Fluid conduit connection system

Abstract

A fluid conduit connection system includes a bearing assembly comprising a bearing pipe comprising a fluid flow path, and a bearing element stack located exterior to the bearing pipe and disposed substantially annularly about the bearing pipe, wherein the bearing element stack is configured to receive a compressive force from the bearing pipe and wherein the bearing element stack is configured to allow rotation of the bearing pipe about a center of rotation of the bearing assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid conduit connection system, comprising:
 a bearing assembly, including:
 a bearing pipe having a fluid flow path; and 
 a bearing element stack located exterior to the bearing pipe and disposed substantially annularly about the bearing pipe; 
 wherein the bearing element stack is configured to receive a compressive force from the bearing pipe and wherein the bearing element stack is configured to allow rotation of the bearing pipe about a center of rotation of the bearing assembly. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fluid conduit connection system of  claim 1 , the bearing assembly further comprising a first member disposed between the bearing pipe and the bearing element stack. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid conduit connection system of  claim 1 , the bearing assembly further comprising:
 a bracket configured to receive the bearing element stack; and   a second member disposed between the bracket and the bearing element stack.   
     
     
         4 . The fluid conduit connection system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flexible conduit connected to a first end of the bearing pipe;   wherein a second end of the bearing pipe is configured to receive a tension force.   
     
     
         5 . The fluid connection system of  claim 4 , wherein the center of rotation is located closer to the first end of the bearing pipe than the second end of the bearing pipe. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid connection system of  claim 1 , wherein the center of rotation is coincident with a central axis of the bearing pipe. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid connection system of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing pipe further comprises a continuous inner wall. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid connection system of  claim 7 , wherein the continuous inner wall extends longitudinally through an entire longitudinal length of the bearing element stack. 
     
     
         9 . A fluid conduit connection method, comprising:
 providing a bearing pipe including a continuous inner wall that defines a flow path;   providing a tension force to a tension end of the bearing pipe;   disposing at least one bearing element stack external to the bearing pipe and annularly about the bearing pipe; and   transferring at least a portion of the tension force to the at least one bearing element stack;   wherein the bearing pipe is allowed to move about a center of rotation as a function of asymmetrical compression of the at least one bearing element stack.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 transferring at least a portion of the tension force to a support structure via a bracket configured to retain the bearing element stack relative to the support structure.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the location of the center of rotation is determined as a function of the shape of the bearing element stack. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the center of rotation is coincident with a central axis of the bearing pipe. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the center of rotation is located longitudinally along the central axis of the bearing pipe at a location exterior to an aperture of the bearing element stack. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the bearing element stack is configured to allow rotation of the bearing pipe relative to the bearing element stack about a central axis of the bearing pipe by elastically deforming the bearing element stack. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the tension force is provided to the bearing pipe from a riser. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the center of rotation is located nearer an end of the bearing pipe opposite the tension end than the tension end. 
     
     
         17 . A hydrocarbon production system, comprising:
 a fluid conduit;   a fluid system; and   a fluid conduit connection system including an annular bearing element stack, the fluid conduit connection system being configured to (1) connect the fluid conduit in fluid communication with the fluid system and (2) provide a flexible connection between the fluid conduit and the fluid system.   
     
     
         18 . The hydrocarbon production system of  claim 17 , wherein the annular bearing element stack further comprises a high-capacity laminate material. 
     
     
         19 . The hydrocarbon production system of  claim 18 , wherein the fluid conduit connection system further comprises a bearing pipe having a continuous inner wall and wherein the continuous inner wall extends through a central aperture of the annular bearing element stack. 
     
     
         20 . The hydrocarbon production system of  claim 19 , wherein the fluid conduit further comprises a catenary riser connected to the bearing pipe, the fluid system is associated with a support structure and is connected to the bearing pipe, and at least a portion of the weight of the catenary riser is transferred to the support structure via the fluid conduit connection system. 
     
     
         21 . A device, comprising:
 a fluid conduit comprising a central axis and a fluid conduit flange associated with an end of the fluid conduit; and   a split flange having an assembled configuration and a disassembled configuration, the split flange including:
 a first arcuate portion including a body and two arcuate protrusions extending circumferentially from the body; and 
 a second arcuate portion including a body and two arcuate protrusions extending circumferentially from the body; 
 wherein when the split flange is in the assembled configuration, the arcuate protrusions of the first arcuate portion at least partially longitudinally overlap the arcuate protrusions of the second arcuate portion and the split flange substantially encircles the fluid conduit;
 wherein when the split flange is in the disassembled configuration, the split flange does not substantially encircle the fluid conduit; and 
 wherein the split flange is moveable between the assembled configuration and the disassembled configuration by moving at least one of the first arcuate portion and the second arcuate portion radially relative to the central axis of the fluid conduit. 
 
   
     
     
         22 . A method of disassembling a bearing assembly, comprising:
 decoupling a split flange of a bearing assembly from a fluid conduit of the bearing assembly; and   removing the fluid conduit from the bearing assembly by displacing the fluid conduit through a central bore of a bearing element stack of the bearing assembly.