater installation, the improvement comprising: fluid pressure responsive means for releasing said flexible drawline from said conduit upon the application of fluid pressure adjacent the connection of said drawline to said conduit.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
81 words
In an apparatus for remotely connecting a conduit to an underwater installation, the apparatus including a flexible drawline, the conduit, means for connecting the drawline to the conduit, and means provided in the underwater installation for cooperating with the conduit to maintain the conduit in fluid communication with the underwater installation, the improvement comprising: fluid pressure responsive means for releasing said flexible drawline from said conduit upon the application of fluid pressure adjacent the connection of said drawline to said conduit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-28 | 1975-08-30 | 1976-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-28 | 1979-08-30 | 1980-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-28 | 1983-08-30 | 1984-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |