Apparatus for aligning and connecting flowlines

Claim 1

An apparatus wherein a guidance system is disposed at and extends upwardly from the floor of a body of water and through which a well bore has been drilled into the underlying formation, the combination therewith of flowline alignment means mounted on said guidance system, fluid flow apparatus including one or more first flowlines and guided along said system into communication with the well bore with end portions of said one or more first flowlines facing said alignment means, a guide assembly adjacent to and to one side of said alignment means, a carrier, one or more second flowlines carried by said carrier and adapted to be lowered therewith through the body of water, connector means secured to said one or more second flowlines, means interconnecting said guide assembly and carrier for pulling saId carrier, connector means and one or more second flowlines toward said guide assembly and alignment means, said guide assembly including a first single orienting member, said carrier including a second single orienting member engaged with said first orienting member to align and engage a connector means with said alignment means to position said connector means in substantial alignment with said end portions of said one or more first flowlines, and means for operatively connecting said one or more first flowlines and one or more second flowlines to each other, whereby fluid can flow therebetween.

Claim 2

An apparatus wherein a guidance system is disposed at and extends upwardly from the floor of a body of water and through which a well bore has been drilled into the underlying formation, the combination therewith of flowline alignment means mounted on said guidance system, fluid flow apparatus including one or more first flowlines and guided along said system into communication with the well bore with end portions of said one or more first flowlines facing said alignment means, a guide assembly adjacent to and to one side of said alignment means, a carrier, one or more second flowlines carried by said carrier and adapted to be lowered therewith through the body of water, connector means secured to said one or more second flowlines, means interconnecting said guide assembly and carrier for pulling saId carrier, connector means and one or more second flowlines toward said guide assembly and alignment means, said guide assembly including a first single orienting member, said carrier including a second single orienting member engaged with said first orienting member to align and engage a connector means with said alignment means to position said connector means in substantial alignment with said end portions of said one or more first flowlines, and means for operatively connecting said one or more first flowlines and one or more second flowlines to each other, whereby fluid can flow therebetween.

Claim 3

An apparatus wherein a guidance system is disposed at and extends upwardly from the floor of a body of water and through which a well bore has been drilled into the underlying formation, the combination therewith of flowline alignment means mounted on said guidance system, fluid flow apparatus including one or more first flowlines and guided along said system into communication with the well bore with end portions of said one or more first flowlines facing said alignment means, a guide assembly adjacent to and to one side of said alignment means, a carrier, one or more second flowlines carried by said carrier and adapted to be lowered therewith through the body of water, connector means secured to said one or more second flowlines, means interconnecting said guide assembly and carrier for pulling saId carrier, connector means and one or more second flowlines toward said guide assembly and alignment means, said guide assembly including a first single orienting member, said carrier including a second single orienting member engaged with said first orienting member to align and engage a connector means with said alignment means to position said connector means in substantial alignment with said end portions of said one or more first flowlines, and means for operatively connecting said one or more first flowlines and one or more second flowlines to each other, whereby fluid can flow therebetween.

Claim 4

An apparatus wherein a guidance system is disposed at and extends upwardly from the floor of a body of water and through which a well bore has been drilled into the underlying formation, the combination therewith of flowline alignment means mounted on said guidance system, fluid flow apparatus including one or more first flowlines and guided along said system into communication with the well bore with end portions of said one or more first flowlines facing said alignment means, a guide assembly adjacent to and to one side of said alignment means, a carrier, one or more second flowlines carried by said carrier and adapted to be lowered therewith through the body of water, connector means secured to said one or more second flowlines, means interconnecting said guide assembly and carrier for pulling saId carrier, connector means and one or more second flowlines toward said guide assembly and alignment means, said guide assembly including a first single orienting member, said carrier including a second single orienting member engaged with said first orienting member to align and engage a connector means with said alignment means to position said connector means in substantial alignment with said end portions of said one or more first flowlines, and means for operatively connecting said one or more first flowlines and one or more second flowlines to each other, whereby fluid can flow therebetween.

