Riser section apparatus

Claim 2

A riser section constructed to be interconnected to other riser sections to form a riser, each riser section being supportable in one position via a riser support assembly as another riser section is positioned in an interconnecting position therewith and secured thereto, the connected riser sEctions being subsequently lowerable into an interconnecting position with an underwater pipeline, each riser section comprising: a pipe section, having a connecting upper end and a connecting lower end, the connecting upper end of the pipe section being connectable with the connecting lower end of another pipe section for interconnection of the pipe section to another pipe section; and a support ring secured about a portion of the outer periphery of the pipe section spaced a distance from the upper end thereof and extending generally radially therefrom forming an upper surface and a lower surface, the support ring positioned on the pipe section and sized to be engageable with a portion of the riser support assembly for securedly supporting the pipe section, and the connecting upper end of the supported pipe section being connectable to the connecting lower end of another pipe section in the supported position of the pipe section and in a connected position of the pipe section to another pipe section, the support ring being spaced from the connected portions of the pipe section and the other pipe section connected thereto.

Claim 3

The riser section of claim 1 wherein the support ring includes a plurality of apertures formed therethrough for facilitating the supporting and the lowering of the riser section.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the connecting upper end of the pipe section is defined further to include an uppermost end and a groove formed in the inner periphery of the pipe section intersecting a portion of the uppermost end thereof and extending a distance axially along the inner periphery thereof terminating with a beveled end, the beveled end of the groove forming an annular beveled surface in the connecting upper end of the piep section; and wherein the connecting lower end of the pipe section is defined further to include a lowermost end and a groove formed in the outer periphery of the pipe section intersecting a portion of the lowermost end thereof extending a distance axially along the outer periphery thereof terminating with an annular end surface formed about the outer periphery of the connecting lower end of the pipe section, the annular end surface formed about the connecting lower end of the pipe section being engageable with a portion of the uppermost end of the connecting lower end of one other pipe section in an interconnecting position of two pipe sections, the lowermost end of the connecting lower end of the pipe section being engageable with a portion of the annular beveled surface formed in the connecting lower end of one other pipe section in an interconnecting position of two pipe sections.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the support ring formed about the pipe section is defined further as being formed on the outer periphery of the connecting upper end portion of the pipe section generally near the uppermost end thereof.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the lowermost end of the connecting lower end of the pipe section is beveled providing an annular beveled surface extending about a portion of the outer periphery of the lowermost end of the connecting lower end, the annular beveled surface of the connecting lower end being matingly connectable and engageable with the annular beveled surface formed about the inner periphery of the connecting upper end of one other pipe section in an interconnecting position of two pipe sections.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the lowermost end of the connecting lower end of the pipe section is beveled providing an annular beveled surface extending about a portion of the outer periphery of the lowermost end of the connecting lower end, the annular beveled surface of the connecting lower end and the annular beveled surface of the connecting upper end forming an annular V-shaped groove in an interconnecting position of two pipe sections to facilitate the welding interconnection therebetween.

Claim 8

Apparatus for connecting a riser and an underwater pipeline, One end of the riser connected to the underwater pipeline in an interconnected position of the riser and the underwater pipeline, the apparatus comprising: a riser underwater connecting end, having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end thereof connected to one end of the riser, a radially outwardly tapering groove formed in the outer periphery of the riser underwater connecting end intersecting a portion of the lower end thereof, thereby forming an annular tapered surface extending about the outer periphery of the riser underwater connecting end, an annular flange formed on the outer periphery of the riser underwater connecting end extending generally radially therefrom and forming an annular downwardly facing surface and an annular upwardly facing surface; a pipeline underwater connecting end having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end thereof connected to one end of the underwater pipeline, a radially inwardly tapering groove formed in the inner periphery thereof intersecting a portion of the upper end thereof forming an annular tapered surface extendin about a portion of the inner periphery of the pipeline underwater connecting end, the annular tapered surface of the pipeline underwater connecting end guidingly and matingly engageable with the annular tapered surface of the riser underwater connecting end in an interconnected position of the riser and the underwater pipeline, an annular flange formed on the outer periphery of the pipeline underwater connecting end extending generally radially therefrom and a plurality of bolt holes formed through the flange of the pipeline underwater connecting end spaced circumferentially about the flange, a portion of the annular flange of the pipeline underwater connecting end being engageable with a portion of the annular downwardly facing surface formed via the annular flange on the riser underwater connecting end in an interconnected position of the underwater pipeline and the riser; an annular slip ring disposed about the riser underwater connecting end, a portion of the annular slip ring slidingly engageable with the upwardly facing surface formed by the flange about the outer periphery of the riser underwater connecting end, a plurality of bolt holes being formed through a portion of the slip ring and spaced circumferentially thereabout alignable with the bolt holes formed in the flange formed on the pipeline underwater connecting end in one position of the slip ring for bolting interconnection between the riser and the underwater pipeline; a pin having an upper and lower end, the pin disposed through one of the bolt holes in the slip ring and one of the bolt holes of the flange of the riser underwater connecting end in one position; clamp means connected to the pin generally adjacent the upper end thereof, the clamp means engaging a portion of the slip ring in one position of the clamp means to secure the pin in an assembled position, a portion of the pin extendable through one of the bolt holes in the slip ring and a portion of the pin generally adjacent the lower end thereof extendable a distance downwardly from the slip ring in an assembled position of the pin; and guide means removably supportable on a portion of the flange formed on the pipeline underwater connecting end having a portion extendable a distance generally upwardly therefrom and another portion forming guide sides defining a guide path, the guide sides being engageable by a portion of the pin generally adjacent the lower end of the pin in one position of the pin for guiding a portion of the pin through one of the bolt holes of the flange formed on the pipeline underwater connecting end.

