Articulated fluid delivery system
A spatially positioned assembly comprising, in preferred embodiments, first and second boom sections concatenated in articulated fashion to a turret at a proximal end thereof, and rotatably connected with a fluid connection adapter at a distal end thereof. The fluid connection adapter is preferably configured for connection to a mating fluid connection housing assembly provided on a wellhead. Independent control of rotation at each of multiple axes on the spatially positioned assembly allows an operator to establish corresponding desired spatial positions for the spatially positioned assembly.
1. A spatially positioned assembly, comprising:
a fluid inlet in fluid flow communication with a fluid connection adapter, in which at least one swivel joint is interposed in said fluid flow communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid connection adapter, wherein each swivel joint has an internal diameter of not less than about 7 inches, and wherein each swivel joint is further capable of rotation while retaining an internal pressure of not less than about 10,000 psi;
a turret;
a plurality of concatenated boom section S[ 1 . . . N] in which each boom section has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of boom section S[ 1 ] is rotatably connected to the turret, wherein the distal end of one boom section S[ 1 . . . N−1] is rotatably connected to the proximal end of an adjacent boom section S[ 2 . . . N] and the distal end of boom section S[N] is rotatably connected with the fluid connection adapter;
wherein rotation of the turret defines rotation about an axis A[ 1 ];
wherein rotation of the proximal end of boom section S[ 1 ] about the turret defines rotation about an axis A[ 2 ];
wherein rotation of the proximal end of one boom section S[ 2 . . . N] about the distal end of an adjacent boon section S[ 1 . . . N−1] defines rotation about a corresponding axis A[ 3 . . . N+1];
wherein rotation of the fluid connection adapter about the distal end of boom section S[N] in at least one axis defines rotation about an axis A[N+2]; and
wherein operator control over rotation about axes A[ 1 . . . N+2] establishes corresponding desired spatial positions for the spatially positioned assembly.
2. The spatially positioned assembly of claim 1 , in which N=2.
3. The spatially positioned assembly of claim 1 , in which the distal end of boom section S[N] is rotatably connected with the fluid connection adapter via Q independently rotatable axes A[N+2 . . . N+1+Q] wherein Q≥2, and in which operator control over rotation about axes A[ 1 . . . N+1+Q] establishes corresponding desired spatial positions for the spatially positioned assembly.
4. The spatially positioned assembly of claim 2 , in which the distal end of boom section S[ 2 ] is rotatably connected with the fluid connection adapter via Q independently rotatable axes A[ 4 . . . Q+3] wherein Q≥2, and in which operator control over rotation about axes A[ 1 . . . 5 ] establishes corresponding desired spatial positions for the spatially positioned assembly.
5. The spatially positioned assembly of claim 4 , in which Q=2 such that the distal end of boom section S[ 2 ] is rotatably connected with the fluid connection adapter via two independently rotatable axes A[ 4 . . . 5 ], and in which operator control over rotation about axes A[ 1 . . . 5 ] establishes corresponding desired spatial positions for the spatially positioned assembly.
6. The spatially positioned assembly of claim 1 , in which a selected one of (a) a slew drive or (b) a piston is configured to actuate rotation about at least one of axes A[ 1 . . . N+2].
7. The spatially positioned assembly of claim 2 , in which the distal end of boom section S[ 2 ] is rotatably connected with the fluid connection adapter via Q independently rotatable axes A[ 4 . . . Q+3] wherein Q≥2, and in which operator control over rotation about axes A[ 1 . . . Q+3] establishes corresponding desired spatial positions for the spatially positioned assembly.
8. The spatially positioned assembly of claim 1 , in which an inclinometer is configured to maintain the fluid connection adapter in a constant plumb vertical attitude during motion of the spatially positioned assembly.
9. A spatially positioned assembly, comprising:
a fluid inlet in fluid flow communication with a fluid connection adapter, in which at Least one swivel joint is interposed in said fluid flow communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid connection adapter, wherein each swivel joint has an internal diameter of not less than about 7 inches, and wherein each swivel joint is further capable of rotation while retaining an internal pressure of not less than about 10,000 psi;
a turret;
a plurality of concatenated boom section S[ 1 . . . N] in which each boom section has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of boom section S[ 1 ] is rotatably connected to the turret, wherein the distal end of one boom section S[ 1 . . . N−1] is rotatably connected to the proximal end of an adjacent boom section S[ 2 . . . N] and the distal end of boom section S[N] is rotatably connected with the fluid connection adapter via Q independently rotatable axes A[N+2 . . . N+1+Q] wherein Q≥2;
wherein rotation of the turret defines rotation about an axis A[ 1 ];
wherein rotation of the proximal end of boom section S[ 1 ] about the turret defines rotation about an axis A[ 2 ];
wherein rotation of the proximal end of one boom section S[ 2 . . . N] about the distal end of an adjacent boom section S[ 1 . . . N−1] defines rotation about a corresponding axis A[ 3 . . . N+1];
wherein rotation of the fluid connection adapter about the distal end of boom section S[N] in at least one axis defines rotation about an axis A[N+2]; and
wherein operator control over rotation about axes A[ 1 . . . N−1+Q] establishes corresponding desired spatial positions for the spatially positioned assembly.