Claim 9

An apparatus wherein a guidance system is disposed at and extends upwardly from the floor of a body of water and through which a well bore has been drilled into the underlying formation, the combination therewith of flowline alignment means mounted on said guidance system, fluid flow apparatus including one or more first flowlines and guided along said system into communication with the well bore with end portions of said one or more first flowlines facing said alignment means, a guide assembly adjacent to said alignment means, a carrier, one or more second flowlines carried by said carrier and adapted to be lowered therewith through the body of water, connector means secured to said one or more second flowlines, means interconnecting said guide assembly and carrier for pulling said carrier, connector means and one or more second flowlines toward said guide assembly and alignment means, said guide assembly including a first single orienting member, said carrier including a second single orienting member engaged with said first orienting member to align and engage a connector means with said alignment means to position said connector means in substantial alignment with said end portions of said one or more first flowlines, and means for operatively connecting said one or more first flowlines and one or more second flowlines to each other, whereby fluid can flow therebetween; said alignment means having vertical and horizontal coupling grooves therein, said connector means having vertical and horizontal keys yieldably mounted thereon and expandable into said vertical and horizontal grooves, respectively, to secure said connector means to said alignment means in substantial alignment with said end portions of said one or more first flowlines.

Claim 10

An apparatus wherein a guidance system is disposed at and extends upwardly from the floor of a body of water and through which a well bore has been drilled into the underlying formation, the combination therewith of flowline alignment means mounted on said guidance system, fluid flow apparatus including one or more first flowlines and guided along said system into communication with the well bore with end portions of said one or more first flowlines facing said alignment means, a guide assembly adjacent to said alignment means, a carrier, one or more second flowlines carried by said carrier and adapted to be lowered therewith through the body of water, connector means secured to said one or more second flowlines, means interconnecting said guide assembly and carrier for pulling said carrier, connector means and one or more second flowlines toward said guide assembly and alignment means, said guide assembly including a first single orienting member, said carrier including a second single orienting member engaged with said first orienting member to align and engage a connector means with said alignment means to position said connector means in substantial alignment with said end portions of said one or more first flowlines, and means for operatively connecting said one or more first flowlines and one or more second flowlines to each other, whereby fluid can flow therebetween; said alignment means having vertical and horizontal coupling grooves therein, said connector means having vertical and horizontal keys yieldably mounted thereon and expandable into said vertical and horizontal grooves, respectively, to secure said connector means to said alignment means in substantial alignment with said end portions of said one or more first flowlines.

Claim 11

An apparatus wherein a guidance system is disposed at and extends upwardly from the floor of a body of water and through which a well bore has been drilled into the underlying formation, the combination therewith of fLowline alignment means mounted on said guidance system, fluid flow apparatus including one or more first flowlines and guided along said system into communication with the well bore with end portions of said one or more first flowlines facing said alignment means, a guide assembly adjacent to said alignment means, a carrier, one or more second flowlines carried by said carrier and adapted to be lowered therewith through the body of water, connector means secured to said one or more second flowlines, means interconnecting said guide assembly and carrier for pulling said carrier, connector means and one or more second flowlines toward said guide assembly and alignment means, said guide assembly including a first single orienting member, said carrier including a second single orienting member engaged with said first orienting member to align and engage a connector means with said alignment means to position said connector means in substantial alignment with said end portions of said one or more first flowlines, and means for operatively connecting said one or more first flowlines and one or more second flowlines to each other, whereby fluid can flow therebetween; said first single orienting member comprising a tubular member having an orienting cam element extending therein, said second single orienting member comprising a probe having an axial cam engaging said cam element as said probe moves longitudinally in said tubular member to correspondingly turn said carrier and said connector means into alignment with said alignment means, said pulling means including a cable connected to said probe and passing through said tubular member.

Claim 12

An apparatus wherein a guidance system is disposed at and extends upwardly from the floor of a body of water and through which a well bore has been drilled into the underlying formation, the combination therewith of fLowline alignment means mounted on said guidance system, fluid flow apparatus including one or more first flowlines and guided along said system into communication with the well bore with end portions of said one or more first flowlines facing said alignment means, a guide assembly adjacent to said alignment means, a carrier, one or more second flowlines carried by said carrier and adapted to be lowered therewith through the body of water, connector means secured to said one or more second flowlines, means interconnecting said guide assembly and carrier for pulling said carrier, connector means and one or more second flowlines toward said guide assembly and alignment means, said guide assembly including a first single orienting member, said carrier including a second single orienting member engaged with said first orienting member to align and engage a connector means with said alignment means to position said connector means in substantial alignment with said end portions of said one or more first flowlines, and means for operatively connecting said one or more first flowlines and one or more second flowlines to each other, whereby fluid can flow therebetween; said first single orienting member comprising a tubular member having an orienting cam element extending therein, said second single orienting member comprising a probe having an axial cam engaging said cam element as said probe moves longitudinally in said tubular member to correspondingly turn said carrier and said connector means into alignment with said alignment means, said pulling means including a cable connected to said probe and passing through said tubular member.

