US3513911A - Offshore well workover method - Google Patents

Offshore well workover method Download PDF

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Publication number
US3513911A
US3513911A US731993A US3513911DA US3513911A US 3513911 A US3513911 A US 3513911A US 731993 A US731993 A US 731993A US 3513911D A US3513911D A US 3513911DA US 3513911 A US3513911 A US 3513911A
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United States
Prior art keywords
wellhead
retrieval apparatus
vessel
wellhead assembly
guide
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Expired - Lifetime
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US731993A
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English (en)
Inventor
William H Petersen
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Shell USA Inc
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Shell Oil Co
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Publication date
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    • 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
    • E21B43/013—Connecting a production flow line to an underwater well head
    • 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
    • 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

Definitions

  • WILLIAM H. PETERSEN aYcfl yggr HIS ATE QRNEY May 26, 1970 w. H. PETERSEN 5 OFFSHORE WELL WORKOVER METHOD Filed May 24, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WILLIAM H. PETERSEN HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,513,911 OFFSHORE WELL WORKOVER METHOD William H. Petersen, Houston, Tex., assignor to Shell Oil Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 24, 1968, Ser. No. 731,993 Int. Cl. E21b 7/12; E21c 19/00 US. Cl.
  • ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method of lowering apparatus to an underwater wellhead assembly from a floating vessel, attaching the apparatus to the wellhead assembly, establishing guidelines between the vessel and a structure on the ocean floor, and retrieving at least a portion of the attached wellhead assembly to the vessel along the guidelines by said apparatus.
  • This invention relates to a method of carrying out operations with respect to underwater wells at deep water locations from a floating vessel.
  • the present invention relates to a method of establishing contact between an apparatus lowerable from a floating vessel and an underwater wellhead structure whereby guideline means are established between the vessel and the structure and at least a portion of a wellhead assembly may be retrieved along said guidelines.
  • the aforesaid operations may be carried out remotely from said vessel.
  • the guide cables are left permanently attached to the wellhead structure at their lower ends and are secured, preferably to a buoy, at their upper ends, with the buoy floating on the surface of the water, whereby they may be used subsequently to reestablish contact with the structure.
  • the cables are dropped to the ocean floor from which they are recovered later by means of grappling hooks or other suitable means. Since cables lying on the ocean floor tend to become entangled as well as constituting a hazard to sea traflic, it is desired that these guide cables be removed when drilling operations have been completed.
  • some form of guide means is preferably disposed between the vessel and the underwater wellhead.
  • the common practice is to remove guide cables or guidelines from the underwater wellhead structure when drilling operations have been completed.
  • a still further object of the present invention is to provide a method whereby retrieval apparatus and guide carrying means are substantially simultaneously lowered from a floating vessel to an underwater wellhead structure whereby the retrieval apparatus is attached to a wellhead assembly, guidelines are established between the vessel and the structure, and at least a portion of the assembly is pulled to the vessel by the retrieval apparatus.
  • the above objects have been attained in the present invention by providing a method of retrieving at least a portion of an underwater production wellhead assembly, comprising part of an underwater structure, to the surface of a body of water wherein retrieval apparatus and guide-carrying means are lowered from a vessel and positioned on a previously located assembly.
  • the retrieval apparatus is then connected to the assembly and guide means are lowered from the guide carrying means and connected to the remainder of the structure.
  • the portion of the wellhead assembly to be retrieved is then disconnected from the remainder of the structure and pulled to the water surface along the guide means.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, frontal view taken on longitudinal projection illustrating a vessel floating on a body of water with retrieval apparatus and guide carrying means depending therefrom and positioned over an underwater wellhead structure, including a wellhead assembly;
  • FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic, side view taken on longitudinal projection of the retrieval apparatus, guide carrying means, and underwater wellhead structure, in the relative positions illustrated in FIG. 1;
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic, frontal views taken on longitudinal projection showing the relative positions of the retrieval apparatus, guide carrying means and underwater wellhead structure during various stages in the operation thereof while carrying out the steps of the method according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic, side view taken on longitudinal projection showing thte wellhead assembly portion of the wellhead structure being pulled to the surface of the body of water by the retrieval apparatus along guidelines attached to the wellhead structure.
  • a workover vessel, barge, or platform 11, of any suitable floatable type is illustrated as floating on the surface of a body of water 12 while being substantially fixedly positioned over a preselected well location by suitable vessel positioning means well known to the art, or by being anchored to the sea bed 13 by anchor lines 14 and 15 running to anchors (not shown).
