Patent ID: 7503391

Claim:
A system for attaching a riser string to a subsea wellhead, comprising: the subsea wellhead; the riser string, having an upper portion connected to a floating structure, and a terminus with a latching and sealing profile capable of engaging a tieback connector; the tieback connector having a profile to receive and align the terminus of the riser string at the subsea wellhead; and an inner latching ring and an intermediate actuator ring disposed within the tieback connector, wherein the inner latching ring is disposed within the intermediate actuator ring, and wherein the inner latching ring has a plurality of grooves adapted to engage the subsea wellhead; wherein the tieback connector is remotely installed around a circumferential surface of the subsea wellhead; wherein the tieback connector is spaced vertically on the subsea wellhead; wherein the riser string is attached to the tieback connector installed on the subsea wellhead; wherein the tieback connector is installed on the subsea wellhead before the riser string is attached to the tieback connector; and wherein the tieback connector is installed on the subsea wellhead beneath the surface.