EP1203139A1 - Techniques de declenchement d'urgence de systemes de commande et dispositif correspondant - Google Patents

Techniques de declenchement d'urgence de systemes de commande et dispositif correspondant

Info

Publication number
EP1203139A1
EP1203139A1 EP00951705A EP00951705A EP1203139A1 EP 1203139 A1 EP1203139 A1 EP 1203139A1 EP 00951705 A EP00951705 A EP 00951705A EP 00951705 A EP00951705 A EP 00951705A EP 1203139 A1 EP1203139 A1 EP 1203139A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pipe
system component
flexible
actuating
actuating means
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00951705A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Torquil Macleod Crichton
Robert White
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.)
Technip Energies France SAS
Technip UK Ltd
Original Assignee
Coflexip SA
Coflexip Stena Offshore Ltd
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 Coflexip SA, Coflexip Stena Offshore Ltd filed Critical Coflexip SA
Publication of EP1203139A1 publication Critical patent/EP1203139A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17D—PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES
    • F17D5/00—Protection or supervision of installations
    • F17D5/02—Preventing, monitoring, or locating loss
    • 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
    • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/02—Surface sealing or packing
    • E21B33/03—Well heads; Setting-up thereof
    • E21B33/035—Well heads; Setting-up thereof specially adapted for underwater installations
    • E21B33/0355—Control systems, e.g. hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, acoustic, for submerged well heads
    • 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
    • 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
    • E21B43/017—Production satellite stations, i.e. underwater installations comprising a plurality of satellite well heads connected to a central station
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
    • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F15B20/00—Safety arrangements for fluid actuator systems; Applications of safety devices in fluid actuator systems; Emergency measures for fluid actuator systems
    • F15B20/005—Leakage; Spillage; Hose burst

