Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to a repair tool having a piston-style, syringe-like dielectric grease injection system within a plug body configured to inject dielectric grease into the receptacle pin of damaged subsea electrical connectors. The tool is mateable via ROV (or hand/diver/stab) and features separate mate/grease actuation mechanisms. The tool features standard mating interfaces and has a termination shell that contains dielectric grease and secondary grease injection/actuation mechanism. The dielectric grease is injected into damaged subsea receptacles, preventing or mitigating subsea electrical shorts.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to subsea connector assemblies and more particularly to field deployable devices for repairing damaged connectors. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In various undersea operations, especially in connection with undersea oil or gas wells, mining, exploration and military applications, operational and monitoring equipment requires electrical and/or optical connections to various equipment. Such equipment can for instance be a power supply, a flow meter for monitoring the flow of hydrocarbons in a pipe, a temperature gauge, a pressure gauge, etc. Such connections may also be needed in order to actively control equipment such as valves, or control devices such as microcontrollers. 
         [0003]    In offshore drilling and production operations, equipment are often subjected to harsh conditions thousands of feet under the sea surface with working temperatures of −50° F. to 350° F. with pressures of up to 15,000 psi. Subsea control and monitoring equipment commonly are used in connection with operations concerning the flow of fluid, typically oil or gas, out of a well. Flow lines are connected between subsea wells and production facilities, such as a floating platform or a storage ship or barge. Subsea equipment include sensors and monitoring devices (such as pressure, temperature, corrosion, erosion, sand detection, flow rate, flow composition, valve and choke position feedback), and additional connection points for devices such as down hole pressure and temperature transducers. A typical power supply provides power to the undersea equipment and the control system monitors, measures, and responds based on sensor inputs and outputs control signals to control subsea devices. For example, a control system attached to a subsea tree controls down-hole safety valves. Functional and operational requirements of subsea equipment have become increasingly complex along with the sensing and monitoring equipment and control systems used to insure proper operation. 
         [0004]    To connect the numerous and various power, sensing, monitoring and control equipment necessary to operate subsea equipment, harsh-environment connectors are used with electrical cables, optical fiber cables, or hybrid electro-optical cables. Initial demand for subsea connector development was in connection with military applications. Over time demand for such connectors has grown in connection with offshore oil industry applications. 
         [0005]    Submersible electrical connectors may be of the dry-mate type or the wet-mate type. Dry-mate connectors cannot be mated while underwater, but rather must be mated before they are submerged. Wet-mate connectors can be mated and demated while underwater. Wet-mate connectors may use a simple interference-fit sealing mechanism that includes elastomeric seals. The elastomeric seats substantially force the water out of the contact area and seal the contact area from the outside environment. Other wet-mate connectors may use a dielectric fluid-filled chamber. The chamber, which is in the female or receptacle side of the connector, is penetrated by plug pins having insulated shafts, which are in the plug or male side of the connector. The purpose of these sealed, fluid-filled connectors is to insulate the electrical junctions from the outside environment by enclosing them within a chamber, or chambers, of dielectric fluid. These fluid-filled connectors offer many advantages over the other types. They are spark-proof, and therefore can be mated and de-mated with the receptacle electrically energized. However, it is unadvisable to mate or de-mate energized connectors. Power-on mating or de-mating may cause damage to sealing components in the connectors. The connectors include the additional safety feature that if the connector plug is inadvertently disconnected from the receptacle while the receptacle is energized, or if a circuit is accidentally energized in the unmated condition, they remain “dead-faced” to the outside environment, preventing short circuits. A large body of existing art is exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,772,457, 5,194,012 and 4,948,377, issued to Cairns; U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,359, issued to Alcock; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,242, issued to Wilson. 
         [0006]    Early underwater connectors were electrical “dry-mate” devices, intended to be mated prior to immersion in the sea and were of two principal types: rubber-molded “interference fit” type and rigid-shell connectors. The rubber molded “interference-fit” connectors depended on receptacles with elastic bores that stretched and sealed over mating plugs. The rigid-shell connectors had mating parts sealed together via O-rings or other annular seals. 
         [0007]    Ocean Design, Inc. has been an industry leader in the development of subsea connectors and applications. Dr. James Cairns&#39; article Hybrid Wet-Mate Connectors: ‘Writing the Next Chapter’, Sea Technology, published July 1997, provides a thorough discussion of the history of underwater connectors through to 1997, and is a source for this background summary. In the early 1960s, electrical connectors intended for mating and de-mating underwater came into use. These so called “wet-mate” connectors were adaptations of the interference-fit dry-mate versions, and were designed so that when mated, the water contained in the receptacle bores would be substantially expelled prior to sealing. Also during this time, the first oil-filled and pressure-balanced electrical connector designs were introduced. These isolated the receptacle contacts within sealed oil-chambers which, during engagement, were penetrated by elongated pins with insulated shafts. Connection was, therefore, accomplished in the benign oil, not in harsh seawater. Unlike previous connector types which could not be disengaged at even modest depths, pressure balancing type connectors could be actuated anywhere in the sea. These wet-mate oil-filled connectors eventually became the high-reliability standard for the offshore oil industry. One critical design element of oil-filled connectors is providing seals that allow the oil chambers to be penetrated repeatedly without losing the oil or allowing seawater intrusion. One design widely used for electrical applications accomplishes this through the use of dielectric pistons, one of which resides in each receptacle socket. Each piston has a spring which biases it outward to automatically fill the socket&#39;s end-seal when the plug pin is withdrawn. During mating the pins push these pistons back through the oil-chamber ports (which they have kept sealed) and onward deep inside the sockets. 
