Abstract:
An apparatus, system and method capable of spacing a vortex induced vibration (VIV) suppression device from a tubular. The apparatus, system and method including a collar capable of facilitating suppression of VIV of a high temperature tubular; suppressing VIV of multiple tubulars covered by a single suppression device; or allowing for functioning of the tubular cathodic protection system.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The application is a non-provisional application of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/772,620, filed Mar. 5, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     A collar for forming a space between a vortex induced vibration (VIV) suppression device and a tubular is disclosed, more specifically a collar capable of facilitating suppression of VIV of a high temperature tubular; suppressing VIV of multiple tubulars covered by a single suppression device; and/or allowing for functioning of the tubular cathodic protection system. Other embodiments are also described herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A difficult obstacle associated with the exploration and production of oil and gas is management of significant ocean currents. These currents can produce vortex induced vibration (VIV) and/or large deflections of tubulars associated with drilling and production. VIV can cause substantial fatigue damage to the tubular or cause suspension of drilling due to increased deflections. Both helical strakes and fairings can provide sufficient VIV suppression, but can be slow and unsafe to install. 
     Most suppression devices are placed against the tubular. For example, helical strakes are typically clamped to the tubular, though in some cases the helical strake may have a spacer element to allow water flow under the strake for cathodic protection. Fairings typically have a small annulus between the fairing and the tubular, but are held in the same axial position by collars that are clamped to the tubular. 
     Some tubulars may have a high surface temperature. Since most VIV suppression devices are made of common plastic, the high tubular surface temperature can melt the plastic. For example, a helical strake with or without a spacer will have the helical strake body or the spacer material contact the outer surface of the tubular. The helical strake or typical spacer material (the spacer may even be molded into the helical strake body) can melt from contact with the tubular. Similarly, while most collars (which are positioned at the ends of fairings and are used to keep fairings from sliding axially along the tubular) are made of a material that can withstand higher temperatures than helical strake or fairing bodies, most collars may melt due to the tubular temperature and the high water temperature in the annulus can cause a fairing to deform. 
     Another problem encountered by VIV suppression systems is the need to suppress more than one tubular in close proximity. This can be difficult since, if each tubular is suppressed separately, then the suppression devices for each tubular may interfere with each other. For example, the fairings on one tubular may contact fairings on an adjacent tubular and keep both fairings from weathervaning into the correct position. Also, simply placing a VIV suppression device around both tubulars may cause excessive stresses on one of the tubulars or on the VIV suppression device if the tubulars are allowed to move relative to each other. 
     It is also possible to have two tubulars in close proximity with one of the tubulars having a temperature sufficiently high to melt most common plastic materials. 
     Another problem is cathodic protection. Cathodic protection systems typically require water flow near the tubular surface. VIV suppression devices that incorporate elements that enclose tightly around the tubular (such as a helical strake) inhibit cathodic protection. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a VIV suppression device system is provided that can suppress VIV on a hot tubular without the use of expensive exotic materials, can suppress VIV of adjacent tubulars in close proximity, or both. In addition, the VIV suppression device may allow for cathodic protection systems to function by allowing for water flow between the device and the tubular. 
     Representatively, in one embodiment, a collar for forming a space between a vortex induced vibration (VIV) suppression device and a tubular is disclosed. The collar may include a cylindrical body portion dimensioned to encircle a tubular, the cylindrical body portion having a top end and a bottom end. A spacer member may extend radially outward from the top end or the bottom end of the cylindrical body portion. The spacer member may be dimensioned to form a space between a tubular encircled by the cylindrical body portion and a VIV suppression device positioned around the tubular. 
     In another embodiment, a system for forming a space between a vortex induced vibration (VIV) suppression device and a tubular is disclosed. The system may include a collar having a cylindrical body portion forming a first opening dimensioned to receive a first tubular and a ring member formed around the cylindrical body portion, the ring member having a surface extending radially outward from the cylindrical body portion, and a second opening dimensioned to receive a second tubular is formed through the surface. The system may further include a VIV suppression device positioned around the collar, wherein an outer edge of the surface is dimensioned to contact and space an inner surface of the VIV suppression device a distance from a first tubular and a second tubular. 
