Riser assembly and method of forming a riser assembly
US9708864B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 2014 |
| Grant date | Jul 18, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16L1/15
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A riser assembly for transporting fluids from a sub-sea location is disclosed. The riser assembly includes a riser having at least one segment of flexible pipe and a plurality of buoyancy compensating elements connected to the riser and connected together in an in-line configuration to form a mid-line buoyancy section. The riser assembly also includes at least one buoyancy aid connected to the riser at a position above and spaced apart from the mid-line buoyancy section. The at least one buoyancy aid forms a first distributed buoyancy section and is sufficiently buoyant to maintain a tension load on the riser between the first distributed buoyancy section and the mid-line line buoyancy section. The riser assembly further includes at least one further buoyancy compensating element connected to the riser at a position above and spaced apart from the first distributed buoyancy section to form a second distributed buoyancy section. The second distributed buoyancy section is configured to support a portion of the riser in a wave configuration.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.