External load testing apparatus and method for underwater wellhead connector

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of external load experimental device and method for underwater wellhead connector. Including: lower base;Fixed base, fixed base is set on lower base;Test wellhead, test wellhead is fixed on fixed base;Loading beam, loading beam is substantially parallelly set on lower base;Test joint, test joint is set on loading beam, from loading beam towards lower base protrude, and with test wellhead alignment, underwater wellhead connector is placed between test joint and test wellhead;Loading liquid cylinder, loading liquid cylinder is set between lower base and loading beam, for loading to underwater wellhead connector, loading liquid cylinder includes the first loading liquid cylinder being set at one side of fixed base and the second loading liquid cylinder being set at the other side of fixed base;And anti-rotation pin shaft, anti-rotation pin shaft is set on loading liquid cylinder to prevent loading liquid cylinder from rotating. With the device and method of the present application, the sealing performance of underwater wellhead connector under the action of tensile, compression and bending load can be tested.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of underwater wellhead connector sealing performance testing, specifically to an underwater wellhead connector external load testing device and method. Background Technology

[0002] Subsea wellhead connectors have a wide range of applications, not only for positioning and connecting subsea wellheads and subsea production trees, but also for rapid connection between marine risers and subsea blowout preventers. Under subsea conditions, subsea wellhead connectors are subjected to external loads including waves, currents, drilling vessel drift, and riser tension and bending moments. When the bending load exceeds the product's maximum allowable bending moment, wellhead seal failure may occur, potentially leading to a catastrophic oil spill. Therefore, conducting research on bending load testing technology for subsea wellhead equipment and verifying the product's sealing reliability under bending loads is a necessary measure to ensure safe underwater production.

[0003] This invention provides an external load method for underwater wellhead connectors. By subjecting the underwater wellhead connector to tensile, compressive, and bending loads, a test medium at a specified pressure is injected into the underwater wellhead connector to test and evaluate the sealing performance of the underwater wellhead connector under tensile, compressive, and bending load conditions. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, the purpose of this invention is to provide a test method for underwater wellhead connectors under tensile, compressive, and bending loads, so as to test and evaluate the sealing performance of underwater wellhead connectors under tensile, compressive, and bending load conditions.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] An external load testing device for underwater wellhead connectors includes:

[0007] Lower base;

[0008] A fixed base is provided on the lower base.

[0009] Test well nozzle, the test well nozzle is fixed on the fixed base;

[0010] The loading beam is set roughly parallel to the lower base;

[0011] The test joint is set on the loading beam, protrudes from the loading beam toward the lower base, and is aligned with the test wellhead. The underwater wellhead connector is placed between the test joint and the test wellhead.

[0012] A loading cylinder, disposed between the lower base and the loading beam, is used to apply load to the subsea wellhead connector. The loading cylinder includes a first loading cylinder located on one side of the fixed base and a second loading cylinder located on the other side of the fixed base; and

[0013] Anti-rotation pin is installed on the loading cylinder to prevent the loading cylinder from rotating.

[0014] The underwater wellhead connector is installed between the loading beam and the lower base, and is secured by the test wellhead and the fixing base. The extension of the loading cylinder applies a tensile load to the subsea wellhead connector, while the retraction of the loading cylinder applies a pressure load to the subsea wellhead connector.

[0015] After securing the subsea wellhead connector to the test wellhead and the mounting base, the anti-rotation pin on the first loading cylinder is disengaged, disconnecting the first loading cylinder from the loading beam so that bending loads can be applied to the connector by extending or retracting the second loading cylinder.

[0016] The anti-rotation pin is set on the lower hinge lug of the first and second loading cylinders to avoid the unstable parallelogram structure before the underwater wellhead connector is installed in place.

[0017] It also includes a hydrostatic testing system, which is used to test the sealing of the underwater wellhead connector under external load conditions by introducing a test medium of predetermined pressure into the underwater wellhead connector while it is subjected to tensile, compressive and bending loads.

[0018] The lower base is fixed to the test pile using a fixed base.

[0019] Replace the test wellhead nozzle according to the connection surface and interface of the underwater wellhead connector.

[0020] An external load testing method for underwater wellhead connectors includes:

[0021] The underwater wellhead connector is installed between the loading beam and the lower base. The test wellhead and the fixed base are fixed. The extension of the first loading cylinder and the second loading cylinder applies a tensile load to the underwater wellhead connector. The retraction of the first loading cylinder and the second loading cylinder applies a pressure load to the connector.

[0022] The anti-rotation pin on the first loading cylinder is disengaged so that the first loading cylinder is disconnected from the loading beam so that bending load can be applied to the subsea wellhead connector by the extension or retraction of the second loading cylinder.

[0023] While applying external load to the underwater wellhead connector, a test medium with a specified pressure is introduced into the underwater wellhead connector using a hydrostatic pressure test system to test the sealing performance of the underwater wellhead connector under tensile load, compressive load and bending load conditions.

[0024] The tensile load, compressive load, and bending load of the underwater wellhead connector are detected by a tension sensor installed on the loading cylinder.

