US3545539A

US3545539A - Subsea satellite foundation unit and method for installing satellite body therewithin

Info

Publication number: US3545539A
Application number: US663798A
Authority: US
Inventors: William F Manning
Original assignee: Mobil Oil Corp
Current assignee: ExxonMobil Oil Corp
Priority date: 1967-08-28
Filing date: 1967-08-28
Publication date: 1970-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 1987-12-08
Also published as: GB1243648A

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Wlllim s 3,366,173 1/1968 McIntosh .L 166/.5 a ha m 3,384,169 5/1968 Leonard 166/.5 [2;] 2 3:: 1967 3,391,734 7/1968 Townsend 166/5 P'ateented 7 Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion [73] Assign Mob" on Corporation AsszstantExaminer-Richard E. Favreau a comm New York Attorneys-William J. Scherback, Frederick E. Dumoulin,

Alan G. Paul, Donald L. Dickersonaand Sidney A. Johnson SUBSE SATELLITE FOUNDATION UNIT AND [54] 8 FOR INSTALLING. SATELLITE BODY ABSTRACT: This specification discloses a method and ap- THEREWITHIN paratus for lowenng a satellite body through a body of water u nnwhgm 1 to a foundation unit rigidly fixed on a'marine bottom while preventing the motion of the surface handling vessel, from [52] U.S- 166/51 which the satellite body is being lowered, from being trans- 61/46-5, 59 2 ferred to the satellite body as it comes into contact with the iniEzlb 33/035 stalled foundation unit. The apparatus comprises correspond- E2lb43/ol ing elements on the foundation unit: and the satellite body [50] Field of Search 166/.5, .6; hi h t lescope together, trapping water therebetween. A 61/4651 remotely controlled bleeding off of the trapped water permits the satellite body to settle at a controlled rate in the founda- [56] References Cited tion unit, the telescoping elements automatically locking UNITED STATES PATENTS together to insure that the satellite body is rigidly fixed in the 2,783,970 3/1957 Gillespie foundation unit. The telescoping elements also orient the 2,900,794 8/1959 Sutton satellite body on the foundation unit so that stab connections 2,960,833 11/1960 Hayward between the satellite body and subsea wellheads, mounted on 3,302,709 2/1967 Postlewaite. the foundation unit, come into registry and interlock to con- 3,3l0,108 3/1967 Yancey nect subaqueous wells drilled through the foundation unit, 3,313,347 4/1967 Crain with production equipment within the satellite body. The sub- 3,326,285 6/1967 C oberly sea operations are assisted by a submersible work vehicle in 3,332,484 7/1967 Watkins attendance at the underwater site. 3

as as 5s so PATENTED nzc 8|970 3545539 SHEET 1 [1F 2 I INVENTOR I WILLIAM E MANNING ATTORNEY aemwapwj PATENTEDDEBBIQYB 3545539 sum: or 2 h g)? V INVENTOR y; WILLIAM 1-7 MANNING ATTORNEY SUBSEA-SATELLITETOUNDATION UNIT. ANDilVIETHOD' FOR INSTALLING SATELLITE BODY BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention 7 This invention relates to a foundation unit and a subsea satellite body therefor, forming a subsea satellite station, so

designed as to control the contacting force between the foundation unit mounted on the marine bottom and a satellite body being lowered from a surface handling vessel, and to a method for installing the subsea satellite body in the foundation without transmitting surface wave movements to the, satellite body as the satellite body comes in contact with the previously installed foundation unit.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art has not atthis stage presented adequate solutions to the problems associated with the lowering of a massive object from a floating surface handling vessel to a motionless foundation supported on the marine bottom. Any erratic motion transmitted through the .objectbeing lowered from the surface vessel, while the massive object is first contacting the foundation unit rigidly fixed to the marine bottom, could easi ly cost irreparable harm to both. The H. L. Shatto, Jr., US. Pat. No. 3,11 1,926. one of the few issued patents actually disclosing a subsea production satellite station, obviates this problem by providing a permanently buoyant satellite body which is held inposition by tensioned anchor lines. Such an arrangement, however, has its own inherent problems such as the necessity of constantlyreba'llasting the structure to hold a constant buoyancy under changing conditions and the ever present danger of the buoyant satellite breaking loose from its anchoring lines and destroyingany and all equipment above. The .l. A. I-Iaeber US. Pat. No. 3,261,398, issued on Jul. 19, 1966, illustrates an entire subsea system having elements installed on a marine bottom. However, in this patent the procedures and equipment necessary for installing the bottom supported elements of the system are not disclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION lower end. Above the partition each stabbing sleeve has an annular ring fixed therein and between the respective annular ring and partition, a port, theports of all of the stabbing sleeves being connected by "a manifold. Fluid pressure in the manifold is controlled by a bleed valve actuatable from outside of the framework of the foundation unit by a submersible work vehicle attending the satellite installation procedure.

