Mechanical Connectors

A. Gledhill and B. Hart,

Cameron Iron Works

INTRODUCTION
Mechanical connectors are present in many different areas of subsea
oilfield equipment ranging from drilling BOP stacks through Christmas trees and flowlines to the latest concepts in modular completions.
They perform a very important interface and absolute integrity is
required to prevent pollution. This is particularly so with their
extensive use in modular template completions when many more
such connectors are used than would be the case with more
traditional methods.

PURELY DIVER-INSTALLED CONNECTOR

In the case where diver involvement is acceptable, a very
cost-effective and reliable type of connector is that of the type shown
in Fig. 1. This uses individual tie-down screws which force
Advances in Underwater Technology, Ocean Science and Offshore Engineering, Volume 10:
Modular Subsea Production Systems
0Society for Underwater Technology (Graham & Trotman, 1987)

ADVANCES IN UNDERWATER TECHNOLOGY

Fig. 1 Mechan~calwellhead connector

wedge-shaped segments radially inwards against the tapered shoulder of the wellhead housing.
Its mam advantages are low initial cost and reliability with no
hydraulic components to denature after prolonged installation.
However, it is labour intensive and obviously not suited to use m
deep water and requlres longer to make up tight than hydrauhcally
actuated types.

WELLHEAD HYDRAULIC CONNECTORS

A type of connector using hydraulically actuated collet fingers

is

shown in Fig. 2. In this design, a number of hydraulic cylinders dnve

a tapered sleeve which acts against the collet fingers, dnving them
onto the matmg hubs.
T h s design is very versatile and is equally suited for use as a
dnlling connector or a Christmas tree connector.
In the unlocked position the clamp fingers open out at the bottom
to provide a funnel whch Improves guidance when used as a wellhead
connector. This feature is particularly useful during guidelineless
drilling.
When greater imtial alignment is requlred as in the case of a tree
connector, where internal stab mandrels are used, a lower skirt nng
is employed to provide initial lateral clearance to prevent damage.
As the connector mechamsm relies on sliding tapered sleeves to
denve its mechanical advantage, the effects of fnction have an
unportant beanng on overall efficiency.

MECHANICAL CONNECTORS

Fig. 2 Model 70 collet connector

For the connector shown In Flg. 1, the mechanical advantage

gven as

IS

where a = angle of outer tapered sleeve

b = angle of wellhead housing and connector body
fl = fnctlon angle for slldlng sleeve/collet finger interface
f2 = frlctlon angle for collet fingerlwellhead houslng mterface.

A typlcal value of a IS 4" and of b IS 25".Consequently, ~f fnctlon IS

~gnored,the mechamcal advantage IS 14.83: 1.
However, the effects of fnctlon greatly reduce t h s figure such that
a practically achievable mechanical advantage is of the order of 3:- 1.
T h s figure IS obtalned uslng an angle of frlctlon of about 8" for both fl
and fi, whlch IS equivalent to a fnctlon coefficient of 0.14.
Slnce frlctlon has such a dramatlc effect on efficiency, particular
attention IS g v e n to the use of low-fr~ctioncoatlngs and speclal
lubricants. After a considerable amount of use or after a long perlod
subsea ~t IS unllkely that a connector w11 perform as efficiently as
when new.
Gwen the practical llmltatlons of the current deslgn an Improved
way of lncreaslng connector preload IS to lncrease the hydraullc force
on the tapered slldlng sleeve as on the annular plston hydraullc

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ADVANCES IN UNDERWATER TECHNOLOGY

connector shown in Fig. 3. The annular piston g v e s a larger surface

area than the total for the individual cylinders of the non-integral
design of a similar size and operating pressure Mechan~cally,this
connector is sunilar to that shown in Fig. 2, but it is more suitable for
use when high cyclic bending loads are encountered such as when
dnlllng in very deep water or during wellhead tieback operations.
Increased preload prevents joint separation under load and reduces
the nsk of fatigue failure of the clamp fingers and fretting of the metal
gasket.

Fig. 3 HC collet connector

These types of connectors are considered to be self-lockmg, smce

the angle of the outer tapered sleeve at 4" is less than the assumed
fnction angle of about 8".
External mecharucal locking devices may be provided, using the
standard overnde rod feature if any vibration is expected whch may
cause the connector to loosen during installation.

The collet connectors descnbed previously are integral w t h their

hydraulic actuators. T h s can be a disadvantage where such
connectors are unmersed subsea for extended periods w t h the nsk
of corrosion and damage to the hydraulic components.
A tree connector whch works in the same principle as those
previously described, although with remote actuators, is shown m

MECHANICAL CONNECTORS

51

Fig. 4. The hydraulic actuating cylinders are incorporated mto the

tree runrung tool shown m Fig. 5. The runnlng tool is shown attached
to the tree m Fig. 6 and close-up photographs of the connection
between the hydraulic cylinders on the r u m n g tool and the extended
operating rods of the wellhead connector are shown m Figs 7 and 8.

-. - ..

Fig. 4 Connector w ~ t hremote operators

A special lockdown mechanism is promded at the top of each

operating rod (Flg. 9) to prevent accidental unlocking dunng servlce.
After the operating rods have been pushed down by the actuators
to lock the connector, on removing the actuation tool, four serrated
fingers spring out and engage wth a mating fixed collar.
In order to unlock the connector, the actuation tool attaches to the
top of the connector operating rod and compresses the serrated
fingers, remomng them from mesh wth the collar. (Fig. 10). The
operating rod may then be drawn upwards to unlock the connector.

