In-place method for vertical connector at tail end of deepwater hose

Abstract

The invention discloses an in-place method of a deepwater hose tail end vertical connector, which mainly comprises the following steps of: checking a hose route so that the route is paved without obstacles; the underwater robot assists in removing a pressure cap above the underwater manifold, and a blind plate is used for temporary plugging above a protective pipe opening at the joint of the underwater manifold through the underwater robot; the RHD drives and cooperates with the tensioner to initialize the hose; and after initialization is completed, the hose starts to be laid along the designed route, and when the tail end of the hose is laid to the deck moon pool, the laying equipment stops pausing. According to the in-position method for the vertical connector at the tail end of the deepwater hose, the distance between the vertical connector and an underwater protective pipe opening is calculated finally by lowering the hose for the first time, and after the hose is recycled, the in-position direction of the protective pipe opening of the connector is recognized by marking the tail end of the hose; and after the hose is put down for the second time, the overall route of the hose can be adjusted through the first-time put-down data.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of marine petroleum engineering, and in particular relates to a method for positioning a vertical connector at the end of a deepwater hose. Background Art

[0002] A vertical deepwater hose connector is a specialized connector used to connect underwater hoses and other equipment. Its design often features a curved or bent shape. This allows for pipe connection at various angles, adapting to complex installation environments. Compared to horizontal connectors, which are limited to horizontal positions, vertical connectors enable more efficient layout within limited spaces, particularly in narrow or irregular locations, facilitating pipe routing and connection.

[0003] The conventional method for securing the hose end connector is to prepare the hose end on deck, assemble the connector and hose end, and then lower it directly. This approach can lead to the hose end not reaching or exceeding the final connection port due to deviation from the designed route or influence from currents. In such cases, the vessel must repeatedly retrieve the hose to secure the connector.

[0004] At the same time, when the hose end is finally in place, the direction of the connection between the connector and the hose end may interfere with the underwater structure, which may even require the vertical connector to be recovered to the deck for reassembly, affecting the positioning of the hose end and the overall installation efficiency of the hose.

[0005] Therefore, it is urgent to design a method for positioning the vertical connector at the end of a deep-water hose to solve the above-mentioned problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In order to solve the technical problem mentioned in the background technology that when the hose end is finally placed, the direction of the connection between the connector and the hose end may interfere with the underwater structure, thereby affecting the positioning of the hose end and the overall installation efficiency of the hose, a method for positioning the vertical connector at the end of a deep-water hose is provided to solve the problem of precise positioning of the vertical connector at the end of the hose.

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the specific technical solution of the method for positioning the vertical connector at the end of a deep-water hose of the present invention is as follows: A method for positioning a vertical connector at the end of a deepwater hose comprises the following steps: S1. Check the hose route to ensure there are no obstacles along the route. S2. The underwater robot assists in removing the pressure cap above the underwater manifold, and uses a blind plate to temporarily seal the protective pipe opening at the underwater manifold connection. S3, RHD drive cooperates with the tensioner to initialize the hose; S4. After initialization is completed, the hose begins to be laid along the designed route. When the end of the hose reaches the deck moon pool, the laying equipment is paused. S5. The deck crew hangs the end of the hose in the moon pool and marks the end of the hose with eight evenly distributed, identifiable color marks. S6. After completion, continue to release the hose and continue laying along the designed route until the towing head at the end of the hose reaches above the underwater manifold protection port; S7. The underwater robot observes the marked portion of the hose and the connection between the underwater manifold and takes photos to record the relative position and marked number of the connection between the hose pulling head and the manifold. S8: The tensioner cooperates with the RHD to recover the end of the hose. The workboat returns along the positioning mark to recover the hose. S9. After the hose end is recovered to the moon pool, the moon pool is closed and the deck crew temporarily suspends the towing head at the end of the hose; S10. The work boat crane assembles the YOKE and the connector.

[0008] Furthermore, the method further includes: S11, using a crane to move the turning frame and the assembled connector to a position at the moon pool on the deck.

[0009] Furthermore, the method further includes: S12, operating the connector flip frame to move the vertical connector pipe protection port toward the end of the hose drag head.

[0010] Furthermore, the method includes: S13, a deck crew aligning the hose end with the vertical connector.