After the satellite foundation has beeninstalled on the marine bottom and wells are completed through all of the foundation jackets, with their wellheads mounted on the upper ends of the jackets, a negatively buoyant satellite body is lowered from a surface handling vessel toward the foundation unit. The satellite body has a plurality of cylindrical stabbing columns depending vertically therefrom in such a configuration that one of thestabbing columns will fit into each of the open stabbing sleeves of the foundation unit forming therewith pairs of telescoping elements. The satellite body is angularly oriented with respect to the foundation unit with the help of one of the stabbing columns which is longer than the others. This-longer stabbing column can be telescoped slightly into the corresponding stabbing sleeve first to provide an axis around which the satellite body is then rotated until the other stabbing columns are aligned with their respective stabbing sleeves. As all of the stabbing sleeves enter into the respective stabbing columns, the valve, controlling the bleeding off of trapped water within the stabbing sleeves of the foundation unit'beneath the telescoping stabbing columns of the satellite body, is closed and the hoisting line between the satellite and the surface vessel is slacked off and/or removed so that the satellite body is supported solely on the trapped columns of water. The rate of descent of the satellite body into the foundation unit is now controlled by the opening of the bleed control valve, eonnectedinthe manifold system of the stabbing sleeves, by the submersible work vehicle which has a socket wrench on an articulated arm thereof for rotating a speciallydesigned valve actuatori-As the stabbing columns of the satellite body seat in thestabbing; sleeves of the foundation unit, the lower ends of the stabbing columns abut the internally fixed annular rings. As the ends of the stabbing columns abut the annular rings, circumferential grooves in the lower ends of the columns register with automatic latches mounted in the walls of each of the stabbing sleeves. Detent fingers of the latches snap into circumferential grooves in the respective stabbing columns to secure the satellite body in place. At this time, the satellite body may be evacuated since it is prevented from rising by the connections with the foundation unit. The alignment of the stabbing columns of the satellite body with the stabbing sleeves of the foundation unit causes proper registry between stab-over connectors on the circumference of the shell of the satellite body and upstanding tubing nipples of the wellheads, topping the foundation jackets. As the satellite body settles into the foundation unit, the stab-over connectors telescope over the tubing nipples so as to provide fluid paths between the subaqueous wells and production equipment within the interior of the satellite body.

When it is necessary to raise the satellite body back to the surface, the satellite body is caused to become negatively buoyant, after which the spring latches are mechanically retracted under the control of the submersible work vehicle. The manifold is pressured up to raise the lower ends of the stabbing columns out of contact with the stops in the interiors of the stabbing sleeves and the hoist line is reconnected to the surface vessel for raising the satellite body back to the surface.

It is seen from the just completed discussion that when there is contact between the satellite body and the foundation unit, surface movements are not transmitted to the satellite body through the hoisting line. Therefore, it is possible to make the contact between the satellite body and the installed foundation unit as gentle as possible to prevent structural failures in either member. While the preceding discussion has dealt primarily with installing the satellite body in the foundation unit, once the foundation unit has been installed, it is realized that prior to this operation the foundation unit must be installed and leveled on the marinebottom. A three-piece foundation unit for accomplishing-this operation is disclosed in the instant applicants copending U.S.-Pa t. application Ser. No. 663,799 filed on Aug. 28, 1967, now US. Pat. No. 3,504,740. Such an arrangement could be adapted to the present foundation unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS handling vessel; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of one of the stabbing sleeves of the foundation unit with a portion of a stabbing column of the satellite body telescoped therewithin, particularly illustrating the structure of a spring latch for fixedly connecting a stabbing column of the satellite body into a respective stabbing sleeve of the foundation unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Now looking to FIG. 1,?a subsea system for producing fluid minerals from a plurality of subaqueous wells is illustrated as having a number of production subsea satellite stations, generally designated 10, spaced across a marine bottom 12, each satellite station being centrally positioned within a closely spaced circular group of subsea wellheads 14. The produced fluids from the subaqueous wells are directed into the satellite stations 10 through the respective encircling subsea wellheads l4. The fluid streams being produced from the subsea wellheads 14 of each circular group are combined within the respective enclosed satellite stations 10 and are directed therefrom to a centralmain manifold 16 through a single flowline 18 extending from each satellite station 10. A floating storage tank structure 20, having an above-surface platform 22 with an offloading boom 24, is in fluid communication with the main manifold 16 through the interior of a tensioned tether pipe 26 anchored through the main manifold 16.

