Abstract: An undersea telescopic joint for a riser system is connected to a drilling vessel with a plurality of tensioners. The joint has a bearing with inner and outer annular mating members. A cap seals the outer member to the joint. The outer member closely receives and is axially movable relative to the inner member. A flat thrust bearing is located in a chamber between the two members. The members are sealed to one another with upper and lower swivel seals. A passage communicates hydraulic fluid to the chamber. The bearing has a pressure gage which registers with a passage that extends between the swivel seals. The chamber is filled with hydraulic fluid so that the two members are separated and the drilling vessel may rotate easily. The gage is used to detect whether the primary swivel seal is leaking.

Abstract: A template (26) attached to an anchor pile (12) supports a pull-in tool receptacle (28) at a predetermined location with respect to the anchor pile. The end of the pipe to be connected includes a riser mandrel (16), the lock down connector (20), and a buoyancy module (52). A bridle (42) is temporarily connected (44, 48, 50) to the end of the pipe with the pull-in cable threaded through a pull-in tool (30) and attached to the bridle.The pull-in tool is locked (32) in the frame, and engages and secures alignment pins (40) attached to the bridle when the line has been pulled in. The pipe end is moved (59) into locked engagement with the anchor pile, the bridle (42) disconnected from the pipe end, and thereafter retrieved to the surface with the pull-in tool (30).

Abstract: An anchor connector with a latch segment retainer body (28) having a lost motion connection to the connector body (36) which has a downwardly-extending skirt (38). Latch segments (30) pivotally connected to the retainer body are free to swing outwardly when the retainer body is retained in its upward position but are locked against the groove (24) in a support mandrel (22) when the retainer body is in its downward position. The latch segments engage the mandrel with a boss (32) which has a tapered upper surface (34) to ensure outward movement for disengagement, and a tapered lower surface (50) which permits diver assist disengagement in the event of a malfunction.