[0025] The bending load on the submersible wellhead connector is the product of the output load of the loading cylinder and the distance from the loading cylinder to the center of the submersible wellhead connector.

[0026] M = PL, where:

[0027] M is the bending load;

[0028] P is the output load of the loading cylinder; and

[0029] L is the distance from the loading cylinder to the center of the connector.

[0030] The present invention has the following advantages due to the adoption of the above technical solutions:

[0031] 1. The underwater wellhead connector external load method of this application can be used to test the sealing performance of the underwater wellhead connector under tensile, compressive and bending loads.

[0032] 2. Anti-rotation pins were inserted into the lower hinge lugs of the two loading cylinders to avoid the parallelogram-shaped unstable structure that might occur on the test bench before the underwater wellhead connector was installed in place.

[0033] 3. The test pile and the lower base are fixed together by a fixed base, and the test wellhead can be replaced according to the connection surface and interface of the underwater wellhead connector. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same parts. In the drawings:

[0035] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of tensile and compression tests on an underwater wellhead connector according to an embodiment of this application; and

[0036] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a bending load test of an underwater wellhead connector according to an embodiment of this application.

[0037] The markings in the attached diagram are as follows:

[0038] 1. Hydrostatic pressure test system; 2. Anti-rotation pin; 3. Loading cylinder; 3-1. First loading cylinder; 3-2. Second loading cylinder; 4. Tension sensor; 5. Loading beam; 6. Subsea wellhead connector; 7. Test joint; 8. Test wellhead nozzle; 9. Fixed base; 10. Lower base; 11. Hydraulic system. Detailed Implementation

[0039] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the invention can be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to enable a more thorough understanding of the invention and to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0040] According to some embodiments of this application, an external load testing device and method for underwater wellhead connectors are provided to test and evaluate the sealing performance of underwater wellhead connectors under tensile, compressive and bending loads.

[0041] An underwater wellhead connector external load test device comprises components such as a hydrostatic pressure test system 1, an anti-rotation pin 2, a loading cylinder 3, a tension sensor 4, a loading beam 5, a test joint 7, a test wellhead 8, a fixed base 9, a lower base 10, and a hydraulic system 11.

[0042] like Figure 1 As shown, a tensile load is applied to the connector by extending the loading cylinders 3 on both sides of the external load test device for the underwater wellhead connector.

[0043] Pressure load is applied to the connector by retracting the loading cylinders 3 located on both sides of the external load test device for the underwater wellhead connector.

[0044] The magnitude of the load can be detected by the force sensor 4 installed on the loading cylinder 3.

[0045] like Figure 2 As shown, during the bending load test, after fixing the connector on the test bench, the anti-rotation pin 2 between the loading beam 5 and the first loading cylinder 3-1 located on the left end is removed, and the bending load is applied to the connector by extending or retracting the second loading cylinder 3-2 located on the right end.

[0046] The underwater wellhead connector is subjected to tensile, compressive and bending loads, while the hydrostatic test system 1 injects a test medium of a specified pressure into the connector to test the sealing reliability of the connector under external load conditions.

[0047] Anti-rotation pins are inserted into the lower hinge lugs of the first loading cylinder 3-1 and the second loading cylinder 3-2 to prevent the test bench from forming an unstable parallelogram structure before the underwater wellhead connector is installed in place.

[0048] The test pile and the lower base 10 are fixed together by a fixed base, and the test wellhead 8 can be replaced according to the connection surface and interface of the underwater wellhead connector.

[0049] According to some embodiments of this application, a method for testing the external load of underwater wellhead connectors applies tensile, compressive, and bending loads to the connectors. This invention is applicable to testing and evaluating the sealing performance of underwater wellhead connectors under tensile, compressive, and bending loads.

[0050] like Figure 1 As shown, the underwater wellhead connector is installed between the loading beam 5 and the lower base 10, and is fixed with the test wellhead 8 and the fixed base 9. The loading cylinders 3 on both sides of the connector extend to apply tensile load to the connector, and the loading cylinders 3 retract to apply pressure load to the connector. The magnitude of the load can be detected by the tension sensor 4 installed on the loading cylinder 3.

[0051] like Figure 2 As shown, after fixing the connector on the test bench, the anti-rotation pin 2 between the loading beam 5 and the left loading cylinder 3-1 is removed. The bending load is applied to the connector by extending or retracting the right loading cylinder 3-2. The magnitude of the test bending load M is the product of the output load P of the loading cylinder 3 and the distance L from the loading cylinder to the center of the connector, that is: M = PL.

[0052] While applying external load to the underwater wellhead connector, a test medium of a specified pressure is injected into the connector using a hydrostatic pressure test system 1 to test the sealing performance of the connector under tensile, compressive and bending load conditions.

[0053] The test bench is characterized by the ability to perform tensile, compressive, and bending load tests on connectors on a single test bench.