In the upper left-hand comer of FIG. 1 is illustrated the installation of a satellite body 10 onto a foundation unit 50 fixed on, the marine bottom 12. The satellite body 10 is lowered from a surface handling vessel 28 with a submersible work vehicle 30' being in attendance, near the marine bottom 12, to assist'in the ensuing operations. At the lower end of FIG. 1, a'similar submersible work vehicle 30 is shown in a larger scale to illustrate better its features. The submersible workvehicle 30'(and 30') has a pair of articulated

arms

32 and 34 carrying a socket wrench 36 and a vise grip tool 38, respectively. The submersible work vehicle 30 is further equipped with a pivotable positioning motor 40 (one shown) on each "side to assist in locating the submersible work vehicle 30 adjacent a satellite station 10 when being installed. A lower port 42 of the submersible work vehicle 30 is connected with a rear compartment (not shown) within the shell thereof to per mit a diver to be released at the installation site if one should be'need'edL' The rear compartment is isolated from the pilot's "compartments, seen through the front view plate 44, so that the diver'after exposure in deep water can be kept in compression in't'h'e rear'compartrnent while the front compartment is maintained at atmospheric conditions. .This general type of submersible work vehicle is well knownin the art, and specific vehicles of this type are more fully described in application 7 Ser. No. 649,959 filed June 29, l967, of Warren B. Brooks,

Charles Ovid Baker, and Eugene L. Jones, and the references cited .therein. I Now looking to FIG. 2, the satellite body 10' and the foundation unit 50 are shown in more detail. The satellite body 10' I is lowered from the surface handling vessel 28 with a crane 46 and an interconnecting cable 48 to install the satellite body 10" in the foundation unit 50, through which a plurality of subaqueous wells have been drilled and completed. The foundation unit 50 comprises an outer circle of foundation jackets 52 each extending a short distance into the unconsolidated upper formations of the marine bottom 12 and supporting the founfdation' unit 50, at least prior to the wells being completed therethrough by enlarged circumferential bearing plates 54 (or a single large bearing mat). Parallel horizontal brace portions 56 fixedly interconnect the adjoining foundation jackets each adjoining pair of foundation jackets 52 and the respective interconnecting parallel brace portions 56.

, Within the parallel polygons formed by the upper and lower brace portions 56, and rigidly fixed thereto, are a pair of spaced horizontal triangular forms each comprising three braces 60,'for supporting within the apexes thereof, vertical stabbing sleeves 62. Each of the stabbing sleeves 62 has an intermediate partition or cap 64 (seen within the broken away portion of the far right-hand stabbing sleeve 62) welded across release mechanism controlled by the rotation of a rigid 52. For additional bracing, a diagonal 58 is located between horizontal retractor rod having an actuator head 82 on the outer end. thereof. The actuator head 82, an enlarged polygonal element 84 with a terminal conical section 86, is designed to be rotated by the socket wrench 36 carried by the articulated arm 32 of the submersible work vehicle 30. The ports 68 in the walls of the stabbing sleeves 62 are interconnected through a manifold 70. One of the stabbing sleeves 62 also has a'second port 72 to which is fixed the inner end of a rigid horiZontal tube 74. A shutoff valve 76 is fixed to the tube 74 near the outer end thereof beyond the periphery of the cir cular configuration of jackets 52. The valve 76 has an actuator head similar to the aforementioned actuator head 82 (shown diagrammatically) that is designed to be rotated also by the socket wrench 36 on the articulated arm 32 of the submersible work vehicle 30. I

