GB2388617A - Deepwater remote subsea wellhead intervention system - Google Patents
Deepwater remote subsea wellhead intervention system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2388617A GB2388617A GB0205369A GB0205369A GB2388617A GB 2388617 A GB2388617 A GB 2388617A GB 0205369 A GB0205369 A GB 0205369A GB 0205369 A GB0205369 A GB 0205369A GB 2388617 A GB2388617 A GB 2388617A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- sub
- sea
- buoyant structure
- equipment
- surface piercing
- 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
Links
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 abstract description 3
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 abstract description 3
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 abstract description 2
- 241000282887 Suidae Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000035508 accumulation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009825 accumulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002401 inhibitory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP 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
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP 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
- E21B33/068—Well heads; Setting-up thereof having provision for introducing objects or fluids into, or removing objects from, wells
- E21B33/076—Well heads; Setting-up thereof having provision for introducing objects or fluids into, or removing objects from, wells specially adapted for underwater installations
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
Abstract
A remotely operational surface piercing sub-sea wellhead intervention system allows wellhead operations to be conducted through a surface piercing buoyant structure 1. The buoyant structure 1 which houses a coiled tube with deployment mechanism 6 and any associated process and control equipment, is taut-moored using steel tethers 5 to a gravity base 2 located on the seabed. Flexible or rigid pipes 3 connect seabed equipment 4 to support systems on the buoyant structure 1. The coiled tube and deployment mechanism 6 are arranged such that the coiled tube can be passed through the flexible / rigid pipe 3 and into the sub-sea wellhead or sub-sea equipment 4. Intervention is thus achieved by lowering equipment or instruments 7 through the surface piercing buoyant structure 1 via the riser 3 into the seabed equipment or subsea well 4, by attaching the equipment 7 to the coiled tubing 6 and lowering using the deployment mechanism 6.
Description
DEEPWATER REMOTE SUBSEA WELLHEAD INTERVENTION SYSTEM
This invention relates to offshore oil and gas production wells.
Subsea oil and gas production wells require from time to time to be reentered during production in order to implement various operations. These operations may include the use of wireline equipment whereby specialized tools are lowered into the wellhead through a pressure lock. They may also include the use of a coil-tubing unit whereby equipment is lowered into the well bore by a narrow metal (usually steel) tube through a special valve assembly. In either circumstance the operation is carried out from the surface usually from a floating vessel hired specifically for the purpose or alternatively from an existing perrnancut surface fixed or floating production facility.
The disadvantage of both of these methods of implemcuting re-cntry operations is that they are costly and time consuming. In fact the cost of these operations if considered essential to the later development of oil or gas accumulations, often precludes their use thus inhibiting the development of the field.
We have now devised a means of alleviating the above problem.
According to the present invention there is provided a remotely operational surface piercing sub-sea wellhead intervention system comprising a surface piercing buoyant structure taut moored to a seabed foundation arrangement, a flexible or rigid pipe connected between said buoyant structure and a sub-sea wellhead or sub-sea equipment, and a coiled tube with deployment mechanism located inside said buoyant structure, said coiled tube and deployment mechanism being arranged such that the coiled tube can be passed through said flexible / rigid pipe and into said sub-sea wellhead/ sub-sea equipment.
Preferably the buoyant structure is located and held in position above or near to the sub-sea well or wells by flexible mooring tethers tensioned adequately to provide minimal motions of said buoyant structure and thereby allowing operations to continue under a wide range of environmental conditions.
In an alternative embodiment the surface piercing buoyant structure is taut moored to a mid-
water buoyant structure, which is itself taut moored to a sca-bcd foundation arrangement.
The mid-watcr buoyant structure is located typically 125 metros below mean sea level, and can be equipped with support systems and other equipment. In this case there will be a flexible or rigid pipe connected between each structure and between the mid-water structure and the sub- sea wellhead or sub-sea cquipmcut, in order to form a continuous passage for the deployment of the coiled tube and required tools.
A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows the Deepwater Remote Subsea Wellhead intervention System in use on location. Referring to Figure 1 the surface facilities comprise a taut-moored buoyant structure l housing a coiled tube with deployment mechanism 6, and any associated process and control
r r equipment (not shown). The surface buoyant structure is moored under positive tension using steel tethers 5 to a gravity base 2 located on the seabed.
Risers (vertical or non-vertical, flexible or rigid, permanent or removable pipes) 3 connect the seabed equipment 4 (well casing, wellhead, sub-sea oil or gas production trees, manifolds etc) to support systems on the surface piercing buoyant structure 1.
Intervention can thus be achieved by lowering tools, pigs or other equipment or instruments 7 through the surface piercing buoyant structure I via the riser 3 into the seabed equipment or subsea well 4. The equipment 7 is attached to the coiled tubing 6 and lowered using the deployment mechanism 6.
Fluid pressure locks can be located at the surface buoyant structure 1, at the mid-watcr buoyant structure (when used, not shown here) or at the subsea equipment 4. Thus, the riser 3 does not necessarily have to he capable of withstanding the same pressure as the equipment that it is serving, and can be lower rated with consequent cost savings.
