GB2510757A - Deluge system - Google Patents

Abstract

A deluge system 10 comprising a base unit (30 figure 1), a stanchion (20 figure 1) moveably attached to the base unit, a nozzle apparatus (22 figure 1) attached to the stanchion and a mechanism (40 figure 6) for moving the stanchion from a stowed position to an operative position. The base unit has a width of less than 1m in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the stanchion. Preferably this width is less than 60cm. This dimension allows the system to be mounted on a boom 12 or walkway 16 and allows emergency access along that boom or walkway at all times. The system may be attached to a hand rail 18 of such a boom via clamps.

Description

Deluge System This invention relates to a deluge system utilised to create a water barrier between a well test flare and personnel and/or structures such as oil rigs.

When testing a well it is a common operation to flare the oil and gas from the well.

This normally involves piping the oil and gas through pipework provided on a burner boom extending away from the installation. The oil and gas is flared whilst the well is being tested and data is being recovered.

The heat created by the flaring can cause discomfort to workers on the installation, and in some cases can cause severe burns and injury. Accordingly it is known to provide a deluge system comprising a screen of water which is sprayed between the flame and the installation or other area where workers are present.

The inventor of the present invention has noted a number of limitations of existing deluge systems. The boom walkway is blocked which prevents a safe escape should a fault occur or if an accident happens at the burner end of the boom the emergency crew has no direct access to and from the end point. Moreover, the nozzles in the spraying system become blocked due to corrosion in the pipework causing scale to break off and block them. Furthermore, the inventor of the present invention considers that the assembly of the necessary equipment could be achieved in a more straightforward manner and/or in a reduced time.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a deluge system comprising a base unit, a stanchion moveably attached to the base unit, a nozzle apparatus attached to the stanchion and a mechanism for moving the stanchion from a stowed position to an operative position.

The mechanism for moving the the stanchion may be a winch mechanism.

Alternatively a gear mechanism may be provided and a worker can use this to move the stanchion, for example by way of a suitable handle.

Certain other parts of the deluge system may move with the stanchion e.g. nozzle apparatus whilst others remains stationary, with the moving mechanism e.g. the base unit According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a deluge system comprising a base unit, a stanchion moveably attached to the base unit such that it can move from a stowed position to an operative position, and a nozzle apparatus attached to the stanchion, wherein the base unit's width perpendicular to the plane defined by the movement of the stanchion, is less than im.

Since the base unit is off such a size, it can be attached to a boom without impeding the escape of a person on its walkway. Its width may be smaller than 75cm or smaller than 60cm.

The invention also provides a method of providing a deluge system comprising a base unit, a stanchion, and a nozzle apparatus; attaching the deluge system to a burner boom with a walkway, such that there remains a width of at least 30cm deal on the boom's walkway after the deluge system has been attached.

Thus by leaving such a space, a person can escape from the walkway in the event of an emergency. The space may be larger than 50cm or larger than 65cm or indeed completely clear for example if fixed on the outside.

Having a space on the width of the walkway means that a person can walk past the deluge system after it has been installed without having to crawl under or climb over any of its parts.

The deluge system may be placed over pipework on the boom.

For certain embodiments, the deluge system is aftached to the boom outboard of handrail supports of the boom.

The invention also provides a method of providing a deluge system comprising a base unit, a stanchion, and a nozzle apparatus; attaching the deluge system to a burner boom with a walkway, outboard of the handrail supports of the boom.

Thus since the deluge system is attached in this position, the boom walkway is not impeded by the deluge system.

The deluge system normally comprises clamps and is normally clamped to the boom when in the stowed and operative position.

The deluge system may be attached to a hand rail support of the boom.

Preferably the deluge system used less than half the boom walkway width.

The deluge system may comprise a filter between the inlet and the outlet to the stanchion and a first flow path may be defined for particles too large for said filter and a second flow path is defined for particles small enough for said filter; and wherein a container is provided downstream of the first flow path.

The filter may be a screen comprising at least one aperture therein such that the first flow path is for particles too large for said aperture and the second flow path is for particles small enough for said aperture.