         [0008]    Early subsea wet-mate optical connectors passed only one optical circuit and used expanded-beam lenses or fiber-to-fiber physical contact junctions. To protect the optical interfaces, both the plug and receptacle contacts were housed in oil-filled chambers which were pressure balanced to the environment. Problems with this design included that sealing and cleanliness were not adequate to provide desired reliability. The spring/piston concept used for sealing electrical connectors is not effective for optical connectors as pistons get in the way of the light path. A second type of subsea-mateable optical connector consisted basically of dry-mate connectors which had a bit of optical index-matching gel placed in the contact interfaces. The excess gel was expelled upon mating. There was no attempt to exclude sand or silt from the interfaces, and the resulting performance was left to chance. Hybrid wet-mate devices were an attempt to combine oil-filled and pressure-balanced plug and receptacle housings with means for sealing and maintaining cleanliness of the optical interfaces. Within both, plug and receptacle, oil chambers, groups of contact junctions are aligned behind cylindrical rubber face-seals. When mated, opposed plug and receptacle seals first press against each other like the wringers of an old-fashioned washing machine, forcing the water out from between them. As the mating sequence continues the opposed plug and receptacle seals, like the wringers, roll in unison and transport any debris trapped between them off to the side. The action simultaneously causes clean, sealed, oil-filled passages to open between opposed plug and receptacle contact junctions. Continuing the mating process, plug pins advance through the sealed passages to contact sockets within the receptacle. De-mating is the reverse sequence. In the case of electrical circuits each mated pin/socket junction is contained in an individual, secondary, sealed oil chamber within the common oil volume. The contacts are unexposed to environmental conditions before, during and after mating. 
         [0009]    There are many types of connectors for making electrical and fiber-optic cable connections in hostile or harsh environments, such as undersea or submersible connectors which can be repeatedly mated and de-mated underwater at great ocean depths. Current underwater connectors typically comprise releasably mateable plug and receptacle units, each containing one or more electrical or optical contacts or junctions for engagement with the junctions in the other unit when the two units are mated together. Each of the plug and receptacle units or connector parts is attached to cables or other devices intended to be joined by the connectors to form completed circuits. To completely isolate the contacts to be joined from the ambient environment, one or both halves of these connectors house the contacts in oil-filled, pressure-balanced chambers—this is referred to as a pressure balanced set-up. Such devices are often referred to as “wet-mate” devices and often are at such great depths that temperature and other environmental factors present extreme conditions for materials used in such devices. The contacts on one side (plug) are in the form of pins or probes, while the contacts or junctions on the other side (receptacle) are in the form of sockets for receiving the probes. 
         [0010]    Typically, the socket contacts are contained in a sealed chamber containing a dielectric fluid or other mobile substance, and the probes enter the chamber via one or more sealed openings. Such wet-mate devices have previously been pressure compensated. One major problem in designing such pressure compensated or pressure balanced units is the performance and longevity of seals required to exclude seawater and/or contaminates from the contact chamber after repeated mating and de-mating. 
         [0011]    In some known underwater electrical connectors, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,359 of Alcock and U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,012 of Cairns, tubular socket contacts are provided in the receptacle unit, and spring-biased pistons are urged into sealing engagement with the open ends of the socket assemblies. As the plug and receptacle units are mated, pins on the plug portion urge the pistons back past the contact bands in the sockets, so that electrical contact is made. 
         [0012]    Thus, common underwater connectors comprise releasably, mateable plug and receptacle units, each containing one or more electrical contacts or junctions for engagement with the junctions in the other unit when the two units are mated together. The contacts on one side are in the form of pins or probes, while the contacts or junctions on the other side are in the form of sockets for receiving the probes. Typically, the socket contacts are contained in a sealed chamber containing a dielectric fluid or other mobile substance, and the probes enter the chamber via one or more sealed openings. One major problem in designing such units is the provision of seals which will adequately exclude or evacuate seawater and/or contaminants from the contact chamber after repeated mating and de-mating operations. 
         [0013]    Another problem associated with mating and de-mating operations is that arcs may occur resulting in damage to the receptacle connector terminals and surrounding structure. Such damage may lead to two or more circuits being open, creating an electrical short when seawater intrusion occurs and due to the electrical arcing. A damaged receptacle may cause a breaker or like device to prevent further operation involving the affected circuit and connector. In remote undersea locations the cost to correct and to repair or replace a damaged receptacle/connector may be great. The cost of sending a diver (if possible) or a remote operated vehicle (ROV) to repair the damaged connector is great. A damaged receptacle typically cannot be repaired subsea. To repair a damaged assembly, any connections on the umbilical termination assembly (UTA), or other subsea assembly to which the receptacle is attached, must be disconnected and the subsea assembly must be brought to the surface for repairs. After repairs, the assembly may be reinstalled subsea. The process of bringing an assembly to the surface for repairs is time consuming and costly. What is needed is a repair tool capable of mating with and correcting damaged subsea receptacle connectors to allow operation to continue or to at least correct or mitigate the effects of the damaged connector. 
