CA1126038A - Vertically moored platform anchoring - Google Patents
Vertically moored platform anchoringInfo
- Publication number
- CA1126038A CA1126038A CA321,888A CA321888A CA1126038A CA 1126038 A CA1126038 A CA 1126038A CA 321888 A CA321888 A CA 321888A CA 1126038 A CA1126038 A CA 1126038A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- string
- riser
- casing
- riser conduit
- conduit
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 238000004873 anchoring Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 13
- 238000007667 floating Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 17
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 abstract description 5
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 abstract description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 abstract description 3
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 2
- 235000010627 Phaseolus vulgaris Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 244000046052 Phaseolus vulgaris Species 0.000 description 1
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000004568 cement Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012141 concentrate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003754 machining Methods 0.000 description 1
- 125000006850 spacer group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B21/00—Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
- B63B21/50—Anchoring arrangements or methods for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers
- B63B21/502—Anchoring arrangements or methods for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers by means of tension legs
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
- E21B17/01—Risers
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
- E21B7/12—Underwater drilling
- E21B7/128—Underwater drilling from floating support with independent underwater anchored guide base
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
- Revetment (AREA)
- Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
- Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An improved system for anchoring a floating vessel which is anchored only by parallel and essentially vertical conduits. The anchoring load is carried by units of concentric pipes including an outer riser pipe and inner strings of casing. Drilling wells and/or production of oil and gas or like operations are conducted through these casings. Means are provided for transmitting the tension of the inner casing strings to the floating vessel through the upper end of the outer riser pipe. Means are also provided to prevent excessive buildup of stresses in the upper end of the inner casing due to the bending caused by the excursion caused by the waves, the wind, and the current.
An improved system for anchoring a floating vessel which is anchored only by parallel and essentially vertical conduits. The anchoring load is carried by units of concentric pipes including an outer riser pipe and inner strings of casing. Drilling wells and/or production of oil and gas or like operations are conducted through these casings. Means are provided for transmitting the tension of the inner casing strings to the floating vessel through the upper end of the outer riser pipe. Means are also provided to prevent excessive buildup of stresses in the upper end of the inner casing due to the bending caused by the excursion caused by the waves, the wind, and the current.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
~ield of the Invention This invention relates to a structure floating on a body of water. More particularly, the invention relates to a floating structure from which drilling wells and/or production of oil and gas or like oper-ations, or both, are carried out. In its more specific aspects, the invention concerns a floating str-lcture having buoyancy means to float the structure and in which the structure is anchored by a plurality of essentially parallel and vertical conduits commonly called "risers."
More specifically, the invention concerns such a structure in ~hich con-centric casing strings, within riser pipes, form an important part of the anchoring system.
Setting .~ .
In recent years, it has become desirable to use a floating vessel from which to drill wells in marine locations. Many of these structures have been maintained on station by conventional spread caten-ary mooring lines, or by propulsion -~hruster units. One system of floating vessel receiving attention for drilling or production of wells in water is the Vertically Moored Platform, such as described in U.S.
Patent 3,648,638, issued March 14, 1972, entitled "Vertically Moored ~ ,.
Platform," Kenneth A. Blenkarn, inventor. A key feature of Vertically Moored Platfor~s is that the floating platform is connected to anchor means in the ocean floor only by elongated3 parallel members which are preferred to be large diameter conduits, commonly called "riser pipes."
These elongated members or riser pipes are held in tension by excess buoyancy of the platform.
; Prior Art This invention is an improvement over the anchoring system described in U.S. Patent 3,648,638, supra. This patent is considered the closest prior art and, as stated above, our present invention is an ~, ~
~, - 2 -.~
~,' r improvement thereon. Other patents dealing with Vertically Moored Plat-forms include U.S. 3,55~,410; U.S. 3,559,411; U.S. 3,572,272; U.S.
3,976,021; U.S. 3,978,&04; U.S. 3,983,828; U.S. 3,993,273; U.S.
4,062,313; and U.S. 3,154,039. There are prior patents and art which teach to have concentric strings oE casing extending from an underwater wel.l to a platform above the water. In this latter regard, attention is direc-ted to U.S. Patent 3,971,576. U.S. Patent 3,705,623 shows concen-tric pipes 33 and 17 conn~cted to a buoyancy member 19; however, those concentric pipes form no part of the anchoring system. None of these patents or art to our ~nowledge teach to anchor a Vertically Moored Platform by means of concentric tensioned casing s-trings within an outer tensioned riser pipe. No prior art is known to do this.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention concerns an anchoring system and method of con-necting a vessel floating on a body of water to a subsea well having a first string of casing set and secured in a hole in the bottom of said body o~ water, and a second string of casing supported in the first string and extending deeper than said first s-tring of casing and secured in said hole. A first riser conduit (commonly called a "riser pipe") is connected at its lower end to said first string of casing in a sealing relationship so that the first riser conduit and the first string of casing form a fluid-tight conduit. The upper end of said first riser conduit is supported from the vessel to apply a tension thereto. The lower end of a second riser conduit or riser casing is connected to the second string of casing in a sealing relationship so that said second string of casing and the second riser conduit form a second fluid-tight conduit. The upper end of the second riser conduit is supported from an upper portion of the first riser conduit such that a tension is applied to the second riser conduit when tension is applied to the first riser conduit.