The satellite body 10', being lowered from the surface handling vessel-26 by the cable 48, has a plurality of stab-over connector units 86 for mating with upstanding tubing nipples 88 of the wellheads 14 to extend production and control passages 14a of the subaqueous wells into the shell of the satellite body 10'. Each connector unit 86 has a fluid passage 86atherethrough, the lower end of which is adapted to receive nipple 88 therein to fonn a fluid connection. Connector unit 86 has been shown schematically since any known stab-over units can be used, e.g., one such as disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,090,437, issued May 21, 1963, Passages 86a allow flow of produced minerals from wellhead 14 to production equipment 87 which is located inside satellite body 10'. Production equipment 87 is preferably of thetype shown in US. Pat. No. 3,366,173, issued Jan. 30, 1968. The stab-over connector units 86 are, spaced around the shell of-the satellite body 10' so .that-one stab-over connector unit 86 is provided for each wellhead 14. The satellite body 10 also has one elongated vertical stabbing column 90 and a pair of shorter vertical stabbing columns 92 arranged to telescope into the stabbing sleeves 62 to orient the satellite body 10 with respect to the foundation unit 50 to provide proper registry for the stab-overconnector units 86. Each

ofthe stabbing columns

90 and 92 has at least one sealing O-ring 96 mounted in a circumferential groove thereon and a lower open circumferential groove 98. A reversible dynamic positioning motor 94 is mounted on the shell of the satellite body 10' to rotate the satellite body 10' to provide for proper alignment. Alternatively, water or air jets (not shown) can. be provided to perform the same function. At least an air line 104 and an electrical line 106 are connected between the satellite body 10' and the surface handling vessel 28. The satellite body 10' also has a buoyancy control port 100 extending from the lower end thereofiwhich is controlled by a valve 102. The valve 102 has an extended valve actuator, shown only diagrammatically, of the type previously described.

In operation, as the satellite body 10'v is lowered from the surface handling vessel 28, it is caused to be negatively buoyant by opening the valve 100 to flood at least a portion of the interior thereof. The amount of water allowed to enter the satellite body 10' can be controlled from the surface handling vessel 28 through the air line 104 or from the submersible work vehicle 30'. As the satellite body 10' is lowered through the water, it is so aligned that the longer stabbing column 90 telescopes into one of the stabbing sleeves 62. The satellite body 10' is then rotated until the other two stabbing columns 92 are coaxial with the respective stabbing sleeves 62. This alignment is brought about, from the surface vessel 28, under thedirection of the submersible workvehicle 30', either by the control of the positioning motor 94 through electrical line 106, or by the application of air through the line 104 and selected air jets fixed in the shell of the satellite body 10'. When the proper alignment is obtained, the satellite body 10' is lowered until the shorter stabbing columns 92 are just within the upper end of the stabbing sleeves 62. At this time the valve 76, which has been open until this time, is closed to trap water within the stabbing sleeves 62 above the intermediate partitions 64, and the cable 48 is slacked off from the surface hanthrough the tube 74 to raise the satellite body 10' enough,

with the

stabbing columns

90, 92 still in ;the stabbing sleeves 6 2, to slack off the cable; 48. The cable 48 can be'discon nected thereafter at-anytin'ieL-1'lhe-valve 76 is then gradually opened slowly to allowwater to escape at a predetermined rate from the sleeve through the manifold 70 so that the satellite body 10' slowlysettles into the stabbing sleeves 62 until the lower ends of the

stabbing columns

90 and 92 abut the annular rings 66; As

thes'tabbing columns

90 and 92 settle down into the stabbing sleeves. 62, spring latches 78 lockinto the open circumferential grooves'98 in the stabbing colunins 90 and 92, securing the satellite body 10' cradled in placelin the foundation unit 50. Air may. then be pumped into the satellite-body -10f,.,'through theline 104fto evacuate the excess water, the valve 100 then being shut, leaving the satellite body 10"filled with'air and-buoyantbut'held fixedly adjacent the marine bottom 12' cradledj'in its foundation'unit 50. A representative springlatch78is shown in more detail in FIG. 3. The latch .78 consists of (a camming detent finger 108 reciprocally mounted in a cutout '110 in the inner wall of .the respective stabbing. sleeve 62. The detent finger 108 is reciprocally received in the open circumferential groove 98 in the-illustrated stabbing column 90 by first camming the detent finger 108 outward with .thelower end of the stabbing column 90 moving down through the interior of the sleeve 62, the detent finger 108 springing inward into the open groove '98 as the groove 98and thecutout 110 come into registry. The detent finger- 108 is inwardly biased by a coil compression spring 112 located in the cutout .110 behind the detent finger 108. The retractor rod 80, extends from the detent finger 108 through the center of the coil spring 112 in the cutout 110, a

