Patent Application
20160177651
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates in general to offshore drilling and production equipment and in particular to a tieback connector assembly for connecting a subsea wellhead assembly to a platform.
2. Description of Related Art
A subsea wellhead assembly installed at the sea floor may be in water thousands of feet deep. During completion and certain production operations, components from a floating platform are lowered from the platform to engage the subsea wellhead assembly. A tieback connector connects a production riser between a subsea wellhead housing and the surface production platform. Typically, the tieback connector has locking elements that lock into a profile in the wellhead housing. A lockdown mechanism is sometimes used to resist upward movement of the tieback connector and prevent unintentional unlocking of the tieback connector that may occur due to thermal growth and external environmental forces during production.
Some current lockdown mechanism designs include multiple lockdown members that are spaced around the circumference of the lockdown mechanism. Installing the lockdown mechanism usually requires a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that manually manipulates a plate of each lockdown member with a grooved profile into engagement with a rod with a mating profile. In some subsea developments, the wells are located on a template, which provide limited access for a ROV, and it is very difficult for the ROV to move around and between the wells to make up the various lockdown members.
The methods and systems of the current disclosure provide a connector assembly for connecting a tubular member to a subsea wellhead assembly having a lockdown system that can be operated and moved between a lockdown open position and a lockdown engaged position from a single location subsea by an ROV, or by an operator remotely from a surface location.
In an embodiment of this disclosure, a connector assembly for connecting a tubular member to a subsea wellhead assembly includes a tieback connector having a stationary connector body and a moveable connector body. The stationary connector body and the moveable connector body are annular members and the stationary connector body circumscribes a portion of the moveable connector body. A tie rod extends in an axial direction from the stationary connector body, the tie rod having a tie rod profile on a tie rod outer diameter. A dog ring with an inner diameter profile circumscribes the tie rod. The dog ring is moveable between a lockdown open position where the dog ring is spaced radially outward from the tie rod, and a lockdown engaged position where the inner diameter profile engages the tie rod profile, to axially couple the stationary connector body and the moveable connector body. An annular piston circumscribes the dog ring. The annular piston has a region with a reduced inner diameter that engages a dog ring outer diameter of the dog ring to retain the dog ring in the lockdown engaged position. A cylinder circumscribes the annular piston, defining a lockdown piston cavity.
In an alternate embodiment of this disclosure, a connector assembly for connecting a tubular member to a subsea wellhead assembly includes a tieback connector moveable between a connector engaged position where the connector assembly is secured to the subsea wellhead assembly, and a connector unengaged position where the connector assembly is moveable relative to the subsea wellhead assembly. A tie rod extends in an axial direction from the tieback connector, the tie rod having a tie rod profile on a tie rod outer diameter. A dog ring with an inner diameter profile circumscribes the tie rod, the dog ring moveable between a lockdown open position where the tie rod can move axially relative to the dog ring, and a lockdown engaged position where the inner diameter profile engages the tie rod profile and restricts the tieback connector from moving between the connector engaged position and the connector unengaged position. The dog ring is biased towards the lockdown open position. An annular piston circumscribes the dog ring. The annular piston has a region with a reduced inner diameter that engages a dog ring outer diameter of the dog ring to retain the dog ring in the lockdown engaged position, and a portion with an enlarged inner diameter that allows the dog ring to move to the lockdown open position. A cylinder circumscribes the annular piston, defining a lockdown piston cavity.
In another alternate embodiment of this disclosure, a method of connecting a tubular member to a subsea wellhead assembly includes landing a connector assembly on the subsea wellhead assembly. The connector assembly has an axially extending tie rod with a tie rod profile on a tie rod outer diameter. A dog ring with an inner diameter profile circumscribes the tie rod. An annular piston circumscribes the dog ring, and a cylinder that circumscribes the annular piston, defining a lockdown piston cavity. A pressure media is injected into the lockdown piston cavity to move the annular piston axially relative to the dog ring so that the dog ring is in a lockdown open position with the dog ring spaced from tie rod. The connector assembly is secured to the subsea wellhead assembly. The pressure media is vented from the lockdown piston cavity to allow the annular piston to move axially relative to the dog ring and the dog ring to move to the lockdown engaged position with the inner diameter profile engaging the tie rod profile, preventing the connector assembly from becoming unsecured from the subsea wellhead assembly.
