Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
--2--
Back~round of the Invention
_
1. Field of the Invention.
This invention relates to the remote connection of
underwater flow lines and other conduits to a produc-
tion unit such as an underwater manifold center, with-
out the use of divers.
2. Description of the Prior Art.
The original offshore oil and gas wells were
completed on platforms resting on the ocean bottom, or
were completed on the bottom and surface production
facilities installed on such a platform. Oil and gas
from such platorms wa~ either collected by tankers or
by flow lines laid on the bottom. To the extent that
underwater work was required, it was performed by
divers, by submarines, or by simple manipnlations from
the surface.
More recently it has become necessary to drill oil
and gas wells in water which is too deep, or too dan-
gerous, for convenient underwater operations b~ divers,
or for use of platforms standing on the bottom. It has
thus become necessary to devise methods~of completing
oil and gas wells on the bottom, and connecting them up
with underwater pipe lines, hydraulic control lines and
electrical cables for operation of under~ater equip-
ment, without the use of divers or any permanent sur-
face structure adjacent the underwater well. Various
devices have heretofore been proposed for connecting
such underwater flow l~nes, etc., as shown for example
in United States Patents No. 3,968,838 to Baugh, No.
4,019,334 to Sinclair, et al, and No. 4,086,778 to
Latham, et al. A better understanding of the problems
presented may be obtained by reference to the January
1978 issue of Offshore Services magazine, published by
Spearhead Publications Limited, at pages 26 to 51
Summary of he Invention
The present invention provides a means and method
for connecting underwater lines, including flow lines,
control lines, and electrical cables rom a remote
location on the surface of the water, providing a
sealed connection between such lines, by means of a
tool which is lowered from the surface and which is
fully recovered to the surface after the connection is
made. The apparatus of this invention allows the
further use of the same tool for later breaking the
connection and replacin~ or modifying the sealing
elements if this becomes necessary.
Apparatus which has previously been designed for
this purpose has reguired the application of high
bending loads to the guide posts of the,un~rwater base
units upon which production units are supported. In
addition, such apparatus has generally included hydrau-
^ il, ~
-4~1-
lic cylinders and other tools which are left on the bottom after the
connection is made) thereby increasing the cost of operation since such
tools cannot be used again~ Previous designs also have failed to provide
for re-entry to retrieve seal members or hubs which have previously been
connected.
~ he apparatus and method of the present invention overcomes these
deficiencies of the prior art.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided
apparatus for remotely handling a pair of axially aligned underwater hubs7
comprising: a collar on each hub, a connector tool including a rigid main
frame and a subframe horizontally slidably mounted on said main frame, a
first fork fixedly mounted on said main frame and a second fork mounted on
said subframe, a seal member supported from said subframe, means for
lowering said connector tool through the water to a position such that each
fork is engaged behind a hub collar and said seal member is between the
hubs, first fluid powered means mounted on said subframe for applying force
to said hubs to move them a~ially toward each other whereby said hubs are
moved into sealing engagement with said seal member, connecting means
releasably carried by said connector tool for connecting said hubs together
in sealing engagement with said seal member, and second fluid powered means
mounted on said subframe operably engaging said connecting means Eor moving
the connecting means laterally into engagement with said hubs.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a
method for remotely handling axially aligned underwater hubs, comprising:
lowering a connector tool to a position to engage the hubs, positioning a
seal member between the hubs, moving a hydraulic actuator on the connector
tool toward one of the hubs, hydraulically applying force to the hubs from
the connector tool to move them axially toward each other and into sealing
engagement with the seal member, hydraulically applying force from the
hydraulic actuator to connect the hubs in sealing engagement with the seal
member, disengaging the connector tool from the seal member and retrieving
the connector tool.
~o~
-4a-
~ p ~ of the Drawings
'rhe accompanying drawings il:lustrate the presently preferred
embodiment of the invention. Ilowever, since the invention has never
actually been constructed or used, it is anticipated that further
improvements in the design of individual elements may take place before
final use of the invention.
(
Fig. 1 is a view of a section of the sea depicting
the vessels used in performing the process of this
inventi.on together with a schematic representation of
the apparatus of this invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the base structure
of the apparatus of this invention, showing an inboard
hub for connection to a flow line;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment
showing hubs for connection of hydraulic and electrical
lines;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the pull-in tool
used to pull a flow line into position to be connected;
Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the tool of Fig.