Claim 13

An apparatus wherein a guidance system is disposed at and extends upwardly from the floor of a body of water and thorough which a well bore has been drilled into the underlying formation, the combination therewith of flowline alignment means mounted on said guidance system, fluid flow apparatus including one or more first flowlines and guided along said system into communication with the well bore with end portions of said one or more first flowlines facing said alignment means, a guide assembly adjacent to said alignment means, a carrier, one or more second flowlines carried by said carrier and adapted to be lowered therewith through the body of water, connector means secured to said one or more second flowlines, means interconnecting said guide assembly and carrier for pulling said carrier, connector means and one or more second flowlines toward said guide assembly and alignment means, said guide assembly including a first single orienting member, said carrier including a second single orienting member engaged with said first orienting member to align and engage a connector means with said alignment means to position said connector means in substantial alignment with said end portions of said one or more first flowlines, nd means for operatively connecting said one or more first flowlines and one or more second flowlines to each other, whereby fluid can flow therebetween; means releasably securing said carrier to said one or more second flowlines, and fluid operated means for releasing said carrier from said one or more second flowlines.

Claim 14

An apparatus wherein a guidance system is disposed at and extends upwardly from the floor of a body of water and thorough which a well bore has been drilled into the underlying formation, the combination therewith of flowline alignment means mounted on said guidance system, fluid flow apparatus including one or more first flowlines and guided along said system into communication with the well bore with end portions of said one or more first flowlines facing said alignment means, a guide assembly adjacent to said alignment means, a carrier, one or more second flowlines carried by said carrier and adapted to be lowered therewith through the body of water, connector means secured to said one or more second flowlines, means interconnecting said guide assembly and carrier for pulling said carrier, connector means and one or more second flowlines toward said guide assembly and alignment means, said guide assembly including a first single orienting member, said carrier including a second single orienting member engaged with said first orienting member to align and engage a connector means with said alignment means to position said connector means in substantial alignment with said end portions of said one or more first flowlines, nd means for operatively connecting said one or more first flowlines and one or more second flowlines to each other, whereby fluid can flow therebetween; means releasably securing said carrier to said one or more second flowlines, and fluid operated means for releasing said carrier from said one or more second flowlines.

Claim 15

An apparatus wherein a guidance system is disposed at and extends upwardly from the floor of a body of water and through which a well bore has been drilled into the underlaying formation, the combination therewith of flowline alignment means mounted on said guidance system, fluid flow apparatus including one or more first flowlines and guided along said system into communication with the well bore with end portions of said one or more first flowlines facing said alignment means, a guide assembly adjacent to said alignment means, a carrier, one or more second flowlines carried by said carrier and adapted to be lowered therewith through the body of water, connector means secured to said one or more second flowlines, means interconnecting said guide assembly and carrier for pulling said carrier, connector meanS and one or more second flowlines toward said guide assembly and alignment means, said guide assembly including a first single orienting member, said carrier including a second single orienting member engaged with said first orienting member to align and engage a connector means with said alignment means to position said connector means in substantial alignment with said end portions of said one or more first flowlines, and means for operatively connecting said one or more first flowlines and one or more second flowlines to each other, whereby fluid can flow therebetween; means releasably securing said guide assembly to said flowline alignment means, means releasably securing said carrier to said one or more second flowlines, and fluid operated means for releasing said carrier from said one or more second flowlines and said guide assembly from said flowline alignment means.