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for use in the emergency actuation of control systems for the shut-down and/or isolation of fluid circuits. More particularly, the invention relates to systems which enable valves to be actuated automatically in the event of a failure in a flexible conduit forming part of a fluid production or control circuit.
  • the invention finds particular application in offshore installations involved in the extraction of hydrocarbons, including subsea hydrocarbon production facilities and other offshore production and/or storage facilities.
  • FIG. 1 A typical example of a subsea hydrocarbon production facility is illustrated in Fig. 1 and comprises a number of satellite wellheads 2 connected to a local template 4.
  • the template 4 is in turn connected to a number of inter-field flowline manifolds 6.
  • the wellheads 2 are connected to the template 4 and the template 4 is connected to the inter-field flowline manifolds 6 by means of a variety of fluid conduits including production lines for the transport of production fluids and hydraulic control lines, and electrical lines.
  • each of the wellheads 2 is connected to the template by flexible pipes 42, 44 and 46, comprising production, test and gas lines respectively.
  • the inter-field flowline manifolds 6 are also connected to the template by respective flexible pipes 8, 10, 12, again comprising production, test and gas lines.
  • Each of the inter- field flowline manifolds 6 is associated with an inter- field flowline 7.
  • the facility will generally be powered by a main hydraulic umbilical 14 and a main electrical umbilical (not shown) connected to the template 4.
  • the template 4 will generally include a hydraulic power distribution system (“ring main") 16 comprising two high pressure lines and two low pressure lines by means of which hydraulic power is distributed to various subsea modules including the satellite wellheads 2 and inter- field flowline manifolds 6, via suitable hydraulic power lines 60.
  • ring main hydraulic power distribution system
  • the invention is also applicable in other offshore applications, including situations where flexible jumper conduits connect marine risers to fixed platform pipework, where flexible conduits are used for fluid transfer between respective vessels, where flexible conduits convey pressurised hydraulic control fluid between an energy source at the surface and an operating system on the seabed, and where lengths of flexible conduit are used to tie in subsea satellite production facilities to rigid inter-field flowlines.
  • flexible jumper conduits connect marine risers to fixed platform pipework
  • flexible conduits are used for fluid transfer between respective vessels
  • flexible conduits convey pressurised hydraulic control fluid between an energy source at the surface and an operating system on the seabed
  • lengths of flexible conduit are used to tie in subsea satellite production facilities to rigid inter-field flowlines.
  • Instrumentation based systems of this type have a number of disadvantages, including: - the time lag between an abnormal condition being recorded and interpreted and action being taken in response thereto; - degradation of the system capability over time and resultant failure of sensors, communication lines etc.; - the fact that the use of pressure and temperature sensors to identify abnormal conditions is reliant on other aspects of the control system operating correc ly; - high development, installation and maintenance costs associated with leak-detection systems, particularly for subsea applications; - the complexity of such systems makes them liable to erroneous alarm signals, so that it is uncommon for such systems to be configured to effect automatic shut- downs, and unidentified or uncorrected system bugs often lead to alarm signals being disabled so that the operation of the system is compromised.
  • guillotine devices In the case of hydraulic umbilical conduits, it is also known to employ guillotine devices. Such devices completely sever all of the relevant control lines and the hydraulic umbilical in the event of a conduit failure being detected. Guillotines are difficult to retro-fit to existing systems and have additional disadvantages, including: - "one shot" operation; - high cost of repairing damage resulting from operation of the guillotine; - severing of lines results in conduit contents being released into the environment and exposes internal components to the ingress of seawater; - high manufacturing and installation costs; - the size and cost of the devices is directly related to the cross sectional size of the umbilical; - after use, all control and production lines damaged by operation of the device have to be repaired before production can resume.
  • an arrangement in which at least one flexible pipe is connected to at least one actuating means of at least one system component associated with the operation of the pipe in such a manner that said system component is actuated in response to movement of the pipe arising from failure of or damage to the pipe .
  • kit of parts comprising at least one system component associated with the operation of at least one flexible pipe, at least one actuating means for actuating said system component, and means for connecting said actuating means to a flexible pipe in such a manner that said system component is actuated in response to movement of the pipe arising from failure of or damage to the pipe.
  • a method of actuating at least one system component associated with the operation of at least one flexible pipe comprising connecting said actuating means to a flexible pipe in such a manner that said system component is actuated in response to movement of the pipe arising from failure of or damage to the pipe.
  • said at least one system component comprises at least one valve.
  • said at least one valve comprises a vent valve for venting pressure from a hydraulic supply circuit.
  • the invention is applied to a subsea hydrocarbon production installation including a subsea template having a hydraulic power supply system and at least one associated installation connected to said template by at least one flexible pipe, and further including control means powered by the hydraulic power supply of the template, wherein said at least one vent valve is adapted to vent pressure supplied by said hydraulic power supply to said control means.
  • Said associated installation (s) may comprise at least one wellhead and/or at least one flowline manifold.
  • Said control means may comprise at least one control module associated with at least one of said template, said wellhead(s) and said flowline manifold(s).
  • One or more flexible pipes may be connected to one or more actuating means.
  • the connecting means is arranged to effect substantially simultaneous actuation of a plurality of valves in a vent valve assembly for venting pressure from a plurality of hydraulic supply lines connected to a hydraulic ring main of said template.
  • said actuating means of said at least one valve comprises a lever and the means connecting said pipeline to said lever is adapted to transfer force arising from movement of said flexible pipe directly to said lever.
  • the means connecting said pipeline to said actuating means includes a flexible lanyard.
  • the means connecting said pipeline to said actuating means is connected to said pipe at a location adjacent to a fluid coupling between an end of said flexible pipe and associated rigid pipework.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a typical example of a subsea hydrocarbon production facility to which the present invention may be applied;
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment exemplifying the application of the present invention to a subsea installation such as that illustrated in Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates one example of an application of the invention in connection with flexible pipes interconnecting a subsea template structure and a wellhead (or "Christmas tree") structure of the type illustrated in Fig. 1.
  • the template structure 4 is to the left of a first dashed and dotted line 38 and the wellhead 2 structure is to the right of a second dashed and dotted line 40.
  • the template 4 is connected to the wellhead 2 by three flexible pipes 42, 44 and 46 (typically comprising a production line, a gas line and a test line as discussed above) .
  • each flexible pipe 42, 44 and 46 are connected by a suitable coupling to rigid pipework of the template 4 and wellhead 2 respectively.
