Riser gas handling system and method of use

Abstract

The invention provides a system for handling gas in a riser. The system comprises a riser flow spool, a riser isolation device and an upper riser disconnect assembly wherein at least the riser flow spool is connected to the riser below a riser tension ring and the upper riser disconnect assembly is located above the riser tension ring.

1 . A riser assembly comprising:
 a riser flow spool;   a riser isolation device and   an upper riser disconnect assembly;   wherein at least the riser flow spool is located on a riser below a riser tension ring and wherein the upper riser disconnect assembly is located above the riser tension ring.   
     
     
         2 . The riser assembly of  claim 1  wherein the riser isolation device is configured to be connected to the riser below the tension ring. 
     
     
         3 . The riser assembly of  claim 1  wherein the upper riser disconnect assembly is configured to be connected to a rotating control device. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The riser assembly of  claim 3  wherein the rotating control device is configured to be releasably connected to the upper riser disconnect assembly above the upper riser disconnect assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The riser assembly of  claim 1  wherein the riser isolation device, riser flow spool and/or upper riser disconnect assembly is dimensioned to fit through a platform rig floor rotary table. 
     
     
         7 . The riser assembly of  claim 1  wherein the riser isolation device and riser flow spool are combined into an integrated riser joint. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The riser assembly of  claim 1  wherein the upper riser disconnect assembly is disposed below a slip joint, wherein the slip joint is a two-part slip joint, a three part slip joint or more than three-part slip joint. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The riser assembly of  claim 1  wherein the riser flow spool comprises at least one flowline, the at least one flowline is configured to be connected to a distribution assembly, choke assembly, a safety valve and/or a mud-gas separator. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The riser assembly of  claim 1  wherein the tension ring is coupled to a tensioning system to allow relative vertical movement between the riser and a platform, wherein the riser flow spool hoses are configured to be vertically offset for the tensioning system. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The riser assembly of  claim 1  wherein the tension ring is disposed circumferentially about a portion of the riser, a portion of the riser isolation device, a portion of slip joint, an outer barrel of a slip joint, a portion of an upper riser disconnect assembly and/or a tension joint. 
     
     
         19 . The riser assembly of  claim 1  wherein the upper riser disconnect assembly comprises an upper connector and a lower connector wherein the upper and lower connectors are configured to disconnect from one another. 
     
     
         20 . The riser assembly of  claim 1  wherein the upper connector is connected to a rotating control device. 
     
     
         21 . The riser assembly of  claim 19  wherein the lower connector of the upper riser disconnect assembly is configured to be connected to a tension ring, tension joint and/or an outer slip joint barrel. 
     
     
         22 . The riser assembly of  claim 1  wherein the upper riser disconnect assembly is a slip joint disconnect assembly or is a quick disconnect assembly. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The riser assembly of  claim 1  wherein the upper riser disconnect assembly, riser flow spool and/or riser isolation device is controlled remotely. 
     
     
         25 . The riser assembly of  claim 1  wherein the upper riser disconnect assembly comprises at least one sensor to monitor and/or indicate a latched and/or unlatched status and/or the riser isolation device comprises at least one sensor to monitor the sealing of the riser isolation device. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A method of installing a riser gas handling system in a subsea riser comprising:
 installing a riser flow spool assembly on the riser below the tension ring; and   installing an upper riser disconnect assembly above the tension ring.   
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32  comprising installing a riser isolation device below the tension ring and/or installing the riser isolation device above the riser flow spool assembly. 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 32  comprising connecting a lower connector of the upper riser disconnect assembly onto a tension ring, tension joint and/or an outer slip joint barrel. 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 32  comprising installing a rotary control device above the tension ring to enable managed pressure subsea drilling operations. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37  comprises connecting a slip joint to the rotary control device. 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 32  comprising installing the upper riser disconnect assembly on the riser string and then installing the rotary control device onto the upper riser disconnect assembly. 
     
     
         42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 32  comprising removing an existing slip joint and/or an existing slip joint inner barrel on the riser and installing the riser flow spool and riser isolation device onto the riser to convert a marine riser for RGH operations. 
     
     
         45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 32  comprising installing a riser auxiliary line termination joint on the riser and installing the riser flow spool and riser isolation device onto the termination joint. 
     
     
         47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . A method of handling riser gas in a subsea riser comprising:
 providing a riser assembly comprising:
 a riser flow spool; 
 a riser isolation device and 
 an upper riser disconnect assembly; 
 wherein the riser flow spool is located on a riser below a riser tension ring and wherein the upper riser disconnect assembly is located above the riser tension ring; 
 actuating the riser isolation device to close the riser above the riser flow spool and actuating the riser flow spool to divert gas trapped below the riser isolation device. 
   
     
     
         54 . The method according to  claim 53  comprising actuating a blowout preventer on the riser to close the riser below the flow spool and actuating a distribution manifold and/or riser gas handling choke to control the diversion of gas trapped below the riser isolation device and actuating valves on the riser flow spool, distribution manifold and/or riser gas handling choke to enable the gas to flow to a mud gas separator. 
     
     
         55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . The method according to  claim 53  comprising providing a rotary control device above the riser tension ring during managed pressure subsea drilling operations. 
     
     
         58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . A method of installing a rotary control device in a riser with riser gas handling comprising:
 providing a riser assembly comprising
 a riser flow spool; 
 a riser isolation device; and 
 an upper riser disconnect assembly; 
 wherein at least the riser flow spool is connected to the riser below a riser tension ring and wherein the upper riser disconnect assembly is connected to the riser above the tension ring; and 
   connecting a rotary control device to the upper riser disconnect assembly.   
     
     
         60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . The method according to  claim 59  comprising disconnecting the rotary control device from the riser above the tension ring to recover the rotary control device from the riser. 
     
     
         62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . (canceled) 
     
     
         64 . (canceled) 
     
     
         65 . (canceled)