US-12618504-B2 - Connector for subsea pipelines and risers, and repair of a pipeline or riser utilizing the connector

Abstract

A connector ( 30 ) for pipelines and risers has a body ( 34 ) with a packing and scaling ( 36 ) is connected thereto. A plurality of elastomeric packing seals ( 38 ) are provided between the body ( 34 ) and a pipe or riser. A packing and scaling reaction ring ( 42 ) is provided at an end of the body ( 34 ) opposite the packing/seal flange ( 36 ) and abuts the last of the plurality of elastomeric packing seals ( 38 ). An outer fastener bolt circle ( 44 ) is formed through the packing and sealing flange ( 36 ), and fasteners of the outer fastener bolt circle ( 44 ) extend through the packing/seal flange ( 36 ) into the body ( 34 ) of the connector ( 30 ). An inner fastener bolt circle ( 46 ) is formed through the packing and sealing flange ( 36 ), and fasteners of the inner fastener bolt circle extend through passageways of the elastomeric packing seals ( 38 ) to be received by the packing/seal reaction ring ( 42 ).

Inventors

• Lyman J. DOLAN, III

Assignees

• ENTAGRAL ENGINEERING, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20220214

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A connector for pipelines and risers, which can be used for the repair of pipelines and risers, the connector comprising: a body; a packing and sealing flange connected to said body; a plurality of elastomeric packing seals provided between said body and a pipe or riser, said plurality of elastomeric packing seals having a plurality of passageways formed therethrough; an outer fastener bolt circle formed through said packing and sealing flange, said outer fastener bolt circle having a plurality of fasteners extending through said packing and sealing flange into said body; an inner fastener bolt circle formed through said packing and sealing flange, said inner fastener bolt circle having a plurality of fasteners which respectively extend through said plurality of passageways of said plurality of elastomeric packing seals.
2. 2 . The connector of claim 1 , further comprising: an annulus pressure test ring provided between pairs of said plurality of elastomeric packing seals.
3. 3 . The connector of claim 2 , further comprising: a pressure test port provided on said body.
4. 4 . The connector of claim 2 , wherein said annulus pressure test ring comprises a plurality of communication ports extending therethrough.
5. 5 . The connector of claim 1 , further comprising: a packing and sealing reaction ring positioned at an end said body opposite said packing and sealing flange and against one of said plurality of elastomeric packing seals, said packing and sealing reaction ring being tapped so as to receive said plurality of fasteners of said inner fastener bolt circle.
6. 6 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein each of said body, said packing and sealing flange, and said plurality of elastomeric packing seals comprising opposing semi-circular halves.
7. 7 . The connector of claim 6 , further comprising at least two transverse bolts connecting the opposing halves of said packing and sealing flanged together.
8. 8 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein said body has an open end opposite said packing and sealing flange.
9. 9 . The connector of claim 8 , wherein a distance between an outer diameter of the pipe and an inner diameter of said open end of the connector is greater than an outer diameter of an adjacent sleeve member of a previous repair.
10. 10 . The connector of claim 1 , said plurality of fasteners of said inner fastener bolt circle comprises twenty fasteners.
11. 11 . A connector for pipelines and risers comprising: a body; a packing and sealing flange connected to said body; a plurality of elastomeric packing seals provided between said body and a pipe or riser, said plurality of elastomeric packing seals having a plurality of passageways formed therethrough; an outer fastener bolt circle formed through said packing and sealing flange, said outer fastener bolt circle having a plurality of fasteners extending through said packing and sealing flange into said body; an inner fastener bolt circle formed through said packing and sealing flange, said inner fastener bolt circle having a plurality of fasteners which respectively extend through said plurality of passageways of said plurality of elastomeric packing seals; a packing and sealing reaction ring positioned at an end said body opposite said packing and sealing flange and against one of said plurality of elastomeric packing seals, said packing and sealing reaction ring having threaded holes for receipt of said plurality of fasteners of said inner fastener bolt circle.
12. 12 . The connector of claim 11 , wherein each of said body, said packing and sealing flange, and said plurality of elastomeric packing seals comprising opposing semi-circular halves.
13. 13 . The connector of claim 12 , further comprising at least two transverse bolts connecting the opposing halves of said packing and sealing flanged together.
14. 14 . The connector of claim 11 , wherein said body has an open end opposite said packing and sealing flange.
15. 15 . The connector of claim 11 , wherein each of said plurality of fasteners of said inner fastener bolt circle comprises a threaded end, the threaded ends of said plurality of fasteners of said inner fastened bolt circle being respectively received by said threaded holes of said packing and sealing reaction ring.
16. 16 . The connector of claim 11 , further comprising: an annulus pressure test ring provided between pairs of said plurality of elastomeric packing seals.
17. 17 . A method of applying a connector to a pipeline or riser comprising: positioning a plurality of elastomeric packing seals over the pipeline or riser, each of the plurality of elastomeric packing seals having a plurality of passageways formed therethrough; positioning a packing and sealing reaction ring over the pipeline or riser, the packing and sealing reaction ring having a plurality of threaded holes formed therein, the plurality of threaded holes in alignment with the plurality of passageways of the plurality of elastomeric packing seals; positioning a body over the plurality of elastomeric packing seals and the packing and sealing reaction ring, the body having a plurality of threaded holes formed therein; affixing a packing and sealing flange to the body; inserting a plurality of fasteners respectively through the packing and sealing flange and the passageways of the plurality of elastomeric packing seals, such that the plurality of fasteners are received by the plurality of threaded holes of the packing and sealing reaction ring; and tightening the plurality of fasteners such that the packing and sealing reaction ring is pulled toward the packing and sealing flange so as to increase a pressure against the pipeline or riser.
