Method and apparatus for subsea hose replacement
View Patent ↗Systems and methods for replacing a hose coupled to a BOP located subsea are provided. Embodiments include coupling an electromechanical tool to a hose fitting coupled to the BOP, and rotating, with the electromechanical tool, a first swivel fitting with respect to the hose fitting until a first hose is decoupled from the hose fitting. Some embodiments may also include coupling, with the electromechanical tool, a second swivel fitting to the hose fitting to couple a second hose to the hose fitting. The second swivel fitting may be rotated with respect to the hose fitting until the second hose is securely coupled to the hose fitting.
1. An apparatus for replacing a first hose coupled to a blowout preventer (BOP) located subsea, the apparatus comprising:
a first wrench head configured to couple to a hose fitting coupled to the BOP;
a second wrench head coupled to the first wrench head and configured to couple to a swivel fitting, wherein the swivel fitting couples a first hose to the hose fitting, and wherein the second wrench head is configured to couple the swivel fitting to the hose fitting; and
a powering unit coupled to the second wrench head, wherein the powering unit is configured to cause the second wrench head to rotate with respect to the first wrench head, wherein the rotation of the second wrench head causes the swivel fitting to rotate with respect to the hose fitting.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first wrench head remains coupled to the hose fitting and the hose fitting remains coupled to the BOP while the second wrench head and swivel fitting rotate.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the powering unit is a motor.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising:
a drive gear coupled to the motor;
at least one drive shaft driven by the drive gear; and
at least one spur gear driven by the at least one drive shaft, wherein the at least one spur gear transmits torque to the second wrench head to cause the second wrench head to rotate.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a camera positioned on the apparatus such that a viewing area of the camera includes at least the first wrench head and the second wrench head.
6. A method for replacing a first hose coupled to a blowout preventer (BOP) located subsea, comprising:
coupling an electromechanical tool to a hose fitting coupled to the BOP;
rotating, with the electromechanical tool, a first swivel fitting with respect to the hose fitting, wherein the first swivel fitting couples a first hose to the hose fitting, and wherein the first swivel fitting is rotated until the first hose is decoupled from the hose fitting;
coupling, with the electromechanical tool, a second swivel fitting to the hose fitting, wherein the second swivel fitting couples a second hose to the hose fitting; and
rotating, with the electromechanical tool, the second swivel fitting with respect to the hose fitting, wherein the second swivel fitting is rotated until the second hose is securely coupled to the hose fitting.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein at least a first portion of the electromechanical tool remains coupled to the hose fitting while at least a second portion of the electromechanical tool rotates the first swivel fitting or the second swivel fitting.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the electromechanical tool comprises a motor coupled to a plurality of gears and the at least second portion of the electromechanical tool to cause the at least second portion to rotate the first swivel fitting or the second swivel fitting.
9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising remotely viewing, with a camera coupled to the electromechanical tool, the area that includes at least the hose fitting and the first swivel fitting or the second swivel fitting.