Claims (6)
1. A remotely operational surface piercing sub-sea wellhead intervention system comprising a surface piercing buoyant structure taut moored to a seabed foundation arrangement, a flexible or rigid pipe connected between said buoyant structure and a sub-sea wellhead or sub-sea equipment, and a coiled tube with deployment mechanism located inside said buoyant structure, said coiled tube and deployment mechanism being arranged such that the coiled tube can be passed through said flexible / rigid pipe and into said sub-sea wellhead/ sub-sea equipment.
2. A remotely operational surface piercing sub-sea wellhead intervention system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the buoyant structure is located and held in position above or near to the
sub-sea well or wells by flexible mooring tethers tensioned adequately to provide mimmal motions of said buoyant structure and thereby allowing operations to continue under a wide range of environmental conditions.
3. A remotely operational surface piercing sub-sea wellhead intervention system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the surface piercing buoyant structure is taut moored to a mid-water buoyant structure, said mid-water buoyant structure being taut moored to a sea-bed foundation arrangement, with a flexible or rigid pipe connected between each structure and between the mid-water structure and the sub-sea wellhead or sub-sea equipment in order to form a continuous passage for the deployment of the coiled tube and required tools.
4. A remotely operational surface piercing sub-sea wellhead intervention system as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the mid-water buoyant structure can be equipped with support systems and other equipment.
5. A remotely operational surface piercing sub-sea wellhead intervention system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein fluid pressure locks can be located at the surface buoyant structure, at the mid-water buoyant structure or at the subsea equipment, thereby ensuring that the flexible or rigid pipe does not necessarily have to be capable of withstanding the same pressure as the equipment that it is serving, and can be lower rated with consequent cost savings.
6. A remotely operational surface piercing sub-sea wellhead intervention system substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0205369A GB2388617B (en) | 2002-03-07 | 2002-03-07 | Deepwater remote subsea wellhead intervention system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0205369A GB2388617B (en) | 2002-03-07 | 2002-03-07 | Deepwater remote subsea wellhead intervention system |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0205369D0 GB0205369D0 (en) | 2002-04-24 |
| GB2388617A true GB2388617A (en) | 2003-11-19 |
| GB2388617B GB2388617B (en) | 2005-07-06 |
Family
ID=9932495
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0205369A Expired - Fee Related GB2388617B (en) | 2002-03-07 | 2002-03-07 | Deepwater remote subsea wellhead intervention system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2388617B (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NO20150229A1 (en) * | 2015-02-18 | 2016-08-19 | Fmc Kongsberg Subsea As | Closed well operation tool |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4231682A (en) * | 1977-01-17 | 1980-11-04 | Entreprise D'equipements Mecaniques Et Hydrauliques E.M.H. | Device for handling appliances on a sea bed |
| GB2337068A (en) * | 1995-11-29 | 1999-11-10 | Deep Oil Technology Inc | Riser supported by buoyancy module |
| WO2000003112A1 (en) * | 1998-07-10 | 2000-01-20 | Fmc Corporation | Floating spar for supporting production risers |
-
2002
- 2002-03-07 GB GB0205369A patent/GB2388617B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4231682A (en) * | 1977-01-17 | 1980-11-04 | Entreprise D'equipements Mecaniques Et Hydrauliques E.M.H. | Device for handling appliances on a sea bed |
| GB2337068A (en) * | 1995-11-29 | 1999-11-10 | Deep Oil Technology Inc | Riser supported by buoyancy module |
| WO2000003112A1 (en) * | 1998-07-10 | 2000-01-20 | Fmc Corporation | Floating spar for supporting production risers |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NO20150229A1 (en) * | 2015-02-18 | 2016-08-19 | Fmc Kongsberg Subsea As | Closed well operation tool |
| NO343587B1 (en) * | 2015-02-18 | 2019-04-08 | Fmc Kongsberg Subsea As | Tool and method for closed well operation. |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0205369D0 (en) | 2002-04-24 |
| GB2388617B (en) | 2005-07-06 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| COOA | Change in applicant's name or ownership of the application |
Owner name: RAMUNIA OCEAN RESOURCE PLC Free format text: FORMER APPLICANT(S): OCEAN TECHNOLOGIES LTD |
|
| 710B | Request of alter time limits |
Free format text: EXTENSION APPLICATION: APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION OF THE PERIOD(S) PRESCRIBED BY RULE(S) 25(2) FILED ON 20030417. |
|
| 9110 | Period prescribed has been extended under rule 110(6)/1990 |
Free format text: PERIOD(S) PRESCRIBED BY RULE(S) 25(2) EXTENDED UNDER RULE 110(6) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECISION OF THE COMPTROLLER DATED 20030612. |
|
| COOA | Change in applicant's name or ownership of the application |
Owner name: TAMACREST LTD Free format text: FORMER APPLICANT(S): RAMUNIA OCEAN RESOURCE PLC |
|
| 732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
| 732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
| 732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) |
Free format text: REGISTERED BETWEEN 20131230 AND 20131231 |
|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20170307 |