center bore 1 13 in the wallof the sleeve 62 connecting the eutout llwith the, outer face of the wall of the sleeve 62, and terminates, as previously described, in an enlarged activator head 82 at a distancefrom thesleeve 62. The retractor rod 80 is connected to the detent finger 108 by a flange 114 axially fixed in an enlarged coaxial bore section 118 of a bore 116 of the detentfinger 108 by a snap ring 119 locked into an undercut groove in the enlarged bore section 118. The enlarged bore sectionzl l8 is closed, at its inner end, by a hardened camming plate- 120 bolted over the inner face of the detent finger 108. Outwardof the stabbing sleeve 62, the retractor rod 80 extends through an coaxial aperture 125 in a waterproof compartment l-22 fixed to the outer wall of the stabbing sleeve. An O-ring'l24 in the inner wall of the aperture125 provides a rotatable and slidable seal between the retractor rod 80 and the compartrnent 122. A nut 126 is threaded on a portion of the retractor rod 80 within the waterproof compartment 122, the nut 126 being jnonrotatably slidable on a pair of parallel pins 128 tightly-threaded into horizontal tapped holes in the outer wall of the stabbing sleeve 62 withintl'ie compartment 122. With this arrangement, the downward movement of b the stabbingcolumn 90 into conjunction with the detent finger 108 would cam the detentfinger 108 outward against the action of the spring 112. The slidable mounting of the nut 126 on the pins 128 allows the nut 126 .to move outward, within the compartment 122,"as the retractor rod 80 is driven outward due to the outward movement of the detent finger 108. When the circumferential groove 98 of. the respective stabbing column 90 comes into registry with cutout 110, the detent finger 108'springs inwardly intoth'e circumferential groove 98 to axially fix the stabbing column 90 with respect to the i stabbing sleeve 62.

' When the satellite body is'to be raised back out of the foundation unit 50, the springtlatches 78 must be released. This is accomplished by rotating the retractor rod 80 with the socket wrench tool 36, carried on an articulated arm 32 of the submersible work vehicle 30,-thesocket wrench tool 36 mating with the actuator head 82 located on the outer end of the retractor rod 80. A prescribed direction of rotation of the retractor rod 80 will shift the'retractor rod 80 outward, the reaction forces causing the nut 126 to abut tightly against the outer wall of the stabbing sleeve 62, to completely withdraw the detent finger 108 from the circumferential groove 98. The release of the spring latches 78 permits the

stabbing columns

90 and 92 to move axially upward with respect to the stabbing sleeve 62. Prior to reinstalling the, satellite body 10 in the foundation unit 50, the retractor rods 80 of all of the latching units 78 should be rotated in the reverse direction to again allow the position of the-detent finger 108 to be controlled by reconnected to the satellite body 10' with the assistance of the vise grip tool 38 carried on an arm 34 ofthe submersible vehicle 30. The valve 100 is opened long enough to allow enough water to enter the satellite body 10' to obtain a slight negative buoyancy of the satellite body 10' and then is closed. With the satellite body 10' negatively buoyant, the three latches 78 are retracted with the aid of the submersible {work vehicle 30, after which fluid under pressure is applied within the stabbing sleeves 62 above the partitions 64 and beneath the

stabbing columns

90, 92 to raise thesatellitejbody 10 up in the foundation unit 50 with the

stabbing columns

90, 92 still partially telescoped within the stabbing sleeves 62. At this time the cable 48 is tensioned by the crane 46 and the satellite body 10' is hoisted to the surface. If the'fluid under pressure applied within. the stabbing sleeves is air, this will act as a cushion when the cable 48 is tensioned and some surface motions are transferred therethrough during the preliminary portion'of the raising operan'o'n. If water is applied within the stabbing sleeves, the valve 78 should be opened as the cable is tensioned to prevent surface motions-from being transferred to the foundation unit 50. The fluid under pressure in the stabbing sleeves 62, for raising the satellite body 10' up in the foundation unit 50, is obtained by injecting air into the stabbing sleeve 62 through intemal conduits 130 coaxially locatedwithin the

stabbing columns

90 and 92 and selectively connected at their upper ends within the satellite body 10' to the air line 104. Alternatively,- a fluid connector portion may be fixed on the outer end of the rigid tube 74 so that an air line extending from the surface handling vessel 28 can be connected thereto to pump. the air through the manifold 70 into the stabbing sleeves 62 in conjunction withthe opening of the valve 76 by the submersible work vehicle 30. Still another alternative, also utilizing a fluid connection with the tube 74 would be that of having a retractable flexible line carried by the submersible work vehicle 30, which. could be plugged into the fluid connector portion on theouter end of the tube 74. A