         [0014]    More particularly, typical receptacle designs provide redundancy such that if one or two circuits fail in a receptacle then circuits internal to the receptacle may be switched remotely to allow operation to continue by way of a redundant circuit. However, even with redundancy when an arc occurs or other short circuits occur a breaker may prevent operation. Accordingly, what is needed is a tool that can remediate the damage to the connector to fix the shorted condition and to allow operation to continue. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The present invention provides a delivery system for injecting dielectric fluid, such as dielectric grease, into the receptacle pins to prevent or mitigate against electrical shorts in damaged receptacles. The invention is field deployable and capable of being custom configured with a combination of grease injector pins and dummy pins to match and mate with receptacle pins in need of repair and for alignment purposes in mating of the repair plug tool and damaged receptacle. While the invention is described herein principally in connection with use of dielectric grease, it would be understood that the use of any suitable dielectric fluid capable of injection and displacement of seawater is fully contemplated by the invention. The repair tool of the invention saves a significant amount of time and money by allowing users to leave connectors/equipment subsea for damage mitigation. 
         [0016]    In one manner the repair tool is designed with a piston-style, syringe-like grease injection system within the termination shell of the assembly that can be configured to inject dielectric grease into the receptacle pin of damaged subsea electrical connectors. The tool is mateable via ROV (or hand/diver/stab) and features separate mate/grease actuation mechanisms. The tool features standard mating interfaces and has a termination shell that contains dielectric grease and secondary grease injection/actuation mechanism. The dielectric grease is injected into damaged subsea receptacles, preventing or mitigating subsea electrical shorts. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the present invention may comprise a field deployable connector repair device for mating with a damaged undersea connector, the connector repair device comprising: a plug unit having a cylindrical body, a rear end and a front end adapted for mating engagement with a damaged receptacle unit when aligned with a plug receiving end of the damaged receptacle unit, the plug body housing a set of at least one fluid injection pin and a set of at least one fluid plunger configured in receiving alignment with the set of at least one injection pin and mounted to a piston, the piston being slidably mounted in the plug unit body, a spring actuation mechanism adapted to actuate the piston from a pre-deployed position to a deployed position and to propel the piston forward from the rear end toward the front end of the plug unit and propel the set of at least one plunger to force dielectric fluid through and out of the set of at least one fluid injection pin; and an alignment means for aligning the plug unit with the damaged receptacle such that the set of at least one injector pin is disposed opposite a set of at least one pin receptacle contained in the damaged receptacle unit in a desired manner, whereby upon mating the plug unit with the damaged receptacle unit and upon actuating the spring actuation mechanism the set of at least one injection pin is received into the set of at least one pin receptacle, the piston acts on the set of at least one plunger and the dielectric fluid is injected through the set of at least one fluid injection pin and into the set of at least one pin receptacle contained in the damaged receptacle unit; and a locking mechanism adapted to lock the plug in a mated position with the damaged receptacle unit. 
         [0018]    The above embodiment may further comprise wherein the connector repair device of further comprises a cylindrically-shaped slide member partially surrounding the plug body and the set of at least one fluid injection pin and having a slide collar at an end distal to the plug rear end, the slide collar being configured to facilitate bringing the plug unit into alignment and engagement with the damaged receptacle unit during the mating process. The connector repair device may further comprise a means for deploying the spring actuation means external to the plug unit. The means for deploying the spring actuation means may be a shackle device having a pin connected to an external release mechanism. The connector repair device may further comprise a set of at least one dummy pin. The connector repair device may further comprise a plug pin assembly end adapted to fix the set of at least one fluid injection pin and the set of at least one dummy pin in a defined pattern, and a means for releasably mounting the set of at least one fluid injection pin and the set of at least one dummy pin within the plug unit. The set of at least one fluid injection pin each may include a body having at least one opening through which the dielectric fluid exits the body when a plunger is acted on by the piston. The locking mechanism may further be adapted to lock the plug in a mated position with the damaged receptacle unit and to release the plug from the damaged receptacle in a de-mating operation. The set of at least one plunger may include a seal to prevent leakage of the dielectric fluid upon actuation. The connector repair device may further comprise a terminal tube portion disposed intermediate each respective set of at least one fluid injection pin and set of at least one plunger, and which contains the dielectric fluid. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment, the present invention may comprise a field deployable connector repair device for mating with a damaged undersea connector, the connector repair device comprising: a plug unit having a body, a rear end and a front end adapted for mating engagement with a damaged receptacle unit when aligned with a plug receiving end of the damaged receptacle unit, the plug body housing a first fluid injection pin and a first fluid plunger associated with the first fluid injection pin and mounted to a piston, the piston being movably mounted in the plug unit body, a means to maintain the first plunger in a pre-deployed position, and an actuation mechanism adapted to actuate the piston from the pre-deployed position to a deployed position and to propel the piston forward from the rear end toward the front end of the plug unit and propel the first plunger to force dielectric fluid through and out of the first fluid injection pin; and an alignment means for aligning the plug unit with the damaged receptacle such that the first fluid injector pin is disposed opposite a first pin receptacle in the damaged receptacle unit in a desired manner, whereby upon mating the plug unit with the damaged receptacle unit and upon actuating the actuation mechanism the first injection pin is received into the first pin receptacle, the piston acts on the first plunger and the dielectric fluid is injected through the first fluid injection pin and into the first pin receptacle contained in the damaged receptacle unit; and means for releasably locking the plug in a mated position with the damaged receptacle unit. 
