Riser bending relief joint

• Main Author: ALEXANDER, DAVID JAMES
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 30.04.2014
• Subjects: EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; MINING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

A connector (10A) for use with a subsea riser installation, comprises a body (11,12) with a first connecting face (13) having a through-passageway (14) and adapted for connection to a first, external conduit element and a gimbal joint (15) within the body, the gimbal joint having a through-passageway (17) which is substantially aligned with the through-passageway in the first face, and a second connecting face (16) on an opposite side of the connector to the fist connecting face and adapted for connection to a second external conduit element. the connector further comprises at least one detent mechanism (20,22,23,24) adapted to engage a corresponding locating feature (21) on the gimbal joint, whereby the through-passageways are maintained in alignment and the gimbal joint prevented from moving relative to the body until a predetermined bending moment is applied to the gimbal joint across the axis of its through-passageway.