Claim 9

Apparatus for connecting a riser and an underwater pipeline, One end of the riser connected to the underwater pipeline in an interconnected position of the riser and the underwater pipeline, the apparatus comprising: a riser underwater connecting end, having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end thereof connected to one end of the riser, a radially outwardly tapering groove formed in the outer periphery of the riser underwater connecting end intersecting a portion of the lower end thereof, thereby forming an annular tapered surface extending about the outer periphery of the riser underwater connecting end, an annular flange formed on the outer periphery of the riser underwater connecting end extending generally radially therefrom and forming an annular downwardly facing surface and an annular upwardly facing surface; a pipeline underwater connecting end having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end thereof connected to one end of the underwater pipeline, a radially inwardly tapering groove formed in the inner periphery thereof intersecting a portion of the upper end thereof forming an annular tapered surface extendin about a portion of the inner periphery of the pipeline underwater connecting end, the annular tapered surface of the pipeline underwater connecting end guidingly and matingly engageable with the annular tapered surface of the riser underwater connecting end in an interconnected position of the riser and the underwater pipeline, an annular flange formed on the outer periphery of the pipeline underwater connecting end extending generally radially therefrom and a plurality of bolt holes formed through the flange of the pipeline underwater connecting end spaced circumferentially about the flange, a portion of the annular flange of the pipeline underwater connecting end being engageable with a portion of the annular downwardly facing surface formed via the annular flange on the riser underwater connecting end in an interconnected position of the underwater pipeline and the riser; an annular slip ring disposed about the riser underwater connecting end, a portion of the annular slip ring slidingly engageable with the upwardly facing surface formed by the flange about the outer periphery of the riser underwater connecting end, a plurality of bolt holes being formed through a portion of the slip ring and spaced circumferentially thereabout alignable with the bolt holes formed in the flange formed on the pipeline underwater connecting end in one position of the slip ring for bolting interconnection between the riser and the underwater pipeline; a pin having an upper and lower end, the pin disposed through one of the bolt holes in the slip ring and one of the bolt holes of the flange of the riser underwater connecting end in one position; clamp means connected to the pin generally adjacent the upper end thereof, the clamp means engaging a portion of the slip ring in one position of the clamp means to secure the pin in an assembled position, a portion of the pin extendable through one of the bolt holes in the slip ring and a portion of the pin generally adjacent the lower end thereof extendable a distance downwardly from the slip ring in an assembled position of the pin; and guide means removably supportable on a portion of the flange formed on the pipeline underwater connecting end having a portion extendable a distance generally upwardly therefrom and another portion forming guide sides defining a guide path, the guide sides being engageable by a portion of the pin generally adjacent the lower end of the pin in one position of the pin for guiding a portion of the pin through one of the bolt holes of the flange formed on the pipeline underwater connecting end.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the guide means is defined further to include: a pair of guide members, each guide member removably supportable on a portion of the flange formed on the pipeline underwater connecting end and extendable a distance generally upwardly therefrom, each guide member having a guide side, the guide sides of the two guide members defining the guide path in an assembled position of the guide members, each guide side being engageable by a portion of the pin generally adjacent the lower end of the pin in one position of the pin for guiding a portion of the pin through one of the bolt holes of the flange formed on the pipeline underwater connecting end.