4 .
,
Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the end of,the
flow line hub with a pu~l-in adapter thereon which
enables it to be pulled into position f~r connection;
Fig. 7 is a plan view of the end of hydraulic and
electric line hubs ~ith a pull-in adapter thereon;
Fig. 8 is an elevational view, partly in section,
showing the pulling of the pull-in adapter by the
pull-in tooli
2~7
--6--
Fi~. 9 is a sectional view of a latch secured to a
bullplug used on one en~odiment of pull-in adapter;
Fig. 10 is a plan view of the apparatus in Fig 8;
Fig. 11 is an elvational view, partly in section,
of a flow line hub and connected pull-in adapter;
Figs~ 12 to 15 inclusive are elevati.onal views
similar to Fig. 11, showing successive stages of opera-
tion;
Fig. 16 is an elevational view of the connector
tool of this invention, shown in position just before
engaging the hubs to be connected;
Fig. 17, 18 and 19 are elevational views of the
apparatus of Fig. 16, shown at successive stages of
operation;
Fig. 20 is an elevational view, partially in
section, of the portion of the pull-in tool used to
operate locking mechanism between the pull-in adapter,
the hub and the base;
Fig. 21 is a plan view, paYtially in section, of
the apparatus of Fig. 20;
Fig. 22 is an elevational view of the connector
tool shown in r ig . 16 to 19, taken at right angles to
Fig. 16;
~lf~ a.7
Fig. 23 is a vertical sectional view of a pin
mechanism forming a part of the tool of Fig. 22;
Fig. 24 is an eleva-tional view of a protective
cover used on the hubs according to the invention;
Fig. 25 is a vertical sectional view of the pro-
tective color of Fig. 24, taken at line 25-25 of Fig.
24;
Fig. 26 is a sectional view taken at line 26-26 of
Fig. 24; and
Fig. 27 is a sectional view taken at line 27-27 of
Fig. 24.
~2Z~17
Descr ~ he Preferred Embodiments
.
Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawing there is
illustrated a floating vessel A having a drill pipe 10
and various guidlines 11 extending downwardly therefrom
to an unden~ater production unit 12. ~nother vessel B
constitutes a pipe laying barge such as is well known
in the art for laying underwater pipe lines for oil and
gas, having depending therefrom a 1Owline 13 which is
fitted at its end near the underwater production unit
12 with a pull-in adapter 14. The underwater produc-
tion unit and the pull-in adapter 14 are shown resting
on the subsea bottom 15.
In Fig. 2 of the drawing there is illustrated a
portion of an underwater manifold center 16 which
constitutes a production unit 17, only a part of which
is shownA,~a ~ 18, æ~ which may be provided for
gathering oil or gas produced from one or a number of
wells and for transferring the produced oil or gas to a
flow line. As shol~n in ~ig. 2, a production unit such
as a christmas tree, has been landed on the base 18,
being guided into position thereon by engagernent of
guide tu~es 20 with guide posts 22. An inboard hub 24
is mounted on the production unit, being longitudinally
slidably supported between the guide tube3~_0 by means
of a beari~g housing 23 mounted on bars ~. The hub
includes a sealing face 24a, and a cylindrical bearing
portion 24b, with an intermediate collar 24c. The
bearing portion is slidably received within a bearing
(not sho~n) in bearing housing 23, and is connected to
flowline loops 25, 27. The outboard portion of the
~L~2~
base constitutes a porch 26 having an outwardly and
downwardly sloping ramp 27 which extends downwardly
over the edge of the manifold center adjacen-t to the
subsea bottom. The base is also provided with our
upwardly extending reaction posts 28, 30, and with lock
down holes 32 which are adapted to receive lock down
posts 34 (see Fig. 11) as will be later explained.
Another porch 26' shown mounted adjacent porch 26
may be usecl, for example, for connec-ting lines such as
hydraulic control lines and electrical cables. Although
the procedures and apparatus described herein are
suitable for all of such connect:ions, ~his description
will be primarily in terms of connection of flow lines.
Such modifications as may be necessary to connect other
types of lines will be apparent to those skilled in the
art. Fig. 3, however, shows a connection base 18' on
which are mounted means for connection of both electrical
cables at coupling 36 and hydrau:Lic control lines at
coupling 38.
