초록 ▼

An offshore system for drilling or production comprises a buoyant hull. In addition, the system comprises a topside mounted to the hull and positioned above the surface of the water. Further, the system comprises a conductor having a lower end disposed in the sea bed below the sea floor and an upper

An offshore system for drilling or production comprises a buoyant hull. In addition, the system comprises a topside mounted to the hull and positioned above the surface of the water. Further, the system comprises a conductor having a lower end disposed in the sea bed below the sea floor and an upper end coupled to the topside. Still further, the system comprises a bend restrictor disposed about the conductor. The bend restrictor comprises a first sleeve having a lower end positioned in the sea bed below the sea floor, an upper end positioned above the sea floor, an inner surface extending between the upper end and the lower end, an outer surface extending between the upper end and the lower end, and a slit extending helically about the first sleeve. The slit extends radially from the inner surface to the outer surface of the first sleeve.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An offshore system for drilling production, the system comprising: a buoyant hull;a topside mounted to the hull and positioned above the surface of the water;a conductor having a lower end disposed in the sea bed below the sea floor and an upper end coupled to the topside;a bend restrictor dispos

1. An offshore system for drilling production, the system comprising: a buoyant hull;a topside mounted to the hull and positioned above the surface of the water;a conductor having a lower end disposed in the sea bed below the sea floor and an upper end coupled to the topside;a bend restrictor disposed about the conductor, wherein the bend restrictor comprises a first sleeve having a lower end positioned in the sea bed below the sea floor, an upper end positioned above the sea floor, an inner surface extending between the upper end and the lower end, an outer surface extending between the upper end and the lower end, and a slit extending helically about the first sleeve;wherein the slit extends radially from the inner surface to the outer surface of the first sleeve, andwherein the slit has a helical pitch P that varies along the slit. 2. The offshore system of claim 1, wherein the slit extends from the upper end to the lower end of the first sleeve. 3. The offshore system of claim 1, wherein the helical pitch P of the slit decreases moving towards the upper end of the first sleeve. 4. The offshore system of claim 1, wherein the conductor has an outer diameter that is less than an inner diameter of the first sleeve. 5. The offshore system of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the first sleeve engages the conductor at the upper end of the first sleeve. 6. The offshore system of claim 1, wherein the bend restrictor includes a first portion extending from the sea floor to the upper end and a second portion extending from the sea floor to the lower end, wherein the first portion has a first axial length and the second portion has a second axial length that is the same as the first axial length. 7. The offshore system of claim 3, wherein the bend restrictor is made of steel, aluminum, or titanium. 8. The offshore system of claim 1, wherein the bend restrictor further comprises a second sleeve disposed about the first sleeve. 9. The offshore system of claim 8, wherein the second sleeve a lower end positioned in the sea bed below the sea floor, an upper end positioned above the sea floor, an inner surface extending between the upper end and the lower end, an outer surface extending between the upper end and the lower end, and a slit extending helically about the second sleeve; wherein the slit extends radially from the inner surface to the outer surface of the second sleeve. 10. The offshore system of claim 9, wherein the first sleeve has a first portion extending from the sea floor to the upper end of the first sleeve and a second portion extending from the sea floor to the lower end of the first sleeve, wherein the first portion has a first axial length and the second portion has a second axial length that is the same as the first axial length; and wherein the second sleeve has a first portion extending from the sea floor to the upper end of the second sleeve and a second portion extending from the sea floor to the lower end of the second sleeve, wherein the first portion of the second sleeve has a first axial length and the second portion of the second sleeve has a second axial length that is the same as the first axial length of the first portion of the second sleeve. 11. A bend restrictor for restricting bending of a conductor extending into the sea floor, the bend restrictor comprising: a sleeve disposed about the conductor, wherein the sleeve has a lower end positioned in the sea bed below the sea floor and an upper end positioned above the sea floor;an annular slit extending radially through the sleeve and having a helical pitch P;wherein the sleeve has a first portion extending from the sea floor to the upper end and a second portion extending from the sea floor to the lower end;wherein the first portion has a first axial length and the second portion has a second axial length that is the same as the first axial length; andwherein the sleeve has an inner surface that tapers radially inward moving from the lower end to the upper end. 12. The bend restrictor of claim 11, wherein a portion of the sleeve engages the conductor. 13. The bend restrictor of claim 12, wherein the upper end of the sleeve engages the conductor. 14. The bend restrictor of claim 11, wherein the sleeve has a uniform radial thickness between the upper end and the lower end. 15. The bend restrictor of claim 11, wherein the pitch P varies along the length of the sleeve. 16. The bend restrictor of claim 11, wherein the sleeve has a radial thickness between 0.25 in. and 3 in. and an axial length measured between the upper end and the lower end, wherein the axial length is greater than 10 m. 17. The bend restrictor of claim 11, wherein the bend restrictor comprises an inner sleeve disposed about the conductor and an outer sleeve disposed about the inner sleeve, wherein each sleeve includes a helical slit. 18. A bend restrictor for restricting bending of a conductor extending into the sea floor, the bend restrictor comprising: a sleeve disposed about the conductor, wherein the sleeve has a lower end positioned in the sea bed below the sea floor and an upper end positioned above the sea floor;an annular slit extending radially through the sleeve and extending helically and continuously from the upper end to the lower end;wherein the annular slit has a helical pitch P; andwherein the sleeve has a first portion extending from the sea floor to the upper end and a second portion extending from the sea floor to the lower end. 19. The bend restrictor of claim 18, wherein the sleeve has an inner surface that tapers radially inward moving from the lower end to the upper end. 20. The bend restrictor of claim 18, wherein the pitch P varies along the length of the sleeve. 21. The bend restrictor of claim 18, wherein the bend restrictor comprises an inner sleeve disposed about the conductor and an outer sleeve disposed about the inner sleeve, wherein each sleeve includes a helical slit.