Although the present invention has been described incon nection with details of a specific method and apparatus, it is to be understood that such details are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The terms and expressions employed are used in a descriptive and not a limiting sense and there is no intention of excluding such equivalents in the invention described as fallwithin the scope of the claims. For instance, the positioning of the stabbingcolumns and stabbing sleeves could be reversed, the stabbing sleeves being fixed to the satellite body 10 and the stabbing columns fixed to the foundation unit. Other modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the invention will be obvious to the reader. Now having described the apparatus and method herein disclosed,

reference should be had to the claims which follow.

vertical stabbing sleeve, said stabbing sleeve being open at the upper end thereof to receive a depending stabbing column of a fluid port. 9. A subsea satellite foundation unit, as recited in claim 8, wherein there is an annular ring fixed within said stabbing sleeve above said fluid port. m r 10. A subsea satellite foundation unit, as recited in claim 1,

said foundation unit being fixedly supported on a marine bottom, at least one vertical foundation jacket forming an integral portion of said foundation unit, a subaqueous well completed -7 satellite body being lowered rough a body of water to said 2. A subsea satellitefoundation unit, as recited in claim 1, wherein there are a' plurality of vertical stabbing sleeves, 'each of said plurality of stabbingsleeves being open atthe upper" end thereof toreceive one of a'plurality of depending stabbing columns of a' satellite body being lowered through a body of water, to said foundation unitysaid means for simultaneously controlling the pressure of fluid trapped within each of said stabbing sleeves comprising 'a 'manifold interconnecting the inv teriors of said stabbing sleeves; I 3. A subsea satellite foundation unit, as recited in claim 1,

. w v 8 tion of said plurality of stabFg sleeves with a plurality of stabbing columns providing the proper orientation to register a stab over connector unit of a satellite body with said upwherein said means for controlling the pressure of fluid trapped within each of said stabbing sleeves comprises a valve,

and a valve actuating-meansextending beyond said foundation unit where said actuating means can be reached and con- I trolled from an attendant submersible work vehicle.

, 4. A subsea satellite foundation unit, as recited in claim 1,

'5. A subsea satellite foundation unit, as recited in claim 4,

'wherein there is means for yieldably inwardly biasing said antomatic latching means wherebythe telescoping of a stabbing c'olumn into said "stabbing sleeve will depress said detent finger of said automatic latching means outwardly into the wall of said stabbing sleeve, said detent finger moving inwardly again when a groove in the-'"w'allofa stabbing column telescoping into said'stabbing sleeve comes into registry therewith.

' 6. A subsea satellite'foundation unit, as recited in claim 5, wherein there is a manual retracting means for moving said detent finger outwardly into said wall of said stabbing sleeve to release a stabbing column secured in said stabbing sleeve, said manual retracting means comprising a retractor rod extending {outwardly of said stabbing sleeve.

7. A subsea satellite foundation unit, as recited in claim 6,

' wherein said retractor rod extends out beyond said foundation unit and terminates, at the outer end thereof, in an enlarged head which can be actuated by a tool carried by an articulated arm of a submersible work vehicle.

8. A subsea satellite foundation unit, as recited in claim 1,

I {wherein said means for controlling the pressure of fluid {trapped within said stabbing sleeve comprises a fluid port in the wall of said stabbing sleeve and a partition in said stabbing sleeve sealing said interior of said stabbing sleeve below said through said, foundation jacket and terminating in a subsea wellhead mounted onthe upper end of said foundation jacket, and an upstanding tubing nipple for extending each producstanding tubing nipple, of said subsea wellhead mounted on said foundation jacket of said foundation unit.