[0011] Furthermore, the method further includes: S14, after the connector pairing is completed, the work vessel winch connects the connector YOKE.

[0012] Further, it includes, S15, when the hose load is completely transferred to the winch, the deck personnel install the hose end attachment.

[0013] Furthermore, the method further includes: S16, the winch starts to slowly lower the hose, and the workboat continues to move in the direction of the positioning mark point to perform secondary laying of the hose.

[0014] Furthermore, it also includes S17, when the end of the hose reaches above the underwater manifold, the underwater robot removes the temporary sealing blind plate and checks whether the pipe protection port meets the connection requirements.

[0015] Furthermore, the method also includes: S18, the winch continues to be lowered, the underwater robot operates the connector, completes the connection between the hose and the underwater manifold, and performs a test.

[0016] Furthermore, it also includes S19. After the test is passed, the underwater robot removes the YOKE from above the connector and recovers it to the deck, and the connector at the end of the hose is put in place.

[0017] The method for positioning the vertical connector at the end of a deepwater hose of the present invention has the following advantages: The distance between the final vertical connector and the underwater guard tube is calculated by lowering the hose for the first time. After the hose is recovered, the direction of the connector guard tube is identified by marking the end of the hose. After the hose is lowered for the second time, the overall route of the hose can be adjusted based on the data from the first lowering to prevent the hose from being laid too long or too short. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the initial lowering of the hose end during the method for positioning the vertical connector at the end of a deepwater hose according to the present invention; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the assembly of the hose end and the connector in the method for positioning the vertical connector at the end of a deepwater hose according to the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the method for positioning the vertical connector at the end of a deepwater hose and the connector at the end of the hose.

[0019] Description of the marks in the figure: 1. Underwater robot; 2. Hose end towing head; 3. Underwater manifold protection port; 4. Crane; 5. Connector; 6. Connector protection port; 7. Hose end head. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] To make the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0021] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that although some embodiments herein include certain features included in other embodiments but not other features, the combination of features from different embodiments is intended to be within the scope of the present invention and to form different embodiments. For example, in the claims, any one of the claimed embodiments may be used in any combination.

[0022] Please refer to the attached Figure 1 To the attached Figure 3 The present invention describes a method for positioning a vertical connector at the end of a deepwater hose.

[0023] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown in the figure, as a preferred embodiment, the method for positioning the vertical connector at the end of the deep water hose in the present invention mainly includes the following steps: S1, after arriving at the work area, first check the hose route to make the laying route obstacle-free; S2, after investigating the laying route, the underwater robot 1 assists in removing the pressure cap above the underwater manifold, and temporarily seals the hose port above the underwater manifold connection using a blind plate through the underwater robot 1; S3, initialize the hose through the RHD drive in cooperation with the tensioner; S4, after completing the initialization, the hose begins to be laid along the designed route, and the laying equipment is paused when the hose end is laid to the deck moon pool; S5, the deck personnel hang the hose end at the moon pool and make 8 groups of evenly distributed and identifiable color marks on the hose end head 7; S6, after completion, continue to release the hose and continue to lay along the designed route until the hose end pull head 2 reaches a position five meters away from the hose port 3 of the underwater manifold; S7, the underwater robot 1 observes the hose mark at the connection with the underwater manifold, and the underwater robot 1 takes a picture to record the relative position of the hose pull head and the manifold connection and the mark number; S8, if the hose end is more than or less than the effective distance from the underwater manifold connection, adjustment can be made when the hose is laid again; S9, the tensioner cooperates with the RHD to recover the hose end, and the work ship returns along the positioning mark point and recovers the hose; S10, when the hose end is recovered to the moon pool, the moon pool is closed, and the deck personnel temporarily hang the hose end pull head 2; S11, the crane 4 of the work ship groups the YOKE with the connector 5; S12, the crane 4 moves the flip rack and the grouped connector 5 to the position of the deck moon pool; S13, operate the connector 5 flip rack to direct the vertical connector hose port 6 towards the hose end pull head 2; S14, the deck personnel group the hose end with the vertical connector 5; When the hose end is grouped with the connector 5, attention should be paid to the direction of the other end of the connector 5, which should be consistent with the direction recorded by the underwater robot 1. If there is a large deviation between the mark number and the connector hose port 6, the heading of the work ship can be adjusted to correct it until the mark number and the direction of the connector hose port 6 are consistent.

