Backup Heave Compensation System and Lifting Arrangement for a Floating Drilling Vessel
First Claim
1. A backup heave compensation system on a floating drilling vessel, said vessel comprising a rig structure for carrying out well operations in a subsea well, said rig structure comprising a primary heave compensation system operatively connected to a load-bearing structure capable of supporting a tubular structure connected between the floating drilling vessel and the subsea well, said backup heave compensation system comprising:
- a vertically extendable and retractable lifting arrangement structured for connection between said load-bearing structure and said tubular structure;
a hydraulic system operatively connected to said lifting arrangement; and
a control system operatively connected to said lifting arrangement and hydraulic system for selective control and operation thereof;
said lifting arrangement comprising;
a rigid frame structure comprised of;
at least two vertically extending legs in the form of cylinders separated at a distance from each other;
a first transverse element connecting first end portions of said cylinders; and
a second transverse element connecting second end portions of said cylinders; and
a portal structure comprised of;
at least two vertically extending legs in the form of piston rods having first end portions provided each with a piston and a transverse portal element connecting second end portions of said piston rods;
wherein each piston of the portal structure is inserted into, and is movable within, a corresponding cylinder of the frame structure, thereby allowing the portal structure and the frame structure to be vertically movable with respect to one another;
wherein said hydraulic system is connected to a high-pressure volume of each cylinder for selective hydraulic communication with said high-pressure volume and piston;
wherein said cylinders are connected to said control system; and
wherein the control system is structured in a manner allowing it to selectively control and operate said cylinder-piston arrangement so as to compensate for heave movements of the floating drilling vessel should the primary heave compensation system become inoperative.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A backup heave compensation system and an associated lifting arrangement are for a floating drilling vessel comprising a rig structure with a primary heave compensation system. The backup heave compensation system comprises: a vertically extendable and retractable lifting arrangement; a hydraulic system operatively connected to said lifting arrangement; and a control system operatively connected to said lifting arrangement and hydraulic system for selective control and operation thereof. The lifting arrangement comprises: a rigid frame structure comprised of: at least two vertically extending cylinders; a first transverse element connecting first end portions of said cylinders; and a second transverse element connecting second end portions of said cylinders; and a portal structure comprised of: at least two vertically extending piston rods having first end portions provided each with a piston; and a transverse portal element connecting second end portions of said piston rods. Each piston is movable within a corresponding cylinder.
18 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A backup heave compensation system on a floating drilling vessel, said vessel comprising a rig structure for carrying out well operations in a subsea well, said rig structure comprising a primary heave compensation system operatively connected to a load-bearing structure capable of supporting a tubular structure connected between the floating drilling vessel and the subsea well, said backup heave compensation system comprising:
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a vertically extendable and retractable lifting arrangement structured for connection between said load-bearing structure and said tubular structure; a hydraulic system operatively connected to said lifting arrangement; and a control system operatively connected to said lifting arrangement and hydraulic system for selective control and operation thereof; said lifting arrangement comprising; a rigid frame structure comprised of;
at least two vertically extending legs in the form of cylinders separated at a distance from each other;
a first transverse element connecting first end portions of said cylinders; and
a second transverse element connecting second end portions of said cylinders; anda portal structure comprised of;
at least two vertically extending legs in the form of piston rods having first end portions provided each with a piston and a transverse portal element connecting second end portions of said piston rods;wherein each piston of the portal structure is inserted into, and is movable within, a corresponding cylinder of the frame structure, thereby allowing the portal structure and the frame structure to be vertically movable with respect to one another; wherein said hydraulic system is connected to a high-pressure volume of each cylinder for selective hydraulic communication with said high-pressure volume and piston; wherein said cylinders are connected to said control system; and wherein the control system is structured in a manner allowing it to selectively control and operate said cylinder-piston arrangement so as to compensate for heave movements of the floating drilling vessel should the primary heave compensation system become inoperative. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A lifting arrangement capable of operating as a backup heave compensator on a floating drilling vessel, said lifting arrangement comprising:
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a rigid frame structure comprised of;
at least two parallel legs in the form of cylinders separated at a distance from each other;
a first transverse element connecting first end portions of said cylinders; and
a second transverse element connecting second end portions of said cylinders; anda portal structure comprised of;
at least two parallel legs in the form of piston rods having first end portions provided each with a piston; and
a transverse portal element connecting second end portions of said piston rods;wherein each piston of the portal structure is inserted into, and is movable within, a corresponding cylinder of the frame structure, thereby allowing the portal structure and the frame structure to be movable with respect to one another; wherein a high-pressure volume of each cylinder is structured for hydraulic communication with an associated hydraulic system; and wherein said cylinders are structured for connection to an associated control system for selective control and operation of said hydraulic system and said cylinder-piston arrangement so as to compensate for heave movements of the floating drilling vessel. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification