Self-orienting subsea flowline tapping arrangement
US6004072A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 9, 1998 |
| Grant date | Dec 21, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 9, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16L41/06
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A subsea flowline (10) deployed onto the sea floor (S) has tie-in points for interfacing other subsea facilities. Mudmats (14A, 14B, 14C) support hubs (16A, 16B, 16C) at the tie-in points. One embodiment shown in FIG. 2 has a cradle (22) supporting flowline (10) for relative rotative movement. Hydraulic jacks (26) are connected to arms (24) to position and maintain hub (16) in a vertical orientation. Another embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, has an outer swivel sleeve (21A) which is mounted on mudmat (14A) and receiving flowline (10A) for relative rotation. An annular fluid chamber or toroid (25A) provides fluid communication between flowline (10) and hub (16A) connected to outer swivel sleeve (21A). Another embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, combines the features and characteristics illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.