IP Library Granted Patent US 9,074,425
Granted Patent B2
US 9,074,425 · App. 14/106,050 · Granted Jul 7, 2015

Riser auxiliary line jumper system for rotating control device

Inventor: Guy F. Feasey (Houston, TX)
Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
E21B19/004E21B33/085E21B21/08E21B2021/006
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,074,425
App. No.
14/106,050
Granted
Jul 7, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for deploying a marine riser includes: assembling a rotating control device (RCD) spool with the marine riser; lowering the RCD spool through a rotary table of a drilling rig and into a moonpool of an offshore drilling unit; connecting a hose to an upper and lower adapter of the RCD spool in the moonpool; and lowering the RCD spool and the connected hose through the moonpool.

Claims (89)

1. A method for deploying a marine riser, comprising:

assembling a rotating control device (RCD) spool with the marine riser;

lowering the RCD spool through a rotary table of a drilling rig and into a moonpool of an offshore drilling unit;

connecting a hose to an upper and lower adapter of the RCD spool in the moonpool; and

lowering the RCD spool and the connected hose through the moonpool,

wherein:

the hose is part of a jumper spool,

the hose is connected to the lower adapter by: hoisting the jumper spool, guiding the jumper spool onto the RCD spool, and lowering a lower latch of the jumper spool onto a hose nipple of the lower adapter, and

the hose is connected to the upper adapter by supplying power to the jumper spool, thereby operating a linear actuator thereof to push an upper latch of the jumper spool into engagement with a hose nipple of the upper adapter.

2. The method of claim 1 ,

further comprising assembling a slip joint, flex joint, and diverter mandrel with the marine riser, thereby forming an upper marine riser package (UMRP),

wherein the RCD spool is part of the UMRP.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

connection of the hose extends an auxiliary line extending along the marine riser, and

the UMRP has a termination ring receiving an upper end of the auxiliary line.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising connecting a lower end of the riser to a pressure control assembly in the moonpool.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

landing the diverter mandrel into a diverter housing;

connecting a tensioner to a tensioner ring; and

operating the slip joint to land the pressure control assembly onto a subsea wellhead.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

deploying a drill string into a subsea wellbore through the marine riser; and

drilling the subsea wellbore using the drill string.

7. The method of claim 6 ,

further comprising deploying a bearing assembly to a housing of the RCD spool,

wherein the bearing assembly engages the drill string and diverts drilling returns from the marine riser to the offshore drilling unit.

8. A jumper system for assembling a marine riser, comprising:

a rotating control device (RCD) spool, comprising:

an RCD housing;

an upper adapter connected to the RCD housing and having a hose nipple; and

a lower adapter connected to the RCD housing and having a hose nipple; and

a jumper spool, comprising:

a hose;

an upper latch connected to the hose and operable to engage the upper adapter nipple; and

a lower latch connected to the hose and operable to engage the lower adapter nipple,

wherein the jumper spool further comprises:

a frame having a passage receiving the RCD housing and fastened to one of the latches;

a slider fastened to the other latch and transversely connected to the frame; and

a linear actuator operable to move the slider relative to the frame for engaging the other latch with the respective adapter nipple.

9. The jumper system of claim 8 , wherein:

each adapter has a first flange, comprising:

a neck portion having a recess for receiving a seal sleeve; and

a rim portion having holes spaced therearound for receiving fasteners and a socket formed between a pair of adjacent holes, and

a collar of each hose nipple is disposed in the respective socket.

10. The jumper system of claim 9 , wherein:

each collar has a shoulder formed in a lower end thereof,

each socket has a shoulder formed therein, and

each socket is oversized relative to the respective collar shoulder, thereby trapping the collar while allowing longitudinal play of the collar in the socket.

11. The jumper system of claim 9 , wherein:

each collar has a seal bore formed in an inner surface thereof for receiving a respective portion of a riser auxiliary line, and

each nipple further has a catch for connection to the respective latch and having a seal bore formed in an inner surface thereof for receiving a seal sleeve of the respective latch.

12. The jumper system of claim 9 , wherein:

the RCD housing has upper and lower flanges, and

each adapter has a second flange connecting the respective adapter to the respective flange of the RCD housing.

13. The jumper system of claim 8 , wherein each latch comprises:

a fastener for connecting the hose to the respective nipple in an engaged position;

a lock movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the lock keeping the fastener engaged in the locked position; and

an actuator connected to the lock and operable to move the lock from the locked position to the unlocked position.

14. The jumper system of claim 13 , wherein the jumper spool further comprises a microcontroller in communication with the linear actuator and each latch actuator.

15. The jumper system of claim 8 , wherein the RCD spool further comprises a latch for fastening a protector sleeve to the RCD housing in an idle mode and fastening a bearing assembly to the RCD housing in an operating mode.

16. The jumper system of claim 15 , further comprising the bearing assembly, comprising:

a stripper seal for receiving and sealing against a tubular;

a bearing for supporting rotation of the stripper seal relative to the RCD housing;

a retainer for connecting the stripper seal to the bearing; and

a catch sleeve for engagement with the RCD latch.

17. A jumper system for assembling a marine riser, comprising:

a rotating control device (RCD) spool, comprising:

an RCD housing;

an upper adapter connected to the RCD housing and having a hose nipple; and

a lower adapter connected to the RCD housing and having a hose nipple; and

a jumper spool, comprising:

a hose;

an upper latch connected to the hose and operable to engage the upper adapter nipple; and

a lower latch connected to the hose and operable to engage the lower adapter nipple,

wherein:

each adapter has a first flange, comprising:

a neck portion having a recess for receiving a seal sleeve; and

a rim portion having holes spaced therearound for receiving fasteners and a socket formed between a pair of adjacent holes, and

a collar of each hose nipple is disposed in the respective socket.

18. The jumper system of claim 17 , wherein:

each collar has a shoulder formed in a lower end thereof,

each socket has a shoulder formed therein, and

each socket is oversized relative to the respective collar shoulder, thereby trapping the collar while allowing longitudinal play of the collar in the socket.

19. The jumper system of claim 17 , wherein:

each collar has a seal bore formed in an inner surface thereof for receiving a respective portion of a riser auxiliary line, and

each nipple further has a catch for connection to the respective latch and having a seal bore formed in an inner surface thereof for receiving a seal sleeve of the respective latch.

20. The jumper system of claim 17 , wherein:

the RCD housing has upper and lower flanges, and

each adapter has a second flange connecting the respective adapter to the respective flange of the RCD housing.

Assignments (9)
PATENT SECURITY INTEREST ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 26, 2023
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 063470/0629 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 057683/0706 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 057683/0423 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2020
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 054288/0302 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2020
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 053838/0323 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2019
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 051419/0140 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2019
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WELLS FARGO BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 051891/0089 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2014
From: WEATHERFORD/LAMB, INC.
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 034526/0272 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2014
From: FEASEY, GUY F.
To: WEATHERFORD/LAMB, INC.
Reel/Frame 033031/0266 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61740839 · Dec 21, 2012
Related Publication 20140178155A1 · Jun 26, 2014