~G~
The upper and lower ends of the first riser conduit (or riser pipe) are provided with terminators which are really stiffened sections of the riser pipe to distribute curvature over a length or a portion of the length of the riser pipe. The second or inner riser conduits are provlded with centralizers within the outer or first riser conduit ter-minators. The upper and lower ends of the inner casing strings need no terminators.
Various objects and a better understanding oE the invention can be had from the Eollowing description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
~; FIGURE ~ is a view of a Vertically Moored Platform.
FIGURE 2 illustrates, partly in cutaway view, one riser pipe means of one leg of the Vertically Moored Platform of FIG~RE 1.
FIGURE 3 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of the means of FIGURE 2 of connecting the top ends of the inner casing strings to the riser pipe.
FIGURE 4 shows one means of connecting the riser pipe to the string of casing anchored in the wellbore.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference is first made to FIGU~E 1 which shows ~ side view of a Vertically Moored Platform. Shown therein is a platform 10 supported on a body of water 12 having a bottom 14. The structur~ 10 generally includes a float means 16 which supports a working deck 18 above the surface 20 of the body of water 12. It is to be noted that a Vertically Moored Platform is described in detail in prior U.S. Patent 3,648,638, ; supra. Float means 16 is, for example, composed of four bottle-shaped s buoyant legs 22. Each leg 22 is anchored by a plurality of riser pipes ~ 24 which are provided with spacers 26. Riser pipes 24 connect to cas-- 30 ings 28 which are cemented in holes in the bottom of the body of water.
_ ~, _ 3~3 A template 30 is shown on the bottom 14 through which the wells for cas-ings 28 were guided. Riser pipes 24 normally are made of high quality steel and typically are 20 inches in diameter. The riser pipes 24 are parallel and are held in tension by the vertical force exerted on the buoyant structure. Th~ typical length of these riser pipes 24 may be from 500 feet up to several thousand feet from the base of the leg mem-ber 22 of the Vertically Moored Platform to the sea floor 14.
Attention is next directed to FIGURE 2 which illustrates an improved anchoring connection means between the Vertically Moored Plat-lQ form and the sea floor. Shown thereon is leg 22 which is one of the four float ~embers of the Vertically Moored Platform of FIGURE 1. For simplicity and ease of understanding, we have sbown only one riser pipe means extending between the leg 22 and the sea bottom 14. A ve~tical passage 32 extends through the lower part or enlarged portion of leg 22.
The upper end of riser pipe 24 is provided with an upper riserterminator 34. As a word of explanation, it is known that if a tubular member is held under tension and subject to bending, stresses concen-trated in the ends. One way of meeting this problem is to make the end section sufficiently strong to distribute the bending deformation which may concentrate therein over a longer length. This is what is done here and we call the strengthened portion "a terminator," in this case, "the upper riser terminator 34." Thus, a terminator is a stiffened section ; of riser pipe to distribute curvature over a selected portion of the riser pipe.
Upper horizontal bearings 36 and lower horizontal bearings 38 are provided between upper terminator 34 and the wall of passage 32 through jacket 22. Above the horizontal bearing 36 is a vertical bear-inB means 40. Details of this vertical bearing 40 are shown in Patent 3,976,021, Figures 17 and 18. It includes primarily a jack 42, bracket 44, engaging shoulders 46 of the upper end o~ the upper riser terminator ~ ",'- ~1:
,, .
34, and shims and bearings 48. The vertical force of the tension in riser pipe 24 is transmitted through vertical bearing ~0 to the Verti-cally Moored Platform jacket 22.
The lower end of riser pipe 24 i8 connected to a lower termi-nator 50 which passes through a drive pipe 52 in template 30. A 20-inch conductor casing 54 is hung from drive pipe 52 through mudline suspen-sion 56, which in reality may bean upwardly facing shoulder 58 on drive pipe 52, and a shoulder 60 having a downwardly facing shoulder attached to the outer wall of 20-inch conductor casing 54. If the bottom 14 is sufficiently soft, drive pipe 52 can be driven the required depth into the bottom 14; otherwise, a hole can be drilled through the guide tube.
A hole can be drilled through drive pipe 52 and the 20-inch conductor casing 54 set and cemented in place using conventional sea-drilling equipment.
After the 20-inch casing has been cemented in place, a smaller diameter hole to accommodate the next smaller size of casing can be drilled in the bottom thereof. This may be a 13-5/8 inch casing, which is illustrated as intermediate casing 62, which i8 supported by mudline suspension 64, which is similar to mudline suspension 56. The second or 13-5/8 inch intermediate casing 62 is then run and cemented in place.
Then, the 13-5/8 intermediate riser conduit 78 is run and connected to casing 62. After this, an additional hole is drilled to accommodate the next smaller size of casing, which may be 9-S/8. The innermost casing 66 is run and cemented in place and is susp~nded by mudline suspension 68. Any desired number of casing strings may be set in place in drilled holes in a manner described above which is well known. The upper ends of each of casings 54, 62, and 66 are provided with a locking means, such as J-slots 70, 72, and 74.