         [0020]    The above embodiment may further comprise wherein the connector repair device further comprises a cylindrically-shaped slide member partially surrounding the plug body and the first fluid injection pin and having a slide collar at an end distal to the plug rear end, the slide collar being configured to facilitate bringing the plug unit into alignment and engagement with the damaged receptacle unit during the mating process. The connector repair device may further comprise a means for deploying the spring actuation means external to the plug unit. The means for deploying the spring actuation means may be a shackle device having a pin connected to an external release mechanism. The connector repair device may further comprise a first dummy pin. The connector repair device may further comprise a plug pin assembly end adapted to fix the first fluid injection pin and the first dummy pin in a defined pattern, and a means for releasably mounting the first fluid injection pin and the first dummy pin within the plug unit. The first fluid injection pin may include a body having at least one opening through which the dielectric fluid exits the body when the first plunger is acted on by the piston. The locking mechanism may further be adapted to lock the plug in a mated position with the damaged receptacle unit and to release the plug from the damaged receptacle in a de-mating operation. The first plunger may include a seal to prevent leakage of the dielectric fluid upon actuation. The connector repair device may further comprise a first terminal tube portion disposed intermediate the first fluid injection pin and the first plunger, and which contains the dielectric fluid. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    In order to facilitate a complete understanding of the present invention, this system, and the terms used, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are referenced with like numerals. These drawings should not be construed as limiting the present invention or system, but are exemplary and for reference. 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of an embodiment of the capping tool according to the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  provides a lateral partial cross-section view of an embodiment of the capping tool according to the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  provides a front view of an embodiment of the capping tool according to the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  provides a detailed front view of an embodiment of the capping tool according to the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  provides a detailed front view of an embodiment of the capping tool plug according to the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  provides a lateral cross-section view of an embodiment of the plug of the capping tool according to the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  provides a view of the front of an embodiment of the spring plate retention features according to the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  provides a view of the front of an embodiment of the piston and spring plate end cap retention features according to the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  provides a lateral cross-section view of an embodiment of the plug base and injector pins according to the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  provides a front view of an embodiment of the plug base and injector pins according to the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  provides a rear view of an embodiment of the plug base and injector pins according to the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  provides a side view of an embodiment of an injector pin according to the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  provides a cross-section view of an embodiment of the interior of an injector pin according to the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 14  provides a lateral cross-section view of an alternate embodiment of an injector pin according to the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 15  provides a lateral cross-section view of an embodiment of an injector pin mated with a pin receptacle according to the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 16  provides a lateral cross-section view of the actuation mechanism according to the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 17  provides a rear view of an embodiment of the plug according to the present invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 18  provides a lateral partial cross-section view of an embodiment of the capping tool and protective cap according to the present invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 19  provides a lateral cross-section view of an embodiment of the capping tool mated with a receptacle according to the present invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 20  provides a lateral cross-section view of an embodiment of the capping tool in an un-actuated state according to the present invention; and 
           [0042]      FIG. 21  provides a lateral cross-section view of an embodiment of the capping tool in an actuated state according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0043]    The present invention and system will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments as shown in the accompanying drawings. While the present invention and system is described herein with reference to the exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that the present invention and system is not limited to such exemplary embodiments. Those possessing ordinary skill in the art and having access to the teachings herein will recognize additional implementations, modifications, and embodiments as well as other applications for use of the invention and system, which are fully contemplated herein as within the scope of the present invention and system as disclosed and claimed herein, and with respect to which the present invention and system could be of significant utility. 
         [0044]    With reference now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of an embodiment of the capping tool  100  according to the present invention is provided. The capping tool  100  primarily comprises the following components: a slide  200 , a plug  300 , a handle  600 , and grease deployment device (rope)  700 . The slide  200  has a slide collar  210  and is adapted to mate with a receptacle such as receptacle  800  as shown in  FIG. 19 . The plug  300  is disposed at the rear of and at least partially inside the slide  200 . An exemplary actuation mechanism  500  and injector pins  400 , shown in  FIG. 2 , are disposed within the interior of the plug  300 . In this example, which is not to be limiting to the invention, a shackle pin  552  secures the shackle handle  550  to the rear of the actuation pin  522 . An external indicator bushing  502  indicates to the operator what state the capping tool  100  is in, either actuated or un-actuated, i.e., grease is deployed or un-deployed. The indicator bushing  502  travels in the slide alignment keyway  506  in the plug body or termination housing  330 . The handle  600  is attached to the slide  200  by the hex screws  602 , which also may alternatively comprise any other suitable securing means. The rope  700  is attached to the shackle handle  550  and may be used to actuate the capping tool  100 . 
         [0045]    With reference now to  FIG. 2 , a lateral partial cross-section view of an exemplary embodiment of the capping tool  100  according to the present invention is provided. This embodiment provides a side view of the internal components of the capping tool  100 . The front portion of the capping tool comprises the slide  200  and slide collar  210 . The receiving area  212  of the slide  200  is adapted to receive a receptacle for mating. The one or more latch fingers  214  retain the capping tool  100  in the mated position with a receptacle when the mating process with the receptacle is completed. The pin assembly  400  comprises a set of injector pins  410  and a set of dummy pins  420  disposed within the plug base  310 . The plug base  310  is disposed at the front of the plug  300  and within the plug body  330 . A set of plunger assemblies  530  are disposed on the spring plate or piston  510  and fit within the plunger tubes  430  and dummy plunger tubes  440 . The indicator bushing  502  is disposed at the top of the piston  510  and moves forward upon actuation of the actuation mechanism  500 . In this example, actuation of the actuation mechanism  500  is achieved by moving the actuation pin  522  to the rear by pulling on the shackle handle  550  or on the rope  700 . The handle  600  of the capping tool  100  is used to maneuver and hold the capping tool  100  in position during mating with a receptacle. 