Normally the deluge system comprises a removable portion to allow access to the container. This may be provided by the container itself, or part thereof, being removable.

The container is normally at least 20cm3 optionally more than 50 cm3 optionally more than 100 cm3.

Preferably the first flow path terminates in the container. Thus aside from its direct fluid connection with the first flow path, preferably the container has no further direct (i.e. not through the first flow path) fluid communication with any other flow path of the deluge system.

The removable portion is most normally a portion which can readily be reattached to the deluge system. Thus the removable portion may be removable by way of any one or more of a threaded connection, a snap fit connection, springs, clips, bolt & screw or others such mechanisms.

The removable portion may be the container, which may be threadably connected with another portion of the deluge system, such as the screen.

The aperture is preferably linear in shape -one dimension is larger than a second dimension, with the third dimension being defined as the depth of the aperture. For example the first dimension may be more than 3, or more than 8, times the length of the second dimension.

The screen is normally a tubular screen with a passage therein, and said at least one aperture thereon is on a face (rather than an end) of the tubular screen. Thus the second flow path may be from/to the passage of the tube to/from the outside of the screen; preferably from the passage of the tube, to the outside of the screen.

The portion of the deluge system between the inlet and the screen will be referred to as the "inlet flow path" and the portion of the deluge system between the screen and the outlet will be referred to as the "outlet flow path.

The inlet flow path may be a relatively central portion of the deluge system compared to the outlet flow path although this depends on the actual water pattern required.

The inlet flow path and the first flow path are preferably co-linear. This allows certain embodiments to create a flow pressure to encourage the debris to accumulate in the end of the first flow path, which terminates in the container.

There may be a further container co-linear with the stanchion.

Depending on the amount of fluid required, the deluge system may also use the installations own pumps without requiring a dedicated pumping unit.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a deluge system in an operative position on a flare boom in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2a is an end view of the Fig. 1 deluge system in an outboard operative position and a flare boom; Fig. 2b is a top view of the Fig. 2a deluge system in an outboard stowed position and a flare boom; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the Fig. 2b deluge system in an outboard stowed position and a flare boom; Fig. 4a is a top view of the Fig. 1 deluge system in an inboard stowed position and a flare boom; Fig. 4b is an end view of the Fig. 4a deluge system in an inboard operative position and a flare boom; Fig. 5a is a top view of the Fig. 1 deluge system in a further inboard stowed position and a flare boom; Fig. 5b is an end view of the Fig. 5a deluge system in the further inboard and operative position and a flare boom; Fig. 6 is a side view of a lower end of the Fig. 1 deluge system in an operative position and a flare boom; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the Fig. 1 deluge system; Figs. 8a, 8b are side views of the Fig. 1 deluge system in a stowed position and a flare boom; Figs. 8c -8d are a series of side views of the Fig. 1 deluge system moving into the operative position and a flare boom; Fig. 9 is a further perspective view of a deluge system in accordance with the present invention; and, Fig. 10 is a further perspective view of a different embodiment of a deluge system in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of a deluge system 10 provided on a boom 12 of an offshore installation (not shown). The deluge system 10 comprises a base unit 30 having a main body 50 connected to a stanchion tube 20 and at the opposite end of the stanchion 20, a nozzle apparatus 22. The deluge system 10 takes water supplied by pumps (not shown) through pipework 14, through the stanchion 20 into the nozzle apparatus 22 to create a screen of water, thus mitigating the heat transfer from a well flaring operation at the end of the boom 12.

The position of the deluge system 10 may be secured to the boom 12 in various positions; but all positions for preferred embodiments leave the boom 12 and its walkway 16 free to walk on for personnel, who may need to run off the boom 12 in the event of an emergency.

A first positional option is shown in Figs. 2a and 2b where the deluge system 10 is provided outboard of boom handrails 18. The walkway 16 is thus completely clear for access for personnel. Fig. 3 shows the deluge system 10 in this outboard and stowed position. This contrasts sharply with existing systems which are provided over both handrails and so block the use of the walkway.

