System and method for termination of an undersea umbilical

Abstract

A termination system comprises a tubular lead member and a connection member rotatably coupled to the tubular lead member.

1 . A termination system comprising: 
 a tubular lead member defining a passageway;    a connection member rotatably coupled to the tubular lead member; and    at least one tube coupled to the connection member, the at least one tube at least partially situated in the passageway.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the tubular lead member comprises a plurality of bend limiters.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of bend limiters are buoyant.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the tubular lead member comprises an adapter for rotatably coupling to the connection member.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the connection member comprises a collar for rotatably coupling to the tubular lead member.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the connection member comprises a plurality of bars extending between the connection member and the collar.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein at least one bar comprises a buoyancy device coupled to the at least one bar, the buoyancy device operable to hold the connection member substantially in a predetermined position.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the connection member comprises a handle operable to rotate the connection member.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the connection member comprises a plurality of guide holes defined by the connection member, the plurality of guide holes operable to guide the connection member for connecting to a connector.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the connection member comprises at least one coupler operable to couple the at least one tube to a connector.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the connection member is rotatably coupled to the tubular lead member along a longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the connection member is operable to rotate about the longitudinal axis, the rotation being relative to the tubular lead member.  
   
   
       13 . An undersea umbilical comprising: 
 a passageway defined by the umbilical;    a terminating end on the umbilical, the terminating end comprising a tubular lead member;    a connection member rotatably coupled to the tubular lead member; and    at least one tube coupled to the connection member, the at least one tube at least partially situated in the passageway.    
   
   
       14 . The umbilical of  claim 13  wherein the tubular lead member comprises a plurality of bend limiters.  
   
   
       15 . The umbilical of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of bend limiters are buoyant.  
   
   
       16 . The umbilical of  claim 13  wherein the tubular lead member comprises an adapter for rotatably coupling to the connection member.  
   
   
       17 . The umbilical of  claim 13  wherein the connection member comprises a collar for rotatably coupling to the tubular lead member.  
   
   
       18 . The umbilical of  claim 17  wherein the connection member comprises a plurality of bars extending between the connection member and the collar.  
   
   
       19 . The umbilical of  claim 18  wherein at least one bar comprises a buoyancy device coupled to the at least one bar, the buoyancy device operable to hold the connection member substantially in a predetermined position.  
   
   
       20 . The umbilical of  claim 13  wherein the connection member comprises a handle operable to rotate the connection member.  
   
   
       21 . The umbilical of  claim 13  wherein the connection member comprises a plurality of guide holes defined by the connection member, the plurality of guide holes operable to guide the connection member for connecting to a connector.  
   
   
       22 . The umbilical of  claim 13  wherein the connection member comprises at least one coupler operable to couple the at least one tube to a connector.  
   
   
       23 . The umbilical of  claim 13  wherein the connection member is rotatably coupled to the tubular lead member along a longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       24 . The umbilical of  claim 23  wherein the connection member is operable to rotate about the longitudinal axis, the rotation being relative to the tubular lead member.  
   
   
       25 . An undersea well system comprising: 
 a connector; and    an umbilical comprising a terminating end and defining a passageway, the umbilical coupled to the connector by a termination system, the termination system comprising: 
 a tubular lead member on the terminating end;  
 a connection member rotatably coupled to the tubular lead member; and  
 at least one tube coupled to the connection member, the at least one tube at least partially situated in the passageway.  
   
   
   
       26 . The well system of  claim 25  wherein the tubular lead member comprises a plurality of bend limiters.  
   
   
       27 . The well system of  claim 26  wherein the plurality of bend limiters are buoyant.  
   
   
       28 . The well system of  claim 25  wherein the tubular lead member comprises an adapter for rotatably coupling to the connection member.  
   
   
       29 . The well system of  claim 25  wherein the connection member comprises a collar for rotatably coupling to the tubular lead member.  
   
   
       30 . The well system of  claim 29  wherein the connection member comprises a plurality of bars extending between the connection member and the collar.  
   
