SYSTEM FOR THE OPERATION OF FLUIDS, IN PARTICULAR ON AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM, WITH A SUBMERSIBLE TWISTING DEVICE

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to fluid handling installations, for example hydrocarbons or others on offshore type platforms, comprising at least one submerged rotating joint device. State of the art

[0002] Rotating joint devices installed in pressure vessels can find applications in the offshore sector, for example on oil production vessels, enabling the exploitation of offshore hydrocarbon fields. Floating production, storage, and offloading units can be formed by a vessel that is mobile due to its environment, around a geostationary mooring or anchoring device. The vessel can be secured, at least temporarily, to the mooring device. The installations may include conduits that form a network of underwater pipes, allowing fluid communication for the transfer of fluid between the seabed, the rotating joint device, and the vessel.

[0003] To ensure the integrity of the transfer of fluid, energy, or signals between the ship and the mooring device, rotating joint devices are provided with a first part, called fixed, attached to the anchoring device and a second part, called mobile, relative to the first part.

[0004] US patent 8,763,549 describes an installation in which the rotating joint device is submerged and secured to the ship by means of a pendulum-type mechanical system, comprising a ballast, attachment arms extending from the ballast to the rotating joint device, and suspension arms extending from the ballast to the ship. It is thanks to this mechanical system that the second part can rotate around the first part of the rotating joint device. Description of the invention

[0005] The invention relates to a fluid handling installation, particularly on an offshore platform, with an immersed rotating joint device, which is particularly efficient while being simple, convenient and economical.

[0006] The invention thus relates, in a first aspect, to a fluid handling installation, for example a hydrocarbon and in particular on an offshore platform, comprising a mobile vessel, a submerged and fixed mooring device, at least one rotating joint device having a first annular part configured to be attached to the mooring anchor and a second annular part movable in rotation around said first annular part, the at least one rotating joint device also being configured to be submerged, and a mechanical interface system between the vessel and the mooring anchor which is configured to allow the vessel to rotate around the mooring anchor, characterized in that the installation further comprises a protective device covering the at least one rotating joint device and defining around the latter an enclosure at least partially closed and watertight,the protective device being mechanically secured on one side to the mechanical interface system at the mooring anchor and on the other side to the second movable annular part of at least one rotating joint device.

[0007] In the installation according to the invention, the rotating joint device is configured to be submerged at sea. The placement of the protective device around the rotating joint device, in mechanical cooperation with the second movable annular part and the mechanical interface system, not only makes it possible to form an enclosure that preserves the integrity of the rotating joint device in the marine and submerged environment, but also to not hinder the rotation of both the second annular part relative to the first annular part and of the vessel around the mooring anchor, via the mechanical interface system.

[0008] Preferred, simple, convenient and economical features of the installation according to the invention are presented below.

[0009] The mechanical interface system is provided with a fixing flange mounted on the mooring anchor and a movable ring rotating around the fixing flange.

[0010] The mechanical interface system is provided with a ballast, at least one suspension arm extending from the ballast to the vessel to which the suspension arm is mechanically secured, and at least one fixing arm extending from the ballast to the movable ring to which the fixing arm is mechanically secured.

[0011] The ship is equipped with a structure from which at least one suspension arm is suspended.

[0012] At least one fixing arm has at one end a U-shaped element which is pivotally mounted on the movable ring.

[0013] The movable ring has radial fixing fingers for securing hooked end portions of the U-shaped organ.

[0014] The protective device is fixed directly onto the movable ring.

[0015] The movable ring has at least one longitudinal extension to which the protective device is mechanically attached, by means of at least one first connecting element of the installation which protrudes radially outside the protective device.

[0016] The installation includes at least one second connecting element extending radially within the enclosure defined by the protection device and mechanically secured to the second annular part of at least one rotating joint device.

[0017] At least one second connecting element is formed by an annular Oldham joint.

[0018] The protective device has the form of a cover mounted on at least one rotating joint device.

[0019] The installation includes at least one fluid, energy, or signal transfer conduit, connected to the second annular part of at least one rotating joint device, and the protection device is provided with at least one first opening through which passes said at least one conduit and at least one sealing element around the at least one opening.

[0020] The installation includes at least one conduit support carrying said at least fluid, energy, or signal transfer conduit and mechanically secured to the mechanical interface system at the mooring anchor.