In Fi~. 4 of the drawing a pull-in tool 39 has
been landed on the porch 26. As shown, it has been
guided into place by means of the engagement of guide
tubes ao with the guide posts 22. Legs 42, 44 have
also engaged the react~dn posts 28, 30 respectively. `-'
The legs 44 are connected to the guide tubes ~0 by
means of structural members 46. The upper ends of legs
42 are connected together by means of a U-shaped guard
48 which extends outboard to protect a push down bar 50
which extends betweerl the guide posts 42 and i5 verti-
cally movable relative thereto. ~ hub lock-down mechanism
62, inclu~ing lockdown pins 64, is mounted on the pushdown
bar.
( i (.
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--10--
The pull-in-tool 39 is locked down on the base by
means of a hydraulic cylinder 41 mounted on guide tube
40 in such a position that its piston rod 43 can pass
through aligned holes in leg 44 and reaction post 30.
A cross member 56 extends between the structural
members 46 and has supported thereon the pulling appara-
tus 58, including a bull nose latch 60. As seen in
Fig. 4 the bull nose latch is positioned above, and
extends outboard from, the inboard hub 24.
On ~he inboard side of the pull-in tool, and in
line with the bull nose latch 60, there is mounted a
hydraulic cable puller 66 to which ~he drill pipe 10 is
connected. A pulling cable 68 passes through the drill
pipe, through other mechanism to be discussed later,
and out the bull nose latch 60.
The hydraulic cable puller may, for example,
comprise jaws to grip the cable, the jaws being driven
by a hydraulic cylinder,~ and being released after each
pulling stroke. Alternatively, the cable may be pulled
by a winch at the surface and the hydraulic cable
puller omitted.
Fig. 5 illustrates the run-in tool as it may be ~'
set up for connection of electrical cable or control
lines. Although shown centered, in this arrangement
the bull nose latch 60 and the cable puller 66 may be
off center. The push do~n bar 50 is provided with two
lock down mechanisms 62.
Fig. 6 depicts the end of the flow lines 13 and
the pull-in adapter 14 connected thereto. Th~ flow
lines teL~inate in a lock down structure 70, which is
permanently fastened to the ends of the flow lines 13
~2~
and to the flow line hub 72. The flow line hub is
carried within a protective cage 74, comprising a box
like structure which may be covered on the bottom by a
hinged cover, and plate 76 is provided with an alignment
slot 77 in its upper edge. A bull nose 78 extends at
right angles to the plate 76. The end of wire line 68
is co~nected to this bull nose. The pull in adapter
14, comprising plate 76, with the bull nose 78, the cage
74 and a locking sleeve 80 attached thereto, are remov- -
ably connected to the lock down structure 70 and hl~ 72
by means o~ a locking pin 82.
Hub 72 comprises a sealing face 72a and a collar
72b intermediate the sealing ace and the lock down
structure 70. A protective cover 20Q is releasably
attached to the hub.
As seen in Fig. 11, the lockdown structure 70
includes a pair of lock holes 71, each of which has a
locking recess 73 adjacent its lower end and a stop
shoulder 69 intermediat~ the recess and the upper end.
A locking sleeve 75 having an enlarged upper end 77 is
received within each lock hole 71. The sleeve is
longitudinally slotted at its lower end to fo~m a
plurality of resilient fingers 79 which are enlarged at
81 for engagement in the recess 73. ~,
Locking sleeve 80 also is slotted to form down-
wardly extending resilient fingers 79 having enlarge-
ments 81 for engagement in recesses 73. A lock pin 82,
having a head 83 and a collar 85, fits in the base of
each sleeve 80, the lower end preventing movement of
khe finsers 79 out of ~he recesses 73, and thereby
securing the pull-in adapter to the hub assembly,
including the lockdown structure.
- ( ~
z~
-12~
Figs. 24-27 depict one form of hub cover 200 which
may be used. This cover comprises a body 201 having a
U-shaped cavity 202 therein configured to fit -the
circumference of the hub. A protective plate 204 re-
ceived within the cavity is made of a relatively soft,
preferably plastic material, such as Delin, to engage
the sealing face of the hub and prevent damage to it.
The plate 204 is fastened to the body as by means of
fastening assemblies 206, each comprising a rod 208 and
a screw 210. The cover 204 is biased into engagement
with the :Eace of the hub by means of a spring 212.
The cover body is held in place on the hub by
means of a pair of detents 214 each of which is carried
in a tube 216. The tube 216 is secured in position so
that the detent engages the hub recess by means of a
rod 218 which extends out the upper end of the cover.