MECHANICAL CONNECTORS

Fig. 9 Cross sectlon of locking

mecharusm

Fig. 10 Cross section of

operating rod wth-actuatorattached

CONNECTORS FOR MODULAR SUBSEA

COMPLETIONS
The latest developments in subsea completions employing the
modular concept, where subsea production systems are remote from
wellheads, require connectors whch have multiple bores and are
capable of bemg remotely mstalled and tested w t h a h g h degree of
reliabihty.
A typical small process line connector is shown m Fig. 11. This
works on the annular piston concept as descnbed earher for a
wellhead connector, but mcorporates two non-integral hydraulic
pistons whch act as an emergency secondary unlock by means of two
rods threaded into the annular piston.
Metal-to-metal seals for each bore are obtained by using nng
gaskets squeezed into tapered seats. As the gaskets are flexlble m a
radial direction when compared w t h the hubs, they are pressureenergzed but they are nevertheless g v e n a substantial lnltial
squeeze on make-up of the connector m order to prevent leakage at
low pressure.
I~utialalignment on bnngmg the connector into proxlrnity w t h its

Fig. 11 Annular p~stonprocess line connector

matmg hub is gtven by the lower slurt nng which incorporates a guide
funnel. After the funnel has entered over the neck of the hub, two
alignment pins are provided whch extend beyond the gaskets and
enter mto pockets in the hub to gtve correct angular orientation
before the gaskets enter their seats.
Most collet connectors were ongtnally mtended for use m a
vertical mode and m thls situation no special consideration need be
given to circumferential location of the collet fingers. However, m the
honzontal mode, gravlty would cause the fingers to bunch together
on the lower side. Although the connector would still function, since
the fingers have a lateral relief provided at the top and bottom,
mcreased fnction ansing between each finger would Impair the
connector efficiency.
T o overcome t h s problem, a number of small guide blocks are
provided to locate the fingers circumferentially. They are screwed to
the connector body and fit into grooves machned m the clamp finger.
Alternatively, a small grub screw may be provlded in the side of
each clamp finger, protruding the same amount as the normal gap to
provlde equal finger spacmg.
The annular piston is provlded m t h lip seals and beanng nngs to
prevent galling. The bore of the cylinder is hard surfaced mth either
an electroless mckel fimsh or a corrosion and wear-resistant weld
cladding.

MECHANICAL CONNECTORS

59

SPECIAL FLOWLINE CONNECTORS FOR HARD PIPE

Although flexlble pipe conveys certain mstallation advantages, it has
drawbacks dunng service. It lacks the reliable durabhty of hard pipe
and thus requlres more frequent statutory inspechon. Once hard pipe
is mstalled, it can be reasonably assumed to have a service life of up
to 30 years.
In order to facilitate installation of hard pipe, some means of
increasing flexibility is required. This can always be acheved by
usmg either long pipe runs or loops or colls, but the use of pipelme
swvels is usually most efficient.
Pipelme swivels require a fine surface finish m order to prevent
leakage dunng service since they are not preloaded. However, they
do permit subsequent movement and are thus able to contend w t h
rmsalignment occumng due to thermal growth or surface movement.
The alignment swvel flange (Fig. 19) allows angular rmsalignment
of up to 10" in any direction and also permits disconnection, albeit
w t h diver involvement but this is acceptable for pipelmes laid in
shallow waters. The connection uses a standard API nng gasket and
when the bolts are correctly torque tightened, the preload in the joint
g v e s a full metal-to-metal seal in the swvel mechanism. However,
once the jomt is made up, no subsequent movement is possible
unless the studs are slackened first.
Where diver mvolvement is not desirable, an alternative solution is
to use the self-aligmng collet connector (Fig. 20), whch contams all
of the beneficial features of the alignment swvel flange combmed
w t h remote operation.

Fig. 19 Alignment swvel flange

Fig. 20 Self allgnlng collet

connector

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ADVANCES IN UNDERWATER TECHNOLOGY

CONCLUSIONS
Subsea completions are formed of discrete packages of hardware,
each dedicated to a particular function, whlch must be llnked together
so as to operate as an Integral unit.
The interface, whether it be for the passage of production fluids,
hydraulics actuation fluids or electncal signals, is provided by the
mechanical connector.
The type of connector selected depends largely upon its intended
purpose, whether it be made up by divers or operated and mstalled
using remote means. Cntena such as initial cost notwithstanding, the
current trend favours fully remote operation as a means of ensurmg
reliability irrespective of envlronrnental conditions.
Apart from the use of connectors dunng drilling operations, most
other connector installations remain subsea for extended penods. It
is essential that they should disconnect reliably when required, such
as when equipment is recovered for overhaul. Corrosion in salt water
is a senous problem and, although care is taken that the connector
mechanical components are adequately protected with special
coatings, the use of corrosion inhibitors which displace sea water
from the working parts greatly improves reliability. Some damage to
protective coatmgs is usually unavoidable and cathodic protection
devices are just as essential overall as are inhibitors.
Special stainless steel welded inlays are usually provided in the
metal gasket seats to prevent corrosion. Even a small amount of
corrosion occurring at the gasketlseat interface would cause leakage
to occur.