     In another embodiment, a method of spacing a VIV suppression device from a tubular is disclosed. The method may include positioning a collar around a tubular, the collar having a cylindrical body portion and a ring member positioned around the cylindrical body portion. The method may further include positioning a VIV suppression device around the collar and the tubular such that the ring member of the collar contacts an inner surface of the VIV suppression device and forms a space between the VIV suppression device and the tubular. 
     The above summary does not include an exhaustive list of all aspects of the present invention. It is contemplated that the invention includes all apparatuses that can be practiced from all suitable combinations of the various aspects summarized above, as well as those disclosed in the Detailed Description below and particularly pointed out in the claims filed with the application. Such combinations have particular advantages not specifically recited in the above summary. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and they mean at least one. 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a collar for forming a space between a vortex induced vibration (VIV) suppression device and a tubular. 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1A  with the VIV suppression device positioned around the collar. 
         FIG. 1C  is an end view of  FIG. 1B . 
         FIG. 1D  is a cross-sectional side view along line D-D′ of  FIG. 1C . 
         FIG. 1E  is a top view of the collar of  FIG. 1A  in an open position. 
         FIG. 1F  is a top view of the collar of  FIG. 1A  in a closed position. 
         FIG. 1G  is a top view of one embodiment of a collar including a liner for forming a space between a VIV suppression device. 
         FIG. 1H  is a top view of another embodiment of a collar in a closed position. 
         FIG. 2A  is perspective view of a collar for forming a space between a VIV suppression device and a tubular. 
         FIG. 2B  is an end view of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a process for spacing a VIV suppression device from a tubular. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In this section we shall explain several preferred embodiments with reference to the appended drawings. Whenever the shapes, relative positions and other aspects of the parts described in the embodiments are not clearly defined, the scope of the embodiments is not limited only to the parts shown, which are meant merely for the purpose of illustration. Also, while numerous details are set forth, it is understood that some embodiments may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of this description. 
     Referring now to the invention in more detail,  FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a collar for forming a space between a vortex induced vibration (VIV) suppression device and a tubular. In this embodiment, the VIV device is a helical strake  102  that encircles collars  103 ,  104 , and  105  that are, in turn, positioned around tubular  100 . Tubular  101  is an adjacent tubular in close proximity to tubular  100 . Helical strake  102  has three fins  102 A,  102 B, and  102 C. In one embodiment, strake  102  may have a clam shell configuration in that it is formed by a first side  155 A and a second side  155 B that can be separated along an opening  154 , formed along a side of strake  102  so that helical strake  102  can be placed around tubular  100 . Alternatively, helical strake  102  may not include an opening and instead may have an inseparable tubular shell that is inserted over an end of tubular  100  and slid down tubular  100 . In some embodiments, strake  102  may have an inner diameter substantially the same as or slightly larger than tubular  100  or other underlying structure such that it fits around the tubular  100  or other structure. In the illustrated embodiment, strake fins  102 A- 102 C have a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape, however, other shapes may be suitable (e.g., circular, square, etc.). It is noted, however, that helical strake  102  may be of any geometry with any number, size, and shape of fins. 
     Helical strake  102  may be of any suitable length, but will typically be from about 4 feet to about 10 feet long. Strake fins  102 A- 102 C may be of any suitable height but will typically range from about 5 to about 50 percent of the tubular diameter, with 20 to 30 percent being the most common height range. The pitch of strake fins  102 A- 102 C may be of any suitable pitch, for example, within a range of from about 5 to about 25 times the tubular diameter, with 10-20 times the tubular diameter being most common. The number of fins may vary from about 1 to about 8, preferably from 3 to 4. 
