Releasable connections for subsea flexible joints and service lines

Abstract

A method for shutting in a subsea wellbore is described, comprising disconnecting a flexible joint from the lower marine riser package subsea after a subsea blowout. The flexible joint is releasably connected to the lower marine riser package with a first connection comprising a connector with a receptacle and a hub seated in the receptacle. The method further comprises positioning a containment cap subsea proximate to the lower marine riser package. In addition, the method comprises connecting the containment cap to the lower marine riser package. The containment cap is releasably connected to the lower marine riser package with a second connection comprising a connector with a receptacle and a hub seated in the receptacle. Furthermore, the method comprises substantially shutting in the wellbore with the containment cap.

1 . A method for shutting in a subsea wellbore, the subsea wellbore having a wellhead, a subsea blowout preventer stack is mounted to the wellhead, and a lower marine riser package is mounted to the blowout preventer stack, the method comprising:
 (a) disconnecting a flexible joint from the lower marine riser package subsea after a subsea blowout, wherein the flexible joint is releasably connected to the lower marine riser package with a first connection comprising a connector with a receptacle and a hub seated in the receptacle;   (b) positioning a containment cap subsea proximate to the lower marine riser package;   (c) connecting the containment cap to the lower marine riser package, wherein the containment cap is releasably connected to the lower marine riser package with a second connection comprising a connector with a receptacle and a hub seated in the receptacle; and   (d) substantially shutting in the wellbore with the containment cap.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing a riser that is coupled to the flexible joint prior to (a). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (a) further comprises actuating the first connector to unlock and disengage the hub. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein (c) further comprises:
 seating the hub of the second connection in the connector of the second connection; and   actuating the second connector to lock onto the hub.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the connector of the first connection and the connector of the second connection are each hydraulically actuated. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a service line extends subsea along a riser coupled to the flexible joint and is releasably connected to a choke and kill line of the blowout preventer stack; and
 wherein (a) further comprises disconnecting the service line from the choke and kill line sub sea.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the service is releasably connected to the choke and kill line with a flow-line connection comprising a connector with a receptacle and a hub seated in the receptacle. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein (a) further comprises hydraulically actuating the connector of the flow-line connection to unlock and disengage the hub. 
     
     
         9 . A method for shutting in a subsea wellbore after a subsea blowout, wherein the wellbore includes a wellhead, a subsea blowout preventer mounted to the wellhead, a subsea lower marine riser package is mounted to the blowout preventer, a flexible joint is connected to the subsea lower marine riser package, and a riser extends from the flexible joint, the method comprising:
 (a) removing the flexible joint from the subsea lower marine riser package by actuating a connector at a lower end of the flexible joint to unlock from a hub at an upper end of the lower marine riser package;   (b) positioning a containment cap subsea from a surface vessel to a position laterally adjacent the subsea lower marine riser package;   (c) moving the containment cap laterally over the subsea lower marine riser package after (b);   (d) lowering the containment cap axially downward into engagement with the subsea lower marine riser package; and   (e) securing the containment cap to the subsea lower marine riser package.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 (f) shutting in the wellbore with the containment cap after (e).   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein (a) comprises actuating a connector at a lower end of the flexible joint to unlock from a hub at an upper end of the lower marine riser package. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein (e) comprises actuating a connector at a lower end of the containment cap to lock onto the hub at the upper end of the lower marine riser package. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 disconnecting a first service line extending along the outside of the riser from a choke and kill line of the blowout preventer stack. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein disconnecting the first service line comprises actuating a flow-line connector at a lower end of the first service line to unlock from a flow-line hub at an upper end of the choke and kill line. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 connecting a second service line to the choke and kill line.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein connecting the second service line comprise actuating a flow-line connector at a lower end of the second service line to lock onto the flow-line hub at the upper end of the choke and kill line. 
     
     
         17 . A subsea drilling riser system, comprising:
 a blowout preventer stack configured to be coupled to a subsea wellhead, wherein the blowout preventer stack includes a plurality of ram blowout preventers;   a lower marine riser package coupled to the blowout preventer stack;   a flexible joint releasably connected to the lower marine riser package and configured to be coupled to a riser, the flex joint having a releasable connection configured to allow the flexible joint to be quickly disconnected from the lower marine riser package subsea;   a choke and kill line coupled to the blowout preventer stack, wherein the choke and kill line comprises a releasable flow-line connection configured to allow a service line to be disconnected from the choke and kill line subsea.   
     
     
         18 . The subsea drilling system of  claim 17 , wherein the releasable connection comprises a connector with a receptacle and a hub seated in the receptacle. 
     
     
         19 . The subsea drilling system of  claim 18 , wherein the connector has a locked position positively engaging the hub and an unlocked position disengaged from the hub. 
     
     
         20 . The subsea drilling system of  claim 18 , wherein the connector is disposed at a lower end of the flexible joint and the hub is disposed at the upper end of the lower marine riser package. 
     
     
         21 . The subsea drilling system of  claim 18 , wherein the connector is configured to be hydraulically actuated between the locked position and the unlocked position. 
     
     
         22 . The subsea drilling system of  claim 17 , wherein the flow-line connection comprises a connector with a receptacle and a hub seated in the receptacle. 
     
     
         23 . The subsea drilling system of  claim 22 , wherein the connector has a locked position positively engaging the hub and an unlocked position disengaged from the hub. 
     
     
         24 . The subsea drilling system of  claim 22 , wherein the connector is disposed at a lower end of the flexible joint and the hub is disposed at the upper end of the lower marine riser package. 
     
     
         25 . The subsea drilling system of  claim 22 , wherein the connector is configured to be hydraulically actuated between the locked position and the unlocked position.