necting said foundation jackets in vertical alignment, a plurali-' ty of stabbing sleeves, means for rigidly interconnecting said stabbing sleevesin vertical alignment and-for rigidly fixing said plurality of stabbing sleeves within said plurality of foundation jackets, said stabbing sleeves each being open at the upper end thereof to receive a corresponding depending stabbing column of a satellite body lowered through abody of water to said foundation unit located on a marine bottom, a port in the wall of each of said stabbing sleeves, partition means sealing the interior of each of said stabbing sleeves below saidrespective port, and an annular. ring fixed within each of said stabbing sleeves above said respective port in said stabbing sleeve,'a manifold extending between said ports for interconnecting the interiors of said stabbing sleeves, valve means associated with said manifold for controlling the pressure of fluid within each of saidstabbing sleeves as the depending stabbing columns of a satellite enter said stabbing sleeves, manual means for actuating said valve means, said manual means being located beyond said peripheral foundation jackets, a releasable automatic latching meansmounted on each of said stabbing sleeves, eachof said releasable automatic latching means being provided with a detent finger and means for yieldably biasing said detent finger inward so that said detent finger will be yieldably depressed outward into the wall of said stabbing sleeve as a stabbing column telescopes into said stabbing sleeve camming said detent finger outward, said detent finger being adapted to moveinward into a groove in the wall of a stabbing column as a groove in the wall of a stabbing column comes into registry therewith to secure a stabbing column in said respective stabbing sleeve, and manual retracting means for moving said detent finger out of a groove in a stabbing column and outward into said wall of said being located on a marine bottom, a subaqueous well completed through at least one of said foundation jackets, said completed subaqueous well comprising asubaqueous wellhead mounted'on the upper end of one of said foundation jackets, an upstanding tubing nipple connected to each production and control passage of said subaqueous well, extending from said wellhead whereby, when a satellite body is lowered to said foundation unit, and its depending stabbing columns telescope into said stabbingsleeves, a stab-over connector unit of the satellite body registers with said upstanding tubing nipple of said subsea wellhead to form a fluid connection from said subaqueous well into the shell of the satellite body.

14. A subseasatellite station comprising said satellite foundation unit, with at least one subaqueous well completed through the foundation jackets thereof, as recited in claim 13, further comprising a satellite body cradled in said foundation I unit, said satellite body having a plurality of depending tion and control passage of said subsea wellhead whereby a stab-over connector unit of a satellite body will telescope over said upstanding tubing nipple when a stabbing column de- I pending from a satellite body. telescopes fully into said stabbing sleeve and said satellite body is properly oriented with respect to said foundation unit.

' l 1 A subsea satellite foundation unit, as recited in claim 10, wherein there are a plurality of stabbing sleeves on said foundation unit for .coacting with a plurality of corresponding stabbing columns depending from a satellite body, the coacsaid stabbing columns in said stabbing sleeves, at least one stab-over connector unit fixed to the shell of said satellite body, said stab-over connector unit having a fluid path therewithin extending into the shelliof said satellite body and being in fluid connection with production equipment within corresponding stabbing sleeve and then saidsatellite body is rotated to align said other stabbing columns and the corresponding stabbing sleeves.

16. A subsea satellite station comprising a foundation unit rigidly fixed on a marine bottom of a body of water and a satellite body cradled in said foundation unit, at least one pair of telescoping elements forming a connection between said satellite body and said foundation unit, one element of said pair of telescoping elements being fixed to said foundationunit, the

other element of said pair of telescoping elements being fixed V to said satellite body, a means for controllingthe bleeding off of water trapped between said telescoping elements as said satellite body is lowered into said foundation unit rigidly fixed on said marine bottom and said pair of elements telescope fully together. g i

17. A subsea satellite station, as recited in claim 16, wherein one of said elements of said pair of telescoping elements is a stabbing columnof cylindrical configuration.

18. A subsea satellite station, as recited in claim 17, wherein the other element of said pair of telescoping elements is a stabbing sleeve having a cylindrical passage open at least at the upper end-thereof. a T

19. A subsea satellite station, as recited in claim 17, wherein the axis of said cylindrical stabbing column is vertically oriented when said elements are telescoped together with said foundation unit rigidly fixed on said marine bottom.

20. A subsea satellite body adapted to be cradled on a marine bottom in a preinstalled foundation unit comprising a watertight shell, a plurality of stabbingcolumns depending from said shell of said satellite body inapattem corresponding to a plurality of stabbing sleeves on this preinstalled foundation unit, and aplurality ofstab-over connector units spaced around said shell of said satellite body, each stab-over connector unit having at least fiuid path therein extending into said shell of said satellite body whereby said stab-over connector units can coact with upstanding nipples of spaced subsea wellheads of subaqueous wells completed throughthe preinstalled foundation unit to form fluid paths from subaqueous wells into said shell of said satellite body.