     Collars  103 ,  104 , and  105  may be positioned around tubular  100  and tubular  101 . Each of collars  103 ,  104  and  105  may include a cylindrical body portion  136 ,  138  and  140 , respectively, which define tubular openings  160 ,  162  and  164 , respectively, so that collars  103 ,  104  and  105  can encircle and contact an outer surface of the tubular  100 . Spacer members may in turn extend from the top end and the bottom end of each cylindrical body portion and be dimensioned to space helical strake  102  a distance from tubular  100 . Representatively, collar  103  may include cylindrical body portion  136  having a top spacer member  120  extending from a top end of body portion  136  and a bottom spacer member  122  extending from a bottom end of body portion  136 . Collar  104  may include cylindrical body portion  138  having a top spacer member  124  extending from the top end of body portion  138  and a bottom spacer member  126  extending from the bottom end of body portion  138 . Collar  105  may include cylindrical body portion  140  having top spacer member  128  extending from the top end and bottom spacer member  130  extending from the bottom end of body portion  140 . In some embodiments, spacer members  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126  and  128  may be substantially ring shaped structures which, along with their respective cylindrical body portions  136 ,  138  and  140 , entirely encircle tubular  100 . 
     Each of spacer members  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126  and  128  may further include openings which are dimensioned to receive the adjacent tubular  101 . In this aspect, in addition to spacing helical strake  102  from tubular  100 , they also space tubular  100  from tubular  101  and space tubular  101  from helical strake  102 . Representatively, spacer member  120  may include opening  106 A and opening  106 B. Openings  106 A and  106 B may be diametrically opposed to one another. In addition, spacer member  122  may include openings  106 C and  106 D which are also diametrically opposed to one another. Openings  106 A and  106 D may be aligned one on top of the other and openings  106 B and  106 C may be aligned one on top of the other, as shown, such that they can receive different portions of tubular  101 . Similarly, spacer member  124  of collar  104  may include opening  107 A and opening  107 B, which are diametrically opposed with one another. Spacer member  126  may include opening  107 C and opening  107 D. Openings  107 B and  107 C may be aligned one on top of the other and openings  107 A and  107 D may be aligned one on top of the other as shown such that they can receive different portions of tubular  101 . In addition, spacer member  128  of collar  105  may include diametrically opposed openings  108 A and  108 B and spacer member  130  may include diametrically opposed openings  108 C and  108 D. The openings  108 B and  108 C of spacer member  128  may be aligned one on top of the other and openings  108 A and  108 D may be aligned one on top of the other such that they can receive different portions of tubular  101 . It is to be understood that although each of the spacer members  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126 ,  128  and  130  are described as having two openings, a single opening or more than two openings may be positioned within spacer members  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126 ,  128  and  130  depending upon the number of tubulars  101  positioned adjacent to tubular  100 , and within helical strake  102 . In one embodiment, openings  106 A- 106 D,  107 A- 107 D and  108 A- 108 D are formed along an inner edge of the respective spacer member (i.e. the edge facing toward tubular  100 ) such that they have an open side facing toward tubular  100  within which tubular  101  can be inserted. In another embodiment, openings  106 A- 106 D,  107 A- 107 D and  108 A- 108 D can be formed along an outer edge of the respective spacer member (i.e. the edge facing away from tubular  100 ) such that the open side, within which tubular  101  can be inserted, faces away from tubular  100  (see  FIG. 1H ). In still further embodiments, openings  106 A- 106 D,  107 A- 107 D and  108 A- 108 D can be a combination of inwardly and outwardly facing openings. Alternatively, openings  106 A- 106 D,  107 A- 107 D and  108 A- 108 D may be closed openings formed entirely within a respective spacer member such that they are slid over an end of tubular  101  to position tubular  101  therein. 
     Openings  106 A- 106 D,  107 A- 107 D and  108 A- 108 D can have any size and shape sufficient to receive and stabilize a tubular (e.g. tubular  101 ) positioned between tubular  100  and strake  102 . Representatively, openings  106 A- 106 D,  107 A- 107 D and  108 A- 108 D can be “U” shaped slots having a depth and width sufficient to receive tubular  101  positioned between tubular  100  and strake  102 . Said another way, openings  106 A- 106 D,  107 A- 107 D and  108 A- 108 D can be “U” shaped slots having a curvature which conforms to an outer diameter of a tubular (e.g. tubular  101 ) around which it is to be positioned. Although “U” shaped openings (or slots)  106 A- 106 D,  107 A- 107 D and  108 A- 108 D are shown and described herein, it is further contemplated that openings  106 A- 106 D,  107 A- 107 D and  108 A- 108 D may have other shapes and sizes sufficient to receive and stabilize a tubular therein, for example, circular, rectangular or square shapes. 
