Riser for great water depths

• US 5,660,233 A
• Filed: 11/03/1995
• Issued: 08/26/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole
• Original Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole
• Inventors: Sparks, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David J.
• Application Number:
  US08/552,921
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 166/367, 166/350, 166/355, 405/195.1, 405/224.2, 405/223.1, 405/223.2
• US Class Current: 166/367
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/01 Risers

Abstract

A riser for great water depths includes a main tube, peripheral lines, and a base at the lower end of the main tube. The main tube has devices for holding the peripheral lines in position with respect to the main tube. The lower end of each of the peripheral lines is connected with another device placed on the base allowing axial relative movement of at least one of the peripheral lines with respect to the main tube. Also, the riser is provided with a damping device.

Claims

1. A riser for great water depths comprising a main tube, said main tube having an axial natural period T₁, several peripheral lines, each one of said peripheral lines having its own axial natural period Ti and said peripheral lines being held in position with respect to said main tube by fastening means, a base situated at the lower end of the tube characterized in that the lower end of each said peripheral lines is connected to a device placed on the base, said device being suited to allow a relative axial motion of at least one of said peripheral lines with respect to said main tube and in that the riser also comprises means for damping the axial motion.

2. A riser as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the device allowing the axial motion comprises damping means.

3. A riser as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the values of the axial natural periods Ti of the peripheral lines are less than the value of the axial natural period of the main tube T₁.

4. A riser as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the difference between the values of the natural periods of the main tube and those of the peripheral lines are selected to generate a relative amplitude motion between the main tube and at least one of said lines allowing the axial vibrations of the main tube and of the peripheral lines to be damped.

5. A riser as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the main tube comprises several tubular elements, at least one of the elements of the main tube or at least one of the peripheral lines is made at least partly from a metallic material of low density and/or comprises a composite material, and in that the dimensions of said peripheral lines and of said main tube are so selected that the values of the natural periods T₁ and Ti are less than 6 seconds.

6. A riser as claimed in claim 5, wherein the metallic material of low density comprises a titanium alloy.

7. A riser as claimed in claim 5, wherein the dimensions of said peripheral lines and of said main tube are so selected that the values of the natural periods T₁ and Ti are at least less than 4 seconds.

8. A riser as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the device allowing the axial motion comprises stop rings.

9. A riser as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the fastening means for holding said peripheral lines in position are made from a material withstanding lateral stresses and frictions.

10. A riser as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the peripheral lines is immovably fastened to the main tube in the neighbourhood of the upper end of said tube by the fastening means.

11. A riser as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the peripheral lines are fastened to the main tube by fastening means situated at a distance d from the upper end of the main tube.

12. A riser as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that at least one of said peripheral lines is hanging by its upper end from the upper end of the main tube fastening by means comprising a suspension device.

13. A riser as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said peripheral lines consist of several elements connected to each other by other fastening means.