   
       31 . The well system of  claim 30  wherein at least one bar comprises a buoyancy device coupled to the at least one bar, the buoyancy device operable to hold the connection member substantially in a predetermined position.  
   
   
       32 . The well system of  claim 25  wherein the connection member comprises a handle operable to rotate the connection member.  
   
   
       33 . The well system of  claim 25  wherein the connection member comprises a plurality of guide holes defined by the connection member, the plurality of guide holes operable to guide the connection member for connecting to the connector.  
   
   
       34 . The well system of  claim 25  wherein the connection member comprises at least one coupler operable to couple the at least one tube to the connector.  
   
   
       35 . The well system of  claim 25  wherein the connection member is rotatably coupled to the tubular lead member along a longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       36 . The well system of  claim 35  wherein the connection member is operable to rotate about the longitudinal axis, the rotation being relative to the tubular lead member.  
   
   
       37 . A method for terminating an umbilical comprising: 
 extending at least one tube through the umbilical;    protecting the at least one tube in a passageway defined by a tubular lead member;    rotatably coupling a connection member to the tubular lead member, the connection member operable to rotate relative to the tubular lead member;    coupling the at least one tube to the connection member, whereby the at least one tube is operable to rotate in the passageway relative to the tubular lead member; and    protecting the at least one tube with the connection member.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the rotatably coupling comprises coupling along a longitudinal axis of the connection member, whereby the connection member is operable to rotate about the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       39 . A method for connecting a umbilical to an undersea well system comprising: 
 providing a connector on the undersea well system;    extending at least one tube through the umbilical for connecting to the connector, the umbilical comprising a terminating end, the terminating end comprising a lead member and a connection member rotatably coupled to the lead member;    coupling the at least one tube to the connection member, whereby the at least one tube is operable to rotate in the passageway relative to the tubular lead member upon rotation of the connection member;    rotating the connection member to orientate the connection member with the connector; and    connecting the at least one tube to the connector through the connection member.    
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the rotatably coupling comprises coupling along a longitudinal axis of the connection member, whereby the connection member is operable to rotate about the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       41 . A termination system comprising: 
 means for providing a passageway;    means for connecting the system to a connector rotatably coupled to the means for providing a passageway; and    means for transmission coupled to the means for connecting the system to a connector, the means for transmission at least partially situated in the passageway of the means for providing a passageway.    
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 41  wherein the means for providing a passageway comprises a means for limiting bending of the means for providing a passageway.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the means for limiting bending of the means for providing a passageway comprises a means for providing buoyancy.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 41  wherein the means for providing a passageway comprises a means for rotatably coupling to the means for connecting the system to a connector.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 41  wherein the means for connecting the system to a connector comprises a means for rotatably coupling to the means for providing a passageway.  
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 45  wherein the means for connecting the system to a connector comprises a means for rigidly coupling extending between the means for connecting the system to a connector and the means for rotatably coupling to the means for providing a passageway.  
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 46  wherein the means for rigidly coupling comprises a means for holding the means for connecting the system to a connector substantially in a predetermined position.  
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 41  wherein the means for connecting the system to a connector comprises a means for rotating the means for connecting the system to a connector.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 41  wherein the means for connecting the system to a connector comprises a means for guiding the means for connecting the system to a connector for connecting to a connector.  
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 41  wherein the means for connecting the system to a connector comprises a means for coupling the means for transmission to a connector.  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 41  wherein the means for connecting the system to a connector is rotatably coupled to the means for providing a passageway along a longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 51  wherein the means for connecting the system to a connector is operable to rotate about the longitudinal axis, the rotation being relative to the means for providing a passageway.  
   