A second positional option is shown in Figs. 4a and 4b where the the deluge system lOis provided inboard of the handrails 18 and clamped to the side thereof Wiilst some space on the boom walkway 16 is taken up by the deluge system 10 there is still sufficient space on the walkway 16 to allow personnel to access the entire boom and escape therefrom in an emergency.

Such a position can be beneficial for installations that have their own booms installed as they tend to be wider than temporarily installed flare booms.

A further positional option for the deluge system 10 is shown in Figs. 5a and Sb.

This position is inboard of the boom handrails 18 but over pipework 15 often present in booms 12, thus making minimal difference to the accessible area of the walkway 16; and so still allowing access for personnel.

As shown in Fig. 6, the deluge system 10 comprises a base unit 30, a winch 40 and a main body 50. The base unit 30 comprises a frame 31 which is clamped to the handrails 18 and their supports 19.

The winch 40 is attached to the base unit 30 and controls a line 42 (not shown in Fig. 6) which extends to the opposite end of the stanchion 20 in order to move the main body 50, stanchion 20 and nozzle apparatus 22 as described in more detail below.

This contrasts with existing systems where the installation's crane needs to raise the system and typically position a 4' flange to another 4 flange while lifting the assembly over the boom and above workers who must guide the assembly down and connect it. This is a very dangerous activity which embodiments of the present invention including the winch avoid or mitigate.

Moreover, given the crane on the installation can only pull towards the installation, any previous deluge system needs to be orientated so that it moves upwards towards the installation. For larger stanchions the resulting operational position is often spaced away from the well flaring by a greater distance than desired. In contrast, the embodiments of the present invention comprising a winch 40 or gearing system described below may be orientated, if required, such that they move upwards away from the installation and so their final operational position allows the water screen operation to be optimally positioned form the well flaring.

To allow for the main body 50 to move, a swivel unit 34 has a moving mechanism comprising (not shown) nylon brushes and washers (alternatively on roller bearings) and optionally a gearing system. Better shown in Fig. 7, the swivel unit 34 is connected to swivel clamps 36 which are attached to the main body 50.

The main body 50 includes containers or "debris traps" 51, 52. Within the main body is a screen which inhibits debris in the water supply from going up the stanchion 20 towards the nozzle. The debris traps 51, 52 provide a recess for the debris to collect (rather than on the screen).

Some further details are shown in Fig. 7 including a removable winch handle 41, a further pipe support 33.

The series of views from Fig. 8a to 8e show the deluge system 10 moving from the stowed position (Fig. 8a), the stowed position with the nozzle apparatus 12 attached (Fig. 8b) and approaching the operational position (Fig. 8e). Typically the deluge

S

system 10 is installed onshore in the position shown in Fig. 8a ready for shipping.

The nozzle apparatus 22 is installed on location (Fig. Bb) and then the stanchion 20, nozzle apparatus 22 and main body 50 erected into the operational position by the internal winch or gearing with a handle. When the system is the operational position, it is secured and the 4 flexible pipework 14 is attached to the main body 50. The winch also allows convenient stowing of the system when not in use, without requiring specialist personnel and use of the installation's crane. This also removes the dangerous operation of swinging the boom towards the rig in order to allow access for the installation's crane.

Fig. 9 shows a further view of a deluge system in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 10 shows a modified embodiment 110 where a handle 135 is attached to the swivel unit 134. The swivel unit 134 includes a gearing system (not shown) and so an operator can use the handle to erect the stanchion 20 and associated nozzle apparatus.

Improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention

Claims (5)

1. Claims 1. A deluge system comprising a base unit, a stanchion moveably attached to the base unit such that it can move from a stowed position to an operative position, and a nozzle apparatus attached to the stanchion, wherein the base unit's width perpendicular to the plane defined by the movement of the stanchion, is less than im.
2. 2. A deluge system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said width is smaller than 75cm.
3. 3. A deluge system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said width is smaller than 60cm.
4. 4. A deluge system as claimed in any one of claims ito 3, which is attached to a hand rail support of a boom.
5. 5. A deluge system as claimed in any one of claims i to 4, comprising clamps and being clamped to a boom when in the stowed and operative position.