     In some embodiments, each of collars  103 ,  104  and  105  may have two sections or halves that may be separated from one another to facilitate positioning of collars  103 ,  104  and  105  around tubular  100 . Halves  103 A and  103 B may form collar  103 , halves  104 A and  104 B may form collar  104 , and halves  105 A and  105 B may form collar  105 . Each of halves  103 A- 103 B,  104 A- 104 B and  105 A- 105 B may be hinged to one another such that they can be opened or closed in a clam shell type configuration, or they may not be hinged together such that they can be completely separated from one another. In addition, in embodiments where collars  103 ,  104  and  105  are molded to strake  102 , each of halves  103 A- 103 B,  104 A- 104 B and  105 A- 105 B may be attached (e.g. molded) to one of side  155 A or  155 B of strake  102  such that when strake  102  is opened or closed along opening  154 , collars  103 ,  104  and  105  are also opened or closed. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1A , each internal collar  103 ,  104 , and  105  is clamped to tubular  100  by any suitable means. In some embodiments, each of collars  103 ,  104 , and  105  may consist of a single part (instead of two halves as shown in  FIG. 1A ) and any number of collars may be used to support helical strake  102 . A single collar may support more than one helical strake  102 . Collars  103 ,  104 , and  105  may have any number of optional openings  106 A- 106 D,  107 A- 107 D and  108 A- 108 D to accommodate adjacent tubulars or other structures. In this manner, collars  103 ,  104 , and  105  may be used to accommodate one adjacent tubular, two or more adjacent tubulars, or not accommodate any adjacent tubulars at all. Helical strake  102  may have any number of fins  102 A- 102 C and may consist of a single piece or have multiple segments around tubular  100 . Helical strake  102  may be attached to collars  103 ,  104 , and  105  by any suitable means including, but not limited to, bands, fasteners, chemical bonding, or use of other clamping devices. 
     For applications where tubular  100  is heated, helical strake  102  will have a much lower temperature than tubular  100  since it is offset from tubular  100  by collars  103 ,  104 , and  105 . Helical strake  102  and collars  103 ,  104 , and  105  may be made integral to each other, i.e., they may be molded together as a single unit or integrally formed as a single unit such that they are inseparable. For example, each of collars  103 ,  104  and  105  may be attached to an inner surface of strake  102  facing the tubular  100  such that when strake  102  is positioned around tubular  100 , collars  103 ,  104  and  105  are also positioned around tubular  100  as one unit. Alternatively, helical strake  102  and collars  103 ,  104  and  105  may be separate structures which are not molded together and can be removed from one another and tubular  100  separately. For example, strake  102  and collars  103 ,  104  and  105  may be formed separately or together as a single unit by an extrusion process, injection molding process, vacuum forming process or other similar process. If formed separately, collars  103 ,  104  and  105  may then be molded to the inner surface of strake  102 , or not be molded and remain as separate units which can be separately positioned between tubulars  100  and  101  and strake  102 . 
     Collars  103 ,  104 , and  105  may be attached to tubular  100  by any suitable means including, but not limited to, bands, fasteners, chemical bonding, or use of other clamping devices. Collar halves  103 A- 103 B  104 A- 104 B and  105 A- 105 B may be connected to each other by any suitable means including, but not limited to, bands, fasteners, hinges, chemical bonding, or use of other clamping devices. Adjacent tubular  101  may be inserted into any opening  106 A- 106 D,  107 A- 107 D and  108 A- 108 D and utilize any number of openings. For example, tubular  101  can travel through one or more openings and be held in place by the interior surface of helical strake  102 , when it is inserted around tubulars  100 ,  101  and collars  103 ,  104  and  105 . Thus, collars  103 ,  104 , and  105  may be used to keep helical strake  102  offset from the surface of tubular  100 , restrain tubular  101 , or both. Any number of tubular(s)  101  may be restrained by collars  103 ,  104 , and  105 . Other structures may also be offset from tubular  101 , or restrained by collars  103 ,  104 , and  105 , such as anodes. 
