Patent ID: 7658131

Claim:
A subsea tensioner system for tensioning a threaded connector underwater, wherein the subsea tensioner system comprises: a. at least one subsea tensioner disposed in an underwater environment, wherein the subsea tensioner comprises: i. a main body; ii. a piston disposed in the main body, wherein the piston is in fluid communication with an inlet channel, and wherein the inlet channel is in fluid communication with a subsea inlet port that receives a fluid and the inlet channel is in fluid communication with a pressure chamber; iii. wherein the piston repeatabley moves from an initial position to a second position, wherein the piston applies pressure from the pressure chamber to a puller as the piston advances from the initial position to the second position, and wherein the puller is secured to the threaded connector and that applies a load to the threaded connector as the piston advances from the initial position to the second position; iv. an over stroke preventer is disposed within the main body to prevent the piston from exceeding a maximum second position; v. a return actuator is disposed within the main body and secured to the over stroke preventer, wherein the return actuator is engaged with the piston for returning the piston to the initial position, wherein the return actuator is a member of the group consisting of: a spring; an electronic actuator; a plurality of springs; and a double acting hydraulic piston; and vi. a fluid release valve is in fluid communication with the inlet channel; and wherein an outlet port is formed into the fluid release valve for exiting the fluid from the inlet channel when the fluid release valve is opened; b. a high pressure pump in fluid communication with the at least one subsea inlet port and the fluid for pulling the fluid through the subsea inlet port, the inlet channel, and into the pressure chamber for continuous refreshing of the fluid to the high pressure pump; c. wherein the outlet port releases the fluid to a local underwater environment; and wherein the piston repeatably moves from the initial position, as the fluid is introduced into the pressure chamber by the high pressure pump, to the second position as the fluid is released through the outlet port to the local underwater environment.