         [0046]    The capping tool  100  is employed to repair a damaged pin receptacle such as pin receptacle  806  of receptacle  800 , shown in  FIG. 19 . Damage may be electrical damage caused due to performing a power-on de-mating of a subsea receptacle and plug connector. This is analogous to unplugging a refrigerator while the compressor is running, except that the receptacle and plug are at the bottom of the ocean. The resulting arc that occurs due to the power-on demating may damage or destroy the elastomeric bladder wipers  830 , pin stopper  810 , and/or electrical contact  840 , as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0047]    With reference now to  FIG. 3 , a front view of an embodiment of the capping tool  100  is provided. At the interior of the capping tool  100  is the plug base  310 . The face or front  312  of the plug base  310  can be seen. Within the face  312  of the plug base  310  are disposed a pin assembly  400  that may comprise one or more injection pins  410  and dummy pins  420 . The plug base  310  is disposed within the plug body  330 . The plug body  330  is within the slide  200 . At the front of the slide  200  is the slide collar  210 , which abuts a receptacle and provides a stable base and contact point between the capping tool  100  and a receptacle for mating. The handle  600  is disposed at the rear of the capping tool  100  and may be used to maneuver the capping tool  100  (such as by an ROV or manually by a diver) into position for mating with a receptacle. The guide bushing  502  which is disposed at the rear of the capping tool  100  can be seen at the top of the plug body  330 . The vertical axis A is provided to illustrate the vertical axis running from the front to the rear of the capping tool  100 . For example,  FIGS. 2, 6, 9, and 17-21  each provide cross-section views of embodiments the present invention or of embodiments of components used in connection with the present invention along the axis A. 
         [0048]    With reference now to  FIG. 4 , a detailed front view of an embodiment of the capping tool  100  is provided. The plug base  310  is disposed within the plug body  330  which is in turn disposed within the slide  200 . A set of numbers  311  on the face  312  of the plug base  310  indicate the number associated with a particular pin in the pin assembly  400 . The number  311  is used to assist in properly configuring the capping tool  100  with the receptacle to be repaired. A set of one or more pin bores  303  may be on the face  312  of the plug base  310 . These bores  303  may be used to configure the capping tool  100  in a 12-pin configuration instead of the 9-pin configuration shown in  FIG. 4 . The slide collar  210  provides additional support for mating with a receptacle. Alignment of the capping tool  100  is performed by the slide  200  and the slide alignment keyway  506 . 
         [0049]    With reference now to  FIG. 5 , a detailed front view of an embodiment of the capping tool plug  300  is provided. The plug  300  is shown alone, although the plug  300  would typically be used in conjunction with the slide  200  and handle  600 . The plug base  310  is disposed within the plug body  330 . A pin assembly having injection pins  410  is disposed in the plug base  310  and extends out from the face  312  of the plug base  310 . A retaining pin  352  may be used to position and secure the plug base  310  within the plug body  330  during assembly and operation. 
         [0050]    With reference now to  FIG. 6 , a lateral cross-section or cut-away view of an embodiment of the plug  300  of the capping tool  100  along axis A, as shown in  FIG. 3 , is provided. Axis C is a vertical axis at the plug base  310 , and  FIG. 7  is a front cross-section view of the plug base  310  along axis C. Axis D is a vertical axis at the piston  510 , and  FIG. 8  is a front cross-section view of the spring plate end cap  513  along axis D.  FIG. 6  provides a cross-section view of the pin assembly  400 , plug  300 , and actuation assembly  500 . 
         [0051]    The pin assembly  400  comprises a set of one or more injection pins  410  and a set of one or more dummy pins  420 . A dummy pin  420  may or may not have a dummy plunger tube  430  depending on the repair required to be performed by the capping tool  100 . If a dummy pin  420  has a dummy plunger tube  430 , it will also have an injector pin spring  432 . The pin spring  432  is an equalization spring that provides for a more uniform back pressure on the main piston  510  during the actuation stroke to prevent the piston  510  from canting. Each injection pin  410  has a plunger tube  440  with an interior  450  adapted to contain a dielectric fluid such as dielectric grease. The pins  410  and  420  of the pin assembly  400  are disposed in the plug base  310  with the pins  410  and  420  extending out from the front  312  of the plug body  310  and the plungers  532  of the plunger assembly  530  extending from the front of the piston  510  with plunger tubes  430  and  440  intermediate the pins  410  and  420  and the plungers  532 . The plug base  310  is disposed within the interior of the termination shell  330  and may be partially held in place by retaining pin  352 . One or more o-rings  340  may be used to provide a seal between the plug  300  and the slide  200 . The stop spacer  350  may be used to provide additional stability, support, and resilience to the plug  300  and pin assembly  400  at the point where the plungers  532  and plunger tubes  430  and  440  meet. The stop spacer  350  is held in place by one or more hex screws  342 , which may also comprise any suitable retaining or securing means. The stop spacer  350  also serves as a hard stop for the forward motion of the piston  510  during actuation of the piston  510  and may serve as a safety device during the installation/assembly process for the capping tool  100  while the piston spring  512  is being armed. As a safety, the stop spacer  350  prevents the piston  510  from exiting the front of the capping tool  100  and causing injury or damage. 
