Patent ID: 6631745
Filing Date: 2003-10-14
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
A method for connecting a riser (10) and a flowline (40) of a turret (200) of a vessel floating on a sea surface, said vessel including a flowline connector (20) fluidly coupled to a lower end of said flowline (40), comprising the steps of:positioning said riser (10) in the sea with a lower end of the riser (10) laid on said seabed and with an upper end of the riser (10) in proximity to said turret of said vessel, extending a tension member (45) from a hoisting mechanism (50) on said vessel from an upper end of said flowline (40) and through said flowline (40) and said flowline connector (20), said tension member (45) having a pull-in head (15) secured to a lower end thereof and sized with respect to a minimum inner diameter of said flowline (40) and said flowline connector (20) to permit said pull-in head (15) to translate through said flowline (40) and said flowline connector (20), removably securing said pull-in head (15) to said upper end of said riser (10), pulling said tension member (45) up through said flowline (40) and said flowline connector (20) with said hoisting mechanism (50) until said upper end of said riser (10) is fluidly connected to said flowline connector (20), removing said pull-in head (15) from securement with said upper end of said riser (10), and pulling said tension member (45) and said pull-in head (15) up through said flowline connector (20) and said flowline (40) with said hoisting mechanism (50) until said tension member (45) is removed from said flowline (40), whereby, fluid connection is established between said riser (10) and said flowline (40) through said flowline connector (20).