     Again referring to  FIG. 1A , collars  103 ,  104 , and  105  and helical strake  102  may be made of any suitable geometry. In some embodiments, collars  103 ,  104  and  105  fully and entirely encircle tubular  100  but only partially encircle tubular  101 . In other embodiments, collars  103 ,  104 , and  105  and helical strake  102  may not fully encircle tubular  100  and/or may have holes or openings in them to allow for increased heat transfer or for improved cathodic protection of tubular  100  or tubular  101  or both. Openings  106 A- 106 D,  107 A- 107 D and  108 A- 108 D may be of any suitable size and shape and may or may not be adjacent to the edge of collars  103 ,  104 , and  105 . 
     Again referring to  FIG. 1A , collars  103 ,  104 , and  105  and helical strake  102  may be made of any suitable material and may be made of the same or different materials, including but not limited to plastics, metals, fiberglass, composites, wood, and synthetics. Collars  103 ,  104 , and  105  and helical strake  102  may have coatings applied to them for any reason including anti-fouling or for improved temperature performance or cathodic protection. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1B , this figure is similar to  FIG. 1A  except that helical strake  102  having fins  102 A- 102 C is shown placed around collar  103  (and also collars  104  and  105 , but not visible from this view), which is placed around tubular  100 . Optional tubular  101  is contained by opening  106 B (and opening  106 C, although not shown in this view) in collar  103 . Optional slots  115  may be formed between fins  102 A- 102 C and shell  150  of helical strake  102  and be used for placing bands around helical strake  102  to tighten one or more sections of helical strake  102  against collar  103 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1C , this figure shows a top end view of helical strake  102 , having fins  102 A,  102 B, and  102 C around collar  103  which consists of halves  103 A and  103 B. Collar halves  103 A and  103 B are connected by fasteners  111 A and  11  lB. Collar half  103 A has optional opening  106 A while collar half  103 B has optional opening  106 B. Opening  106 B contains tubular  101 . Collar  103  is around tubular  100 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1C , the portion of collar  103  adjacent to tubular  100  will have a temperature close to that of tubular  100  but helical strake  102 , which is spaced a distance from tubular  100  by spacer member  120 , will have a temperature close to the surrounding fluid. This allows for helical strake  102  to be made of a plastic material that does not need to accommodate high temperatures. Openings  106 A and  106 B allow for one or more adjacent tubulars such as tubular  101  to have VIV suppression while keeping the tubular relatively restrained. 
     Again referring to  FIG. 1C , any suitable fastening method may be used to attach collar half  103 A and collar half  103 B together. Fasteners  111 A and  11  lB may consist of bands, bolts, nuts, welds, clamps, rivets, chemical bonding, or any suitable fastening method. Often bands, bolts, screws, or nuts will be used so that collar  103  may be tightened against tubular  100 . Similarly, any suitable fastening method may be used to attach helical strake  102  to collar  103  but often bands, bolts, screws, or nuts will be used so that helical strake  102  may be tightened against collar  103 . Collar  103 , helical strake  102 , and openings  106 A- 106 B may be made of any suitable size and geometry in order to fulfill their functions as described herein. 
     Helical strake  102 , collar  103 , and fasteners  111 A and  11  lB may be made of any suitable material, such as those previously discussed. In addition, it is to be understood that although only collar  103  is described in  FIG. 1C , collars  104  and  105  are also positioned between helical strake  102  and tubular  100  and the description with respect to collar  103  similarly applies to collars  104  and  105 . 
