EP0250069A2 - Installation flottante de forage et de production en eau profonde comportant des colonnes montantes souples de production - Google Patents

Installation flottante de forage et de production en eau profonde comportant des colonnes montantes souples de production Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0250069A2
EP0250069A2 EP87303005A EP87303005A EP0250069A2 EP 0250069 A2 EP0250069 A2 EP 0250069A2 EP 87303005 A EP87303005 A EP 87303005A EP 87303005 A EP87303005 A EP 87303005A EP 0250069 A2 EP0250069 A2 EP 0250069A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
platform
template
production
wells
well
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP87303005A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0250069B1 (fr
EP0250069A3 (en
Inventor
Andrew F. Hunter
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ConocoPhillips Co
Original Assignee
Conoco Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Conoco Inc filed Critical Conoco Inc
Publication of EP0250069A2 publication Critical patent/EP0250069A2/fr
Publication of EP0250069A3 publication Critical patent/EP0250069A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0250069B1 publication Critical patent/EP0250069B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • 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
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/01—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B1/00—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils
    • B63B1/02—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils deriving lift mainly from water displacement
    • B63B1/10—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils deriving lift mainly from water displacement with multiple hulls
    • B63B1/107—Semi-submersibles; Small waterline area multiple hull vessels and the like, e.g. SWATH
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/44—Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
    • B63B35/4413—Floating drilling platforms, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
    • 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
    • E21B41/00—Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00
    • E21B41/08—Underwater guide bases, e.g. drilling templates; Levelling thereof
    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of utilizing a floating platform in deep water as a combination drilling/workover and production platform. More particu­larly, the present invention is directed to the use of a floating platform (preferably, a semisubmersible) in 1000 feet (305m) to 3000 feet (915m) of water, which is interconnected to completed wells of a template by flexible risers using a reverse loop configuration, by adjusting the mooring of the platform to position it directly over a template to permit additional drilling or workover without curtailing production from wells of other templates.
  • a floating platform preferably, a semisubmersible
  • the invention provides a method of performing drilling or workover operations in relation to and production from a plurality of well templates, in deep water, the method involving mooring a floating platform in a position which is generally above said templates, the platform being interconnected with one or more completed wells of at least a first well template by one or more looped flexible risers, adjusting the mooring of said platform to position it directly above a further said well template, and performing drilling or workover of one or more wells of such further template without the need to interrupt production from said one or more completed well(s) via said looped flexible user(s).
  • the invention provides a method of using a floating platform in water of the order of from 1000 to 3000 feet deep, said method comprising: mooring said platform in a position that is generally centered above a plurality of well templates; adjusting the mooring of said platform so as to position said platform directly above a first one of said templates; drilling one or more wells through said first template; interconnecting said completed well(s) to said platform using one or more looped flexible riser(s); adjusting the mooring of said platform so as to position said platform directly above a second one of said templates; drilling one or more wells in said second template without interrupting production from said first template.
  • the invention provides a method of simultaneously using a semisubmer­sible platform that is moored in water on the order of from 1000 to 3000 feet deep and interconnected to at least a first and second well template by looped flexible produc­tion risers as a production and a workover platform, said method comprising: adjusting the mooring of said platform so as to position said platform directly above a first one of said templates; curtailing production from said first template; conducting a workover of the wells of said first tem­plate without interrupting production from the wells of said other template(s); restoring the wells of said first template to produc­tion.
  • the method of the present invention provides reduction in costs by eliminating the need for a separate drilling platform. Further, this method takes advantage of the lower costs associated with floating platforms and enables early initial production from a first well template while additional drilling is performed on a second or subse­quent template.
  • the same floating platform is used for workovers to reduce maintenance costs without interrupting production from wells of other templates.
  • the floating platform can be deballasted for mainte­nance without curtailing production.
  • the present invention incorporates the "benefit" of the mobility of the platform resulting from mooring in deep water (normally considered a drawback), to enable the platform to perform the additional drilling and workover functions.
  • moored in water on the order of from 1000 to 3000 feet (305 to 915 meters) deep, there is sufficient flexibility in the moorings to permit the position of the floating platform to be adjusted to lie directly above any of several well templates positioned on the ocean floor for drilling or workover.
  • Templates may be spaced apart by 300 feet (91.5m) without causing the riser to deviate from vertical by more than 17° (in 1000 ft water depth, 6° in 3000 ft), an angle easily accomo­dated by flexible risers. By configuring the flexible risers in a reverse loop, even these relatively small angles will be substantially reduced. This combined flexibility in moorings and production riser capability also permits the floating platform to be deballasted to permit certain portions that normally occupy subsurface positions to extend above the surface for inspection and maintenance, without curtailing production.
  • the Figure is a schematic side elevational view of a floating production platform utilizing a method in accordance with the invention, the drilling/workover position being shown in solid line, the normal production position being shown in phantom.
  • the method in accordance with the invention is adaptable for usage with any floating production facility. It is preferred that a semisubmersible platform 12 be utilized in this method.
  • a plurality of mooring lines 14 (typically eight or more, only two have been shown to simplify the drawing) secure platform 12 in position above templates 16 and 18 by virtue of attachments 20 to the ocean floor.
  • Flexible production riser(s) 26 interconnect template 16 to platform 12.
  • a rigid production riser section 28 traverses the zone (typically 20 to 30 feet) that is subjected to wave battering to extend riser life.
  • the flexible riser 26 is depicted in the Figure in a reverse loop configuration that enhances the flexibility of the system.
  • the use of a flexible riser obviates the need for motion compensation devices typically required with rigid risers and a floating production platform.
  • the reverse loop configuration increases the amount of both lateral and vertical movement of which the platform is capable.
  • the flexible riser 26 may be a single conduit carrying the consolidated flow from a manifold located in proximity to the template 16 if subsea wellheads are used; or the flexible riser may be a bundle of conduits carrying production from the individual wells to wellheads located on the platform 12.
  • Platform 12 is ghosted into its normal position generally centered above its well templates 16 and 18.
  • the position of the platform may be adjusted to bring it directly above one of the well templates 18 as shown in the Figure.
  • This mooring adjustment might be accomplished, for example, by coiling and uncoiling the mooring lines to and from winding drums (not shown).
  • the flotation columns of platform 12 can be debal­lasted in calm weather to enable portions of the platform normally occupying subsurface positions to be raised above the level of the water for inspection and maintenance, as necessary.
  • the flexibility of the mooring system and production risers enables this maintenance to occur without disengaging the risers or curtailing production. Further, should it be necessary to deballast from the operational to the survival mode for a hundred year storm or the like, no adjustment or disconnection of the production risers is necessary to accomodate the change of platform position.
  • the present method can accomodate four (or more) separate well templates with associated satellite wells. If four templates are used, it is preferred that they be generally positioned at the corners of a square. Such a combination drilling/workover and production platform could accomodate on the order of 32 wells with a combined production of about 80,000 barrels of oil per day.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
EP87303005A 1986-06-20 1987-04-07 Installation flottante de forage et de production en eau profonde comportant des colonnes montantes souples de production Expired - Lifetime EP0250069B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US87657686A 1986-06-20 1986-06-20
US876576 1986-06-20