  • a first vent valve assembly 48 is located on the template 4 and a second vent valve assembly 56 is located on the wellhead 2. When actuated, the vent valve assemblies 48 and 56 vent hydraulic pressure supplied from the ring main 16.
  • the vent valve assemblies 48 and 56 each comprises a block of four fluid lines 100, corresponding to the four conduits (two low pressure and two high pressure) of the hydraulic ring-main 16, each of which includes first and second normally-closed valves 100A and 100B.
  • the use of two series-connected valves in each line 100 is conventional practice to ensure in-service leak integrity.
  • the valves themselves may be of conventional type.
  • Each of the valves 100A, 100B is operated by a lever 102A, 102B.
  • it is desirable that the valves 100A, 100B are of a type which are actuated by lever with a relatively short throw, suitably of about 90°.
  • first link members 104 pivotally connected to the ends of each pair of levers 102A/102B.
  • first link members 104 are in turn ganged together by a second link member 106, connected to lowermost ends of the first link members 104.
  • lanyards 24 are connected to the second link member 106. Accordingly, if any one of the lanyards 24 are pulled with sufficient force, the force is transferred via the link members 106 and 104 to the levers 102A/102B so as to open all of the valves 100A/100B simultaneously.
  • the lowermost ends of the fluid conduits 100 are closed by blow-out plugs 34, and the upper ends of the conduits 100 are provided with suitable fittings 52 allowing the assembly to be connected to other system components depending on the particular application of the invention.
  • the second link member 106 of the valve assembly 48 on the template 4 is connected to each of the flexible pipes 42, 44 and 46 by the lanyards 24, each of which has one end connected to the link member 106 and the other end connected to an anchoring collar 50 secured to the respective pipe 42, 44 or 46 at a point adjacent the coupling which connects the pipe 42, 44 or 46 to the rigid pipework of the template.
  • the upper ends of the fluid conduits 100 of the assembly 48 are fitted with T-pieces 52.
  • One leg of each of the T-pieces 52 is connected to a gauge on a gauge panel 54 on the template. The gauges correspond to the high and low pressure lines of the hydraulic ring-main 16.
  • the second link member 106 of the valve assembly 56 on the wellhead (“tree") 2 is again connected to each of the flexible pipes 42, 44 and 46 by lanyards 24, each of which has one end connected to the link member 106 and the other end connected to an anchoring collar 50 secured to the respective pipe 42, 44 and 46 at a point adjacent the coupling which connects the pipe 42, 44 and 46 to the rigid pipework of the tree structure 2.
  • the upper ends of the fluid conduits 100 of the assembly 56 are again fitted with T-pieces 52.
  • One leg of each of the T-pieces 52 is connected to one leg of respective further T-pieces 58, fitted to hydraulic supply inputs of a subsea control module 59 of the tree structure 2.
  • the remaining legs of the further T- pieces 58 are connected to low and high pressure hydraulic supply lines 60 from the template ring main 16.
  • valves 100A/100B of the valve assembly 48 or 56 to which the relevant lanyard 24 is connected will be actuated (opened) .
  • the hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic ring main 16 will then have a path via the various T-pieces 52 and 58 and the fluid conduits 100 of the valve assembly 48 or 56 and will blow out the blow-out plugs 34 at the lower ends of the conduits 100.
  • the hydraulic pressure from the ring main 16 will thus be vented through the valve assembly.
  • pressure is vented from the entire hydraulic network, resulting in shut-down of the subsea facility.
  • the valve assembly 48 or 56 will be actuated by any movement of any one of the pipes which applies a sufficient tensile force to the lanyards 24. Such movement may be caused by failure of one of the pipes which, due to its flexible nature and the fluid pressure therein, will tend to flail. Any failure of the pipes is liable to occur at or adjacent to the coupling of the pipe to the rigid pipework of either the template or the wellhead structure. Accordingly, the lanyard anchoring collars 50 are secured to the pipes at locations where failure of the pipes is most likely to result in the required tensile force being applied to the lanyard 24 connected thereto.
  • valve assemblies 48 and 56 can be actuated in response to axial or lateral movement of the pipes .
  • Axial movement is likely to result from spontaneous failure of a pipe.
  • Lateral movement is likely to occur in response to an external force applied to a pipe, e.g. as a result of the pipe being snagged by fishing gear.
  • the invention is applied to the wellheads 2 of the subsea facility of Fig. 1; i.e. the lanyards 24 of Fig. 2 are connected between the valve assemblies 48 and 56 and the adjacent ends of the flexible pipes 42, 44 and 46.
  • the invention could be applied in a similar manner to the flexible pipes 8, 10 and 12 interconnecting the template 4 and the inter-field flowline manifolds 6.
  • the invention can similarly be applied in any situation where a flexible pipe is liable to fail and can be connected to an actuator of relevant control/vent valves.
  • the flexible pipes are connected to the relevant valve (s) by means of a flexible lanyard and rigid link members.
  • a flexible lanyard is preferred since this allows the valve (s) to be actuated in response to movement of the pipe in any one of a variety of directions.
  • Other types of linkage might be employed dependent on the particular circumstances.
  • valve actuator s
  • this force could be employed to activate, for example, a motorised valve actuator.
  • the invention may be employed to actuate individual valves and/or groups of valves and is not limited to valve assemblies of the type employed in the examples .
  • Advantages of the present invention in comparison with prior art systems as discussed above include: - intrinsic simplicity; - speed and nature of response; - resettable using conventional ROV (remotely operated vehicle) technology, requiring no special tooling; - operation of the invention does not damage conduits or other system components and in many cases partial production can be restarted quickly once the failure which resulted in actuation of the system has been identified and isolated; - accidental actuation of the system has no serious or long term consequences; - easily retro-fitted as an enhancement to existing installations; O 01/12948
  • the size of the system components is related to the size of hydraulic system pipework and not to the size of the associated production pipework.
  • the described embodiments of the invention relate to fluid control systems, it will be understood that the invention could also be applied to the emergency shutdown or operation of electrical systems, with the lanyard (s) having one end connected to a flexible pipe and the other end connected to an actuating member of an electrical circuit breaker or the like.
  • the invention could also be adapted to operate simultaneously on hydraulic and electrical systems.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Fluid-Pressure Circuits (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention a trait au déclenchement d'urgence de systèmes de commande aux fins de l'arrêt d'exploitation et/ou de l'isolation d'un circuit de fluides comportant au moins un conduit souple (42, 44, 46). Ce conduit souple (42, 44, 46) est raccordé à au moins un dispositif d'actionnement d'un composant de système associé à l'exploitation du conduit, ce composant étant actionné en réaction au mouvement du conduit provoqué par une défaillance ou un dommage occasionné à ce dernier. Le composant peut être une soupape (48) destinée à évacuer la pression dans un circuit hydraulique (16) utilisé pour des installations en mer et l'actionnement de la soupape (48) peut être provoqué par un levier (102A, 102B) relié, d'une part à la soupape (48) et, d'autre part à l'un des conduits souples (42, 44, 46), par une lanière (24).
EP00951705A 1999-08-13 2000-08-03 Techniques de declenchement d'urgence de systemes de commande et dispositif correspondant Withdrawn EP1203139A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9919024 1999-08-13
GBGB9919024.1A GB9919024D0 (en) 1999-08-13 1999-08-13 Methods and apparatus for the emergency actuation of control systems
PCT/GB2000/003022 WO2001012948A1 (fr) 1999-08-13 2000-08-03 Techniques de declenchement d'urgence de systemes de commande et dispositif correspondant