The lower end of riser pipe 24 is connected to the upper end of conductor casing 54 by a J-lug 76 which fits into the J-slot 70.
.
3~3 Sealing means are also provided so that a fluid-tight conduit is formed from the conductor casing 54 upwardly to the floating structure as examplified by jacket 22. Latching means, not shown, between conductor casing string 54 and drive pipe 52 can be installed to restrain vertical movement between casing 54 and drive pipe 52. A similar device can be installed for succeedlng pairs of casing strings such as casing 62 and 66.
Within riser pipe 24 are shown two concentric strings of casing, and an intermediate riser conduit 78 and the innermost riser conduit 80. Of course, any reasonable number of inner casing strings can be used. The lowermost end of intermediate riser conduit 78 is connected through J-slot 72 to the cement casing 62 in the borehole, and, likewise, the lower end of innermost riser conduit 80 is connected to the cemented innermost casing 66, which is shown as the smaller one in the drawing. Thus, we have a casing 62 and intermediate riser con-duit 78 forming a fluidtight conduit extending from the bottom of the casing to the top of the intermediate riser conduit 78; likewise, a smaller fluid-tight conduit is formed from the lower end of the inner-most casing 66 through riser conduit 80 to the top of the platform. If desired, intermediate riser conduit 78 can be run before the hole for the inner casing 66 is drilled.
The connecting arrangement between the riser pipe and the casing set in the wellbore is shown in FIGVRE 4. Shown thereon also i5 the J-slot 70 on the upper end of the enlarged end portion of conduit casing 54 and a J-lug 76, which is on the lower end of riser 24. Seal means 82 are provided between the lower end of riser 24 and the enlarged portion of the upper end of conduit casing 54. Connect-ion 72 for intermediate riser conduit 78 and cemented casing 62 and connection 74 for innermost riser conduit 80 and cemented casing 66 can be like that shown in FIGURE 4.
'~ ' rS~
,.: .,.~, ~, !
~''' Attention is now directed to means for supporting the upper end of the intermediate riser conduit 78 and innermost riser conduit 80 to the upper end of the riser pipe such that the inner riser conduit 78 and 80 Eorm a part of the anchoring system. This is shown clearly in FI WRE 3. The upper end of riser pipe extension 24A is provided with a flange 81. A casing han8er spool 84 is provided to sit on top of flange 81. Means are provided to connect the casing hanger spool 84 to the intermediate riser conduit 78. This includes a slip means 86. Screw 88 is used to set a seal of the annulus bet-ween casing 78 and casing hanger spool 84. Thus, the upper end of intermediate riser conduit 78 is supported Erom riser extension 24A
through casing hanger spool 84. Casing hanger spool 84 has an upper flange 92 which supports casing hanger spool 94;thus, innermost casing string 80 is supported from riser extension 24A through casing hanger spools 84 and 94. Bolts 100~102 and 104 with proper machining and sealing are provided to assure fluid-tight annular spaces 106 between riser extension 24A and riser conduit 78 and annul-us 108 between the two inner riser conduits 78 and 80. Plugs 110 and 112 may be removed and pressure gauges installed to determine the pressure in these annuli. Conventional valves and other equipment may be placed on extension 114 in which to produce the well drilled through these casings.
The preferred installation procedure is to first pre-tension the riser 24 to a predetermined value with the jack 42 and then shim it in place on bearing 48. The hole for the casing 62 is drilled. The casing 62 is run and cemented in. The intermediate riser conduit 78 is run and latched to casing 62 at the J-slot 72; then the intermediate riser conduit 78 is tensioned with the draw work of the drilling rig to -~ a predetermined value which is a function of the riser 24 tension.
The locking means 86 is set, locking the upper end of intermediate riser conduit 78 to casing hanger spool 84. Other inner strings are installed in a similar manner.
, : ., ~6~ 38 Within riser 24 and riser terminators 34 and 50, we have provided centralizers 35 between the riser 24 and terminators 34 and 50 and the first or intermediate riser conduit 78 and central-izers 37 between riser condults 78 and 80. By thus doing so, we control the frictional wear caused by the relative motion between the two strings. Also, the casing string, being inside the riser, does not require a terminator.
By the system that we have just described, a substantlal part of the mooring is by the inner casing strings 78 and 80. This provides a much stronger anchoring means for a given size of riser pipe and will afford more protection in the event of any very severe storm. The amount of mooring by the outer riser pipe 24 compared to the inner casing riser conduits 78, 80, etc., is a function of the cross-sectional area or, more accurately, a function of their respec-tive axial flexibility. The part of the mooring carried by the riser conduits may vary from as low as about 25% to about 70% of the total mooring forces.
An example of where the casing risers carry 27% of the moor-ing force in calm water is:
Riser (24) 18-5/8'1 OD 0.625" W.T. 610 kips Riser Conduit (78) 9-5/8" OD 0.352" W.T. 128 kips Riser Conduit (80) 7" OD 0.272" W.T. 72 kips Tubing Riser 2-7/8" OD 0.217" W.T. 32 kips NOTE: A KIP ls lOOO pounds.
An example of where the riser conduits carry 45% of the moor-ing force in calm water is:
Riser 18-5/8" OD 0.625" W.T. 455 kips - Riser Conduit 13-3/8" OD 0.380" W.T. 144 kips Riser Conduit 9-5/8" OD 0.452" W.T. 126 kips Riser Conduit 7" OD 0.453" W.T. 86 kips ; 30 Tubing 2-7/8" OD 0.276" W.T. 21 kips g ' '~1 , 3~
An e~cample of where the casing risers carry 60% of the mGoring force in calm water is:
Riser 18-5/B" OD 0.625" W.T. 460 kips Riser Conduit 13-3/8" OD 0.380" W.T. 208 kips Riser Condu~t 9-5/8" OD 0.972" W.T. 239 kips Riser Conduit 7 OD û.276" W.T. 194 kips Tuhing, Riser 2x2-3/8" OD 0.190" W.T. 45 kips An example oi ~here the casing risers carry 67% of the mooring force in calm watcr is:
Riser 18-5/8" OD 0.625" W.T. 460 kips Riser Conduit 13-3/8" OD 0.719" W.T. 383 kips '~ Riser Coniluit 9-5/8" OD 0.545" W.T. 271 kips Riser Conduit 7 OD 0.54" W.T. 231 kips TulJing Riser 2x2-3/8" OD 0.21~" W.T. 60 kips These distributions are determined by the axial flexibility of the riser strings and by the expected temperature and pressure effect.
They will change when the temperature and the pressure distribution between each string vary. They will also change when the total mooring force changes under the in1uence of the wind, the waves, and the cur-rent.
While\ the above embodiments have been described in great ';
detail, it is possible to incorporate variations therein without de,art-' ing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
JDG:el (4) ~:
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..,~
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.~ .
,- ~
',
~ield of the Invention This invention relates to a structure floating on a body of water. More particularly, the invention relates to a floating structure from which drilling wells and/or production of oil and gas or like oper-ations, or both, are carried out. In its more specific aspects, the invention concerns a floating str-lcture having buoyancy means to float the structure and in which the structure is anchored by a plurality of essentially parallel and vertical conduits commonly called "risers."
More specifically, the invention concerns such a structure in ~hich con-centric casing strings, within riser pipes, form an important part of the anchoring system.
Setting .~ .
In recent years, it has become desirable to use a floating vessel from which to drill wells in marine locations. Many of these structures have been maintained on station by conventional spread caten-ary mooring lines, or by propulsion -~hruster units. One system of floating vessel receiving attention for drilling or production of wells in water is the Vertically Moored Platform, such as described in U.S.
Patent 3,648,638, issued March 14, 1972, entitled "Vertically Moored ~ ,.
Platform," Kenneth A. Blenkarn, inventor. A key feature of Vertically Moored Platfor~s is that the floating platform is connected to anchor means in the ocean floor only by elongated3 parallel members which are preferred to be large diameter conduits, commonly called "riser pipes."
These elongated members or riser pipes are held in tension by excess buoyancy of the platform.
; Prior Art This invention is an improvement over the anchoring system described in U.S. Patent 3,648,638, supra. This patent is considered the closest prior art and, as stated above, our present invention is an ~, ~
~, - 2 -.~
~,' r improvement thereon. Other patents dealing with Vertically Moored Plat-forms include U.S. 3,55~,410; U.S. 3,559,411; U.S. 3,572,272; U.S.
3,976,021; U.S. 3,978,&04; U.S. 3,983,828; U.S. 3,993,273; U.S.
4,062,313; and U.S. 3,154,039. There are prior patents and art which teach to have concentric strings oE casing extending from an underwater wel.l to a platform above the water. In this latter regard, attention is direc-ted to U.S. Patent 3,971,576. U.S. Patent 3,705,623 shows concen-tric pipes 33 and 17 conn~cted to a buoyancy member 19; however, those concentric pipes form no part of the anchoring system. None of these patents or art to our ~nowledge teach to anchor a Vertically Moored Platform by means of concentric tensioned casing s-trings within an outer tensioned riser pipe. No prior art is known to do this.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention concerns an anchoring system and method of con-necting a vessel floating on a body of water to a subsea well having a first string of casing set and secured in a hole in the bottom of said body o~ water, and a second string of casing supported in the first string and extending deeper than said first s-tring of casing and secured in said hole. A first riser conduit (commonly called a "riser pipe") is connected at its lower end to said first string of casing in a sealing relationship so that the first riser conduit and the first string of casing form a fluid-tight conduit. The upper end of said first riser conduit is supported from the vessel to apply a tension thereto. The lower end of a second riser conduit or riser casing is connected to the second string of casing in a sealing relationship so that said second string of casing and the second riser conduit form a second fluid-tight conduit. The upper end of the second riser conduit is supported from an upper portion of the first riser conduit such that a tension is applied to the second riser conduit when tension is applied to the first riser conduit.
~G~
The upper and lower ends of the first riser conduit (or riser pipe) are provided with terminators which are really stiffened sections of the riser pipe to distribute curvature over a length or a portion of the length of the riser pipe. The second or inner riser conduits are provlded with centralizers within the outer or first riser conduit ter-minators. The upper and lower ends of the inner casing strings need no terminators.
Various objects and a better understanding oE the invention can be had from the Eollowing description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
~; FIGURE ~ is a view of a Vertically Moored Platform.