[0021] The installation includes several rotary joint devices which are superimposed inside the enclosure, including at least one rotary joint device intended for the transfer of fluids from the sea and at least one electrical rotary joint device and optionally at least one so-called service rotary joint device.

[0022] The installation includes a connection and disconnection system disposed between the mooring anchor and at least one rotating joint device and admitting a first configuration to keep the at least one rotating joint device submerged and a second configuration to release the at least one rotating joint device for its ascent to the surface. Brief description of the figures

[0023] We will now continue the exposition of the invention by describing an example of an embodiment, given below by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the attached drawings. There figure 1schematically and partially represents a fluid handling installation on an offshore platform, equipped with a vessel, a mooring anchor, a rotary joint device, and a network of underwater pipelines enabling fluid communication for transferring fluid between the seabed and the vessel, and a mechanical interface system in a first configuration where the rotary joint device is submerged and on the mooring anchor. figure 2 is a view similar to that of the figure 1 , where the mechanical interface system is in a second configuration where the rotating joint device is raised to the surface. The figure 3 shows a detail of the figure 1 . There figure 4 This is a partial top view of the mechanical interface system with the rotating joint device. figure 5 is a cross-sectional view labeled VV on the figure 3 . Detailed description

[0024] There figure 1illustrates a fluid handling installation 1 on an offshore platform, enabling the offshore exploitation 2 of fields for example of hydrocarbons.

[0025] This installation 1, also called a floating production, storage and unloading unit, can be equipped with a vessel 3 which is mobile, due to its environment formed by the sea 2, and a mooring anchor 4 which is geostationary and fixed to the bottom 5 of the sea 2 and around which the vessel 3 is mobile.

[0026] In the illustrated example, mooring anchor 4 can be a suction anchor, or a suction caisson.

[0027] The vessel 3 can be mobile relative to the mooring anchor 4 by means of a mechanical interface system 6 attached on one side to the vessel 3 and on the other to the mooring anchor 4.

[0028] The mechanical interface system 6 is here provided with a ballast 7, one or more suspension arms 8 extending from the ballast 7 to the ship 3 where they are mechanically attached to a structure 9 which is here mounted on the ship 3, and one or more fixing arms 10 extending from the ballast 7 to the mooring anchor 4 to which the fixing arm(s) 10 are attached while being mobile in rotation, around an axis X, relative to this mooring anchor 4.

[0029] In the illustrated example, structure 9 is mounted at the bow of ship 3. Alternatively, the structure can be located on the port side, on the starboard side, or at the stern.

[0030] Installation 1 can be provided with conduits 11 which form a network of underwater pipes allowing fluidic communication for the transfer in particular of the fluid between the seabed 5 of the sea 2 and the ship 3.

[0031] The fluid circulating in the conduits 11 comes from the seabed 2.

[0032] Installation 1 further includes a rotating joint device 12 ensuring in particular the integrity of the transfer of fluids, energy and / or signals between the mooring anchor 4 and the ship 3.

[0033] A rotary joint device 12 can be formed from a rotary joint (swivel device) (in Anglo-Saxon terminology) or a stacking of such joints (" swivel stack device (in Anglo-Saxon terminology).

[0034] On the figure 1 , the rotating joint device 12 is immersed while on the figure 2 , the rotating joint device 12 is dissociated from the mooring anchor 4 and is brought to the surface.

[0035] To do this, the mechanical interface system 6 acts as a balance or pendulum, with the fixing arm(s) 10 which are articulated either around the ballast 7, or with the ballast 7 relative to the suspension arms 8 to allow the movement of the rotating joint device 12.

[0036] In the example described, the rotating joint device 12 and the mechanical interface system 6 are mechanically secured to an intermediate sleeve 13 configured to be inserted into the mooring anchor 4, and a cable 14 connects the intermediate sleeve 13 to the mooring anchor 4.

[0037] With reference to the figure 3The rotary joint assembly 12 is formed here by a fluidic rotary joint 15, a service rotary joint 16, and an electrical rotary joint 17, stacked one on top of the other, with the fluidic rotary joint 15 located closest to the mooring anchor 4 and therefore at the bottom of the stack of joints, and the electrical rotary joint 17 located furthest from the mooring anchor 4 and therefore at the top of the stack of joints. The service rotary joint 16 is interposed between the fluidic rotary joint 15 and the electrical rotary joint 17.

