US3500905A - Apparatus for use with underwater wells - Google Patents

Apparatus for use with underwater wells Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3500905A
US3500905A US731496A US3500905DA US3500905A US 3500905 A US3500905 A US 3500905A US 731496 A US731496 A US 731496A US 3500905D A US3500905D A US 3500905DA US 3500905 A US3500905 A US 3500905A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
tubular member
vessel
underwater
members
tool
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 - Lifetime
Application number
US731496A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
William H Petersen
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.)
Shell USA Inc
Original Assignee
Shell Oil Co
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 Shell Oil Co filed Critical Shell Oil Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3500905A publication Critical patent/US3500905A/en
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
    • E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
    • E21B19/08—Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables; Apparatus for increasing or decreasing the pressure on the drilling tool; Apparatus for counterbalancing the weight of the rods
    • E21B19/09—Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables; Apparatus for increasing or decreasing the pressure on the drilling tool; Apparatus for counterbalancing the weight of the rods specially adapted for drilling underwater formations from a floating support using heave compensators supporting the drill string
    • 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
    • E21B41/10—Guide posts, e.g. releasable; Attaching guide lines to underwater guide bases
    • 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
    • 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

Definitions

  • This invention relates to offshore operations concerned with drilling, producing, servicing, and maintaining underwater wells, and pertains more particularly to apparatus lowerable from a floating vessel for use in remotely handling components, tools and other equipment associated with the well.
  • This object has been attained in the present invention by providing apparatus for carrying out underwater well site operations from a floating vessel which includes two relatively movable telescoping members, one of said members adapted for attachment to a pipe string or other similar means depending from the vessel and the other of said members adapted to hold the component, tool, etc., which is to be lowered, retrieved, or otherwise manipulated from the vessel.
  • Sheave means is mounted with respect to the telescoping members in such a manner as to take up slack on control lines or cable means associated therewith in response to the telescoping action of the members.
  • a cushioning system including gas charged hydraulic cylinders mounted on one of said members acting in cooperating with pistons mounted on the other of said members, is provided to absorb end wise impact energy imparted to the apparatus.
  • FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating apparatus according to the present invention being lowered into the vicinity of an underwater wellhead assembly by means of a pipe string depending from a floating vessel;
  • FIGURE .2 is an enlarged, detailed longitudinal view showing apparatus according to the present invention in association with flowline connecting equipment and being lowered along guide line means;
  • FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail view in partial cross section of the impact cushioning system utilized on apparatus according to the present invention.
  • FIGURE 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3A3A of FIGURE 3;
  • FIGURES 4 and 5 are enlarged, cross-sectional views taken along line 4-4 and line 5-5, respectively, of FIG- URE 3;
  • FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view illustrating details of the cushioning arrangement employed in the apparatus according to the present invention.
  • FIGURES 7 and 8 are enlarged, detailed longitudinal views illustrating relative positions assumed by elements of the apparatus according to the present invention during dilfering stages in the operation thereof.
  • a vessel or platform is generally represented by numeral 11.
  • the vessel or platform 11 is of any suitable type, preferably one, as illustrated, floating at the surface of a body of water 12 and substantially fixedly positioned at a preselected location by suitable vessel positioning means or by being anchored to the sea bed or ocean floor 13 by suitable anchors (not shown) connected to the anchor lines 14 and 15.
  • Equipment of this type may be used when carrying on operations with respect to wells positioned from 100 to 1,500 feet or more under water.
  • Vessel 11 is equipped with a suitable derrick 16 as well as other conventional auxiliary equipment such as a hoist system 17, rotary table 18, etc.
  • the derrick 16 may be positioned over a drilling slot or well 19 which extends vertically through the vessel in a conventional maner.
  • the slot 19 in the vessel may be either centrally located or extend in from one edge. However, operations also may be carried out over the 'side of the vessel without use of the slot.
  • An underwater production assembly 21 including wellhead assembly 22 is shown as being positioned on the ocean floor 13 and being fixedly secured thereto by a conductor pipe or well casing 23 which extends into the ocean floor .13 and is preferably cemented therein.
  • Casing 23 passes through equipment base 24 of the production assembly with the interior thereof in fluid communication with wellhead assembly 22 in the usual manner.