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0250069A2 true EP0250069A2 (fr) 1987-12-23
EP0250069A3 EP0250069A3 (en) 1989-03-29
EP0250069B1 EP0250069B1 (fr) 1993-06-30

Family

ID=25368056

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87303005A Expired - Lifetime EP0250069B1 (fr) 1986-06-20 1987-04-07 Installation flottante de forage et de production en eau profonde comportant des colonnes montantes souples de production

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0250069B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS634193A (fr)
CA (1) CA1294495C (fr)
DE (1) DE3786374D1 (fr)
DK (1) DK312487A (fr)
NO (1) NO872588L (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2207936A (en) * 1987-07-24 1989-02-15 Forex Neptune Sa Development drilling system
WO1998023846A1 (fr) * 1996-11-27 1998-06-04 Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A.S Systeme, navire et installation de fond destines a l'extraction de gaz ou de petrole et procede s'y rapportant
WO1998030438A1 (fr) * 1997-01-07 1998-07-16 Lmg Marin As Dispositif pour navire de forage et d'exploitation
WO2003033863A1 (fr) * 2001-10-12 2003-04-24 Alpha Thames Ltd Systeme de production d'hydrocarbures a un stade d'extraction peu avance
WO2012152278A1 (fr) * 2011-05-06 2012-11-15 National Oilwell Varco Denmark I/S Système d'extraction de pétrole en mer
CN109072877A (zh) * 2015-11-30 2018-12-21 奈普顿科技有限责任公司 可再生能源驳船

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3327780A (en) * 1965-03-15 1967-06-27 Exxon Production Research Co Connection of underwater wells
EP0063911A2 (fr) * 1981-04-29 1982-11-03 Taylor Woodrow Construction Limited Conduite pour le transfert d'un fluide vers ou à partir d'une station sousmarine
GB2182083A (en) * 1985-10-24 1987-05-07 Shell Int Research Method of conducting well operations from an offshore platform

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3327780A (en) * 1965-03-15 1967-06-27 Exxon Production Research Co Connection of underwater wells
EP0063911A2 (fr) * 1981-04-29 1982-11-03 Taylor Woodrow Construction Limited Conduite pour le transfert d'un fluide vers ou à partir d'une station sousmarine
GB2182083A (en) * 1985-10-24 1987-05-07 Shell Int Research Method of conducting well operations from an offshore platform

