WILLIAM WILSON BARTLETT, JR
Pilots at Ramblewood Rd, Houston, TX

2009022, Sep 10, 2009

Mar 4, 2008

12/041721

William F. Bartlett - Houston TX, US

E21B 43/01

166345

The invention relates to a method, apparatus and components for adding a riser to an offshore platform. The method may include positioning an L-shaped conduit in the water near the seabed and connecting an upward leg of the conduit to a riser located within the platform jacket through the use of a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV). A standard deepwater connector is used so the ROV can remotely connect the riser to the L-shaped conduit. A horizontal leg of the L-shaped conduit is connected to a pipeline located on the outside of the jacket. The method maybe performed without ceasing production operations of the platform, thereby resulting in significant cost savings. The riser maybe located in a column of conductor guides on the platform jacket. The riser maybe stabilized within the guides, and/or electrically isolated from the platform jacket, through the use of generally semi-circular shaped segmented centralizers or by positioning a bladder between the riser and each guide and then filling the bladder with a material, such as grout or epoxy. The L-shaped conduit may be attached to a skid having one or more inflatable balloons for use in positioning the upward leg of the conduit beneath the riser. Various video, sonar and lighting equipment is disclosed to facilitate the remote connection of the L-shaped conduit to the riser. An assembly station is disclosed on the platform deck for constructing the riser in sections. The riser sections may be welded together in a positive-pressure welding habitat.