[0024] S15, after completing the grouping of the connector 5, the work ship winch connects the connector YOKE; S16, when the hose load is completely transferred to the winch, the deck personnel install the hose end accessories; S17, the winch begins to slowly release the hose, and the work ship continues to move forward along the positioning mark point to lay the hose again; S18. When the end of the hose reaches above the underwater manifold, the underwater robot 1 removes the temporary blind plate and checks whether the pipe opening meets the connection requirements; S19: The winch continues to be lowered, and the underwater robot 1 operates the connector 5 to complete the connection between the hose and the underwater manifold and perform a test; S20: After the test is passed, the underwater robot 1 removes the YOKE from above the connector 5 and recovers it to the deck, and the hose end connector 5 is in place.

[0025] The method for positioning the vertical connector at the end of a deepwater hose achieves precise positioning of the vertical connector 5 by making identification marks and lowering the hose twice. The present invention reduces positioning deviation of the vertical connector 5 at the end of the hose, ensures hose integrity, and makes overall construction more efficient and reasonable.

[0026] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for the purpose of clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is not necessary and impossible to enumerate all embodiments here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention shall be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for positioning a vertical connector at the end of a deepwater hose, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1. Check the hose route to ensure there are no obstacles along the route. S2. The underwater robot assists in removing the pressure cap above the underwater manifold, and uses a blind plate to temporarily seal the protective pipe opening at the underwater manifold connection. S3, RHD drive cooperates with the tensioner to initialize the hose; S4. After initialization is completed, the hose begins to be laid along the designed route. When the end of the hose reaches the deck moon pool, the laying equipment is paused. S5. The deck crew hangs the end of the hose in the moon pool and marks the end of the hose with eight evenly distributed, identifiable color marks. S6. After completion, continue to release the hose and continue laying along the designed route until the towing head at the end of the hose reaches above the underwater manifold protection port; S7. The underwater robot observes the marked portion of the hose and the connection between the underwater manifold and takes photos to record the relative position and marked number of the connection between the hose pulling head and the manifold. S8: The tensioner cooperates with the RHD to recover the end of the hose. The workboat returns along the positioning mark to recover the hose. S9. After the hose end is recovered to the moon pool, the moon pool is closed and the deck crew temporarily suspends the towing head at the end of the hose; S10. The work boat crane assembles the YOKE and the connector.

2. The method for positioning the vertical connector at the end of a deep-water hose according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes S11, using a crane to move the tipping frame and the assembled connector to a position at the moon pool on the deck.

3. The method for positioning the vertical connector at the end of a deepwater hose according to claim 1, characterized in that: The method further includes: S12, operating the connector flip frame to move the vertical connector pipe protection port toward the end of the hose to drag the head.

4. The method for positioning the vertical connector at the end of a deepwater hose according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also included is S13, deck personnel aligning the hose end with the vertical connector.

5. The method for positioning the vertical connector at the end of a deepwater hose according to claim 1, characterized in that: The process also includes: S14, after the connector pairing is completed, the work vessel winch connects the connector YOKE.

6. The method for positioning the vertical connector at the end of a deepwater hose according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also included is, S15, the deck crew installing the hose end attachment after the hose load has been fully transferred to the winch.

7. The method for positioning a vertical connector at the end of a deepwater hose according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes S16, the winch starts to slowly lower the hose, and the workboat continues to move in the direction of the positioning mark point to lay the hose for the second time.

8. The method for positioning a vertical connector at the end of a deepwater hose according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes S17. When the end of the hose reaches above the underwater manifold, the underwater robot removes the temporary sealing blind plate and checks whether the pipe protection port meets the connection requirements.

9. The method for positioning a vertical connector at the end of a deepwater hose according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes S18, the winch continues to be lowered, the underwater robot operates the connector, completes the connection between the hose and the underwater manifold and performs a test.

10. The method for positioning a vertical connector at the end of a deepwater hose according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes S19. After the test is passed, the underwater robot removes the YOKE from above the connector and recovers it to the deck, and the connector at the end of the hose is put in place.

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