[0038] The installation includes, among the conduits 11, fluid transfer conduits 18, energy conduits 19 and also, for example, signal conduits (not shown).

[0039] Each rotary joint can have a fairly similar, generally annular structure. Only the fluidic rotary joint 15 is briefly described here.

[0040] The fluidic rotary joint 15 comprises a first annular part (not shown), called fixed, which is configured to be subjected to the mooring anchor 4, and a second annular part 20, called movable, from which the fluidic conduit(s) 18 protrude.

[0041] The second annular part 20 is configured to be connected to the ship 3 here via the mechanical interface system 6.

[0042] In the example described, the second annular part 20 is mobile in rotation around the axis of rotation X and relative to the first annular part, by means of a guiding mechanism, of the type for example bearing element 21, interposed between the first and second annular parts.

[0043] The fluidic rotary joint 15 has an internal space (not shown) defined here by an internal surface of the first annular part and in which one or more conduits pass which thus cross the fluidic rotary joint 15 by entering the first annular part and exiting through the second annular part 20.

[0044] On the figure 3 , the rotating joint device 12 formed by the stack of joints is supported by a base 22 mechanically secured to the intermediate sleeve 13.

[0045] Installation 1 may include a connection and disconnection system disposed between the mooring anchor 4 and the rotating joint device 12 and which is configured to admit a first configuration to keep the rotating joint device 12 submerged and a second configuration to release the rotating joint device 12 for its ascent to the surface.

[0046] The connection and disconnection system can be formed, for example, by a connector called QCDC for " Quick Connect / Disconnect Coupler » in Anglo-Saxon terminology.

[0047] The connection and disconnection system can, for example, be located at the interface between the fluidic rotary joint 15 and the base 22.

[0048] The installation also includes a protective device 23 covering the rotating joint device 12 and defining around the latter an enclosure 24 at least partially closed and sealed.

[0049] The protective device 23 is here mechanically secured on one side with the mechanical interface system 6 at the level of the mooring anchor 4 and with the second annular part 15.

[0050] The protective device 23 has the form of a hood mounted on the rotating joint device 12, and is formed of a cylindrical side wall and a top wall connected to the cylindrical side wall so as to at least partially close the top of the hood.

[0051] The protection device 23 is provided with a first opening 25 through which the fluidic conduit(s) 18 pass and a sealing element 39 around this first opening 25.

[0052] The first opening 25 is here provided in the cylindrical side wall of the protective device 23.

[0053] In addition, the protection device 23 is provided with second openings 26, or secondary openings, through which the energy conduits 19 and the watertight connectors 27 pass around these second openings 26.

[0054] The second openings 26 are here provided in the upper wall of the protective device 23.

[0055] A flange 28 surmounts the upper wall of the protective device 23, in particular to protect the power conduits 19 and the associated watertight connectors 27.

[0056] With reference to figures 3 to 5 , the mechanical interface system 6 is here provided with a fixing flange 29 mounted, for example fixed, on the mooring anchor 4 and a movable ring 30 rotating around the fixing flange 29.

[0057] The fixing arms 10 are two in number and are arranged in a V from the ballast 7 from which they extend to the movable ring 30.

[0058] The fixing arms 10 have at one end a U-shaped element 31 which is pivotally mounted on the movable ring 30.

[0059] The movable ring 30 has radial fixing fingers 32 for the subjugation of hooked end portions 33 of the U-shaped organ 31.

[0060] The movable ring 30 also has at least one longitudinal extension 34 to which the protective device 23 is mechanically attached, by means of at least one first connecting element 35 of the installation 1 which protrudes radially outside the protective device 23.

[0061] The first connecting element 35 can be formed, for example, by a fork mechanism.

[0062] The installation 1 here includes several second connecting elements 36 which extend radially in the enclosure 24 defined by the protection device 23 and which are mechanically secured with the second annular part 20 of the fluidic rotary joint 15.

[0063] The second connecting elements 36 can be formed for example by annular Oldham joints.

[0064] Installation 1 also includes here a conduit support 37 carrying the fluid transfer conduits 11, energy, or signals and mechanically secured to the longitudinal extension 34.

[0065] In the installation 1 described above, the rotating joint device 12 is configured to be submerged in the sea.