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1203139A1 true EP1203139A1 (fr) 2002-05-08

Family

ID=10859023

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00951705A Withdrawn EP1203139A1 (fr) 1999-08-13 2000-08-03 Techniques de declenchement d'urgence de systemes de commande et dispositif correspondant

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1203139A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU6456300A (fr)
GB (1) GB9919024D0 (fr)
NO (1) NO20020712L (fr)
WO (1) WO2001012948A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB0110398D0 (en) * 2001-04-27 2001-06-20 Alpha Thames Ltd Wellhead product testing system
NO342204B1 (no) * 2014-10-17 2018-04-16 Aker Solutions As Svakt-ledds arrangement konstruert for plassering i en umbilikal
WO2017178545A1 (fr) * 2016-04-12 2017-10-19 Single Buoy Moorings Inc. Agencement pour le stockage et le déchargement de production relocalisable d'hydrocarbures en mer à partir d'une série de réservoirs distincts

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4446892A (en) * 1979-09-05 1984-05-08 Maxwell Ag Method and apparatus for monitoring lengths of hose
US4640163A (en) * 1985-08-26 1987-02-03 Multiflex International, Inc. Umbilical safety joint
EP1129271B1 (fr) * 1998-11-03 2003-03-12 FMC Technologies, Inc. Agencement de cisaillement pour tubes ombilicaux sous-marins

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO0112948A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9919024D0 (en) 1999-10-13
AU6456300A (en) 2001-03-13
NO20020712L (no) 2002-04-12
NO20020712D0 (no) 2002-02-12
WO2001012948A1 (fr) 2001-02-22

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