[0054] According to some embodiments of this application, the underwater wellhead connector is installed between the loading beam 5 and the lower base 10 and is fixed with the test wellhead 8 and the fixed base 9. The loading cylinders 3 on both sides of the connector extend to apply a tensile load to the connector, and the loading cylinders 3 retract to apply a pressure load to the connector. The magnitude of the load can be detected by the tension sensor 4 installed on the cylinder.

[0055] After fixing the connector on the test bench, remove the anti-rotation pin 2 between the loading beam 5 and the loading liquid cylinder 3-1 at the left end, and apply bending load to the connector by extending or retracting the loading liquid cylinder 3-2 at the right end.

[0056] While the underwater wellhead connector is subjected to tensile, compressive and bending loads, a hydrostatic test system 1 injects a test medium at a specified pressure into the connector to test the sealing reliability of the connector under external load conditions.

[0057] An anti-rotation pin 2 is inserted into the lower hinge lug of the loading cylinder 3 to prevent the test bench from forming an unstable parallelogram structure before the underwater wellhead connector is installed in place.

[0058] The test pile and the lower base 10 are fixed together by a fixed base, and the test wellhead can be replaced according to the connection surface and interface of the underwater wellhead connector.

[0059] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit it; The present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments. Those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An external load testing device for a subsea wellhead connector, characterized by, include: Lower base (10); A fixed base (9) is provided on a lower base (10); Test well nozzle (8), said test well nozzle (8) is fixed on the fixed base (9); A loading beam (5) is arranged parallel to the lower base (10); Test connector (7), which is disposed on loading beam (5), protrudes from loading beam (5) toward lower base (10) and is aligned with test wellhead (8), and underwater wellhead connector (6) is placed between test connector (7) and test wellhead (8); A loading cylinder (3) is disposed between the lower base (10) and the loading beam (5) for applying load to the underwater wellhead connector (6). The loading cylinder (3) includes a first loading cylinder (3-1) disposed on one side of the fixed base (9) and a second loading cylinder (3-2) disposed on the other side of the fixed base (9). Anti-rotation pin (2), which is set on the loading liquid cylinder (3) to prevent the loading liquid cylinder (3) from rotating; The hydrostatic pressure test system (1) is used to test the sealing of the underwater wellhead connector (6) under external load conditions by inputting a test medium with a predetermined pressure into the underwater wellhead connector (6) under tensile, compressive and bending loads through the hydrostatic pressure test system (1). The underwater wellhead connector (6) is installed between the loading beam (5) and the lower base (10) and is fixed by the test wellhead (8) and the fixed base (9). The extension of the loading cylinder (3) applies a tensile load to the underwater wellhead connector (6), and the retraction of the loading cylinder (3) applies a pressure load to the underwater wellhead connector (6). After fixing the underwater wellhead connector (6) to the test wellhead (8) and the fixing base (9), the anti-rotation pin (2) set on the first loading cylinder (3-1) is disengaged, and the first loading cylinder (3-1) is disconnected from the loading beam (5) so that bending load is applied to the connector (6) by the extension or retraction of the second loading cylinder (3-2); The anti-rotation pin (2) is set on the lower hinge lug of the first loading cylinder (3-1) and the second loading cylinder (3-2) to avoid the unstable parallelogram structure before the underwater wellhead connector (6) is installed in place; The lower base (10) is fixed to the test pile using a fixed base; Replace the test wellhead connector (8) according to the connection surface and interface of the underwater wellhead connector (6).

2. A method for an external load test of a subsea wellhead connector using the external load test apparatus for a subsea wellhead connector according to claim 1, characterized by, include: The underwater wellhead connector (6) is installed between the loading beam (5) and the lower base (10), and the test wellhead (8) and the fixed base (9) are fixed. The underwater wellhead connector (6) is subjected to tensile load by the extension of the first loading cylinder (3-1) and the second loading cylinder (3-2), and the connector is subjected to pressure load by the retraction of the first loading cylinder (3-1) and the second loading cylinder (3-2). The anti-rotation pin (2) set on the first loading cylinder (3-1) is disengaged so that the first loading cylinder (3-1) is disconnected from the loading beam (5) so that bending load is applied to the underwater wellhead connector (6) by the extension or retraction of the second loading cylinder (3-2). While applying an external load to the underwater wellhead connector (6), a test medium with a specified pressure is introduced into the underwater wellhead connector (6) using a hydrostatic test system (1) to test the sealing performance of the underwater wellhead connector (6) under tensile load, compressive load and bending load conditions.

3. The external load test method for a subsea wellhead connector according to claim 2, wherein The tensile load, compressive load and bending load of the underwater wellhead connector (6) are detected by a tension sensor (4) installed on the loading cylinder (3).

4. The external load test method for a subsea wellhead connector according to claim 2, wherein The bending load on the underwater wellhead connector (6) is the product of the output load of the loading cylinder (3) and the distance from the loading cylinder (3) to the center of the underwater wellhead connector (6): M = PL, where: M is the bending load; P is the output load of the loading cylinder; and L is the distance from the loading cylinder to the center of the connector.

Images