[0066] The placement of the protective device 23 around the rotating joint device 12, in mechanical cooperation with the second mobile annular part 20 and the mechanical interface system 6, not only makes it possible to form an enclosure 24 which preserves the integrity of the rotating joint device 12 in the marine and submerged environment, but also not to hinder the rotation of both the second annular part 20 relative to the first annular part and of the ship 3 around the mooring anchor 4, via the mechanical interface system 6.

[0067] Variants not shown are described below.

[0068] The protective device is fixed directly onto the rotating movable ring around the fixing flange.

[0069] The rotating joint device may have more or fewer incoming and / or outgoing conduits.

[0070] The invention finds application in ships or floating units in the offshore field enabling the production and / or transformation and / or processing and / or storage and / or discharge of fluids and / or energy, in particular electrical and / or signals.

[0071] More generally, the invention is not limited to the examples described and shown.

Claims

1. Installation for exploiting fluids, for example a hydrocarbon and especially on an offshore platform, comprising a movable vessel (3), an immersed and fixed mooring anchor (4), at least one rotary joint device (12) having a first annular part configured to be secured to the mooring anchor and a second annular part (20) rotatably movable about said first annular part, the at least one rotary joint device being also configured to be immersed, and a mechanical interface system (6) between the vessel and the mooring anchor which is configured to allow the vessel to rotate about the mooring anchor, characterised in that the installation further comprises a protective device (23) covering the at least one rotary joint device and defining around the latter an at least partially closed and sealed enclosure (24), the protective device being mechanically secured both to the mechanical interface system at the mooring anchor and the movable second annular part of the at least one rotary joint device.

2. Installation according to claim 1, characterised in that the mechanical interface system (6) is provided with a fastening flange (29) mounted on the mooring anchor (4) and a ring (30) rotatably movable about the fastening flange.

3. Installation according to claim 2, characterised in that the mechanical interface system (6) is provided with a ballast (7), at least one suspension arm (8) extending from the ballast to the vessel (3) to which the suspension arm is mechanically secured, and at least one fastening arm (10) extending from the ballast to the movable ring (30) to which the fastening arm is mechanically secured.

4. Installation according to claim 3, characterised in that the vessel (3) is provided with a structure (9) from which the at least one suspension arm (8) is suspended.

5. Installation according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterised in that the at least one fastening arm (10) has at one end a U-shaped member (31) which is pivotably mounted on the movable ring (30).

6. Installation according to claim 5, characterised in that the movable ring (30) has radial fastening fingers (32) for securing hook end portions (33) of the U-shaped member (31).

7. Installation according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterised in that the protective device (23) is directly fastened to the movable ring (30).

8. Installation according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterised in that the movable ring (30) has at least one longitudinal extension (34) to which the protective device (23) is mechanically secured, via at least one first connecting member (35) of the installation (1) which radially projects outwardly of the protective device (23).

9. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that it comprises at least one second connecting member (36) radially extending in the enclosure (24) defined by the protective device (23) and mechanically secured to the second annular part (20) of the at least one rotary joint device (12).

10. Installation according to claim 9, characterised in that the at least one second connecting member is formed by an annular-shaped Oldham joint.

11. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the protective device (23) has the form of a cover mounted on the at least one rotary joint device (12).

12. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that it comprises at least one conduit (11, 18, 19) for transferring fluids, energy, or signals, which is connected to the second annular part (20) of the at least one rotary joint device (12) and the protective device (23) is provided with at least one opening (25) through which said at least one conduit passes, and at least one sealing member (39) around the at least one opening.

13. Installation according to claim 12, characterised in that it comprises at least one conduit support (37) carrying said at least one conduit (11, 18, 19) for transferring fluids, energy, or signals and which is mechanically secured to the mechanical interface system (6) at the mooring anchor (4).

14. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the rotary joint device (12) comprises at least one rotary joint (15) provided for the transfer of fluids from the sea and at least one electrical rotary joint (17) and optionally at least one so-called service rotary joint (16), which are superimposed inside the enclosure (24).

15. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that it comprises a connection and disconnection system disposed between the mooring anchor (4) and the at least one rotary joint device (12) and assuming a first configuration for keeping the at least one rotary joint device immersed and a second configuration for releasing the at least one rotary joint device for being raised to the surface.