Marine riser for floating oil or gas platform - with pipe sections linked by ball joints and tensioning ropes

摘要

A marine riser for offshore wells in great depths of water consists of a number of sections (riser joints) which are linked to each other by ball joints. Tensioner ropes keep the whole riser under tension. The ball joints are designed for a minimum of friction at max. tensile stress. This eliminates bending and transverse stresses which lead to premature breakdowns of conventional marine risers. The system needs to absorb merely tensile forces in addition to the hydrostatic forces.