FIGURE 2 illustrates, partly in cutaway view, one riser pipe means of one leg of the Vertically Moored Platform of FIG~RE 1.
FIGURE 3 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of the means of FIGURE 2 of connecting the top ends of the inner casing strings to the riser pipe.
FIGURE 4 shows one means of connecting the riser pipe to the string of casing anchored in the wellbore.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference is first made to FIGU~E 1 which shows ~ side view of a Vertically Moored Platform. Shown therein is a platform 10 supported on a body of water 12 having a bottom 14. The structur~ 10 generally includes a float means 16 which supports a working deck 18 above the surface 20 of the body of water 12. It is to be noted that a Vertically Moored Platform is described in detail in prior U.S. Patent 3,648,638, ; supra. Float means 16 is, for example, composed of four bottle-shaped s buoyant legs 22. Each leg 22 is anchored by a plurality of riser pipes ~ 24 which are provided with spacers 26. Riser pipes 24 connect to cas-- 30 ings 28 which are cemented in holes in the bottom of the body of water.
_ ~, _ 3~3 A template 30 is shown on the bottom 14 through which the wells for cas-ings 28 were guided. Riser pipes 24 normally are made of high quality steel and typically are 20 inches in diameter. The riser pipes 24 are parallel and are held in tension by the vertical force exerted on the buoyant structure. Th~ typical length of these riser pipes 24 may be from 500 feet up to several thousand feet from the base of the leg mem-ber 22 of the Vertically Moored Platform to the sea floor 14.
Attention is next directed to FIGURE 2 which illustrates an improved anchoring connection means between the Vertically Moored Plat-lQ form and the sea floor. Shown thereon is leg 22 which is one of the four float ~embers of the Vertically Moored Platform of FIGURE 1. For simplicity and ease of understanding, we have sbown only one riser pipe means extending between the leg 22 and the sea bottom 14. A ve~tical passage 32 extends through the lower part or enlarged portion of leg 22.
The upper end of riser pipe 24 is provided with an upper riserterminator 34. As a word of explanation, it is known that if a tubular member is held under tension and subject to bending, stresses concen-trated in the ends. One way of meeting this problem is to make the end section sufficiently strong to distribute the bending deformation which may concentrate therein over a longer length. This is what is done here and we call the strengthened portion "a terminator," in this case, "the upper riser terminator 34." Thus, a terminator is a stiffened section ; of riser pipe to distribute curvature over a selected portion of the riser pipe.
Upper horizontal bearings 36 and lower horizontal bearings 38 are provided between upper terminator 34 and the wall of passage 32 through jacket 22. Above the horizontal bearing 36 is a vertical bear-inB means 40. Details of this vertical bearing 40 are shown in Patent 3,976,021, Figures 17 and 18. It includes primarily a jack 42, bracket 44, engaging shoulders 46 of the upper end o~ the upper riser terminator ~ ",'- ~1:
,, .
34, and shims and bearings 48. The vertical force of the tension in riser pipe 24 is transmitted through vertical bearing ~0 to the Verti-cally Moored Platform jacket 22.
The lower end of riser pipe 24 i8 connected to a lower termi-nator 50 which passes through a drive pipe 52 in template 30. A 20-inch conductor casing 54 is hung from drive pipe 52 through mudline suspen-sion 56, which in reality may bean upwardly facing shoulder 58 on drive pipe 52, and a shoulder 60 having a downwardly facing shoulder attached to the outer wall of 20-inch conductor casing 54. If the bottom 14 is sufficiently soft, drive pipe 52 can be driven the required depth into the bottom 14; otherwise, a hole can be drilled through the guide tube.
A hole can be drilled through drive pipe 52 and the 20-inch conductor casing 54 set and cemented in place using conventional sea-drilling equipment.
After the 20-inch casing has been cemented in place, a smaller diameter hole to accommodate the next smaller size of casing can be drilled in the bottom thereof. This may be a 13-5/8 inch casing, which is illustrated as intermediate casing 62, which i8 supported by mudline suspension 64, which is similar to mudline suspension 56. The second or 13-5/8 inch intermediate casing 62 is then run and cemented in place.
Then, the 13-5/8 intermediate riser conduit 78 is run and connected to casing 62. After this, an additional hole is drilled to accommodate the next smaller size of casing, which may be 9-S/8. The innermost casing 66 is run and cemented in place and is susp~nded by mudline suspension 68. Any desired number of casing strings may be set in place in drilled holes in a manner described above which is well known. The upper ends of each of casings 54, 62, and 66 are provided with a locking means, such as J-slots 70, 72, and 74.
The lower end of riser pipe 24 is connected to the upper end of conductor casing 54 by a J-lug 76 which fits into the J-slot 70.
.
3~3 Sealing means are also provided so that a fluid-tight conduit is formed from the conductor casing 54 upwardly to the floating structure as examplified by jacket 22. Latching means, not shown, between conductor casing string 54 and drive pipe 52 can be installed to restrain vertical movement between casing 54 and drive pipe 52. A similar device can be installed for succeedlng pairs of casing strings such as casing 62 and 66.