So that the manner in which the features, advantages and objects of the invention, as well as others which will become apparent, are attained and can be understood in more detail, more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appended drawings, which drawings form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only a preferred embodiment of the invention and is therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope as the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
The methods and systems of the present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which embodiments are shown. The methods and systems of the present disclosure may be in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey its scope to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
It is to be further understood that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the exact details of construction, operation, exact materials, or embodiments shown and described, as modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art. In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed illustrative embodiments and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation.
Referring to
In the example of
Cam ring 22 also includes a region with a reduced outer diameter 32 that is axially adjacent to the outer diameter surface 28, and which engages the inner diameter surface 30 of connector dogs 20. A tip 34 of latch 24 is alternately located axially adjacent outer diameter surface 28 and reduced outer diameter 32 of cam ring 22. When tip 34 of latch 24 is axially adjacent to, and engages, outer diameter surface 28, a lower lip 36 of latch 24 engages upper lip 38 of connector dogs 20, pushing connector dogs 20 radially inward so that connector dogs profile 25 is spaced from locking profile 26 (
Looking again at
Moveable connector body 27 has an annular outer flange 42. Outer flange 42 extends radially outward from an outer diameter of moveable connector body 27. An outer diameter of outer flange 42 sealingly engages an inner diameter of stationary connector body 40. A seal is also formed between the outer diameter of moveable connector body 27 below outer flange 42 and above outer flange 42. Upper piston cavity 44 is an annular space defined by the outer diameter of moveable connector body 27, the inner diameter of stationary connector body 40, a bottom surface of connector cap 46 and an upper surface of outer flange 42. Connector cap 46 is a ring like cap that circumscribes moveable connector body 27 and sealing engages both the outer diameter of moveable connector body 27 and the inner diameter of stationary connector body 40. Connector cap 46 forms a static seal with the inner diameter of stationary connector body 40 and a dynamic seal with the outer diameter of moveable connector body 27 so that connector cap 46 can maintain a seal with moveable connector body 27 as moveable connector body 27 moves axially relative to stationary connector body 40. Connector cap 46 is secured to, and extends radially inward from, the top end of stationary connector body 40.
Lower piston cavity 48 is defined by the outer diameter of moveable connector body 27, the inner diameter of stationary connector body 40, a bottom surface of outer flange 42 and a top surface of annular seal 50 Annular seal 50 rests on an upward facing shoulder of stationary connector body 40 and engages both the outer diameter of moveable connector body 27 and the inner diameter of stationary connector body 40. Annular seal 50 forms a dynamic seal with the inner diameter of stationary connector body 40 and with the outer diameter of moveable connector body 27 so that annular seal 50 can maintain a seal with moveable connector body 27 and stationary connector body 40 as moveable connector body 27 moves axially relative to stationary connector body 40.
Upper piston cavity 44 and lower piston cavity 48 may be used to move the moveable connector body 27 relative to the stationary connector body 40. Injecting a pressure media into upper piston cavity 44 will cause the moveable connector body 27 to move axially downward relative to the stationary connector body 40 so that the locking system 18 moves to the connector engaged position shown in
Looking again at
Lockdown assembly 52 includes tie rod 54. A lower end of tie rod 54 is attached to connector cap 46, which in turn is secured to stationary connector body 40 of tieback connector 12. Tie rod 54 extends in an axially upward direction from connector cap 46 of tieback connector 12. Tie rod 54 passes through a hole 58 in annular ring 60. Tie rod 54 has a tie rod profile 56 on a tie rod outer diameter of tie rod 54. Tie rod 54 can have two separate axial lengths of tie rod profile 56, or a single continuous length of tie rod profile 56. Lockdown assembly 52 can include a plurality of tie rods 54 spaced around a circumference of stationary connector body 40 of tieback connector 12. Each tie rod 54 will have the components associated with the tie rod 54, as discussed herein.
Annular ring 60 is secured to an upper end of moveable connector body 27 and extends radially outward from moveable connector body 27. Annular ring 60 can be secured to the upper end of moveable connector body 27, as an example, with pins, bolts, or other threaded members. Annular ring 60 has an inner diameter that is generally equivalent to, or larger than, an inner diameter of moveable connector body 27. An outer diameter of annular ring 60 can be generally equivalent to, or less than, an outer diameter of stationary connector body 40.
