Patent ID: 7699354
Filing Date: 2010-04-20
Classification: E21B,F16L

Abstract:
1. A marine riser assembly comprising: a first tubular member having a first end face and an external surface, there being a plurality of first, axially spaced, formations on said external surface adjacent said first end face; a second tubular member, said second tubular member having a second end face and an external surface, there being a plurality of second, axially spaced, formations adjacent said second end face, said first and second end faces being adjacent each other; a seal assembly for sealing against external and internal pressure; a segmented ring in surrounding relationship to said first and second tubular members and spanning said adjacent end faces, said segmented ring having an inner surface, there being a plurality of third, axially spaced, formations engageable with said first formations on said inner surface and a plurality of fourth, axially spaced, formations engageable with said second formations on said inner surface, said first and third formation having engaged surfaces urging said first end face toward said second end face when said segmented ring is under radially inwardly directed compressive force, said second and fourth formations having engaged surfaces urging said second end face toward said first end face when said segmented ring is under radially inwardly directed compressive force, said segmented ring having an external surface with at least a portion being tapered, a sleeve having an inner surface with at least a portion having a taper complementary to said tapered portion of said external surface of said segmented ring, said sleeve exerting said compressive force when said tapered surface portions are engaged; an annular guide disposed between said first and second tubular members for maintaining said first and second tubular members generally coaxial, said first tubular member having a first counterbore in said first end face and said second tubular member having a second counterbore in said second end face, said first and second counterbores cooperating to form an annular, radially inwardly extending recess spanning said adiacent end faces, said first tubular member having a first annular, axially extending groove opening into said first counterbore, said second tubular member having a second annular, axially extending groove opening into said second counterbore, said annular guide being generally T-shaped in cross-section and having a first annular, axially extending flange received in said first groove and a second annular, axially extending flange received in said second groove, said first groove having a first annularly extending axially facing end wall and said second groove having a second annularly extending, axially facing end wall, said first flange being spaced from said first end wall, said second flange being spaced from said second end wall thereby forming first and second annularly extending seal ring pockets, respectively; and a first resilient seal ring being received in said first seal ring pocket and a second resilient seal ring being received in said second seal ring pocket.