US3675713A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for separating subsea well conduit couplings from a remote floating vessel
Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1970-03-30
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Granted: 1972-07-11
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Expires: 1990-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of hydraulic drive means, each including a piston, piston rod and cylinder for driving the associated piston rod relative to the associated cylinder upon introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure, are provided at a subsea well conduit coupling having hydraulically actuated latching means therein including latching dogs cammed out of latching engagement upon pulling of the conduit upwardly when the latching means is deactivated, means are provided for mounting each of such drive means to one of the coupling members, means are provided for introducing hydraulic fluid from the floating vessel above the well and coupling into each of the drive means for driving the associated piston rod relative to the associated cylinder and an annular drive ring mounted about said one of said coupling members is connected to each of the hydraulic drive means so that upon actuation thereof the drive ring is moved coaxially down about said one coupling member into engagement with the other of said coupling members and, on continued actuation of such hydraulic drive means, said drive ring separates the coupling members by forcing them in coaxial but opposite directions, the associated latching means dogs being cammed out of latching position and the coupling members being released to allow raising of the subsea conduit and consequent release of the vessel from the subsea well. Additional hydraulic drive means are also provided in association with an additional drive ring mounted coaxially about and slidable relative to the aforementioned drive ring for disconnecting hydraulic line coupling portions connected to said additional drive ring preparatory to releasing the main coupling members and raising the associated marine conductor or conduit.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce J Watkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:16
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B33/00; E21B33/02; E21B33/03; E21B33/035; E21B33/038; E21B17/00; E21B17/01; E21B33/0387
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
In a subsea well conduit coupling apparatus including a first coupling member comprising an upstanding wellhead gib means mounted to wellhead equipment at a subsea well and providing entry to said well, a second coupling member mounted to a conduit running to an overhead floating vessel, hydraulically operated latching means for latching said first and second members together including latch dogs, a latch dog receiving means, and caming means therebetween for caming said dogs out of said receiving means upon uncoupling movement of said members, the improvement comprising the provision of: coupling separater means mounted to said coupling apparatus for moving said members axially away from one another in an uncoupling direction to Back said second coupling member off of said wellhead gib means and associated wellhead equipment to facilitate pulling of said conduit and second coupling member from said well upon actuation thereof; and actuating means for actuating said coupling separater means from said vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
In a subsea well conduit coupling apparatus including a first coupling member comprising an upstanding wellhead gib means mounted to wellhead equipment at a subsea well and providing entry to said well, a second coupling member mounted to a conduit running to an overhead floating vessel, hydraulically operated latching means for latching said first and second members together including latch dogs, a latch dog receiving means, and caming means therebetween for caming said dogs out of said receiving means upon uncoupling movement of said members, the improvement comprising the provision of: coupling separater means mounted to said coupling apparatus for moving said members axially away from one another in an uncoupling direction to Back said second coupling member off of said wellhead gib means and associated wellhead equipment to facilitate pulling of said conduit and second coupling member from said well upon actuation thereof; and actuating means for actuating said coupling separater means from said vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a subsea well conduit coupling apparatus as in claim 2 further having hydraulic fluid control line couplings provided with one of said coupling members, said hydraulic line couplings including male and female coupling portions, the further provision of: additional separator means for separating said hydraulic line male and female coupling portions upon actuation thereof; and means for actuating said additional separator means from said vessel to uncouple said portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
227 words
In a marine conductor coupling, for a marine conductor run from a floating vessel to a subsea wellhead, having an upper coupling member and means for mounting it to the lower end of the marine conductor conduit, said upper coupling member having a socket portion, and a lower coupling member comprising an upstanding gib means at said wellhead upon which said upper coupling member and marine conductor are landed for providing entry to the subsea well through said conductor conduit, latch means including latch dogs mounted on one of said members and means on the other of said members for receiving said dogs on actuation of said latching means when said members are coupled and caming means for caming said dogs outwardly thereof when said latching means is deactivated and said coupling members are forcibly separated, the improvement comprising the provision of: coupling separater means on said coupling for forcibly moving said upper coupling member and marine conductor conduit axially away from said wellhead in an uncoupling direction upon actuation thereof for caming said latching dogs outwardly of said dog receiving means and at least partially separating said coupling members to allow pulling of said marine conductor conduit away from said wellhead and gib means by raising said conductor after said latch dogs are released; and actuating means for actuating said coupling separator means from said vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
227 words
In a marine conductor coupling, for a marine conductor run from a floating vessel to a subsea wellhead, having an upper coupling member and means for mounting it to the lower end of the marine conductor conduit, said upper coupling member having a socket portion, and a lower coupling member comprising an upstanding gib means at said wellhead upon which said upper coupling member and marine conductor are landed for providing entry to the subsea well through said conductor conduit, latch means including latch dogs mounted on one of said members and means on the other of said members for receiving said dogs on actuation of said latching means when said members are coupled and caming means for caming said dogs outwardly thereof when said latching means is deactivated and said coupling members are forcibly separated, the improvement comprising the provision of: coupling separater means on said coupling for forcibly moving said upper coupling member and marine conductor conduit axially away from said wellhead in an uncoupling direction upon actuation thereof for caming said latching dogs outwardly of said dog receiving means and at least partially separating said coupling members to allow pulling of said marine conductor conduit away from said wellhead and gib means by raising said conductor after said latch dogs are released; and actuating means for actuating said coupling separator means from said vessel.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
118 words
The method of positively releasing a marine conductor conduit and the associated vessel from which it is run from a subsea well wherein a coupling member is mounted to a conductor conduit and has hydraulically actuated latching means for latching said member to an upstanding gib means at said subsea wellhead, said method comprising the steps of: relieving hydraulic pressure holding said latching means in latched relation; releasing said marine conductor conduit and associated vessel from said wellhead by forcing said coupling member back off of said upstanding gib means by means operable from said floating vessel above the wellhead sufficiently to cause unlatching of said latching means and thereafter pulling said conductor conduit upwardly toward said vessel.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
118 words
The method of positively releasing a marine conductor conduit and the associated vessel from which it is run from a subsea well wherein a coupling member is mounted to a conductor conduit and has hydraulically actuated latching means for latching said member to an upstanding gib means at said subsea wellhead, said method comprising the steps of: relieving hydraulic pressure holding said latching means in latched relation; releasing said marine conductor conduit and associated vessel from said wellhead by forcing said coupling member back off of said upstanding gib means by means operable from said floating vessel above the wellhead sufficiently to cause unlatching of said latching means and thereafter pulling said conductor conduit upwardly toward said vessel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-11 | 1976-01-10 | 1976-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-11 | 1980-01-10 | 1980-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-11 | 1984-01-10 | 1984-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |