Vetco Gray Inc.

Richard T Trenholme

Eric Dale Larson

Rick L Stringfellow

A marine drilling riser system for securing drilling riser joints in a drilling riser string is presented. The drilling riser string is assembled by connecting a pin end of one drilling riser joint to a box end of an adjoining drilling riser joint by using a moveable ring to drive a fastener of one drilling riser joint against the adjoining drilling riser joint. A spider is used to drive the movable ring axially from a position where the fastener is not engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint to a position where the fastener is engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint, and vice versa. A latch is used to prevent the moveable ring from moving inadvertently from the second position. The spider may also be used to support the marine drilling riser string during assembly.

Marine drilling riser system

A technique for securing drilling riser joints in a drilling riser string is presented. The drilling riser joints have a tubular housing that has a box configuration on one end and a pin configuration on the other end. The drilling riser string is assembled by connecting the pin end of one drilling riser joint to the box end of an adjoining drilling riser joint. A moveable ring is used to connect adjoining drilling riser joints. The moveable ring is used to drive a fastener of one drilling riser joint against the adjoining drilling riser joint. The moveable ring is driven axially from a position where the fastener is not engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint to a position where the fastener is engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint. A latch is used to prevent the moveable ring from moving inadvertently from the second position.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Richard T Trenholme