  • Equipment of this type may be used when carrying out underwater well workover operations in water depths varying from about to 1500 feet or more.
  • the workover vessel 11 is equipped with a suitable derrick 16 as well as other auxiliary equipment needed for operations of this type.
  • the derrick 16 is positioned over a slot or well 17 which extends vertically through the vessel in a conventional manner.
  • the slot 17 of the vessel may be either centrally located or extend in from one edge.
  • operations may be carried out over the side of the barge or vessel without the use of a slot.
  • the method of the present invention may be used also when performing operations with respect to a well from any suitable operational base positioned above the surface of the water, such as, for example, from a barge having legs extending to the ocean floor or from a platform permanently positioned on the ocean floor.
  • An underwater wellhead structure 18 is located on the sea bed 13 below vessel 11. It is to be assumed that the vessel has been positioned as illustrated through the use of conventional navigational aids and anchored.
  • the wellhead structure 18 includes a base member 19 having a pair of upstanding guide posts 20 and 21 fixedly mounted thereon.
  • a production wellhead assembly 25 is mounted on wellhead member 24.
  • assembly 25 is of a Y-branched construction and includes a central body having fluid flow handling conduits 26 and 27 extending therefrom which communicate, respectively, with production conduits 28 and 29 extending into the well within casing 22.
  • the outer ends of conduits 26 and 27 terminate at connectors 30 and 31 as shown.
  • the connectors may be of any suitable remotely-detachable type, one example of which is disclosed in US. Pat. -No. 3,052,299, issued Sept. 4, 1962, to Geer et al.
  • the connectors 30 and 31 establish fluid flow communication between conduits 26 and 27 and production flow lines, such as flow line 32 (FIG. 2), which are positioned on sea bed 13 and lead to a suitable storage facility (not shown) in the usual manner.
  • retrieval apparatus 34 includes lock means (not shown) operative upon positioning of the retrieval apparatus upon production wellhead assembly 25 to lock the retrieval apparatus to the wellhead assembly.
  • lock means not shown
  • guide carrying means 35 includes a pair of cylindrical housing members 36 and 37 which are frame-mounted on retrieval apparatus 34. Slidably mounted in housing members 36 and 37 are elongated connector elements 38 and 39, respectively, which terminate at their lower ends in cone-shaped members 40 and 41. Suitable latching means, such as latching member 4111 (FIG. are disposed in cone-shaped members 40 and 41 and are connected to guidelines 42 and 43 (FIG. 1) which extend to vessel -11 in the manner illustrated. Guidelines 42 and 43, respectively, are operatively associated with constant tension hoists 44 and 45 disposed on vessel 11. As is shown in aforementioned US. application, Ser. No.
  • the assembled unit is lowered from vessel 11 by lengthening pipe string 33 in the customary manner, i.e., through the addition of individual pipe sections to the string.
  • constant tension is maintained on guidelines 42 and 43 by hoists 44 and 45, thereby retaining the latching members within coneshaped members 40 and 41 and keeping the cone-shaped members in contact with the lowermost ends of housing members 36 and 37.
  • the arrangement comprising the retrieval apparatus and the guide carrying means is lowered until it has been determined that the lowermost portion thereof is positioned a distance from the sea bed 13 somewhat greater than the height of the production wellhead assembly 18, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • wellhead assembly locating means such as sonar unit 46 and/or television camera 47, are actuated and monitored from the vessel 11 in the customary manner. Using this information, the operator then positions the retrieval apparatus directly over the wellhead assembly in any known manner, such as by manipulating the pipe string.
  • housing members 36 and 37 of the guide carrying means are axially positioned over upstanding guideposts 20 and 21.
  • cone-shaped members 40 and 41 with their respective latching members are dropped over guideposts 20' and 21 as shown in FIG. 4 under the influence of gravity.
  • the latching members are then automatically latched by means of any suitable mechanism to the guideposts.
  • the required remote disconnect operations are made with respect to the wellhead assembly to close down the well and enable at least a portion of the Wellhead assembly to be raised to the surface of the water.
  • the operation of the various valves, latches, etc. involved when performing such disconnects may be effected by use of any known expedient, such as hydraulic or electric conduits extending from vessel 11.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates the operation of raising at least a portion of the wellhead assembly to the surface after required disconnects have been made as discussed in the preceding paragraph.
  • the entire assembly 18 is being pulled to vessel 11 from wellhead member 24 by means of pipe string 33 and retrieval apparatus 34.
  • the flow handling conduits, such as conduit 27, have been disconnected from their respective flow lines, such as line 32.
  • the latching members, such as latching member 41a remain attached to their respective guideposts as the wellhead assembly portion is pulled upwardly with guidelines 42 and 43 cooperating with housing members 36 and 37 to guide the upward course of movement of the retrieval apparatus 34, guide carrying means 35, and said wellhead assembly portion.
  • the guidelines 42 and 43 may be subsequently used to guide it into position on the wellhead as the lowering thereof is etfected, such as by lowering it by means of a pipe string.