         [0052]    The plunger assembly  530  is disposed at the front of the piston  510 . Actuation of the piston  510  is performed by moving the actuation pin  522  rearward. The actuation pin  522  is held by the actuation pin spring  520  in the actuation pin opening  524  of the piston  510  against the biasing force of the piston spring  512 . Moving the actuation pin  522  rearward moves the pin out of the actuation pin opening  524  and against the biasing and retaining force of the actuation pin spring  520 . Actuation of the actuation mechanism  500  begins after sufficient force has been applied to the actuation pin  522  to move it past the actuation pin spring  520  and out of the actuation pin opening  524 . The biasing force of the piston spring  512  then moves the piston  510  forward within the plug body  330 , causing the plunger assembly  530  to move forward within the plunger tubes  430  and  440 . This forward motion of the plunger assembly  530  both compresses and moves dielectric fluid through the interior  450  of the injector plunger tube  440  and out through the injector pin  410 . Actuation may be initiated by applying a rearward force to the shackle handle  550  which is attached to the actuation pin  522  by the shackle pin  552 , or by applying a force to the rope  700 . A spring shim  514  protects the piston  510  from wear caused by movement of the piston spring  512 . The spring shim  514  also decouples the piston spring  512  from the piston  510  so that when the piston spring  512  rotates under a spring compression force it does not also apply a torque or rotational force to the piston  510 . 
         [0053]    With reference now to  FIG. 7 , a view of the front of an embodiment of the plug base  310  retention features at the axis C, shown in  FIG. 6 , is provided. The plug base  310  is disposed within the termination shell  330  and is held in place by one or more hex screws  342 , which may be hex screws or any other suitable securing means for radially securing a device within the termination shell  330 , and retaining pin  352 . One or more injector pins  410  and dummy pins  420  may be disposed around an inner circumference of the pin body  310 . 
         [0054]    With reference now to  FIG. 8 , a view of the front of an embodiment of the piston  510  and spring plate end cap  513  retention features at the axis D, shown in  FIG. 6 , according to the present invention is provided. The spring plate end cap  513  is disposed within the plug body  330  and may be guided or temporarily or permanently affixed using one or more hex screws  504 . The guide bushing  502  is disposed at the top of the piston  510  and is used to provide an indication to an operator of the state of the capping tool  100 , either actuated or un-actuated. One or more plunger rods  534  may be secured in the piston  510 , and positions on the piston  510  un-occupied by plunger rods may be filled with hex screws  531  or other suitable means. 
         [0055]    With reference now to  FIG. 9 , a lateral cross-section view of an embodiment of the plug base  310  and pin assembly  400  is provided. The indentation  351  in the plug base  310  is adapted to receive a retaining pin  352 , shown in  FIG. 7 , to secure the plug base  310  within the plug body  330  of the plug  300 . The pin assembly  400  comprises both injector pins  410  and dummy pins  420 . The dummy pins  410  may or may not have dummy pin plunger tubes  430  affixed to the rear of the dummy pins  420  at the back  314  of the plug base  310 . A dummy pin  420  requires a dummy pin plunger tube  430  and injector pin spring  432 , shown in  FIG. 2 , if the dummy pin  420  is opposite an injector pin  410  on the face  312  of the plug base  310 . The opposing injector pin plunger tubes  440  and dummy pin plunger tubes  430  with injector pin springs  432  provide a balanced resistance for the forward motion of the piston  510 , shown in  FIG. 2 , so that the piston  510  does not cant during actuation. Each injector pin  410  has an injector pin plunger tube  440  which comprises an injector pin interior  450 . The interior  450  is adapted to contain a dielectric fluid or grease used to stop or repair an electrical short in a receptacle. The dielectric fluid is expelled through dielectric fluid guides  452  in the injector pins  410  into the damaged receptacle. During actuation of the spring, piston and plunger rods, back pressure is experienced and applied from the damping force of the grease being pushed out of the injector pins  410 . In certain conditions it is possible that this force may cause the piston  510  to cant slightly, which may lead to the piston becoming stuck in the termination shell/plug body  330  prior to completing the injection of grease into the receptacle. By placing one (or more) dummy plunger tube, spring, and plunger directly opposite the grease injector plunger and tube assembly (or as opposite as possible), the dummy plunger/tube assembly can help mitigate the cant in the piston  510  and avoid it becoming stuck. By having the dummy tube opposite the injector plunger/tube assembly, the driving force of the spring is substantially uniform as applied to the piston  510 . 
         [0056]    With reference now to  FIG. 10 , a front view of an embodiment of the plug base  310  and pin assembly  400  is provided. Disposed along an interior circumference of the front  312  of the plug base  310  are one or more injector pins  410  and dummy pins  420 . The numbers  311  indicate the position of each of the pins  410  and  420 . 
         [0057]    With reference now to  FIG. 11 , a rear view of an embodiment of the plug base  310  and injector pins  400  is provided. Disposed along an interior circumference of the back  314  of the plug base  310  are one or more injector pin plunger tubes  440  and dummy pin plunger tubes  430 . Positions indicated by numbers  311  not occupied by a plunger tube  430  or  440  are filled with hex screws  460  securing dummy pins  420  not requiring a plunger tube. 
         [0058]    With reference now to  FIG. 12 , a side view of an embodiment of an injector pin  410  is provided. The pin  410  is disposed at the front  312  of the plug base  310  as seen in  FIG. 9 . The base  412  of the pin  410  is disposed within the plug base  310  and is adapted to receive the plunger tube  440 . One or more dielectric fluid openings  414  on the pin  410  provide channels for dielectric fluid or grease to exit the injector pin  410 . 
         [0059]    With reference now to  FIG. 13 , a cross-section view of an embodiment of the interior  450  of an injector pin  410  according to the present invention is provided. The interior  450  may be the interior of an injector pin  410  as shown in  FIG. 12 . The interior  450  has one or more dielectric fluid channels  452  disposed at the top, bottom, and sides of the injector pin interior  450  to provide channels or paths for dielectric fluid to exit the interior  450 . 
