Remote bolted flange connection apparatus and methods of operation thereof

Abstract

A single-module deployable bolted flange connection apparatus ( 10 ) makes up standard flange joints ( 24,32 ) for various pipeline tie-in situations, such as spool piece connection and flowline-tree connections, without the use of divers and auxiliary multiple pieces of equipment. An outer Flange Alignment Frame (FAF) ( 14 ), carries one or more claws ( 38 ) for grabbing the pipe/spool to provide flange alignment. The claws are suspended and driven by a novel arrangement of five hydraulic rams ( 412 - 420 ) A crash-resistant inner frame ( 148 ) houses complete connection tooling ( 150, 152 etc). The tooling performs the final alignment steps, inserts the gasket and studs, applies the required tension, and connects the nuts. Studs and nuts are stored separately from the tooling in an indexed carousel, to permit multiple operations, reverse operations (disconnection), and re-work of failed steps, all without external intervention.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
   
   
       43 . A pipe handling apparatus comprising an openable elongate collar adapted for gripping a pipe to be handled, the collar having a longitudinal axis and having forward and rear ends connected to a frame by an arrangement of five independently controllable rams spaced on the collar and the frame so as to manipulate the collar with five principal degrees of freedom. 
   
   
       44 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein said five rams comprise:
 a forward pair of rams arranged to act nominally in respective directions in a first plane transverse to the collar axis;   a rearward pair of rams arranged to act nominally in respective directions in a second plane transverse to the conduit axis and displaced along said axis; and   a fifth ram arranged to act nominally in a plane parallel to the conduit axis.   
   
   
       45 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein each of said rams is connected to the collar and the frame by means of universal joints so as to permit deviations from its nominal plane under the action of the other rams. 
   
   
       46 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein four of said rams connect respective parts of the collar to four respective reaction points located in a common plane. 
   
   
       47 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the fifth ram connects a point on said collar close to one end of the collar and a fifth reaction point on the frame vertically above the nominal position of the conduit axis, and close to or beyond the other end of the collar. 
   
   
       48 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 47 , wherein the fifth reaction point is located substantially in the same plane as four reaction points located in a common plane, said four reaction points connected to respective parts of the collar by four of said rams. 
   
   
       49 - 70 . (canceled)