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
L'INDUSTRIE DU PETROLE, vol. 46, no. 490, January/February 1978, pages 37-43, Edition Oliver Lesourd, Paris, FR; R. VIVIER et al.: "A new design of concrete floatting platforms" *
PETROLEUM ENGINEER INTERNATIONAL, vol. 57, no. 6, June 1985, pages 58-67, Petroleum Engineer Publishing Co., Dallas, Texas, US; N.N. PANICKER: "Flexible pipes in production risers" *

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2207936B (en) * 1987-07-24 1991-05-29 Forex Neptune Sa Development drilling system
GB2207936A (en) * 1987-07-24 1989-02-15 Forex Neptune Sa Development drilling system
GB2337282B (en) * 1996-11-27 2001-07-04 Norske Stats Oljeselskap System,vessel,seabed installation and method for producing oil or gas
WO1998023846A1 (fr) * 1996-11-27 1998-06-04 Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A.S Systeme, navire et installation de fond destines a l'extraction de gaz ou de petrole et procede s'y rapportant
CN1092279C (zh) * 1996-11-27 2002-10-09 挪威国家石油公司 用于开采石油或天然气的系统、船、海底设备和方法
GB2337282A (en) * 1996-11-27 1999-11-17 Norske Stats Oljeselskap System,vessel,seabed installation and method for producing oil or gas
US6213215B1 (en) 1996-11-27 2001-04-10 Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A. S System, vessel, seabed installation and method for producing oil or gas
GB2335170A (en) * 1997-01-07 1999-09-15 Lmg Marin As Arrangement of drilling and production ship
GB2335170B (en) * 1997-01-07 2001-05-09 Lmg Marin As Arrangement of drilling and production ship
WO1998030438A1 (fr) * 1997-01-07 1998-07-16 Lmg Marin As Dispositif pour navire de forage et d'exploitation
WO2003033863A1 (fr) * 2001-10-12 2003-04-24 Alpha Thames Ltd Systeme de production d'hydrocarbures a un stade d'extraction peu avance
WO2012152278A1 (fr) * 2011-05-06 2012-11-15 National Oilwell Varco Denmark I/S Système d'extraction de pétrole en mer
CN103987621A (zh) * 2011-05-06 2014-08-13 国民油井华高丹麦公司 一种离岸系统
US9315245B2 (en) 2011-05-06 2016-04-19 National Oilwell Varco Denmark I/S Offshore system
AU2012252921B2 (en) * 2011-05-06 2016-09-15 National Oilwell Varco Denmark I/S An offshore system
CN109072877A (zh) * 2015-11-30 2018-12-21 奈普顿科技有限责任公司 可再生能源驳船

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO872588L (no) 1987-12-21
DK312487D0 (da) 1987-06-19
NO872588D0 (no) 1987-06-19
CA1294495C (fr) 1992-01-21
DE3786374D1 (de) 1993-08-05
EP0250069B1 (fr) 1993-06-30
JPS634193A (ja) 1988-01-09
EP0250069A3 (en) 1989-03-29
DK312487A (da) 1987-12-21

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5439321A (en) Interruptive mobile production system
US4762180A (en) Modular near-surface completion system
US5342148A (en) Method and system for developing offshore hydrocarbon reserves
US4701143A (en) Vessel mooring system and method for its installation
EP1277913B1 (fr) Bateau de forage ou bâtiment semi-submersible et assemblage de forage permettant des opérations multiples
AU575205B2 (en) Vessel mooring system and method for its installation
US5150987A (en) Method for installing riser/tendon for heave-restrained platform
US5190411A (en) Tension leg well jacket
US5207534A (en) Method for conducting offshore well operations
CA2439963C (fr) Procede de forage en mer avec engin flottant
US20100326667A1 (en) Production of hydrocarbons
GB2256620A (en) Heave restrained platform and drilling system
US5199821A (en) Method for conducting offshore well operations
AU2002307189A1 (en) Offshore floating production method
US5135327A (en) Sluice method to take TLP to heave-restrained mode
US5486070A (en) Method for conducting offshore well operations
US4470721A (en) Crane assembly for floatable oil/gas production platforms
EP0250069A2 (fr) Installation flottante de forage et de production en eau profonde comportant des colonnes montantes souples de production
EP0063911A2 (fr) Conduite pour le transfert d'un fluide vers ou à partir d'une station sousmarine
GB2180809A (en) Tethered buoyant system
Abbott et al. Evaluating deepwater development concepts
IE48134B1 (en) Vertically moored platform anchoring
EP0716011A1 (fr) Système de production avec plate-forme à jambes de tension
GB2085051A (en) Crane assembly for floatable oil/gas production platforms
Nygard et al. The Marginal Field Semisubmersible-Complete with SCRs

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT NL

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT NL

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19890621

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19900904

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT NL

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRE;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.SCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19930630

Ref country code: NL

Effective date: 19930630

Ref country code: FR

Effective date: 19930630

Ref country code: DE

Effective date: 19930630

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3786374

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19930805

EN Fr: translation not filed
NLV1 Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19950317

Year of fee payment: 9

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Effective date: 19960407

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19960407