   
       53 . A termination system comprising: 
 a connection member comprising a collar and a longitudinal axis;    a plurality of bars extending between the connection member and the collar;    a buoyancy device coupled to at least one bar, the buoyancy device operable to hold the connection member substantially in a predetermined position;    a plurality of guide holes defined by the connection member, the plurality of guide holes operable to guide the connection member for connecting to a connector;    a flexible tubular lead member comprising an adapter, the adapter rotatably coupled to the collar, the adapter operable to rotate the flexible tubular lead member about the longitudinal axis, the rotation being relative to the connection member;    a handle coupled to the connection member, the handle operable to rotate the connection member;    a plurality of buoyant bend limiters coupled to the flexible tubular lead member;    a passageway defined by the flexible tubular lead member;    at least one tube coupled to the connection member, the at least one tube at least partially situated in the passageway; and    at least one coupler coupled to the connection member, the at least one coupler operable to couple the at least one tube to the connector.    
   
   
       54 . An undersea umbilical comprising: 
 a passageway defined by the umbilical;    a terminating end comprising a flexible tubular lead member, the flexible tubular lead member comprising an adapter;    a plurality of buoyant bend limiters coupled to the flexible tubular lead member;    a connection member comprising a collar and a longitudinal axis, the adapter coupled to the collar and operable to rotate the flexible tubular lead member about the longitudinal axis, the rotation being relative to the connection member;    a plurality of bars extending between the connection member and the collar;    a buoyancy device coupled to at least one bar, the buoyancy device operable to hold the connection member substantially in a predetermined position;    a handle coupled to the connection member, the handle operable to rotate the connection member;    a plurality of guide holes defined by the connection member, the plurality of guide holes operable to guide the connection member for connecting to the connector;    at least one tube coupled to the connection member, the at least one tube at least partially situated in the passageway; and    at least one coupler operable to couple the at least one tube to the connector.    
   
   
       55 . An undersea well system comprising: 
 a connector; and    an umbilical comprising a terminating end and defining a passageway, the umbilical coupled to the connector by a termination system, the termination system comprising: 
 a connection member comprising a collar and a longitudinal axis;  
 a plurality of bars extending between the connection member and the collar;  
 a buoyancy device coupled to at least one bar, the buoyancy device operable to hold the connection member substantially in a predetermined position;  
 a plurality of guide holes defined by the connection member, the plurality of guide holes operable to guide the connection member for connecting to the connector;  
 a flexible tubular lead member comprising an adapter on the terminating end, the adapter rotatably coupled to the collar and operable to rotate the flexible tubular lead member about the longitudinal axis, the rotation being relative to the connection member;  
 a handle coupled to the connection member, the handle operable to rotate the connection member;  
 a plurality of buoyant bend limiters coupled to the flexible tubular lead member;  
 at least one tube coupled to the connection member, the at least one tube at least partially situated in the passageway; and  
 at least one coupler operable to couple the at least one tube to the connector.  
   
   
   
       56 . A method for connecting a umbilical to an undersea well system comprising: 
 providing a connector on the undersea well system;    providing a terminating end on the umbilical, the umbilical defining a passageway;    providing a tubular lead member on the terminating end;    situating at least one tube at least partially in the passageway;    providing a connection member, the connection member comprising a longitudinal axis;    rotatably coupling a connection member to the tubular lead member along the longitudinal axis, whereby the connection member is operable to rotate about the longitudinal axis; and    coupling the at least one tube to the connection member;    lining up the connection member with the connector by rotating the connection member about the longitudinal axis;    connecting the connection member to the connector.    
   
   
       57 . A termination system comprising: 
 means for connecting the system to a connector comprising a longitudinal axis;    means for manipulating the means for connecting the system to a connector;    means for guiding the means for connecting the system to a connector for connecting to a connector;    means for providing a passageway coupled to the means for connecting the system to a connector along the longitudinal axis;    means for limiting bending coupled to the means for providing a passageway;    means for coupling the means for providing a passageway to the means for connecting the system to a connector;    means for coupling the means for connecting the system to a connector to the means for providing a passageway;    means for rigidly coupling extending between the means for connecting the system to a connector and the means for rotatably coupling to the means for providing a passageway;    means for providing buoyancy coupled to the means for rigidly coupling, the means for providing buoyancy operable to hold the means for connecting the system to a connector substantially in a predetermined position;    means for transmission coupled to the means for connecting the system to a connector, the means for transmission at least partially situated in the passageway; and    means for coupling the means for transmission to a connector.