Within riser pipe 24 are shown two concentric strings of casing, and an intermediate riser conduit 78 and the innermost riser conduit 80. Of course, any reasonable number of inner casing strings can be used. The lowermost end of intermediate riser conduit 78 is connected through J-slot 72 to the cement casing 62 in the borehole, and, likewise, the lower end of innermost riser conduit 80 is connected to the cemented innermost casing 66, which is shown as the smaller one in the drawing. Thus, we have a casing 62 and intermediate riser con-duit 78 forming a fluidtight conduit extending from the bottom of the casing to the top of the intermediate riser conduit 78; likewise, a smaller fluid-tight conduit is formed from the lower end of the inner-most casing 66 through riser conduit 80 to the top of the platform. If desired, intermediate riser conduit 78 can be run before the hole for the inner casing 66 is drilled.
The connecting arrangement between the riser pipe and the casing set in the wellbore is shown in FIGVRE 4. Shown thereon also i5 the J-slot 70 on the upper end of the enlarged end portion of conduit casing 54 and a J-lug 76, which is on the lower end of riser 24. Seal means 82 are provided between the lower end of riser 24 and the enlarged portion of the upper end of conduit casing 54. Connect-ion 72 for intermediate riser conduit 78 and cemented casing 62 and connection 74 for innermost riser conduit 80 and cemented casing 66 can be like that shown in FIGURE 4.
'~ ' rS~
,.: .,.~, ~, !
~''' Attention is now directed to means for supporting the upper end of the intermediate riser conduit 78 and innermost riser conduit 80 to the upper end of the riser pipe such that the inner riser conduit 78 and 80 Eorm a part of the anchoring system. This is shown clearly in FI WRE 3. The upper end of riser pipe extension 24A is provided with a flange 81. A casing han8er spool 84 is provided to sit on top of flange 81. Means are provided to connect the casing hanger spool 84 to the intermediate riser conduit 78. This includes a slip means 86. Screw 88 is used to set a seal of the annulus bet-ween casing 78 and casing hanger spool 84. Thus, the upper end of intermediate riser conduit 78 is supported Erom riser extension 24A
through casing hanger spool 84. Casing hanger spool 84 has an upper flange 92 which supports casing hanger spool 94;thus, innermost casing string 80 is supported from riser extension 24A through casing hanger spools 84 and 94. Bolts 100~102 and 104 with proper machining and sealing are provided to assure fluid-tight annular spaces 106 between riser extension 24A and riser conduit 78 and annul-us 108 between the two inner riser conduits 78 and 80. Plugs 110 and 112 may be removed and pressure gauges installed to determine the pressure in these annuli. Conventional valves and other equipment may be placed on extension 114 in which to produce the well drilled through these casings.
The preferred installation procedure is to first pre-tension the riser 24 to a predetermined value with the jack 42 and then shim it in place on bearing 48. The hole for the casing 62 is drilled. The casing 62 is run and cemented in. The intermediate riser conduit 78 is run and latched to casing 62 at the J-slot 72; then the intermediate riser conduit 78 is tensioned with the draw work of the drilling rig to -~ a predetermined value which is a function of the riser 24 tension.
The locking means 86 is set, locking the upper end of intermediate riser conduit 78 to casing hanger spool 84. Other inner strings are installed in a similar manner.
, : ., ~6~ 38 Within riser 24 and riser terminators 34 and 50, we have provided centralizers 35 between the riser 24 and terminators 34 and 50 and the first or intermediate riser conduit 78 and central-izers 37 between riser condults 78 and 80. By thus doing so, we control the frictional wear caused by the relative motion between the two strings. Also, the casing string, being inside the riser, does not require a terminator.
By the system that we have just described, a substantlal part of the mooring is by the inner casing strings 78 and 80. This provides a much stronger anchoring means for a given size of riser pipe and will afford more protection in the event of any very severe storm. The amount of mooring by the outer riser pipe 24 compared to the inner casing riser conduits 78, 80, etc., is a function of the cross-sectional area or, more accurately, a function of their respec-tive axial flexibility. The part of the mooring carried by the riser conduits may vary from as low as about 25% to about 70% of the total mooring forces.
An example of where the casing risers carry 27% of the moor-ing force in calm water is:
Riser (24) 18-5/8'1 OD 0.625" W.T. 610 kips Riser Conduit (78) 9-5/8" OD 0.352" W.T. 128 kips Riser Conduit (80) 7" OD 0.272" W.T. 72 kips Tubing Riser 2-7/8" OD 0.217" W.T. 32 kips NOTE: A KIP ls lOOO pounds.