  • the equipment base 24 is provided with a plurality of fixedly positioned upstanding guide columns 25, 26 and 27.
  • Wellhead assembly 22 may be of any construction suitable for underwater production operations and for illustration purposes it may be assumed that assembly 22 has been previously lowered into position from vessel 11 along guide lines 29 and 30 in a manner well known in the art. Since the wellhead assembly forms no part of the present invention and may be of any suitable type, it is not deemed necessary to describe it in greater detail. US. Patent No. 3,136,363, issued June 9, 1964, to Yetman et al. may be referred to for an example of onesuitable underwater wellhead assembly design.
  • wellhead assembly 22 includes at least one fiowline 33 which preferably bends in a long sweeping curve to a substantially horizontal position, terminating in coupling member 34 of any suitable design.
  • Flowline 33 is in fluid communication with production tubing (not shown) extending down into casing 23 into the interior of the well in a known manner.
  • Apparatus 40 includes an upper tubular member 41 attached to pipe string 39 by any suitable connector arrangement and a lower tubular member 42.
  • Lower tubular member 42 has an outer diameter somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of upper tubular member 41 and extends upwardly into the interior of upper tubular member 41 in a manner that can be most clearly seen in FIGURE 3.
  • lower tubular member 42 has integrally formed thereon a flange member 43 which is disposed within the interior or throughbore of upper tubular member 41.
  • a plate member 44 is positioned on lower tubular member 42 below upper tubular member 41.
  • plate member 44 defines a throughbore 35 which is somewhat larger than the outer diameter of lower tubular member 42 with the result that plate mmeber 44 is slidable on tubular member 42.
  • Two notches or indents 36 and 37 are formed in plate member 44 to communicate with throughbore 35.
  • a plurality of integral ribs 45a, 45b, 45c and 45d are formed in parallel fashion along that portion of lower tubular member 42 lying between flange members 43 and 44 as viewed in FIGURES 3 and 5.
  • Ribs 45a and 450 are formed over substantially the full length of lower tubular member 42 while ribs 45b and 45d terminate further up tubular member 42 and in FIGURES 3 and 5 are illustrated as being in abutting relation with the upper surface of plate member 44.
  • Ribs 45a and 450 are accommodated by notches 36 and 37 of lower tubular member 42 (FIGURE 3A) and are freely slidable therein. Ribs 45a and 45c maintain proper rotational alignment between members 41 and 42 throughout the ax al stroke of the apparatus.
  • skirt member 46 flares outwardly at the bottom thereof to form integral skirt member 46 (FIGURE 3).
  • a bushing member 47 which may be maintained in position by any known expedient such as by being welded or otherwise secured to skirt member 46.
  • an end plate 48 may be secured in any known fashion to the bushing member on the side of the bushing member opposite the skirt member 46.
  • a wear ring 49 may be maintained between bushing member 47 and end plate 48 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4.
  • piston rods 52 and 53 are connected at their lower ends in any known manner, such as by means of screw threads, lock nuts, etc., to plate member 44 disposed on lower tubular member 42.
  • the piston rods pass through aligned throughbores in skirt member 46, bushing member 47 and end plate 48 in the manner illustrated most clearly in FIGURE 3 with the respective dimensions of the throughbores and the piston rods being such that the rods have freedom of axial movement within the throughbores.
  • O-ring or other type seals are provided to ensure fluid-tight engagement between piston rods 52 and 53 and the lower packing gland element at the base of cylinders 50 and 51.
  • seal 52a is shown in operative engagement with piston rod 52 to prevent the passage of fluid therebetween.
  • lower tubular member 42 passes through a central throughbore 42a formed by members 46 and 47 and end plate 48 into the interior of upper tubular member 41.
  • piston member 58 Housed within each of cylinders 50 and 51 is a piston member such as piston member 58 illustrated in FIGURE 6 with particular reference to cylinder 50.
  • the dimensions of the piston members are such that the outer cylindrical peripheries thereof are in fluid-tight engagement with the inner walls of their respective cooperating cylinders while at the same time permitting relative axial movement therebetween.
  • seal means such as O-ring seal 59 may be provided on the piston members to ensure this fluid-tight fit.
  • Piston rods 52 and 53 respectively are attached to the abovementioned piston members in any known manner. In FIGURE 6, for example, piston rod 52 is illustrated as being attached to piston member 58 by means of lock nuts 60 and 61 threadedly secured to the rod on oppos te sides of the piston member.
  • Cylinders 50 and 51 are pressurized with a gas below the piston members thus resulting in a cushioning or dampening effect on any downwardly directed forces being exerted on the piston rods in an obvious manner.
  • the effect and operation of the abovedescribed cushioning means will be described in detail below insofar as it relates to the operation of the yet to be described remaining elements of the subject invention.
  • a tool indicated generally by numeral 65 which for illustration purposes may be a fiowline connector of the general type disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,298,092, issued Jan. 17, 1967, to J. R. Dozier et al.