Rods 218 are attached to a trigger plate 220. The rods
are held in their uppermost position as sho~n in the
drawing, by means of shear pins 222, each of which
engages a recess 224 on one of the rods. The rods are
also provided wit~ another recess ~ which, in the
position shown in ~ , is located just above
the detent. The detent tube 216 has a groove 228 in
one side which receives the body of the rod 218, so
that the rod~olds the detent in the hub recess.
Upon the application of downward force to the
trigger 220 the rods 218 move downwardly, shearing the
shear pin~s, until the recess 226 is opposite the detent
tube 216. The application of additional downward force
causes the tapered end o~ the detent 21C to be biased
laterally out of the hub face recess. The hub cover
therefore drops off of the hub.
-13
The structure of posts 42 and push down bar 50 are
shown in detail in Fiys. 20 and 21. As shown there,
each post contains a part of telescopic hydraulic
cylinders 150, 152, one of which is mounted at the
bottom of the post with its rod extending upwardly and
the other which is mounted at the top of the post with
its rod extended downwardly. The cylinders are provided
with hydraulic connections (not shown) for application
of power to cause cylinder 150 to push upwardly and
cylinder 152 to push downwardly. Both piston rods are
connected to a single driven member 154 comprising a
plate to which blocks 156, 158 are attached. Each
block is bored to receive the end of a pis-ton rod and a
pin 160 to secure the rod to the block. A sleeve 162
extends upwardly from the block 158 and is provided
with a mounting bracket 164 to which a link 166 is
attached. The other end of each link 166 is attached
to the push down bar 50.
The push down bar 50 is provided with a pair of
lock down pin retainer s~eeves 168 mounted on a yusset
170 which is positioned substantially centrally of the
length of the push down bar and rigidly fastened there- -
to. Each of the sleeves 168 extends upwardly from the
gusset and is provided with a semi~cylindrical window
172 positioned to receive a fork 174 which is attached
to piston rod 176 of a hydraulic cylinder 178 which is
mounted on the gusset 170.
~ similar pair of hydrauli,c cylinders 180 are
mounted on a bottom gusset plate 182 on the push down
bar, and similar forks 184 are mounted on rods of these
cylinders~ These forks are positioned to be extended
-14-
through windows 276 in lock down pin retainer sleeves
278.
Fig. 7 shows in plan view a pull-in adapter for
hydraulic lines 84 and electric lines 86. A pair of
lock down structures 70 are provided, and the lock down
structures are releasably connected, by means of lock-
ing pins 82 and locking sleeves 80 to a plate 76 on
which is mounted a protective cage 74a which provides
protection for hubs 72a and 72b. Th~ plate ~ also
has mounted thereon a bull nose 78 to which is attached
the pulling cable 68.
Fig. 8 shows the use of the pulling cable 68 to
pull the pull-in adapter 14 up ramp 27 onto the porch
26. In some cases the pull-in adapter and hub assembly
may be suspended off the bottom, but the apparatus
works the same way in either event. The pulling cable
extends from the bull nose latch 60, and thence through
a universal joint 88, a rotary actuator 90 and a hydrau-
lic cylinder 92. Passing out the hydraulic cylinder
the pulling cable passes over a series of rollers 96
and a plurality of sheaves 97, 98, 99 before leading
into the hydraulic cable puller 66.
Tl..` piston rod 94 as well as ~le pistion 240 are
bored through the center as shown at 242 to allow
passage of the pulling cable therethrough. A tubular
member 244 slidably and sealingly received within the
cylinder 92 provides a conduit to pass the pulling
cable out the end of the cylinder.
A spline gear 246 is mounted on the piston rod 94
and is engaged by a rack 248 which is connected for
driving by a hydraulic cylinder, not sho~n. This rack,
-15-
gear and cylinder combination are capabl~ of rotating
the piston rod, and therefore the latch ~, a total of
in excess of 360, i.e. at least 180 in each direction
from the central position depicted in the dxawings.
Fig. 9 shows one embodiment of the latch 60 with
the bull nose 78 latched in place. The latch comprises
a generally cylindrical housing having a back plate 250
and a front opening 252 through which the bull nose may
be received. A plurality, preferably three, latch jaws
254 are pivotally mounted at 256 in a position to be
swuny into engagement behind the shoulder 2S8 of the
bull nose. Pivoting is obtained by means of a hydrau-
lic cylinder 260, one of which is provided for each
latch jaw. The piston rod 262 of the hydraulic cylin-
der is pivotally connected, as by linkage 264, to the
latch jaw 254. The latch housing also contains an
orientation pin 266 which is slidably received within a
cylindrical hole 268 in the face of the latch. The
orientation pin is retaine~ in the hole 268 by means of
a lock nut 270 screwed on to the end of a reduced
diameter portion 272 of the orientation pin. A spring
274 biases the orientation pin to the position shown in
the drawing, i.e. with the end of the pin extending
beyorld the Fact of the latch.
Fig. lO shows a plan view depicting the relative
positions of the latch 60 and the pull-in adapater 14
zssembled on the h~ at the point where bull nose is
pulled into the latch. At this point, in the usual
case, the flow line and its hub 72 will not be in
alignment with the inboard hub. However, the flow line
hub will be in app~-oximately its final location.
-16-
Fig. 16 shows the flow line connector running -tool
100 being lowered into place by means of a drill pipe
running string 10. The connector running tool 100 is
guided into proper position by means of ~lide tubes 107
which follow guide posts 22 and guide lines 11. The
flow line connector running tool comprises a support
frame having a header 102 and a part of depending
vertical frame members 104. One frame member 104 has
mounted thereon a fork 105, and another fork 106 (see
Fig. 22) is mounted on a support member 110 which is
movable laterally relative to the frame members 104. A
plurality of hydraulic cylinders 108 extend~ between
fork 105 and support member 110 which is slideably
mounted on rods 112 extending between the frame members
104. Two hydraulic motors 113 and gear boxes 114 are
mounted fo~ hori~ontal movement with the hydraulic
cylinders. A hexagonal socket 115 is connected for
driving by the output shaft of each gearbox. A flow-
line connector 116 is supported below the gear boxes
through a pair of pins 118.
The flow line connector may be of the type shown
in United States Patent No. 3,843,168 issued October 22,
1974 on the application of ~ 1, et al, and entitled
"Cl2mp Connectors". Such connectors, as seen, for
example, in Fig. ~, include`a pair of plates 120, 122
attached to a seal plate 124 which is carried between
the two halves 126, 128 of a clamp. A pair of cylin-
drical sleeves 130 extend between the upper plate 120
and the lower plate 122 and receive therethrough the
pins lla whica3depend from the running tool 100. As
seen in Fig. ~ each pin 118 is provided near its lower
!
-17-
end with a pair of laterally slidable latch members 132
positioned for engagement by a conical wedge 134 car-
ri~d on the Pnd of a rod 136, which in turn is fastened
to a piston 138. Piston 138 is carried within a cylin-
drical cavity 140 within the pin, and is biased up-
wardly by means of a spring 142. A hydraulic line 144
is provided to conduct hydraulic fluid to and from the
cylindrical cavity.
For the sake of simplicity, no attempt has been
made to show all the hydraulic lines and connections
which are necessary to operate the equipment described,
since these are well known in the art. Such connec-
tions and lines are provided where necessary, and
hydraulic hoses are connected before the tools are
lo~ered. These may then be strapped to the drill pipe
as each tool is lowered. A suitable control panel, as
is also well-known in the art, is provided on vessel A
so that the tools may be operated, as hereinafter
described.
-18-
Operation
The operation of the apparatus and method of this
invention begins with the establishment of the guide
lines 11 between the vessel A and the subsea production
unit 12.
The pull-in tool is tested on vessel A to make
sure that it functions properly. The flow line bundle
is assembled on vessel B and the pull-in adapter 14,
the flow line hub assembly, and the protective cover
are attached thereto. The necessary hydraulic hoses
are attached to the pull-in tool 39, the wire line 68
comprising the pull-in cable is prepared by attaching a
retrieval dart on one end and a swivel head on the
other; the retrieval dart is installed in the cable
puller 66 and the swivel head end is installed in the
bull nose 78 on vessel B. The guide lines are then
threaded through the guide tubes 40 on the pull-in
tool, the drill pipe 10 is connected to the hydrauli~
cable puller 66 and the~tool is lowered to the bottom.
