Buoyant member riser tensioner method and apparatus
US4657439A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 18, 1985 |
| Grant date | Apr 14, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 18, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B19/006
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method and apparatus is set forth in the present invention for supporting the weight of a marine riser by use of a passive tensioning system which utilizes a buoyant member located upon the upper end of the riser. The member has a vertical slot defined through its side such that the riser may access the member from a lateral direction. Such lateral access of the riser to the member allows these buoyant members to be changed from beneath the riser when maintenance and/or inspection is required on a particular member. Since the riser need only to move laterally to access any member, and the riser may be temporarily supported at the surface by other means, the lower end of the riser does not need to be disconnected from subsea equipment when maintenance and/or inspection operations are required on a buoyant member. Well operations do not need to be interrupted, therefore, during buoyant member maintenance operations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.