18. 18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the packing and sealing flange has an outer fastener ring and an inner fastener ring each having a plurality, the step of affixing comprising: affixing the plurality of fasteners of the outer fastener ring in the plurality of threaded holes of the body.
19. 19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein each of the body, the packing and sealing flange, and the plurality of elastomeric packing seals comprising opposing semi-circular halves.
20. 20 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising: positioning an annulus pressure test ring between pairs of the plurality of elastomeric packing seals.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to connectors for subsea pipelines and risers, more particularly connections which may be used in the repair of subsea pipelines or risers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Subsea pipeline fittings (i.e. connectors and repair products) have been in existence since the late 1960's. They are typically installed horizontally subsea and can be either sleeved or split. Pipeline fittings are also installed in vertical application such as on risers. Various patents have issued in the past relating to the repair of pipelines and risers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,472,722 (the '722 patent) issued on Jan. 6, 2009 to Nadarajah et al. The '722 patent describes a method of preparing a pipeline section using a combination of a wrap and sleeve structure. Particularly, the pipe is grit-blasted and then wrapped with the fiber composite material. Two half sleeves are then installed over the fiber-reinforced composite material, and an epoxy or cement grout or combination thereof is injected into the sleeves through an inlet port. Once the injected material is allowed to cure, the ends of the sleeves are sealed using a pair of flanges. U.S. Pat. No. 10,711,919 (the '919 patent), issued on Jul. 14, 2020 to Fowkes. The '919 patent describes repair or coating of subsea pipelines. In particular, the repair according to the '919 patent includes a wrap tape cassette with a drum for carrying a wrap tape wound thereon. A housing is provided which defines an exit opening for the wrap tape, and the drum moves rotationally and longitudinally relative to the housing to dispense the wrap tape around the pipeline. U.S. Pat. No. 9,593,793 (the '793 patent), issued on Mar. 14, 2017 to Benson et al. The '793 patent discloses pipeline repair utilizing a chain clamp structure. Specifically, the '793 patent discloses a repair system with one or more machinable link sections which function as chain clamps to repair the pipeline while it is still in service. The sections can comprise interlocking sections similar to conventional bend limiter sections, or which may be locked in place using bolts or other fasteners. U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,712 (the '712 patent), issued on Dec. 24, 1991 to Baugh. The '712 patent describes the remote repair of subsea pipelines, which utilizes two split clamping halves and sealing means installed around the pipeline in a programed fashion. The system of the '712 patent is directed to areas which require low clearance the below the pipeline. Canadian Patent No. 2435085 (the '085 patent) describes a pipe repair using compressive devices. In the method of pipe repair of the '085 patent, first and second split sleeves are applied to the pipe section, and a compressive force is supplied until the inner diameter of the pipe experiences compressive sheer hoop strain. U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,719 (the '719 patent), issued on Oct. 23, 2001 to Smith et al. The '719 patent describes a type of pipe repair clamp. In particular, the '719 patent describes opposing shell members which are bolted together. An annular channel is formed between a ring assembly and the damaged pipe member. The annular channel can be used to receive a liquid sealant so as to repair the pipe. International Publication No. WO2020/139716 describes a slip-on type pipeline repair connector. In particular, this publication describes the use of graphite packers within the connector. As noted before, risers are vertical conduits for carrying hydrocarbons from the ocean floor to the rig or other structure at the surface. As the risers approach the rig from the seafloor, they extend through an underwater zone, and into a tidal zone. The tidal zone represents an area between the mean low tide and the mean high tide. Between the tidal zone and the topsides of the rig is an area known as the splash zone. The splash zone presents many challenges, including challenges related to corrosion. Metal surfaces in the splash zone are alternately being wetted and dried. The saltwater and exposure to oxygen is extremely corrosive, and waves also have a corrosive effect on the metal surfaces. Corrosion protection measures which are effective for constantly-submerged surfaces are not effective in the splash zone, and neither are corrosion protection measures designed for surfaces which are only exposed to the atmosphere. While special measures can be taken, structures such as risers in the splash zone are subject to excessive corrosion and frequent repair. Referring to FIG. 1, there shown a conventional pipeline connector. The connector 12 can be used in a repair application or a connection application. The connector 12 is mounted on the outer diameter of a pipeline or riser 10. The connector 12 has a body 14. A packing and sealing flange 16 is illustrated as being connected to the body 14. Transverse fasteners 17 are used to secure two halves of the packing and sealing flange 16, or are welded for split sleeve riser repair, in the event of a