  • a flow- ]ine connector tool such as a tool 65 is used to connect underwater flowlines (not shown) to connector couplings, such as coupling member 34 in the instant case, associated with an underwater production assembly.
  • the apparatus according to the present invention may be used as a means for landing, retrieving, or otherwise handling a wide variety of components, including tools and well components on the ocean floor and for performing numerous other tasks, such as nonroutine pulling and fishing jobs.
  • tool 65 forms no part of the present invention, it is not deemed necessary to describe this particular piece of equipment in greater detail.
  • Tool 65 as well as any other tool and/or component to be utilized, may be attached to lower tubular member by any form of connector means such as by means of screw threads, bolts, etc.
  • a multiconduit or conductor control cable 66 used to carry electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic signals to the various components of the flowline connector tool system.
  • Cable 66 passes through a clamp 67 on pipe string 39 and through bracket 68 and clamp 69 fixedly mounted on upper tubular member 41 of apparatus 40.
  • cable 66 After emerging from the bottom of clamp 69, cable 66 passes around and under a rotatable sheave 70 which is preferably weighted and is mounted in any desirable manner for free axial or upand-down movement with respect to track means carried by upper tubular member 41 such as slot 71 formed therein.
  • cable 66 After passing about the bottom of sheave 70, cable 66 proceeds upwardly to a second sheave 72 which is rotatably mounted on a spindle element 73 fixedly positioned on upper tubular member 41. After looping over sheave 72, cable 66 proceeds downwardly through a guide tube 74 mounted on the lower portion of upper tubular member 41 and thence through clamp 75 to terminator element 76 mounted on lower tubular member 42 and tool 65 respectively, whereupon the separate conduits or conductors of the cable proceed into the interior of the tool itself.
  • a tool or apparatus such as tool 65
  • a tool or apparatus to be lowered into position, 18 connected to lower tubular member 42 of apparatus 40 and the tools are lowered from vessel 11 as by means of pipe string 39.
  • Cylindrical guides such as guides 80 and 81 frame-connected to tool 65 and guide 82 frame-connected to upper tubular member 41 are preferably provided to slide along one or more of the guide lines thereby providing stability during the lowering operation and positioning the tool as it is placed into engagement w th assembly 21.
  • the lowering operation by means of a pipe string, such as pipe string 39 is carried out in the usual fashion, i.e., through the addition of individual pipe sections to the string on board vessel 11.
  • landing string 39 is continued to be lowered until apparatus 40 is in its mid-stroke position. At this point, the landing string is secured to the drilling vessel.
  • Upper tubular member 41 will move up and down over lower tubular member 42 as the distance between vessel 11 and assembly 21 varies due to the rise and fall of the surface of the body of water 12. Proper rotational alignment is maintained be tween members 41 and 42 by ribs 45a and 450 as the apparatus strokes.
  • sheave 70 also moves downwardly within slot or track 71 to take up any slack in cable 66 due to this telescoping action in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 7.
  • sheave 70 will move upwardly with respect to slot or track 71 when vessel 11 rises and in consequence thereof upper tubular member 41 moves upwardly with respect to lower tubular member 42 as shown in FIGURE 8.
  • cable 66 is maintained under tension at all times regardless of the telescopic action of the two tubular members 41 and 42 thereby preventing possible fouling of the cable due to this action.
  • Apparatus for carrying out operations with respect to an underwater installation from a floating vessel comprising:
  • telescoping means including at least two relatively movable members adapted to be disposed between said vessel and said underwater well installation with relative movement between said members serving to compensate for changes in the distance between said vessel and said installation;
  • said takeup means comprises sheave means mounted on at least one of said relatively movable members, said flexible cable means having at least a portion thereof maintained in contact with said sheave means during relative movement between said members.
  • Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said telescoping means comprises a first tubular member and a second tubular member with said first tubular member lgeing relatively movable within said second tubular mem- 5.
  • Apparatus according to claim 4 including axially extending track means carried by one of said tubular members; said sheave means comprising a first sheave cooperating with said track means and movable with respect thereto and a second sheave rotatably mounted on spindle means fixedly mounted on the tubular member carrying said track means whereby the distance between said sheave means increases as said distance between said floating vessel and said underwater installation decreases.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (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)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Underground Or Underwater Handling Of Building Materials (AREA)
US731496A 1968-05-23 1968-05-23 Apparatus for use with underwater wells Expired - Lifetime US3500905A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US73149668A 1968-05-23 1968-05-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3500905A true US3500905A (en) 1970-03-17