       FIG. 1D  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the collar of  FIG. 1B  along line D-D′. From this view, additional features of the collar can be seen more clearly. Representatively, from this view, it can be seen that collar  103  (as well as collars  104  and  105 , although not shown), includes a cylindrical body portion  136  having a top spacer member  120  extending radially outward from top end  142  and a bottom spacer member  122  extending radially outward from its bottom end  144 . In this aspect, a channel  146  is formed between body portion  136  and spacer members  120  and  122 . The channel  146  may, in some embodiments, allow for a fluid or other material to flow between tubular  100  and helical strake  102 . It can further be seen from this view that each of spacer members  120  and  122  has a substantially planar surface  160  and  162 , respectively, which extends between tubular  100  and helical strake  102 . The outer edge  170  and  172  of each of surfaces  160  and  162 , respectively, contact and space helical strake  102  a distance from tubular  100 . The previously discussed openings (e.g. openings  106 A- 106 D) are formed through surfaces  160  and  162  such that they position the adjacent tubular (e.g. tubular  101 ) between tubular  100  and the inner surface of helical strake  102 . 
       FIG. 1E  shows a top view of collar  103  in the open configuration. From this view, it can be seen that halves  103 A and  103 B of collar  103  can be separated from one another to facilitate positioning of collar  103  around an underlying tubular (e.g. tubular  100 ) and adjacent tubular (e.g. tubular  101 ). Once in the open position as shown in  FIG. 1E , halves  103 A and  103 B can be positioned around opposing sides of the tubular  100  and closed as shown in  FIG. 1F . Once in the closed position, fasteners  111 A- 111 B can be used to fasten halves  103 A and  103 B together and secure collar  103  around tubular  100 . Alternatively, collar  103  (and collars  104  and  105 ) may be fastened around tubular  100  by fastening of strake  102  around tubular  100 . The adjacent tubular  101  can be inserted into one of openings  106 A or  106 B depending upon which side of tubular  100  it is on, in this case tubular  101  is inserted into opening  106 B. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1G ,  FIG. 1G  is a top view of one embodiment of a collar including a liner for forming a space between a VIV suppression device. Collar  103  includes halves  103 A and  103 B, which are placed around tubular  100 . Liner  133 A is adjacent to the inner face of collar half  103 A and liner  133 B is adjacent to the inner face of collar half  103 B. Optional tubular  101  is contained by opening  106 B while optional opening  106 A is shown empty in this figure. Liners  133 A and  133 B are optional and may be used as insulation, to act as a spring, or both. If acting as insulation, liners  133 A and  133 B are used to reduce the temperature of collar  103 . If acting as a spring, liners  133 A and  133 B are used to allow collar  103  to accommodate changes in the diameter of tubular  100 , for example due to hydrostatic pressure. Although not shown, collar  103  (and in some cases helical strake  102 ) may have holes in them to assist with cathodic protection or with heat transfer or both. In addition, although not shown, collars  104  and  105  may also have liners substantially similar to liners  133 A and  133 B. 
     Liners  133 A and  133 B may be made of any material and of any suitable thickness and may cover all, or part, of the inner face of collar halves  103 A and  103 B sufficient to provide an insulating or resilient layer between tubular  100  and a surrounding VIV suppression device (e.g. helical strake  102 ). Similar to collar  103 , any number of liners may be used for collar  104  or  105  and not all collar sections must have a liner. Liners  133 A and  133 B may have holes or other openings in them to allow for enhanced heat transfer or to optimize their spring characteristics, or both. Liners  133 A and  133 B may be attached to collar halves  103 A and  103 B or may be installed on tubular  100  separately. The attachment of liners  133 A and  133 B to collar halves  103 A and  103 B and/or tubular  100  may be made by any suitable means including welding, chemical bonding, common mechanical means such as fasteners and rivets, and tape. 
     Liners  133 A and  133 B may be made of any suitable material including, but not limited to, elastomer, silicone, plastic, wood, metal, composite, and synthetics. Often more than one material may be used to form liners  133 A and  133 B. Liners  133 A and  133 B may be attached to collar halves  103 A and  103 B by any suitable means. 
