Liquid filling and testing of marine drilling riser

Abstract

A drilling riser testing system includes a water filling system and a pressure testing system that can fill and pressure test auxiliary lines of the riser system, while the riser joint is being held on the spider on the drill floor. The filling and pressure testing can also be carried out while the next riser joint is being retrieved and positioned by the top drive and/or a riser running too.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drilling riser testing system configured to test auxiliary tubes on riser joints for use in a drilling process, the system comprising:
 an auxiliary tube interface configured to mechanically attach to an upper end of a first auxiliary tube on a first riser joint while being held in a spider on a drill floor; and   a liquid filling system configured to provide liquid filling of the first auxiliary tube while being held in the spider on the drill floor, and while a second riser joint is being retrieved and position to attach a lower end of the second riser joint to an upper end of the first riser joint.   
     
     
         2 . A drilling riser testing system according to  claim 1  wherein the auxiliary tube interface is further configured to mechanically attach to an upper end of a second auxiliary tube on the first riser joint, and the liquid filling system is further configured to provide liquid filling and pressure testing of the second auxiliary tube while being held in the spider on the drill floor. 
     
     
         3 . A drilling riser testing system according to  claim 1  further comprising a pressure testing system configured to: pressurize the first auxiliary tube after liquid filling of the first auxiliary tube; and test the first auxiliary tube for leaks under pressurization, and wherein the auxiliary tube interface is further configured automatically form a seal with the first auxiliary tube. 
     
     
         4 . A drilling riser testing system according to  claim 1  further comprising a second auxiliary tube interface configured to mechanically attach to an upper end of the second auxiliary tube on a first riser joint while being held in the spider on the drill floor, wherein the liquid filling system is further configured to provide liquid filling of the second auxiliary tube, and the pressure testing system further configured to: pressurize the second auxiliary tube and test the second auxiliary tube for leaks under pressurization. 
     
     
         5 . A drilling riser testing system according to  claim 1  wherein the liquid filling system includes a liquid supply line on the drilling floor. 
     
     
         6 . A drilling riser testing system according to  claim 1  wherein the auxiliary tube interface includes a box interface configured to sealingly engage a pin on a top end of the first auxiliary tube. 
     
     
         7 . A drilling riser testing system according to  claim 1  wherein the liquid used to fill the first auxiliary tube is sea water. 
     
     
         8 . A method of testing auxiliary tubes on drilling risers comprising:
 attaching an auxiliary tube interface to a first auxiliary tube on a first riser joint being held in a spider on a drill floor;   filling the first auxiliary tube with liquid;   pressure testing the first auxiliary tube; and   detaching the tube interface from the first auxiliary tube, wherein a second riser joint is retrieved and positioned for attaching a lower end of the second riser joint to and upper end of the first riser joint to said attaching, said retrieving and positioning occurring simultaneously with at least one of said attaching, filling, pressure testing and detaching.   
     
     
         9 . A method of testing auxiliary tubes on drilling risers according to  claim 8  wherein the pressure testing comprises:
 pressurizing the first auxiliary tube after liquid filling; and 
 testing the first auxiliary tube for leaks under pressurization. 
 
     
     
         10 . A method of testing auxiliary tubes on drilling risers according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 attaching the auxiliary tube interface to a second auxiliary tube on a first riser joint;   filling the second auxiliary tube with liquid;   pressure testing the second auxiliary tube; and   detaching the tube interface from the second auxiliary tube.