Cable management on marine drilling risers

{
  "publication_number": "US11401753B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Cable management on marine drilling risers",
  "abstract": "A drilling riser cable management system includes a plurality of clamping mechanisms pre-installed on riser joints and a robotic arm. The robotic arm has a cable handling mechanism that is configured to securely install the cable on each clamping mechanism without relying on human manipulation of the cable during installation.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A drilling riser cable management system configured to clamp an electrical cable to riser joints for use in a drilling process, the drilling riser cable management system comprising: a plurality of clamping mechanisms that are pre-installed to drilling riser joints prior to being run; and a mechanical cable handling mechanism configured to securely install the electrical cable to each of the plurality of clamping mechanisms without relying on human manipulation of the cable, wherein each of said plurality of clamping mechanisms includes a spring biased hinged member that is actuated at least in part by engagement of a shaped surface on the handling mechanism, and wherein the shaped surface on the handling mechanism is a cam surface configured to engage a pin mounted to the hinged member.",
    "2. The drilling riser cable management system according to claim 1 further comprising a robotic arm system mounted to the mechanical cable handling mechanism, the robotic arm system configured to move the cable handling mechanism to a location in the proximity of at least one of the clamping mechanisms.",
    "3. The drilling riser cable management system according to claim 1 further comprising a video imaging system configured to capture images to facilitate secure installation of the cable to each of the clamping mechanisms.",
    "4. The drilling riser cable management system according to claim 1 wherein the electrical cable is a MUX cable configured to transfer electrical signals from topside equipment to blowout preventer (BOP) equipment.",
    "5. The drilling riser cable management system according to claim 1 wherein each of the clamping mechanisms are configured to securely hold more than one electrical cable.",
    "6. The drilling riser cable management system according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of clamping mechanisms is fixed to an auxiliary line of one of the riser joints.",
    "7. A method of clamping an electrical cable to riser joints, the method comprising: actuating a mechanical cable handling mechanism with a robotic arm, the actuation securely installing an electrical cable onto a clamping mechanism that is mounted to a drilling riser joint, while the riser joint is being suspended from a drill floor, wherein the installing of the electrical cable onto said clamping mechanism does not rely on human manipulation of the cable, wherein the clamping mechanism includes a spring biased hinged member that is actuated at least in part by engagement of a shaped surface on the mechanical cable handling mechanism, and wherein the shaped surface on the mechanical cable handling mechanism is a cam surface configured to engage a pin mounted on the hinged member.",
    "8. The method of claim 7 wherein the clamping mechanism is fixed to an auxiliary line of the riser joint."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for cable management when deploying marine drilling riser. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and method for clamping cable, such as multiplex (MUX) electrical cable to drilling riser joints when running the drilling riser.\n\nThis section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.\n\nA drilling riser includes a relatively large-diameter pipe that connects a subsea blowout preventer (BOP) stack to a surface rig. The large-diameter pipe is configured to take mud returns to the surface. In addition to the large-diameter main tube, many drilling risers include a plurality of high-pressure external auxiliary lines. These auxiliary lines can include high pressure choke and kill lines for circulating fluids to the BOP, and usually power and control lines for the BOP. In marine drilling applications, an umbilical cord is used to transfer electrical signals from the topside equipment to the BOP equipment on the sea floor. This cord is typically attached to the drilling riser by means of clamp(s) that are attached to the auxiliary line(s) of each joint of drilling riser.",
  "cpc": [
    "E21B 19/006",
    "B25J 11/00",
    "B63B 21/502",
    "E21B 17/01",
    "E21B 17/1035",
    "E21B 19/002",
    "E21B 41/0007",
    "F16L 3/10"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B63B 21/50",
    "E21B 17/01",
    "E21B 19/00",
    "F16L 3/10"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Schlumberger Technology Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Vikas Rakhunde",
    "Steven Shimonek",
    "Nicolas Arteaga",
    "Matthew GIVENS",
    "Harold Tenorio",
    "Jon Tyler",
    "John Zahl"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2020-01-23",
  "publication_date": "2022-08-02",
  "grant_date": "2022-08-02",
  "priority_date": "2020-01-23",
  "application_number": "US-202016750230-A",
  "family_id": "76971173",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
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}