       FIG. 1H  is a top view of another embodiment of a collar in a closed position. Collar  103  is substantially the same as the collar disclosed in reference to  FIG. 1F  except that in this embodiment, openings  106 A and  106 B are formed along an outer edge of the spacer member (i.e. the edge facing away from tubular  100 ) such that the open side, within which tubular  101  is inserted, faces away from tubular  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2A , this figure is similar to  FIG. 1A  except that fairing  202  has been substituted for the helical strake. Any suppression device may be used instead of a helical strake or instead of fairing  202 . Collars  103 ,  104  and  105  as previously discussed in reference to  FIGS. 1A-1G  are placed around tubular  200  and may accommodate one or more optional tubulars  201 . Typically fairings such as fairing  202  will have fasteners  231  to hold them in place around a tubular. Fairing  202  may have other collars at its ends to keep it from sliding along the axis of tubular  100  or internal collars  103 ,  104  and  105  may serve this purpose. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 2A , collars  103 ,  104  and  105  and fairing  202  may be made of any suitable geometry and this invention is not limited by a certain fairing shape, chord to thickness ratio, etc. 
     Again referring to  FIG. 2A , collars  103 ,  104  and  105  and fairing  202  may be made of any suitable material. Often fairing  202  will be made of a common plastic. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2B , this figure is an end view of  FIG. 2A  and shows collar  203 , consisting of two collar halves  203 A and  203 B, around tubular  200 . Liners  233 A and  233 B are similar to the liners of  FIG. 1G  and include all of the liner characteristics presented in the  FIG. 1G  discussion. Optional opening  246 B contains optional adjacent tubular  201  while optional opening  246 A is empty. Fairing  202  surrounds collar  203 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 2B , fairing  202  may, or may not, be free to rotate around collar  203 . Often there will be an annulus between fairing  202  and collar  203  when the fairing  202  is free to rotate around collar  203 . Similar to the system for a helical strake, this collar may be used to reduce the temperature of fairing  202  and/or allow the fairing to cover more than one tubular. Similar to the liners of  FIG. 1G , liners  233 A and  233 B may be used to as insulation, as springs, or both. Liners  233 A and  233 B may have holes or other openings in them to allow for enhanced heat transfer or to optimize their spring characteristics, or both. 
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a process for spacing a VIV suppression device from a tubular. Representatively, in one embodiment, process  300  includes positioning a collar (e.g. collar  103 ,  104  or  105 ) around a tubular (e.g. tubular  100 ), the collar including a cylindrical body portion and a ring member positioned around the cylindrical body portion (block  302 ). The collar(s) may be positioned around the tubular by opening the collar and then closing it around the tubular. Process  300  further includes positioning a VIV suppression device around the collar and the tubular such that the ring member of the collar contacts an inner surface of the VIV suppression device and forms a space between the VIV suppression device and the tubular (block  304 ). Positioning the VIV suppression device around the collar(s) and tubular may include opening the device and closing the device around the collars(s) and tubular in the case of a clam shell type configuration, or inserting the device over the end of the tubular, in the case of a device that does not open. The process may further include positioning a second tubular through an opening formed within the ring member such that the VIV suppression device is spaced from the first tubular and the second tubular and suppresses vortex induced vibration of the first tubular and the second tubular. The second tubular may be placed in the opening by positioning the second tubular near an outer edge of the opening and sliding it in a horizontal direction into the opening. In still further embodiments, a liner may be positioned between the collar and the tubular. The liner may provide an insulating layer between the tubular and the VIV suppression device to reduce heat transfer there between, or a resilient layer to accommodate an outer diameter change of the tubular as previously discussed. 
     In broad embodiment, the present invention consists of one or more collars that are used either to: offset a VIV suppression device from a tubular; allow a VIV suppression device to cover more than one tubular; or both. 
     While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention. 
     It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “one or more embodiments”, for example, means that a particular feature may be included in the practice of the invention. Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, Figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects may lie in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of the invention. 
     In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, although the collars disclosed herein are described as being used to space helical strakes and fairings a distance from an underlying tubular, it is contemplated that they may be used to space any type of VIV suppression device from any type of support structure which may be subjected to vibrations. Representatively, the VIV suppression devices may further include a henning device, a cylindrical sleeve or other VIV suppression device having any size and shape, and the support structure may, in addition to a tubular, be a smoke stack, a pole or any other structure subjected to vibrations due to wind or water. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.