Dedicated riser tensioner apparatus, method and system

• US 6,692,193 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Technip France (TechnipFMC, plc)
• Original Assignee: Technip France (TechnipFMC, plc)
• Inventors: Burns, Jerome, Beynet, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Shackelford, Heather
• Assistant Examiner(s): Saldano, Lisa M.
• Application Number:
  US09/969,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20030063953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 405/224, 405/224.2, 405/224.3, 405/224.4, 166/355
• US Class Current: 405/224.4
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/006 including heave compensators

Abstract

The invention is an apparatus, method and system for supporting risers in a floating platform. The apparatus comprises a table disposed above a hull-top surface, a first riser opening in the table, and a first dedicated riser tensioner attached to the table and disposed about the first riser opening. The apparatus further comprises a second riser opening, and a second dedicated riser tensioner attached to the table and disposed about the second riser opening. The method comprises tensioning a first riser with a first dedicated riser tensioner, and tensioning a second riser with a second dedicated riser tensioner, wherein the first dedicated riser tensioner is responsive to the second dedicated riser tensioner. The system comprises a mechanism for tensioning a first and a second riser, wherein the mechanism for tensioning the first riser is responsive to the second riser.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting risers in a floating platform, the apparatus comprising:

a hull top surface;

a table disposed above the hull top surface, the table comprising a grid structure having columns and rows that define riser openings;

a riser received in each of the riser openings; and

a riser tensioner disposed in each of the riser openings and attached to the table, each riser tensioner comprising a plurality of cylinders selected from the group consisting of pneumatic cylinders and hydraulic cylinders;

wherein a first riser tensioner in a first riser opening is symmetrically paired by a cross coupling to a second riser tensioner in a second riser opening, the cross coupling being effected by interconnecting plumbing between each cylinder of the first riser tensioner and a corresponding paired cylinder of the second riser tensioner.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one drilling riser.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one production riser.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one drilling dedicated riser tensioner.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one production dedicated riser tensioner.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cylinders comprises four cylinders coupled to each riser.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cylinders comprise pneumatic cylinders.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cylinders comprise hydraulic cylinders.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the table comprises a grid having rows and columns intersecting to form substantially square areas, wherein the first riser tensioner is cross coupled to the second riser tensioner by a cross coupling arrangement that comprises a symmetrical pairing by rows, a point of reference for the symmetrical pairing by rows being determined from the center of the grid structure.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the table comprises a grid having rows and columns intersecting to form substantially square areas, wherein the first riser tensioner is cross coupled to the second riser tensioner by a cross coupling arrangement that comprises a symmetrical pairing by columns, a point of reference for the symmetrical pairing by columns being determined from the center of the grid structure.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the table comprises a grid having rows and columns intersecting to form substantially square areas, wherein the first riser tensioner is cross coupled to the second riser tensioner by a cross coupling arrangement that comprises a symmetrical pairing by rows and columns, a point of reference for the symmetrical pairing by rows and columns being determined from the center of the grid structure.