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  • 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)
  • Excavating Of Shafts Or Tunnels (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
US731993A 1968-05-24 1968-05-24 Offshore well workover method Expired - Lifetime US3513911A (en)

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US73199368A 1968-05-24 1968-05-24

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JP (1) JPS5016723B1 (enrdf_load_html_response)
DE (1) DE1926137A1 (enrdf_load_html_response)
FR (1) FR2009241A1 (enrdf_load_html_response)
GB (1) GB1256314A (enrdf_load_html_response)
NL (1) NL6907838A (enrdf_load_html_response)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4190114A (en) * 1978-08-18 1980-02-26 Cameron Iron Works, Inc. Subsea wellhead apparatus
US4281613A (en) * 1977-08-24 1981-08-04 The Offshore Company Method of and apparatus for mooring a floating structure
US4331203A (en) * 1980-09-25 1982-05-25 Trw Inc. Method and apparatus for the installation and withdrawal of pumping equipment in an underwater well
US4351258A (en) * 1979-11-20 1982-09-28 The Offshore Company Method and apparatus for tension mooring a floating platform
US4436451A (en) 1980-02-20 1984-03-13 Anderson Harold E Self-standing marine riser
US4862426A (en) * 1987-12-08 1989-08-29 Cameron Iron Works Usa, Inc. Method and apparatus for operating equipment in a remote location
US5146989A (en) * 1989-08-03 1992-09-15 Homco International Inc. Apparatus for recovering a wellhead
WO1999060246A1 (en) * 1998-05-18 1999-11-25 Fmc Do Brasil Indústria E Comércio S.A. A method of connecting a delivery line to a submerged manifold, and a vertical connection module
US6039118A (en) * 1997-05-01 2000-03-21 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Wellbore tool movement control and method of controlling a wellbore tool
US6070670A (en) * 1997-05-01 2000-06-06 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Movement control system for wellbore apparatus and method of controlling a wellbore tool
US6408949B1 (en) * 1997-11-03 2002-06-25 Kongsberg Offshore A/S Device for use for mounting and alignment of a christmas tree on a wellhead

Families Citing this family (1)

* 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

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3021909A (en) * 1958-10-01 1962-02-20 California Research Corp Means for offshore drilling
US3050140A (en) * 1960-07-18 1962-08-21 Shell Oil Co Method and apparatus for installing guide lines at underwater wellheads
US3064735A (en) * 1959-08-17 1962-11-20 Shell Oil Co Wellhead assembly lock-down apparatus
US3166123A (en) * 1962-05-23 1965-01-19 Shell Oil Co Method and apparatus for underwater wells
US3236302A (en) * 1962-11-05 1966-02-22 Chevron Res Apparatus for attaching and detaching a working base to an underwater well base

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3021909A (en) * 1958-10-01 1962-02-20 California Research Corp Means for offshore drilling
US3064735A (en) * 1959-08-17 1962-11-20 Shell Oil Co Wellhead assembly lock-down apparatus
US3050140A (en) * 1960-07-18 1962-08-21 Shell Oil Co Method and apparatus for installing guide lines at underwater wellheads
US3166123A (en) * 1962-05-23 1965-01-19 Shell Oil Co Method and apparatus for underwater wells
US3236302A (en) * 1962-11-05 1966-02-22 Chevron Res Apparatus for attaching and detaching a working base to an underwater well base

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4281613A (en) * 1977-08-24 1981-08-04 The Offshore Company Method of and apparatus for mooring a floating structure
US4190114A (en) * 1978-08-18 1980-02-26 Cameron Iron Works, Inc. Subsea wellhead apparatus
US4351258A (en) * 1979-11-20 1982-09-28 The Offshore Company Method and apparatus for tension mooring a floating platform
US4436451A (en) 1980-02-20 1984-03-13 Anderson Harold E Self-standing marine riser
US4331203A (en) * 1980-09-25 1982-05-25 Trw Inc. Method and apparatus for the installation and withdrawal of pumping equipment in an underwater well
US4862426A (en) * 1987-12-08 1989-08-29 Cameron Iron Works Usa, Inc. Method and apparatus for operating equipment in a remote location
US5146989A (en) * 1989-08-03 1992-09-15 Homco International Inc. Apparatus for recovering a wellhead
US6039118A (en) * 1997-05-01 2000-03-21 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Wellbore tool movement control and method of controlling a wellbore tool
US6070670A (en) * 1997-05-01 2000-06-06 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Movement control system for wellbore apparatus and method of controlling a wellbore tool
US6408949B1 (en) * 1997-11-03 2002-06-25 Kongsberg Offshore A/S Device for use for mounting and alignment of a christmas tree on a wellhead
WO1999060246A1 (en) * 1998-05-18 1999-11-25 Fmc Do Brasil Indústria E Comércio S.A. A method of connecting a delivery line to a submerged manifold, and a vertical connection module

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DE1926137A1 (de) 1969-12-04
NL6907838A (enrdf_load_html_response) 1969-11-26
GB1256314A (en) 1971-12-08
FR2009241A1 (enrdf_load_html_response) 1970-01-30
JPS5016723B1 (enrdf_load_html_response) 1975-06-16

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