Telescopic joint with interchangeable inner barrel(s)

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus including a first inner barrel of a telescopic marine riser and a first locking mechanism to releasably lock an upper end of the first inner barrel to the telescopic marine riser or a second inner barrel. In another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method including assembling a telescopic marine riser, replacing at least one inner barrel of a telescoping marine riser with a corresponding replacement inner barrel of a different length, and reassembling the telescoping marine riser with the replacement inner barrel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first inner barrel of a telescopic marine riser; and   a first locking mechanism to releasably lock an upper end of the first inner barrel to the telescopic marine riser or a second inner barrel.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first locking mechanism releasably locks the first inner barrel to a first flange coupled to the telescopic marine riser. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first locking mechanism releasably locks the first inner barrel to a first connector, the first connector slidingly engaged with the second inner barrel. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the second inner barrel is slidingly engaged with the first inner barrel. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a second locking mechanism, wherein the second locking mechanism releasably locks an upper end of the second inner barrel to a first flange coupled to the top portion of the telescopic marine riser. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an outer barrel slidingly engaged with the inner barrel; and   a second connector coupled to an upper end of the outer barrel, wherein the first inner barrel is slidingly engaged with the second connector.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first locking mechanism is a tubular member, wherein a lower end of the tubular member includes one selected from a group consisting of internal threads, a screw receiving apertures, and a plurality of slots. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the upper end of the first inner barrel includes one selected from a group consisting of external threads, a plurality of screw receiving apertures, and a plurality of protrusions corresponding to the plurality of slots of the first locking mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of inner barrels each slidingly engaged to a corresponding connector, wherein the an upper end of an uppermost inner barrel is engaged with a first flange of the telescoping marine riser and an upper end of each remaining inner barrel is engaged with a connector disposed between each remaining inner barrel. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 coupling a first locking mechanism to a first connector or a marine riser; and   locking releasably an upper end of a first inner barrel to the first locking mechanism.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the locking comprises threadably engaging the upper end of the first barrel to the first locking mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the locking comprises aligning a plurality of apertures disposed on the first locking mechanism with a plurality of apertures disposed on the upper end of the first inner barrel and securing the first locking mechanism to the first inner barrel by disposing a mechanical fastener in at least one of the aligned plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the locking comprises sliding a plurality of protrusions disposed on an outer diameter of the upper end of the first inner barrel into a corresponding plurality of slots disposed on the first locking mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 pre-assembling the first inner barrel by slidingly engaging the first inner barrel to a second connector to form a pre-assembled first inner barrel; and   coupling a lower end of the second connector to an upper end of an outer barrel, wherein the first inner barrel is slidingly engaged with the outer barrel.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first locking mechanism is coupled to the first connector, the method further comprising:
 pre-assembling a second inner barrel by slidingly engaging the second inner barrel to the first connector to form a pre-assembled second inner barrel; and   locking an upper end of the second inner barrel to a second locking mechanism, wherein the second locking mechanism is coupled to an upper flange of the marine riser.   
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 assembling a telescopic marine riser;   replacing at least one inner barrel of a telescoping marine riser with a corresponding replacement inner barrel of a different length; and   reassembling the telescoping marine riser with the replacement inner barrel.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the replacing comprises:
 determining a number of inner barrels to replace from the original marine riser assembly;   unlocking a first inner barrel from an upper flange; and   repeating the unlocking for the determined number of inner barrels.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  16 , wherein the reassembling comprises:
 pre-assembling the determined number of replacement inner barrels by slidingly engaging a first replacement inner barrel to a first connector to form a first pre-assembled replacement inner barrel;   coupling the first connector of the first pre-assembled replacement inner barrel to at least one of an upper end of an outer barrel or an upper end of a pre-assembled inner barrel;   locking an upper end of the first pre-assembled replacement inner barrel to a first locking mechanism, wherein the first locking mechanism is coupled to a second connector of a second pre-assembled inner barrel; and   repeating the coupling and locking the upper end of a pre-assembled replacement inner barrel to a corresponding locking mechanism for the determined number of replacement inner barrels, wherein an uppermost pre-assembled replacement inner barrel is locked to a first flange.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein at least two inner barrels of the telescoping marine riser are replaced. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a length of the replacement inner barrel is determined based on the requirements of a new drilling location.