Dog ring 62 is an annular member that has an inner diameter profile 64 and circumscribes tie rod 54. Dog ring 62 can be supported by an upper surface of annular ring 60. Dog ring 62 is formed to be biased in a radially outward position so that in a relaxed state, dog ring 62 is in a lockdown open position and inner diameter profile 64 is spaced apart from tie rod profile 56. Dog ring 62 is radially contractible and can be, for example, a c-ring or other outwardly biased ring shaped member. Dog ring 62 is moveable between a lockdown open position where dog ring 62 is spaced from tie rod 54, and a lockdown engaged position where inner diameter profile 64 engages tie rod profile 56.
In the lockdown open position, tie rod 54 can move axially relative to dog ring 62 so that moveable connector body 27 can move axially relative to stationary connector body 40. In the lockdown engaged position, tie rod 54 couples to dog ring 62, preventing relative axial movement between moveable connector body 27 and stationary connector body 40. Dog ring 62 can be in a lockdown engaged position when tieback connector 12 is either in the connector unengaged position or in the connector engaged position. When tieback connector 12 is in the connector engaged position and dog ring 62 is in a lockdown engaged position, tieback connector 12 will remain in the connector engaged position until dog ring 62 is moved to the lockdown open position. Similarly, when tieback connector 12 is in the connector unengaged position and dog ring 62 is in a lockdown engaged position, tieback connector 12 will remain in the connector unengaged position until dog ring 62 is moved to the lockdown open position. However, tie rod 54 can include radial groove 65 that will act as a weak or shear point of tie rod 54. If tieback connector 12 was to be hydraulically actuated to move between a connector engaged position and a connector unengaged position and the operator failed to first move dog ring 62 to the lockdown open position, tie rod 54 would shear at radial groove 65 before damage occurred to any more expensive or safety critical component. Radial groove 65 will therefore act as a safety feature to sacrifice tie rod 54, which can then be replaced.
Lockdown assembly 52 further includes annular piston 66 that is an annular member and circumscribes dog ring 62. Annular piston 66 can move axially relative to dog ring 62. Annular piston 66 has a portion with an enlarged inner diameter at a lower end of annular piston 66. When annular piston 66 is in an axially upper position and the portion with the enlarged inner diameter of annular piston 66 engages a dog ring outer diameter of dog ring 62, dog ring 62 can be in the lockdown open position (
Cylinder 68 circumscribes annular piston 66. Cylinder 68 is an annular member with an inner bore. Lockdown piston cavity 70 is defined between an inner diameter of cylinder 68 and an outer diameter of annular piston 66. Cylinder 68 has an inner diameter that sealing engages an outer diameter of a radially extending flange 72 of annular piston 66. Flange 72 extends radially inward from a top end of annular piston 66. A bottom surface of flange 72 defines a top of piston cavity 70. An upward facing radial shoulder of cylinder 68 defines a bottom of piston cavity 70.
A pressure media injected into lockdown piston cavity 70 can cause annular piston 66 to move upward relative to dog ring 62 so that dog ring 62 can expand radially outward and move to the lockdown open position. The pressure media can be for example, a hydraulic fluid, pressurized air, or other suitable pressure fluid. The pressure media can be injected into lockdown piston cavity 70 through injection port 74 (
Lockdown assembly 52 can also include biasing member 76. Biasing member 76 urges annular piston 66 downwards to retain dog ring 62 in the lockdown engaged position. Biasing member 76 has a first end engaging a top surface of annular piston 66 and a second end engaging cylinder cap 78. Cylinder cap 78 is a disk shaped member located at an upper end of cylinder 68. In order to move annular piston axially upward relative to dog ring 62, the force of biasing member 76 will need to be overcome by the force of the pressure media injected into lockdown piston cavity 70.
Lockdown assembly 52 can further include indicator stem 80. Indicator stem 80 can engage a top surface of annular piston 66 and protrude through cylinder cap 78. Indicator stem 80 can include a marking that can be visualized by camera, such as a camera associated with an ROV, to indicate to the axially position of the annular piston 66 to the operator so the operator can determine if dog ring 62 is in the lockdown open position or the lockdown engaged position.
