Patent ID: 7393158

Claim:
A centralizer system for positioning in a marine riser system, said marine riser system connecting between one or more wellbores and a floating platform, comprising: a receptacle for receiving said centralizer system, said receptacle having a receptacle inner diameter; a metallic pipe comprising a pipe outer diameter less than said receptacle inner diameter so as to be insertable into said receptacle and relatively moveable within said receptacle; a metallic upset portion formed on said metallic pipe having an upset outer diameter greater than said pipe outer diameter, said pipe and said upset portion being a monolithic structure; a metallic centralizer heat shrink mounted on and in rigid gripping engagement with said upset portion on said metallic pipe whereby said centralizer and said upset are prevented from any relative movement, said centralizer having an outer diameter less than said receptacle inner diameter for insertion into said receptacle and serving to centralize said metallic pipe and centralizer in said receptacle said upset portion and said centralizer being wholly received in said receptacle, said pipe, said upset portion, and said centralizer being freely, axially moveable relative to and within said receptacle.