         [0060]    With reference now to  FIG. 14 , a lateral cross-section view of an alternate embodiment of an injector pin  410  according to the present invention is provided. The dielectric grease or fluid used for repairing a damaged receptacle is both thick and water insoluble and in most applications will stay within the injector pin  410  and not mix with exterior seawater. However, if different dielectric grease were used, or if conditions subsea were particularly turbulent, a pin seal  418  may be used in the injector pin  410 . The pin seal  418  is held in place by pin seal spring  416 , preventing any dielectric grease from escaping the pin  410  and preventing any exterior fluids or matter from entering the pin  410  and mixing with the fluid. When the dielectric grease is forced out of the pin  410  by a plunger piston  532  as seen in  FIG. 21 , the pressure compresses the pin seal  418  against the biasing force of the pin seal spring  416 , forcing the pin seal  418  forwards and opening the path for the dielectric grease to exit openings formed in the pin  410 . 
         [0061]    With reference now to  FIG. 15 , a lateral cross-section view of an embodiment of an injector pin  410  mated with an exemplary pin receptacle  806  of a type potentially in need of repair in the field is provided. The injector pin  410  enters the pin receptacle  806  through an opening formed in the front  842  of the pin receptacle  806 . The front  842  of the pin receptacle  806 , in this example, is sealed by pin stopper  810 , which is held in a forward position by the biasing force of the stopper spring  820 . The stopper base  822  seals the rear of the pin receptacle  806  and secures the receptacle stopper housing  811  to the pin receptacle  806 . An interior cavity  812  is typically filled with dielectric grease. However, if the pin receptacle  806  becomes damaged through wear, electric short, arc flash, or through any other event, the cavity  812  may become filled with seawater. Damage may cause a short at the electrical contact  840 , which may short through either the seawater or against the stopper guides  807 . The bladder wipers  830  normally wipe the end of an entering electrical termination so that a clean contact may be made with the electrical contact  840 , however, if damage has occurred the wipers  830  may no longer form a proper seal allowing seawater into the pin receptacle  806 . When the injector pin  410  fully enters into the pin receptacle  806 , dielectric grease is injected into the bladder wipers  830  of the pin receptacle  806  from the injector pin  410 . This grease purges any seawater in the pin receptacle  806  and may also insulate the electrical contact  840  against short through the seawater, interior housing  812 , stopper guides  807 , or other portions of the electrical contact  840 . The grease need only enter the pin receptacle  806  as far as the bladder wipers  830  and electrical contact  840  to prevent an electrical short. However, damage will not occur if the dielectric grease also fills the cavity  812 . 
         [0062]    With reference now to  FIG. 16 , a lateral cross-section view of the actuation mechanism  500  is provided. The actuation mechanism  500  comprises the plunger assembly  530 , piston  510 , and actuation pin  522 . The plunger assembly  530  is disposed at the front of the piston  510 . Each plunger in the plunger assembly  530  has, for example, a plunger piston  532  at the end of a plunger rod  534 . The plunger piston  532  fits within a plunger tube such as dummy plunger tube  430  or injector pin plunger tube  440  shown in  FIG. 9 . An o-ring  539  creates a seal within the plunger tube  440  to force the dielectric grease out through the injector pin  410 . The plunger rod  534  is biased against the piston  510  by the compression spring  536 , which is held in place by spring spacer  537  and spring retaining ring  538 . This spring  536  provides a biasing and suspension force during filling of the injector pin plunger tubes  440  with dielectric grease. The spring  536  also may provide for pressure compensation of a plunger tube  440 , shown in  FIG. 9 . If the pin holes  414 , shown in  FIG. 12 , were to become blocked, the spring  536  provides for the dielectric grease to compress under hydrostatic pressure instead of crushing the plunger tube  440 . The indicator bushing  502  secured to the piston  510  by the hex screw  505  indicates the position of the piston  510  within the plug body  330  of the plug  300 . Actuation of the actuation mechanism  500  occurs when then actuator pin  522  is pulled rearward out of the actuator pin opening  524  and past the actuator seal spring  520 . The actuator seal spring  520  holds the actuator pin  522  in place as is secured between the piston  510  and the spring plate end cap  513 . The actuator seal spring  520  may be a canted coil spring, or Bal Seal spring, in a latching configuration. The spring  520  and angled geometry of the spring  520  allow for the actuator pin  522  to be disengaged by pulling rearward on the actuator pin  522  within a 20 degree force cone. This force cone is necessary as the force may be applied by an ROV, which may lack fine motor skill. The end cap  513  is threaded onto the piston  510  to secure and protect the spring seal  520 . When the actuation pin  522  is moved out of the pin opening  524  and out of the seal spring  520 , the biasing force of the piston spring  512 , shown in  FIG. 6 , moves the piston  510  forward, causing the plunger piston  532  to expel the dielectric grease out of the plunger  440  and through the injector pin  410 . 
         [0063]    With reference now to  FIG. 17 , a rear view of an embodiment of the plug  300  according to the present invention is provided. The spring plate end cap  513  holds the seal spring  520 , shown in  FIG. 16 , in place against the piston  510 . The actuator pin  522  may be moved rearward to actuate the actuation mechanism  500 . The indicator bushing  502  may be used to move the piston  510  within the plug body  330 , shown in  FIG. 2 , and also serves to indicate the state of the actuation mechanism  500  as either being in an actuated or un-actuated state. 