Claim 16

An apparatus wherein a guidance system is disposed at and extends upwardly from the floor of a body of water and through which a well bore has been drilled into the underlaying formation, the combination therewith of flowline alignment means mounted on said guidance system, fluid flow apparatus including one or more first flowlines and guided along said system into communication with the well bore with end portions of said one or more first flowlines facing said alignment means, a guide assembly adjacent to said alignment means, a carrier, one or more second flowlines carried by said carrier and adapted to be lowered therewith through the body of water, connector means secured to said one or more second flowlines, means interconnecting said guide assembly and carrier for pulling said carrier, connector meanS and one or more second flowlines toward said guide assembly and alignment means, said guide assembly including a first single orienting member, said carrier including a second single orienting member engaged with said first orienting member to align and engage a connector means with said alignment means to position said connector means in substantial alignment with said end portions of said one or more first flowlines, and means for operatively connecting said one or more first flowlines and one or more second flowlines to each other, whereby fluid can flow therebetween; means releasably securing said guide assembly to said flowline alignment means, means releasably securing said carrier to said one or more second flowlines, and fluid operated means for releasing said carrier from said one or more second flowlines and said guide assembly from said flowline alignment means.

Claim 17

An apparatus wherein a guidance system is disposed at and extends upwardly from the floor of a body of water and through which a well bore has been drilled into the underlying formation, the combination therewith of flowline alignment means mounted on said guidance system, fluid flow apparatus including one or more first flowlines and guided along said system into communication with the well bore with end portions of said one or more first flowlines facing said alignment means, a guide assembly adjacent to said alignment means, a carrier, one or more second flowlines carried by said carrier and adapted to be lowered therewith through the body of water, connector means secured to said one or more second flowlines, means interconnecting said guide assembly and carrier for pulling said carrier, connector means and one or more second flowlines toward said guide assembly and alignment means, said guide assembly including a first single orienting member, said carrier including a second single orienting member engaged with said first orienting member to align and engage a connector means with said alignment means to position said connector means in substantial alignment with said end portions of said one or more first flowlines, and means for operatively connecting said one or more first flowlines and one or more second flowlines to each other, whereby fluid can flow therebetween; pin means on said carrier received within one or more holes in said connector means to secure said carrier to said connector means while permitting pivoting of said connector means with respect to said carrier, and means operable from a location remote from said carrier for withdrawing said pin means from said one or more holes to disconnect said carrier from said connector means.

Claim 18

An apparatus wherein a guidance system is disposed at and extends upwardly from the floor of a body of water and through which a well bore has been drilled into the underlying formation, the combination therewith of flowline alignment means mounted on said guidance system, fluid flow apparatus including one or more first flowlines and guided along said system into communication with the well bore with end portions of said one or more first flowlines facing said alignment means, a guide assembly adjacent to said alignment means, a carrier, one or more second flowlines carried by said carrier and adapted to be lowered therewith through the body of water, connector means secured to said one or more second flowlines, means interconnecting said guide assembly and carrier for pulling said carrier, connector means and one or more second flowlines toward said guide assembly and alignment means, said guide assembly including a first single orienting member, said carrier including a second single orienting member engaged with said first orienting member to align and engage a connector means with said alignment means to position said connector means in substantial alignment with said end portions of said one or more first flowlines, and means for operatively connecting said one or more first flowlines and one or more second flowlines to each other, whereby fluid can flow therebetween; pin means on said carrier received within one or more holes in said connector means to secure said carrier to said connector means while permitting pivoting of said connector means with respect to said carrier, and means operable from a location remote from said carrier for withdrawing said pin means from said one or more holes to disconnect said carrier from said connector means.

Claim 19

An apparatus wherein a guidance system is disposed at and extends upwardly from the floor of a body of water and through which a well bore has been drilled into the underlying formation, the combination therewith of flowline alignment means mounted on said guidance system, fluid flow apparatus including one or more first flowlines and guided along said system into communication with the well bore with end portions of said one or more first flowlines facing said alignment means, a guide assembly adjacent to said alignment means, a carrier, one or more second flowlines carried by said carrier and adapted to be lowered therewith through the body of water, connector means secured to said one or more second flowlines, means interconnecting said guide assembly and carrier for pulling said carrier, connector means and one or more second flowlines toward said guide assembly and alignment means, said guide assembly including a first single orienting member, said carrier including a second single orienting member engaged with said first orienting member to align and engage a connector means with said alignment means to position said connector means in substantial alignment with said end portions of said one or more first flowlines, and means for operatively connecting said one or more first flowlines and one or more second flowlines to each other, whereby fluid can flow therebetween; pin means on said carrier received within one or more holes in said connector means to secure said carrier to said connector means while permitting pivoting of said connector means with respect to said carrier, means releasably securing said guide assembly to said flowline alignment means, and means for substantially simultaneously releasing said securing means to disconnect said guide assembly from said flowline alignment means and to withdraw said pin means from said one or more holes to disconnect said carrier from said connector means.

