The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 04, 2000
Filed:
Jul. 18, 1997
Early Baggett Denison, New Orleans, LA (US);
David Wayne McMillan, Deer Park, TX (US);
Richard Bruce McDaniel, Houston, TX (US);
Shell Oil Company, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A fairing system is disclosed for installation about a drilling riser deployed in a deepwater application. In another aspect of the invention, a method for deploying a drilling riser fairing system is disclosed in which a first retaining ring is installed on a buoyancy can encircling the drilling riser and a drilling riser fairings is installed above the first retaining ring. Drilling riser fairing installation folds a pair of fairing sides of a fairing shroud about an axially disposed hinge to surround the buoyancy can above the first retaining ring. A tail connection system secures the tail ends of the fairing sides together and a pair of struts are installed to further secure the fairing sides together. A plurality of interior bearing pads are provided on the internal circumference of the fairing shroud and axial bearing pads are provided on flanges at the upper and lower edges of the fairing shroud. In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for stowing a drilling riser fairings is disclosed in which a lift harness is connected to lift eyes on the exterior of the fairing shroud and the tail connection system is released from the tail edge of the fairing sides. Struts are removed from the upper and lower flanges of the fairing sides which are then opened up about their hinged connection. The open fairing shroud is lifted and set down in a nested relationship with other removed fairing shrouds.