An example of where the riser conduits carry 45% of the moor-ing force in calm water is:
Riser 18-5/8" OD 0.625" W.T. 455 kips - Riser Conduit 13-3/8" OD 0.380" W.T. 144 kips Riser Conduit 9-5/8" OD 0.452" W.T. 126 kips Riser Conduit 7" OD 0.453" W.T. 86 kips ; 30 Tubing 2-7/8" OD 0.276" W.T. 21 kips g ' '~1 , 3~
An e~cample of where the casing risers carry 60% of the mGoring force in calm water is:
Riser 18-5/B" OD 0.625" W.T. 460 kips Riser Conduit 13-3/8" OD 0.380" W.T. 208 kips Riser Condu~t 9-5/8" OD 0.972" W.T. 239 kips Riser Conduit 7 OD û.276" W.T. 194 kips Tuhing, Riser 2x2-3/8" OD 0.190" W.T. 45 kips An example oi ~here the casing risers carry 67% of the mooring force in calm watcr is:
Riser 18-5/8" OD 0.625" W.T. 460 kips Riser Conduit 13-3/8" OD 0.719" W.T. 383 kips '~ Riser Coniluit 9-5/8" OD 0.545" W.T. 271 kips Riser Conduit 7 OD 0.54" W.T. 231 kips TulJing Riser 2x2-3/8" OD 0.21~" W.T. 60 kips These distributions are determined by the axial flexibility of the riser strings and by the expected temperature and pressure effect.
They will change when the temperature and the pressure distribution between each string vary. They will also change when the total mooring force changes under the in1uence of the wind, the waves, and the cur-rent.
While\ the above embodiments have been described in great ';
detail, it is possible to incorporate variations therein without de,art-' ing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
JDG:el (4) ~:
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Claims (6)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A method of connecting a vessel floating on a body of water to a subsea well having a first string of casing set and secured in a hole in the bottom of said body of water and a second string of casing supported within said first string and secured in said hole which comprises:
connecting a first riser conduit at its lower end to said first string of casing;
supporting the upper end of said first riser con-duit from said vessel to apply tension thereto;
connecting the lower end of a second riser conduit suspended within said first riser conduit to said second string of casing; and supporting the upper end of said second riser con-duit from said vessel and applying a tension to said second riser conduit from the buoyancy of said vessel.
connecting a first riser conduit at its lower end to said first string of casing;
supporting the upper end of said first riser con-duit from said vessel to apply tension thereto;
connecting the lower end of a second riser conduit suspended within said first riser conduit to said second string of casing; and supporting the upper end of said second riser con-duit from said vessel and applying a tension to said second riser conduit from the buoyancy of said vessel.
2. A method as defined in Claim 1 including supporting said second riser conduit from the upper end of said first riser conduit at a point above the level on said first riser conduit at which said first riser conduit is supported from said vessel.
3. A method as defined in Claim 1 wherein the axial tension applied to all tensioned conduits within said first riser conduit is in the range of about 25% and about 70% of the total axial tension carried by said first riser conduit and all ten-sioned conduits within said first riser conduit.
4. A method as defined in Claim 1 in which said first riser conduit and said second riser conduit are respectively con-nected to said first string of casing and said second string of casing in a sealing relationship.
5. A method of anchoring a vessel floating on a body of water to a subsea well having a first string of casing set and secured in a hole in the bottom of said body of water, a second string of casing supported within said first string and extending deeper than said first string and secured in said hole and a third string of casing supported within said second string and extending deeper than said second string and secured in said hole which comprises:
connecting a first riser conduit at its lower end to said first string of casing in sealing and tension trans-mitting relationship so that said first riser conduit and said first string of casing form a fluid-tight conduit;
supporting the upper end of said first riser con-duit from said vessel to apply tension thereto;
connecting the lower end of a second riser conduit supported within said first riser conduit to said second string of casing;
applying tension to said second riser conduit from tension means supported by said vessel and connected to the upper end of said second string of casing;
securing the upper end of said second riser conduit while under tension to an upper portion of said first riser conduit;
disconnecting said second riser conduit from said tension means;
connecting the lower end of a third riser conduit to said third string of casing;
applying tension to said third riser conduit from tension means supported by said vessel and connected to the upper end of said third string of casing;
securing the upper end of said third riser conduit while under tension to an upper portion of said first riser conduit; and disconnecting said third riser conduit from said tension means.
connecting a first riser conduit at its lower end to said first string of casing in sealing and tension trans-mitting relationship so that said first riser conduit and said first string of casing form a fluid-tight conduit;
supporting the upper end of said first riser con-duit from said vessel to apply tension thereto;
connecting the lower end of a second riser conduit supported within said first riser conduit to said second string of casing;
applying tension to said second riser conduit from tension means supported by said vessel and connected to the upper end of said second string of casing;
securing the upper end of said second riser conduit while under tension to an upper portion of said first riser conduit;
disconnecting said second riser conduit from said tension means;
connecting the lower end of a third riser conduit to said third string of casing;
applying tension to said third riser conduit from tension means supported by said vessel and connected to the upper end of said third string of casing;
securing the upper end of said third riser conduit while under tension to an upper portion of said first riser conduit; and disconnecting said third riser conduit from said tension means.