While it is being lowered the pull-in cable is paid out
from vessel B, maintaining -tension on it to prevent
entanglement. As the tool approaches the porch, pres-
sure is applied to the "release" side of the pull-in
tool lock down cylinder 41. The tool is then lan~ed on
the porch and pressure is applied to the "lock" side of
the lock down cylinder. The drill pipe is then pulled
upwardly with a force of, for example, 5,000 pounds
over the weight of the running string and pull-in tool,
the force being sufficient to insure that the tool is
locked to the porch. Pressure is applied to cylinders 150
:~2~7'
-19-
to insure that the assembly is properly elevated. This
pressure is maintained throughout the pull-in operation.
The cable retrieving dart is fished through the drill
pipe and pulled to the surface, paying out pull-in cable
from vessel B to compensate. Tension is maintained on
the cable to prevent entanglement. On vessel A the end
of the pull-in cable is attached to a winch.
The flow line bundle is then lowered from vessel B
toward the seabed, with excess cable being reeled in on
vessel A. It is important to carefully note pull-in
loads in order to avoid exceeding the maximum cable
capacity. After the flow line bundle has neared or
reached the seabed, pulling by means of the cable is
continued until the pull-in adapter 14 approaches the
ramp 27. Preferably a television camera is used to
view the operation to determine when the adapter is in
a suitable position. Pulling is continued until the
bull nose 78 enters the bull nose latch 60. This can
be monitored by means of the television camera. In
addition entry can be i~entified by the sudden increase
in the load on the pull-in cable. If necessary, water
may be pu~ped down through the drill pipe to jet wash
the pull-ln adapter.
When the bull nose has entered the la~h, pressure ~,
is applied to the "lock" side of the bull nose latch
hydraulic cylinders 260 to cause the jaws 254 of the
latch to close around the bull nose. In order to
achieve proper radial alignment ~he rotary actua-tor 90
is actuated to rotate the latch in either the clockwise
or counterclockwise direction until the bull nose latch
!
~2~
-20-
orientation pin 266 engages the slot 77 in the pull-in
adapter. The rotary actuator is then operated again to
rotate the pu~l-in adapter 14 with the attached flo~
line hu~ 72 until it is in proper alig~nent with the
inboard hub 24.
At this point the latch and flow line adapter
assembly may, for example, be in the condition shown in
Fig. 10, since is is expected that there will be some
misalignment in the usual case. Fluid pressure is then
applied to the hydraulic cylinder 92, causing the back
plate 250 of the latch 60 to be pulled into engagement
with the front plate 280 of the rotary actuator 90.
When one edge of the plate 250 engages the plate 280,
additional pulling causes the latch with the attached
flow line adapter to pivot about the contacting edge
until the plates are in full contact and the out~oard
flow line hub is axially aligned with the inboard hub.
At this point the various structures are in the
positions shown in Fig.~ll. The push do~n bar 50 is
then lowered by means of the telescoping hydraulic
cylinders 150, 152 until the lower ends of the retainer
sleeves 184 engage the upper ends 77 of the locking
sleeves 75. As seen in Fig. 11, the sleeve 184 carries
within~t a lock pin 186 which is supported therein by
means of the fork 174. The lock pin is provided, near
its lower end, with a spring loaded latch 188. When
the sleeve 184 moves into engagement with the upper end
of the sleeve 75, as shown in Fig. 12, the lower end of
the pin does not extend into the lower reduced diameter
bore 190 of the sleeve 75. Thus down~lard pressure on
the sleeve 75 causes the enlarged poxtions 81 to be
-21-
biased inwardly from the recess 73 so that the sleeve
moves downwardly into a recess 192 in the lock down hole
32 in the porch, as seen in Fig. 12. The forks 174 are
then withdrawn ~nd the push down bar 50 is ele~ated
until the forks are above the top of the pin ~, as
seen in Fig. 13. The forks are again extended into the
sleeve 184 and the push down bar 50 is moved down~
wardly. The forks engage the upward end of the pin
pushing the pin downwardly until it extends into -the
lower reduced diameter bore 190. The enlarged ends 81
of the fingers 79 are thus held in engagement with
recess 192 so that the lock down structure 70 is locked
to the porch 26.
The forks 174 are then withdrawn again, and the
push down bar 50 is lowered until sleeve 162 rests upon
the upper end of locking sleeve 80, as seen in Fig. 14.
The hydraulic cylinders 178, 180 are then energized to
move the forks 174 into sleeve 162, engaging the lock
pin 82 between the head 83 and the collar 85.