21. A subsea satellite body adapted to be cradled on a marine bottom in a preinstalled foundation unit comprising a watertight shell and a plurality of vertical, spaced stabbing columns depending from said shell of said satellite body in a pattern corresponding to a plurality of stabbing sleeves of a foundation unit to be utilized therewith wherein one of said plurality of vertical, spaced stabbing columns is longer than the others of said plurality of stabbing columns whereby said longer stabbing column will begin to telescope into a corresponding stabbing sleeve before the others-pf said stabbing columns, whereby when said longer stabbing column starts to telescope into the respective stabbing sleeve, said satellite body can be rotated around said longer stabbing column to provide proper alignment of the others of said stabbing columns with the respective stabbing sleeves.

22. A subsea satellite body, as recited inclaim 21, wherein there is means associated with said satellite'body for reacting with the surrounding water for rotating said satellite body around said longer stabbing column whensaid longer stabbing column is telescoped partially in its corresponding stabbing sleeve. u 1 l i 23. A subsea satellite body, as recited in claim 22, wherein said means for rotating said satellite bodyin surrounding water is a positioning motor mounted on the outside of said shell of said satellite body.- r

24. A method for installing a subsea satellite body in a satellite foundation unit fixed on a marine bottom of a body of water to form a subsea satellite station, said satellite body comprising a watertight shell, said method comprising the following steps:

a. causing said satellite body to be negatively buoyant;

b. lowering said satellite body to said foundation unit fixed on said marine bottom from a surface handling vessel by a cable;

c, partially telescoping at least one pair of elements, a first element of said pair of elements being fixed to said satellite body and a second element of said pair of elements being fixed to said foundation unit,'while still supporting said satellite body bysaid cable;

d. at least slacking off on said cable while supporting said satellite body on a column of water trapped between said elements of said pair of telescoping elements; and

e. bleeding water from said column of water to further telescope said pair of elements to fully cradle said satellite body in said foundation unit.

25. A method for installing a subsea satellite body in a satellite foundation unit fixed on a marine. bottom of a body of water to form a subsea satellite station, said satellite body comprising a watertight shell, said method comprising the following steps: I t

a. causing said satellite body to be negatively buoyant;

b. lowering said satellite body to said foundation unit fixed on said marine bottom from a su ace handling vessel by a cable;

0. partially telescoping a plurality of depending stabbing columns of said satellite body into respective vertical stabbing sleeves of said foundation unit while still supporting said satellite body by said cable;

d. supporting said satellite body on trapped columns of water in said stabbing sleeves beneath said stabbing columns;

e. at least slacking off on said lowering cable; and

f. bleeding water from said columns of 7 water to further telescope said stabbing columns into said stabbing sleeves to fully cradle said satellite body insaid foundation unit.

26. A method for installing a subsea satellite body in a satellite foundation unit, as recited in claim '25, wherein one of said depending stabbing columns is longer than the others, including the following additional steps prior to step c:

g. partially telescoping said longer of said plurality of depending stabbing columns into the corresponding stabbing-sleeve while still supporting said satellite body by said cable; and

h. rotating said satellite body until said others of said plurality of depending stabbing columns are aligned with the corresponding stabbing sleeves.

27. A method for installing a subsea satellite body in a satellite foundation, as recited in claim 25, wherein there is a manifold interconnecting the trapped columns of fluid within said stabbing sleeves beneath said stabbing columns, and valve means including a manual actuator on said foundation unit for bleeding said trapped column of fluid, including the following additional step:

i. moving said manual actuator by a tool carried on an articulated arm of a submersible work vehicle observing the installation procedure.

28. A method for installing a subsea satellite body in a satellite foundation unit, as recited in claim 25, wherein a releasable automatic latching means is mounted on each of said stabbing sleeves, each of said releasable automatic latching means having a detent finger extending into the interior of the respective stabbing sleeve, and a corresponding groove formed on each of said stabbing sleeves for receiving said detent finger, including the following additionalstep to be per-- formed as part of step f:

j. telescoping said plurality of depending stabbing columns into said corresponding stabbing sleeves until said detent fingers of said automatic latching means engage in said grooves of said stabbing columns to, lock said satellite body cradled in said foundation unit.