Flanged connections

摘要

A subsea connector includes a sleeve 4 which is screwed on to a thread 18 provided on an upper axial end of the lower riser section 1. The sleeve 4 encloses a lower end of an upper riser section 2 and is retained thereto. Once the sleeve 4 is secured to the lower riser section, this loosely secures the upper riser section 2 to the lower riser section 1. A tensioning tool then stretches the sleeve 4 upwardly and a retaining collar 5 is then manoeuvred in order to retain the sleeve 5 in this tensioned state after the release of the tensioning tool. This creates a preloaded connection between the upper riser section 2 and the lower riser section 1.