10. The spatially positioned assembly of claim 9 , in which N=2.
11. The spatially positioned assembly of claim 9 , in which N=2, and in which Q=2 such that the distal end of boom section S[ 2 ] is rotatably connected with the fluid connection adapter via two independently rotatable axes A[ 4 . . . 5 ], such that operator control over rotation about axes A[ 1 . . . 5 ] establishes corresponding desired spatial positions for the spatially positioned assembly.
12. The spatially positioned assembly of claim 9 , in which a selected one of (a) a slew drive or (b) a piston is configured to actuate rotation about at least one of axes A[ 1 . . . N+1+Q].
13. The spatially positioned assembly of claim 9 , in which an inclinometer is configured to maintain the fluid connection adapter in a constant plumb vertical attitude during motion of the spatially positioned assembly.
14. A spatially positioned assembly, comprising:
a fluid inlet in fluid flow communication with a fluid connection adapter, in which at least one swivel joint is interposed in said fluid flow communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid connection adapter, wherein each swivel joint has an internal diameter of not less than about 7 inches, and wherein each swivel joint is further capable of rotation while retaining an internal pressure of not less than about 10,000 psi;
a turret;
a pair of concatenated boom section S[ 1 . . . ] in which each boom section has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of boom section S[ 1 ] is rotatably connected to the turret, wherein the distal end of one boom section S[ 1 ] is rotatably connected to the proximal end of an adjacent boom section S[ 2 ] and the distal end of boom section S[ 2 ] is rotatably connected with the fluid connection adapter;
wherein rotation of the turret defines rotation about an axis A[ 1 ];
wherein rotation of the proximal end of boom section S[ 1 ] about the turret defines rotation about an axis A[ 2 ];
wherein rotation of the proximal end of one boom section S[ 2 ] about the distal end of an adjacent boom section S[ 1 ] defines rotation about a corresponding axis A[ 3 ];
wherein rotation of the fluid connection adapter about the distal end of boom section S[ 2 ] in at least one axis defines rotation about an axis A[ 4 ]; and
wherein operator control over rotation about axes A[ 1 . . . 4 ] establishes corresponding desired spatial positions for the spatially positioned assembly.
15. The spatially positioned assembly of claim 14 , in which the distal end of boom section S[ 2 ] is rotatably connected with the fluid connection adapter via Q independently rotatable axes A[ 4 . . . Q+3] wherein Q 2 , and in which operator control over rotation about axes A[ 1 . . . Q+3] establishes corresponding desired spatial positions for the spatially positioned assembly.
16. The spatially positioned assembly of claim 15 , in which Q=2 such that the distal end of boom section S[ 2 ] is rotatably connected with the fluid connection adapter via two independently rotatable axes A[ 4 . . . 5 ], such that operator control over rotation about axes A[ 1 . . . 5 ] establishes corresponding desired spatial positions for the spatially positioned assembly.
17. The spatially positioned assembly of claim 14 , in which a selected one of (a) a slew drive or (b) a piston is configured to actuate rotation about at least one of axes A[ 1 . . . 4 ].
18. The spatially positioned assembly of claim 15 , in which a selected one of (a) a slew drive or (b) a piston is configured to actuate rotation about at least one of axes A[ 1 . . . Q+3].
19. A spatially positioned assembly, comprising:
a fluid inlet in fluid flow communication with a fluid connection adapter, in which at least one swivel joint is interposed in said fluid flow communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid connection adapter, wherein each swivel joint has an internal diameter of not less than about 7 inches, and wherein each swivel joint is further capable of rotation while retaining an internal pressure of not less than about 10,000 psi;
a turret;
a pair of concatenated boom section S[ 1 . . . 2 ] in which each boom section has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of boom section S[ 1 ] is rotatably connected to the turret, wherein the distal end of one boom section S[ 1 ] is rotatably connected to the proximal end of an adjacent boom section S[ 2 ] and the distal end of boom section S[ 2 ] is rotatably connected with the fluid connection adapter via Q independently rotatable axes A[ 4 . . . Q+3] wherein Q≥2;
wherein rotation of the turret defines rotation about an axis A[ 1 ];
wherein rotation of the proximal end of boom section S[ 1 ] about the turret defines rotation about an axis A[ 2 ];
wherein rotation of the proximal end of one boom section S[ 2 ] about the distal end of an adjacent boom section S[ 1 ] defines rotation about a corresponding axis A[ 3 ];
wherein rotation of the fluid connection adapter about the distal end of boom section S[ 2 ] in at least one axis defines rotation about an axis A[ 4 ]; and
wherein operator control over rotation about axes A[ 1 . . . Q+3] establishes corresponding desired spatial positions for the spatially positioned assembly.
20. The spatially positioned assembly of claim 19 , in which Q=2 such that the distal end of boom section S[ 2 ] is rotatably connected with the fluid connection adapter via two independently rotatable axes A[ 4 . . . 5 ], such that operator control over rotation about axes A[ 1 . . . 5 ] establishes corresponding desired spatial positions for the spatially positioned assembly.
21. The spatially positioned assembly of claim 19 , in which a selected one of (a) a slew drive or (b) a piston is configured to actuate rotation about at least one of axes A[ 1 . . . Q+3].
22. The spatially positioned assembly of claim 20 , in which a selected one of (a) a slew drive or (b) a piston is configured to actuate rotation about at least one of axes A[ 1 . . . 5 ].