Claim 20

An apparatus wherein a guidance system is disposed at and extends upwardly from the floor of a body of water and through which a well bore has been drilled into the underlying formation, the combination therewith of flowline alignment means mounted on said guidance system, fluid flow apparatus including one or more first flowlines and guided along said system into communication with the well bore with end portions of said one or more first flowlines facing said alignment means, a guide assembly adjacent to said alignment means, a carrier, one or more second flowlines carried by said carrier and adapted to be lowered therewith through the body of water, connector means secured to said one or more second flowlines, means interconnecting said guide assembly and carrier for pulling said carrier, connector means and one or more second flowlines toward said guide assembly and alignment means, said guide assembly including a first single orienting member, said carrier including a second single orienting member engaged with said first orienting member to align and engage a connector means with said alignment means to position said connector means in substantial alignment with said end portions of said one or more first flowlines, and means for operatively connecting said one or more first flowlines and one or more second flowlines to each other, whereby fluid can flow therebetween; pin means on said carrier received within one or more holes in said connector means to secure said carrier to said connector means while permitting pivoting of said connector means with respect to said carrier, means releasably securing said guide assembly to said flowline alignment means, and means for substantially simultaneously releasing said securing means to disconnect said guide assembly from said flowline alignment means and to withdraw said pin means from said one or more holes to disconnect said carrier from said connector means.

Claim 21

An apparatus wherein a guidance structure is disposed at and extends upwardly from the floor of a body of water and through which a well bore has been drilled into the underlying formation, the guidance structure including upwardly extending guide posts and guide lines extending upwardly from the posts, the combination therewith of a flowline guide structure movable along one or more selected guide lines and over one or more guide posts connected thereto, flowline alignment means secured to said flowline guide structure, fluid flow apparatus including one or more first flowlines and lowered down the guide lines and over the guide posts into communication with the well bore with end portions of said one or more flowlines facing said alignment means, a guide assembly lowered along said one or more selected guide lines and over said one or more guide posts connected thereto, a carrier, one or more second flowlines carried by said carrier and adapted to be lowered therewith through the body of water after such flowline guide structure has been moved over said one or more guide posts, connector means secured to said one or more second flowlines, and means interconnecting said guide assembly and carrier for pulling said carrier, connector means and one or more second flowlines toward said guide assembly and flowline guide structure, said guide assembly including a first single orienting member, said carrier including a second single orienting member engageable with said first orienting member to align and engage said connector means with said alignment means to position said connector means in substantial alignment with said end portions of said one or more first flowlines, and means for operatively connecting said one or more lines and one or more second flowlines to each other, whereby fluid can flow therebetween.

Claim 22

An apparatus wherein a guidance structure is disposed at and extends upwardly from the floor of a body of water and through which a well bore has been drilled into the underlying formation, the guidance structure including upwardly extending guide posts and guide lines extending upwardly from the posts, the combination therewith of a flowline guide structure movable along one or more selected guide lines and over one or more guide posts connected thereto, flowline alignment means secured to said flowline guide structure, fluid flow apparatus including one or more first flowlines and lowered down the guide lines and over the guide posts into communication with the well bore with end portions of said one or more flowlines facing said alignment means, a guide assembly lowered along said one or more selected guide lines and over said one or more guide posts connected thereto, a carrier, one or more second flowlines carried by said carrier and adapted to be lowered therewith through the body of water after such flowline guide structure has been moved over said one or more guide posts, connector means secured to said one or more second flowlines, and means interconnecting said guide assembly and carrier for pulling said carrier, connector means and one or more second flowlines toward said guide assembly and flowline guide structure, said guide assembly including a first single orienting member, said carrier including a second single orienting member engageable with said first orienting member to align and engage said connector means with said alignment means to position said connector means in substantial alignment with said end portions of said one or more first flowlines, and means for operatively connecting said one or more lines and one or more second flowlines to each other, whereby fluid can flow therebetween.