         [0064]    With reference now to  FIG. 18 , a lateral partial cross-section view of an embodiment of the capping tool  100  and protective cap  900  according to the present invention is provided. The protective end cap  900  may be inserted into the slide  200  to protect the end of the plug  300  when the capping tool  100  is not mated to a receptacle. The handle  600  is oversized and shaped such that it can easily be operated by an ROV. 
         [0065]    With reference now to  FIG. 19 , a lateral cross-section view of an embodiment of the capping tool  100  mated with a receptacle  800  according to the present invention is provided. The receptacle  800  may be a Nautilus type receptacle connector and more specifically may be a bulkhead receptacle connector. The receptacle  800  may have a pin receptacle  806  configuration comprising 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 19, or any other necessary numerical configuration, pin receptacles  806 . The capping tool  100  is employed to inject a dielectric grease into a damaged pin receptacle  806 . The dielectric grease insulates the pin receptacle  806  from an electrical short in the receptacle  800 . The short may have been caused by removing a connector, from an arc flash, or from debris or other material subsea. The capping tool  100  is used in place of bringing the entire subsea structure to which the receptacle  800  is attached to the surface for repair, a costly and time consuming procedure. The capping tool  100  is placed on the receptacle  800  to insulate the pin receptacle  806  against the short. This may be in connection with switching circuits to repair the connection or to protect the receptacle  800  until it can be repaired or replaced. 
         [0066]    The receptacle  800  typically has two or more sets of redundant circuits and is deployed with a redundant receptacle also having two or more redundant circuits. This multiple redundancy reduces the likelihood of having to bring a subsea structure to the surface for repair in the event of damage to or failure of a receptacle  800 . 
         [0067]    The capping tool  100  is moved into place by the handle  600 . The slide collar  210  is positioned about the exterior of the receptacle  800  and when fully mated, the slide collar  210  will abut the receptacle base  802 . The slide  200  may be correctly aligned with the receptacle  800  by the alignment bushing  803  and keyways  506  and secured by one or more latch fingers  214 , shown in  FIG. 4 . The injector pin  410  is inserted into the pin receptacle  806 , and when fully mated, the actuation mechanism  500  may be actuated by applying a rearward force on the actuation pin  522 . When fully mated, the latch fingers  214 , shown in  FIG. 2 , engage with the receptacle  800  to secure the capping tool  100  to the receptacle  800 . The actuation pin  522  may be removed from the seal spring  520  by pulling on the shackle handle  550  which is attached to the actuation pin  522  by the shackle pin  552 . When the actuation pin  522  is removed, the piston  510  is moved forward by the biasing force from the piston spring  512 . The forward motion moves the plunger rod  534  and attached plunger piston  532  forward with the piston  510 . The plunger piston  532  moves through the interior  450  of the injector pin plunger tube  440 . The interior  450  holds dielectric grease that will be used to insulate any short or damage in the pin receptacle  806 . The plunger  532  travels forward through tube  440  expelling the dielectric grease out through the injector pin  410  into the pin receptacle  806 , purging any intruding seawater and insulating any electrical short in the pin receptacle  806 . 
         [0068]    With reference now to  FIG. 20 , a lateral cross-section view of an embodiment of the capping tool  100  in an un-actuated state according to the present invention is provided.  FIG. 21  provides a lateral cross-section view of an embodiment of the capping tool  100  in an actuated state.  FIGS. 20 and 21  show how the internal components of the actuation mechanism  500  move within the capping tool as it is actuated. A receptacle, such as receptacle  800  in  FIG. 19 , may be in the receiving area  212  of the slide  200  and secured on the pin assembly  400  by the latch finger  214 . The rearward position of the indicator bushing  502  indicates that the actuation mechanism  500  is in an un-actuated state and is ready to inject dielectric grease. When the actuation pin  522  is removed from the actuation pin opening  524  by a rearward force on the shackle handle  550 , the piston  510  is moved forward by the biasing force of the piston spring  512 . The forward movement of the piston  510  causes the plunger assembly  530  to move forward within the interior  450  of the plunger tube  440  towards the plug base  310 . Dielectric fluid in the interior  450  of the plunger tube  440  is forced out of the front of the injector pin  410  by the forward motion of the plunger assembly  530 . 
         [0069]    With reference now to  FIG. 21 , a lateral cross-section view of an embodiment of the capping tool  100  in an actuated state according to the present invention is provided. The actuation pin  522  is shown out of the actuation pin opening  520  as the piston  510  has been moved forward towards the plug base  310  by the piston spring  512 . The seal spring  524  that held the actuation pin  522  in the actuation pin opening  524  can be seen in the piston  510 . The piston  510  has moved the plunger assembly  530  fully into the interior  450  of the plunger tube  440  and any dielectric grease that was in the plunger tube  440  would have been expelled through the injector pin  410 . An assembly similar to plunger assembly  430  would have moved within the dummy pin plunger tube  430  attached to dummy pin  420 . The indicator bushing  502  in a forward position indicates that the capping tool&#39;s  100  actuation mechanism  500  has been actuated. 
         [0070]    While the invention has been described by reference to certain preferred embodiments, it should be understood that numerous changes could be made within the spirit and scope of the inventive concept described. Also, the present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein. It is fully contemplated that other various embodiments of and modifications to the present invention, in addition to those described herein, will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Thus, such other embodiments and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the following appended claims. Further, although the present invention has been described herein in the context of particular embodiments and implementations and applications and in particular environments, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that its usefulness is not limited thereto and that the present invention can be beneficially applied in any number of ways and environments for any number of purposes. Accordingly, the claims set forth below should be construed in view of the full breadth and spirit of the present invention as disclosed herein.