Although lockdown assembly 52 is described herein for use with tieback connector 12, lockdown assembly 52 can be used with alternate connector assemblies that have a moveable piston portion and a stationary body for attachment to tie rod 54.
In an example of operation, in order to connect a tubular member to a subsea wellhead, connector assembly 10 can be landed on a subsea wellhead assembly. During the lowering of connector assembly 10 onto the subsea wellhead assembly, tieback connector 12 can be in the connector unengaged position and dog ring 62 can be in a can be in the lockdown engaged position to retain tieback connector 12 in the connector unengaged position.
Injecting a pressure media through injection port 74 and into lockdown piston cavity 70 will move annular piston 66 axially upward relative to dog ring 62 so that radially outward biased dog ring 62 moves to a lockdown open position with tie rod 54 spaced from dog ring 62. This allows moveable connector body 27 to move axially relative to stationary connector body 40 so that tieback connector 12 can then be moved to the connector engaged position. Pressure media can be injected into lockdown piston cavity 70 by, for example, remotely signaling a pressure system from an above water surface location or by signaling a pressure system from a subsea location, such as by signaling the pressure system subsea with an ROV.
Tieback connector 12 is moved to the connector engaged position by injecting pressure media into upper piston cavity 44, moving moveable connector body 27 axially downward relative to stationary connector body 40 so that cam ring 23 moves connector dogs profile 25 into engagement with locking profile 26, securing connector assembly 10 to lock housing 14. During this procedure, tie rod 54 moves axially relative to dog ring 62.
Venting the pressure media from lockdown piston cavity 70 then allows biasing member 76 to push annular piston 66 axially downward relative to dog ring 62, moving dog ring 62 to the lockdown engaged position with inner diameter profile 64 engaging tie rod profile 56. The pressure media can be vented from lockdown piston cavity 70 through injection port 74 or though a separate venting port that extends through the sidewall of cylinder 68. With the region with the reduced inner diameter of annular piston 66 engaging a dog ring outer diameter of dog ring 62, dog ring 62 is retained in the lockdown engaged position, preventing connector assembly 10 from becoming unsecured from the subsea wellhead assembly. Because of the axial movement of tie rod 54 relative to dog ring 62 during the securing of connector assembly 10 to lock housing 14, inner diameter profile 64 will now engage tie rod profile 56 at an axially lower position on tie rod 54 than it did during the lowering of connector assembly 10 onto the subsea wellhead assembly when tieback connector 12 was retained in the connector unengaged position.
The procedure can be reversed to remove connector assembly 10 from subsea wellhead assembly 14. Pressure media can be through injection port 74 and into lockdown piston cavity 70 to move annular piston 66 axially upward relative to dog ring 62 so that radially outward biased dog ring 62 moves to a lockdown open position with tie rod 54 spaced from dog ring 62. Tieback connector 12 can then be moved to the connector unengaged position by injecting pressure media into lower piston cavity 48, moving moveable connector body 27 axially upward relative to stationary connector body 40 so that cam ring 23 is no longer axially even with connector dogs profile 25 and connector dogs profile 25, is no longer in engagement with locking profile 26 and tieback connector 12 is in the connector unengaged position. Latch 24 is pivoted to retain connector dogs profile 25 spaced apart from locking profile 26 and connector assembly 10 can be removed from the subsea wellhead assembly. Venting the pressure media from lockdown piston cavity 70 can allow biasing member 76 to push annular piston 66 axially downward relative to dog ring 62, moving dog ring 62 to the lockdown engaged position with inner diameter profile 64 engaging tie rod profile 56. With the region with the reduced inner diameter of annular piston 66 engaging a dog ring outer diameter of dog ring 62, dog ring 62 is retained in the lockdown engaged position so that tieback connector 12 is retained in the connector unengaged position while connector assembly 10 is removed from the subsea wellhead assembly.
The terms “vertical”, “horizontal”, “upward”, “downward”, “above”, and “below” and similar spatial relation terminology are used herein only for convenience because elements of the current disclosure may be installed in various relative positions.
The system and method described herein, therefore, are well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as others inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of the system and method has been given for purposes of disclosure, numerous changes exist in the details of procedures for accomplishing the desired results. These and other similar modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and are intended to be encompassed within the spirit of the system and method disclosed herein and the scope of the appended claims.
