Blowout preventer and guideline handling
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for handling a flexible guideline extending from a selected location in a structure on or above the surface of an ocean or the like to a submerged location, the apparatus comprising:
- a guideline frame mounted for lateral movement in the structure and from which the guideline extends to the submerged location;
means for moving the frame laterally in the structure between a first position and a second position, the frame at the first position being disposed at said selected location in the structure, the frame at the second position being displaced laterally from its first position; and
tension means connected to the guideline for controlling tension in the guideline between the frame and the submerged location
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Abstract
Apparatus and method are provided for handling guidelines for an ocean drilling platform rig. A cart for guiding the lines rides on a track and can be moved away from a drill well when a blowout preventer is moved into place over the well on its own cart. When the load of the blowout preventer is transferred to a drilling string, the blowout preventer support cart is moved away from the drill well and the guideline handling cart is positioned over the well. The guidelines are then attached to a guideline frame on the blowout preventer.
40 Citations
13 Claims
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1. Apparatus for handling a flexible guideline extending from a selected location in a structure on or above the surface of an ocean or the like to a submerged location, the apparatus comprising:
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a guideline frame mounted for lateral movement in the structure and from which the guideline extends to the submerged location; means for moving the frame laterally in the structure between a first position and a second position, the frame at the first position being disposed at said selected location in the structure, the frame at the second position being displaced laterally from its first position; and tension means connected to the guideline for controlling tension in the guideline between the frame and the submerged location - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for handling guidelines extending to a submerged location from a structure located on or above the surface of an ocean in the course of moving an object to or from the structure from or to the submerged location along a substantially vertical path during which movement the object is guided by the guidelines, the method comprising the steps of:
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connecting the guidelines at the structure to a frame which is movable in the structure laterally relative to the path; disposing the frame laterally away from the path so that the guidelines at the structure are laterally displaced from the path; disposing the object in the structure along the path and connecting the object to a movably operable means for moving the object along the path; moving the frame into a position aligned with the path thereby to place the guidelines in parallel relation to the path; and movably engaging the guidelines with the object before lowering the object along the path. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method for handling flexible guidelines connecting a structure located on or near the surface of an ocean to a submerged location in the course of moving an object between the structure and the submerged location along a substantially vertical path of movement during which movement of the object is guided by the guidelines, the method comprising the steps of:
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extending the flexible guidelines to the submerged location from a movable frame disposed in the structure away from the path; positioning the object along the path; moving the frame sufficiently in the structure to place the guidelines in parallel relation to the path; and engaging the flexible guidelines with the object to guide it along the path.
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13. In an ocean drilling platform in which a drilling string is suspended from a drilling platform on a structure located on or above the surface of an ocean through an opening in the structure to a submerged well head, and in which a blowout preventer stored on the structure is to be lowered along guidelines extending parallel to a vertical line of movement through the opening to the submerged wellhead, and in which the blowout preventer is supported by a first cart movably mounted on a track on the platform for selective movement between a first position away from the vertical line and a second position aligned with such line for coupling of the blowout preventer, prior to lowering thereof along the vertical line, to a plurality of guidelines coupled to guideline tensioners located on the structure, the guidelines extending from the structure to the submerged wellhead, the improvement comprising:
a second cart movably mounted on the track for receiving the guidelines, the second cart being selectively movable between a first position thereof away from the vertical line of movement and a second position thereof aligned with said vertical line.
Specification