Multiple flowline connector

Claim 2

A connector for coupling a plurality of flowlines in a catenary bundle in fluid-flow relationship with a plurality of wellheads supported on a submerged support, the combination comprising: a first connector member rigidly coupled in an upright position to the submerged support and including a plurality of conduits extending therethrough having first and second ends, said conduits being coupled at their first ends to the plurality of wellheads, and an upright, hollow annular member having a first upwardly-facing open end and a second downwardly-facing open end and an orientation member on the interior thereof; a second connector member adapted to be coupled to said first connector member and including a plurality of conduits extending therethrough and having first and second ends, said conduits adapted to be coupled at their first ends to the second ends of said conduits in said first connector member and being coupled at their second ends to the plurality of flowlines in the catenary bundle, and an elongated stinger adapted to be received in said hollow annular member via said second downwardly-facing open end and having an orientation member on the exterior thereof for mating with said orientation member on said first connector member to orient said conduits on said first and second connector members into a fluid-flow relationship; a wireline extending through said hollow annular member in said first connector member and coupled to said stinger in said second connector member; a hauling device coupled to said wireline for hauling said wireline upwardly towards the surface of the body of water so that said stinger is received in said annular member, so that said orientation members mate and so that said conduits on said first and second connector members are in a fluid-flow relationship; and means for coupling said first and second connector members together when said conduits are in fluid-flow relationship.

Claim 3

A connector according to claim 1, wherein said hollow annular member in said first connector member includes a downwardly facing, upwardly and inwardly tapering frustoconical socket, and said stinger in said second connector member includes an upwardly facing, upwardly and inwardly tapering frustoconical hub adapted to seat in said socket.

Claim 4

A connector according to claim 2, wherein said hollow annular member in said first connector member has a plurality of ducts extending therethrough from the outer surface thereof to said frustoconical socket, and said hub has a plurality of ducts extending from the outside thereof, through the interior thereof and communicating with the outside of said second connector member, said ducts in said hub and said hollow annular member being in fluid-flow relationship upon orientation of said conduits in said first and second connector members.

Claim 5

A connector according to claim 3, wherein said first connector member includes a plurality of control lines having first and second ends wherein said first ends are coupled to said plurality of wellheads on the submerged support and said second ends are coupled to said ducts in said hollow annular member, and said second connector member includes a plurality of control lines extending therefrom to form a part of the catenary bundle and coupled to said ducts in said second connector member.

Claim 6

A connector according to claim 2, wherein said socket is centrally located in said first connector member, and said hub is centrally located in said second connector member.

Claim 7

A connector according to claim 1, wherein said submerged support is buoyant.

Claim 8

A connector according to claim 1, wherein said stinger has upper and lower ends with said orientation member thereof being located therebetween, and said conduits in said second connector member are located below said stinger orientation member.

Claim 9

A connector for coupling a plurality of flowlines and control lines in fluid-flow relationship with a plurality of wellheads supported on a submerged support, the combination comprising: a first connector member rigidly coupled in an upright position to the submerged support and including a plurality of flowline and control line conduits extending therethrough having first and second ends, said conduits being coupled at their first ends to the plurality of wellheads, and an upright, hollow annular member having a first upwardly-facing open end and a second downwardly-facing open end and an orientation member on the interior thereof; a second connector member adapted to be coupled to said first connector member and including a plurality of flowline and control line conduits extending therethrough and having first and second ends, said conduits adapted to be coupled at their first ends to the second ends of said flowline and control line conduits in said first connector member and being coupled at their second ends to the plurality of flowlines and control lines in the catenary bundle, and an elongated stinger adapted to be received in said hollow annular member via said second downwardly-facing open end and having an orientation member on the exterior thereof for mating with said orientation member on said first connector member to orient said flowline and control line conduits on said first and second connector members into a fluid-flow relationship; a wireline extending through said hollow annular member in said first connector member and coupled to said stinger in said second connector member; a hauling device coupled to said wireline for hauling said wireline so that said stinger is received in said annular member, so that said orientation members mate and so that said conduits on said first and second connector members are in a fluid-flow relationship; and means for coupling said first and second connector members together when said conduits are in fluid-flow relationship, said first connector member having a surface where said second ends of said first connector member control line conduits are located, said second connector member having a surface where said first ends of said second connector member control line conduits are located, said surface on said first connector member adapted to seat against said surface on said second connector member when said control line conduits are in fluid-flow relationship.

Claim 10

A connector for coupling a plurality of flowlines and control lines in fluid-flow relationship with a plurality of wellheads supported on a submerged support, the combination comprising: a first connector member rigidly coupled in an upright position to the submerged support and including a plurality of flowline and control line conduits extending therethrough having first and second ends, said conduits being coupled at their first ends to the plurality of wellheads, and an upright, hollow annular member having a first upwardly-facing open end and a second downwardly-facing open end and an orientation member on the interior thereof; a second connector member adapted to be coupled to said first connector member and including a plurality of flowline and control line conduits extending therethrough and having first and second ends, said conduits adapted to be coupled at their first ends to the second ends of said flowline and control line conduits in said first connector member and being coupled at their second ends to the plurality of flowlines and control lines in the catenary bundle, and an elongated stinger adapted to be received in said hollow annular member via said second downwardly-facing open end and having an orientation member on the exterior thereof for mating with said orientation member on said first connector member to orient said flowline and control line conduits on said first and second connector members into a fluid-flow relationship; a wireline extending through said hollow annular member in said first connector member and coupled to said stinger in said second connector member; a hauling device coupled to said wireline for hauling said wireline so that said stinger is received in said annular member, so that said orientation members mate and so that said conduits on said first and second connector members are in a fluid-flow relationship; and means for coupling said first and second connector members together when said conduits are in fluid-flow relationship, said first connector member having a surface where said second ends of said first connector member control line conduits are located, said second connector member having a surface where said first ends of said second connector member control line conduits are located, said surface on said first connector member adapted to seat against said surface on said second connector member when said control line conduits are in fluid-flow relationship.

Claim 11

A connector according to claim 8, wherein said surface on said first connector member is located centrally of said first connector member, and said surface on said second connector member is located centrally of said second connector member.

Claim 12

A connector according to claim 8, wherein said control line conduits extend generally centrally through said first and second connector members.

Claim 13

A connector according to claim 10, wherein said flowline conduits extend through said first and second connector members radially spaced outwardly from said control line conduits.

Claim 14

A connector according to claim 8, wherein said submerged support is buoyant.

Claim 15

A connector according to claim 8, wherein said surface on said first connector member is a frustoconical socket, and said surface on said second connector member is a frustoconical projecting hub.

Claim 16

A connector according to claim 8, wherein said stinger has upper and lower ends with said orientation member thereof being located therebetween, and said conduits in said second connector member are located below said stinger orientation member.

Claim 19

A method according to claim 15, and further comprising the step of rigidly connecting to the submerged support the end of the catenary bundle engaging the support.

Claim 20

A method according to claim 15, wherein the submerged support is buoyant.

Claim 21

A method according to claim 15, wherein the submerged support is located between the bed and surface of the body of water.

Claim 22

A method according to claim 15, wherein the hauling step includes rotationally orienting the end of the catenary bundle relative to the opening in the submerged support.

Claim 23

A connector for coupling a plurality of flowlines in a catenary bundle in fluid-flow relationship with a plurality of wellheads supported on a submerged support, the combination comprising: a first connector member rigidly coupled in an upright position to the submerged support and including a plurality of conduits extending therethrough having first and second ends, said conduits being coupled at their first ends to the plurality of wellheads, and an upright, hollow annular member having a first upwardly-facing open end and a second downwardly-facing open end and an orientation member thereon; a second connector member adapted to be coupled to said first connector member and including a plurality of conduits extending therethrough and having first and second ends, said conduits adapted to be coupled at their first ends to the second ends of said conduits in said first connector member and being coupled at their second ends to the plurality of flowlines in the catenary bundle, and an elongated stinger adapted to be received in said hollow annular member via said second downwardly-facing open end and having an orientation member thereon for mating with said orientation member on said first connector member to orient said conduits on said first and second connector members into a fluid-flow relationship; a wireline extending through said hollow annular member in said first connector member, coupled to said stinger in said second connector member and coupled to a hauling device for hauling said wireline upwardly towards the surface of the body of water so that said stinger is received in said annular member, so that said orientation members mate and so that said conduits on said first and second connector members are in a fluid-flow relationship and said second connector member is engaged with the bottom of said first connector member; and means for coupling said first and second connector members together when said conduits are in fluid-flow relationship.

Claim 24

A connector for coupling a plurality of flowlines in a catenary bundle in fluid-flow relationship with a plurality of wellheads supported on a submerged support, the combination comprising: a first connector member rigidly coupled in an upright position to the submerged support and including a plurality of conduits extending therethrough having first and second ends, said conduits being coupled at their first ends to the plurality of wellheads, and an upright, hollow annular member having a first upwardly-facing open end and a second downwardly-facing open end and an orientation member thereon; a second connector member adapted to be coupled to said first connector member and including a plurality of conduits extending therethrough and having first and second ends, said conduits adapted to be coupled at their first ends to the second ends of said conduits in said first connector member and being coupled at their second ends to the plurality of flowlines in the catenary bundle, and an elongated stinger adapted to be received in said hollow annular member via said second downwardly-facing open end and having an orientation member thereon for mating with said orientation member on said first connector member to orient said conduits on said first and second connector members into a fluid-flow relationship; a wireline extending through said hollow annular member in said first connector member, coupled to said stinger in said second connector member and coupled to a hauling device for hauling said wireline upwardly towards the surface of the body of water so that said stinger is received in said annular member, so that said orientation members mate and so that said conduits on said first and second connector members are in a fluid-flow relationship and said second connector member is engaged with the bottom of said first connector member; and means for coupling said first and second connector members together when said conduits are in fluid-flow relationship.