Family

ID=24939752

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US731496A Expired - Lifetime US3500905A (en) 1968-05-23 1968-05-23 Apparatus for use with underwater wells

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3500905A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1925910A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2009179A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1260157A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4523878A (en) * 1981-08-27 1985-06-18 Exxon Production Research Co. Remotely replaceable guidepost method and apparatus

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2529253A1 (fr) * 1982-06-25 1983-12-30 Elf Aquitaine Dispositif et procede de descente et de connexion des quatre lignes-guides sur des poteaux-guides d'une station sous-marine
FR2529941A1 (fr) * 1982-07-06 1984-01-13 Elf Aquitaine Dispositif et procede de descente et de connexion d'un connecteur suspendu a une ligne-guide sur une colonne-guide installee sur une station sous-marine
GB0822978D0 (en) * 2008-12-17 2009-01-21 Lewis Ltd Subsea system
WO2012076703A2 (en) 2010-12-10 2012-06-14 Statoil Petroleum As Riser coupling

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2033035A (en) * 1931-12-22 1936-03-03 American Eng Co Ltd Mooring device
US3047078A (en) * 1958-10-01 1962-07-31 California Research Corp Method and apparatus for offshore drilling
US3150860A (en) * 1962-07-13 1964-09-29 Ling Temco Vought Inc Tension control device
US3158206A (en) * 1962-07-26 1964-11-24 Lamphere Jean K Hydraulic weight control and compensating apparatus
US3276746A (en) * 1963-10-10 1966-10-04 Inst Francais Du Petrole Stabilizing device
US3368619A (en) * 1966-06-13 1968-02-13 Chevron Res Method and apparatus for working on underwater wells
US3403728A (en) * 1965-12-17 1968-10-01 Transp Engineering Inc Apparatus for the suspension of well bore devices

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2033035A (en) * 1931-12-22 1936-03-03 American Eng Co Ltd Mooring device
US3047078A (en) * 1958-10-01 1962-07-31 California Research Corp Method and apparatus for offshore drilling
US3150860A (en) * 1962-07-13 1964-09-29 Ling Temco Vought Inc Tension control device
US3158206A (en) * 1962-07-26 1964-11-24 Lamphere Jean K Hydraulic weight control and compensating apparatus
US3276746A (en) * 1963-10-10 1966-10-04 Inst Francais Du Petrole Stabilizing device
US3403728A (en) * 1965-12-17 1968-10-01 Transp Engineering Inc Apparatus for the suspension of well bore devices
US3368619A (en) * 1966-06-13 1968-02-13 Chevron Res Method and apparatus for working on underwater wells

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4523878A (en) * 1981-08-27 1985-06-18 Exxon Production Research Co. Remotely replaceable guidepost method and apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1260157A (en) 1972-01-12
DE1925910A1 (de) 1969-11-27
FR2009179A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-01-30

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3032125A (en) Offshore apparatus
US3196958A (en) Offshore drilling method and apparatus
US4059148A (en) Pressure-compensated dual marine riser
CA1038633A (en) Self-supported drilling riser
US3103976A (en) Pipe joint locator for underwater wells
US8191636B2 (en) Method and apparatus for motion compensation during active intervention operations
US3142343A (en) Method and apparatus for drilling underwater wells
US3434296A (en) Method and apparatus for connecting an underwater pipeline to an offshore installation
US3517737A (en) Marine riser pull-down device
US3500906A (en) Subsurface wellhead and connector
US3517738A (en) Selective bore wellhead lubricator system
JPS61117393A (ja) 海底ワイヤライン給油器
US3211224A (en) Underwater well drilling apparatus
US3129774A (en) Method and apparatus for drilling and working in offshore wells
US3177942A (en) Well head assembly with telescoping tubing
US3330340A (en) Marine conductor pipe assembly
US3516488A (en) Device for introducing tools or instruments into an underwater well from a floating installation
US4470721A (en) Crane assembly for floatable oil/gas production platforms
US3486555A (en) Small diameter riser pipe system
US3513909A (en) Wellhead re-entry apparatus
US3215454A (en) Wellhead connector
US3221817A (en) Marine conductor pipe assembly
US3500905A (en) Apparatus for use with underwater wells
US3330339A (en) Method of removing a wellhead assembly from the ocean floor
US3754607A (en) Equipment for use in offshore wells