As seen in Fig. 15 the push down bar 50 is then
moved upwardly.- The movement of the forks 174 pulls
the pin 82 from the sleeve 80, thereby unlocking the
sleeve. Hydraulic cylinder 41 (see Fig~ 4) is then
retracted to release the pull-in tool from the base,
and the entire pull-in tool is raised upwardly by means
of the drill pipe 10, thereby pulling the sleeve 80
from the lock down structure 70 and removing the pro-
tective cage 74 from its position covering the outboard
flow line hl~ 72. The inboard hub 24 and outboard hub
72 are thus left positioned substantially in their
final positions, each protected by a protective cover
200.
l~zz1~7
-22-
The flow line connectox running tool 100 is then
installed on the guide lines 11 and lowered on drill
pipe 10, as seen in Fig. 16. As the tool moves down-
wardly the forXs 105, 106 straddle the hub saddles 192,
194 behind the collars 24c and 72b. Upon further down-
ward movement buttons 211 engage trigger plates 220,
thereby releasing the protective covers 200, causing
them to drop off the inboard and outboard hubs~ The
final position of the flow line connector running tool
is as shown in Fig. 17, with the seal plate 12~ between
the two hubs. The hydraulic cylinders 108 are then
energized to pull the two hubs together by force exerted
on the forks 105, 106, as seen in Fig. 18. Since the
outboard hub is latched down on the porch, only the
inboard hub moves, by sliding through bearing housing
23, such movement being absorbed in the flow line loops
on the christmas tree.
The two halves of the clamp assembly 116 are then
moved together to clamp the facing hubs into sealing
engagement with the seal member by rotation of the
hexagon socket llS which is driven by the motors 113
and the gear box 114. ::
~ ydraulic pressure is then applied to the piston
138 in the pin 118 to thereby rele~,se the latch members
132. The entire flow connector running tool is then .
hois~ed upwardly by means of ~he drill pipe, as ShOWII
in Fig. 19, and may be retrieved to vessel A.
The apparatus of the presenk invention also pro-
vides means for re-entering, disconnecting the hubs,
and retrieving or replacing the seal unit, and also for
unlocking the flow line hub from the porch and raising
it to the surace for repair or replacement, if such
should be necessary.
23-
Thus the flow line connector running tool 100 may
again be lowered by means of the drill pipe, the forks
105 and 106 straddling the hub saddles 192, 194 behind
the collars 24c and 72b. The pins 118 will enter the
sleeves 130 and move down~ardly therein until the latch
members 132 emerge from the bottom~ The hex sockets
115 will engage the hexagon drivers of the clamp and
the motor 113 may then be energized to open the clamp,
thereby releasing the hubs and the seal member. When
the running tool 100 is elevated, the pins 118 will
carry the clamp and sealiny member upwardly with the
ru~ning tool. A new sealing member may then be in-
stalled in the same manner as heretofore described.
"y
Where it is ~sa~ to repair or replace a flow
line hub the pull-in tool 39 is lowered with the pull-
in adapter 14 in place. Sleeve 80 will enter the lock
down structure 70 and engage the recess 73. Cylinder
41 is actuated to lock the pull-in tool to the porch.
The push down bar 50 is lowered to carry the pin 82
into sleeve 80 and thereby lock it to the lock down
structure. The forks 174 are actuated to engage pins
18 whereby upon upward movement of the push down bar 50
the pins are pulled. The latches 188 engage the lower
ends of sleeves 75, pulling the sleeves from the lock-
iny' holes 71, thereby unlocking the lock down structure
from the porch. The lock down cylinder 41 may then be
retracted and the entire pull-in apparatus may be
elevated to the surface, carrying with it the end of
~he flow line hub. Alternatively, or in addition, a
pull-in cable could have been lowered with the pull-in
adapter and this cable utilized to assist in the lift-
ng .
~2Z~
-24-
Although this invention has been described pri-
marily in terms of the connection of a flow line to an
underwater production unit, the same apparatus and
method may be used ~or connection of electrical cables
and hydraulic control lines, as previously indicated.
Such modifications as may be necessary to achieve such
connections will be apparent to those skilled in the
art.
Various other embodiments and modifications will
also be apparent from the foregoing description. The
invention is therefore not limited to the specific
embodiments disclosed, but extends to every embodiment
within the scope of the appended claims.
. , ~ )