6. A method of anchoring a vessel floating on a body of water to a plurality of subsea wells, each such well having (a) a first string of casing secured in a hole in the bottom of said body of water, (b) a second string of casing sup-ported within each said first string and extending deeper than said first string and secured in each said hole, and (c) a third string of casing supported within each said second string and extending deeper than said second string and secured in said hole, which comprises:
connecting a first riser conduit at its lower end to each of said first string of casing in a sealing and force transmitting relationship so that each said first riser conduit and each said first string of casing form a fluid-tight conduit;
pulling on the upper end of each said first riser conduit from said vessel to apply tension thereto;
placing a second riser conduit inside each said first riser conduit;
connecting the lower end of each said second riser conduit to one of said second string of casing;
applying tension to each said second riser conduit from tension means supported by said vessel and connected to the upper end of each said second riser conduit;
securing the upper end of each said tensioned second riser conduit to an upper portion of one of said first riser conduits;
then disconnecting each said second riser conduit from said tensioning means;
placing a third riser conduit inside each said second riser conduit;
connecting the lower end of said third riser con-duit to a third string of casing;
applying tension to each said third riser conduit from tensioning means supported by said vessel and connected to the upper end of a third riser conduit;
disconnecting each said third riser conduit from said tensioning means, and;
there being no anchoring means for said vessel other than concentric riser conduits.
connecting a first riser conduit at its lower end to each of said first string of casing in a sealing and force transmitting relationship so that each said first riser conduit and each said first string of casing form a fluid-tight conduit;
pulling on the upper end of each said first riser conduit from said vessel to apply tension thereto;
placing a second riser conduit inside each said first riser conduit;
connecting the lower end of each said second riser conduit to one of said second string of casing;
applying tension to each said second riser conduit from tension means supported by said vessel and connected to the upper end of each said second riser conduit;
securing the upper end of each said tensioned second riser conduit to an upper portion of one of said first riser conduits;
then disconnecting each said second riser conduit from said tensioning means;
placing a third riser conduit inside each said second riser conduit;
connecting the lower end of said third riser con-duit to a third string of casing;
applying tension to each said third riser conduit from tensioning means supported by said vessel and connected to the upper end of a third riser conduit;
disconnecting each said third riser conduit from said tensioning means, and;
there being no anchoring means for said vessel other than concentric riser conduits.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000392608A CA1135517A (en) | 1978-04-24 | 1981-12-17 | Vertically moored platform anchoring |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US89960878A | 1978-04-24 | 1978-04-24 | |
| US899,608 | 1978-04-24 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1126038A true CA1126038A (en) | 1982-06-22 |
Family
ID=25411281
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA321,888A Expired CA1126038A (en) | 1978-04-24 | 1979-02-20 | Vertically moored platform anchoring |
Country Status (11)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS6027798B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1126038A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2916561A1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES479874A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2424182A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2019471B (en) |
| IE (1) | IE48134B1 (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1115997B (en) |
| NL (1) | NL7903164A (en) |
| NO (1) | NO149238C (en) |
| SG (1) | SG45682G (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4293146A (en) * | 1978-10-04 | 1981-10-06 | Standard Oil Company (Indiana) | VMP Casing tieback |
| US4422806A (en) * | 1981-02-17 | 1983-12-27 | Chevron Research Company | Sliding tension leg tower |
| FR2507146A1 (en) * | 1981-06-05 | 1982-12-10 | Tim Tech Ind Minieres | MARINE PLATFORM, ESPECIALLY DRILLING, AND RELATED PLACING METHOD |
| JPH0645924B2 (en) * | 1987-11-12 | 1994-06-15 | 鹿島建設株式会社 | Offshore structure |
| WO1995017576A1 (en) * | 1993-12-20 | 1995-06-29 | Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. | Dual concentric string high pressure riser |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3648638A (en) * | 1970-03-09 | 1972-03-14 | Amoco Prod Co | Vertically moored platforms |
| US3827486A (en) * | 1972-03-17 | 1974-08-06 | Brown Oil Tools | Well reentry system |
-
1979
- 1979-02-20 CA CA321,888A patent/CA1126038A/en not_active Expired
- 1979-04-09 GB GB7912425A patent/GB2019471B/en not_active Expired
- 1979-04-17 IT IT48756/79A patent/IT1115997B/en active
- 1979-04-23 NL NL7903164A patent/NL7903164A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1979-04-23 JP JP54050194A patent/JPS6027798B2/en not_active Expired
- 1979-04-23 NO NO791346A patent/NO149238C/en unknown
- 1979-04-24 DE DE19792916561 patent/DE2916561A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1979-04-24 ES ES479874A patent/ES479874A1/en not_active Expired
- 1979-04-24 FR FR7910362A patent/FR2424182A1/en active Granted
- 1979-08-08 IE IE825/79A patent/IE48134B1/en unknown
-
1982
- 1982-09-17 SG SG456/82A patent/SG45682G/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2019471A (en) | 1979-10-31 |
| JPS54142795A (en) | 1979-11-07 |
| FR2424182A1 (en) | 1979-11-23 |
| NO149238B (en) | 1983-12-05 |
| IE790825L (en) | 1979-10-24 |
| DE2916561A1 (en) | 1979-10-31 |
| NO149238C (en) | 1984-03-14 |
| JPS6027798B2 (en) | 1985-07-01 |
| NO791346L (en) | 1979-10-25 |
| FR2424182B1 (en) | 1984-12-14 |
| IT1115997B (en) | 1986-02-10 |
| NL7903164A (en) | 1979-10-26 |
| SG45682G (en) | 1983-02-25 |
| GB2019471B (en) | 1982-05-19 |
| ES479874A1 (en) | 1980-01-16 |
| IE48134B1 (en) | 1984-10-03 |
| IT7948756A0 (en) | 1979-04-17 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry |