US3601189A - Underwater multiple well installation - Google Patents

Underwater multiple well installation Download PDF

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Publication number
US3601189A
US3601189A US797850A US3601189DA US3601189A US 3601189 A US3601189 A US 3601189A US 797850 A US797850 A US 797850A US 3601189D A US3601189D A US 3601189DA US 3601189 A US3601189 A US 3601189A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
capsule
template
wells
upper ends
floating platform
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
US797850A
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English (en)
Inventor
Folker H Weiss
John W Hopkins
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.)
Canocean Resources Ltd
Original Assignee
Lockheed Aircraft Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of US3601189A publication Critical patent/US3601189A/en
Assigned to CANOCEAN RESOURCES LTD. reassignment CANOCEAN RESOURCES LTD. CHANGE OF NAME (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). EFFECTIVE 3-5-80 Assignors: LOCKHEED PETROLEUM SERVICES LTD.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
    • E21B17/01—Risers
    • 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
    • E21B41/08—Underwater guide bases, e.g. drilling templates; Levelling thereof
    • 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
    • E21B43/017—Production satellite stations, i.e. underwater installations comprising a plurality of satellite well heads connected to a central station
    • 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

Definitions

  • an atmospheric capsule is placed over the well clusters on the ocean floor. Personnel are then transported from the surface to the atmospheric capsule in a sealed transporter. Such personnel can complete the well in the air chamber within the capsule at great depths under the water surface.
  • a center pipe guide and tension member and a drilling template are used in a novel way, both in the process of installing the wells and in the completed multiple well installation, to locate a group of oil wells in a precisely located and closely spaced cluster so that the output of all of the wells can be readily brought up to a single platform for production.
  • the technique of using the center pipe guide and tension member and drilling template during installation of the wells and the manner in which these parts are incorporated in the completed structure constitute further, specific objects of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 1 through 4 are pictorial views illustrating different I steps in the installing and operation of one embodiment of th multiple well installation of the present invention
  • FIG. 5 is a front elevation view in section through an atmospheric wellhead chamber
  • FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view taken along the line and in the direction indicated by the arrows 6-6 in FIG. 5.
  • the wellheads and the platform function as an integrated system.
  • the first step in establishing the installation is to drill a bore in the desired area.
  • a caisson of sufficient diameter and length for adequate support of a guide pipe 13 is then set in the bore and cemented in place in the conventional manner.
  • this bore and caisson is indicated by the reference numeral 11 and 10 respectively.
  • a drilling template 12 is an integral part of the caisson l0 and guide string 13 and is locked in place on the sea floor by cementing of the caisson 10 (see FIGS. 1, 2, 3. and '5).
  • FIG. 1 the drilling rig 14 is shown mounted on a platform 16 of conventional semisubmersible design.
  • the template 12 includes a number of disks l9 and pipes 21.
  • the pipes 21 are, as best shown in FIG. 6, arranged in a circle about the center pipe 13.
  • the pipes 21 are all on the same radius and are equally spaced circumferentially.
  • the template thus locates the upper ends of the wells in a closely spaced cluster.
  • the wells themselves may be slant drilled so as to extend out laterally for considerably distances from the upper end cluster.
  • the inside diameter of each pipe 21 is large enough to receive and support the conductor pipes 22 and casings 23 of the wells which are drilled through these pipes 21.
  • the center pipe 13 performs several functions in the process of installing the multiple well installations of the present invention, and this pipe 13 also forms an important and permanent part of the structure of the completed installation.
  • the template 12 also performs several functions, both in the process of installing the wells and as a functional part of the structure of the completed installation. I
  • Drilling of the individual wells through the pipes 21 is accomplished (as illustrated in FIG. 2) by indexing a drilling unit 27 to the pipes 21 and performing subsequent operations sequentially around the center pipe 13 as a guide.
  • the pipe guide and tension member 13 is tensioned not only to prevent its collapse but more so to aid in anchoring and positioning of the floating drilling vessel over the location.
  • an atmospheric capsule 28 is lowered on the guide pipe 13.
  • the capsule 28 is emplaced around and sealed to he guide pipe and tension member 13 and template 12. All water is evacuated from the interior of the capsule 28 at a later time by equipment carried in a personnel transporter 31, so that the capsule provides an air chamber over the individual wells. Fresh air can be conducted to the chamber through the center pipe 13.
  • the capsule 28 includes a number of access hatches 29 which are aligned with the individual wells to facilitate vertical access for reworking of the wells.
  • a watertight personnel transporter 31 engages with the hatch trunks in sealing engagement and permits personnel to be transported from the surface to the interior of the capsule 28. As shown in FIG. 3 the center'pipe 13 is used as a guide for vertical movement of this transporter 31. 7
  • the production from the individual wells can also be manifolded into a single conduit.
  • the template 12 forms a connection between the pipe 13 and the pipes 22 and 23 of the individual wells in a manner such that any upward tension on the pipe 13 is resisted by the weight of the pipes 22 and 23 and by the shear bond between the well casings and the soil.
  • the center pipe 13 is thus firmly held in position against any upward movement.
  • the pipe 13 formb a very effective tether for the platform.
  • FIG. 4 shows four integrated clusters connected to the production platform 18.
  • An underwater floor well installation below the water surface comprising,
  • a horizontal, substantially flat template mounted on the underwater floor and connected to and encompassing said upper ends of said well pipes
  • a capsule having a large bottom opening adapted to be lowered over the upper ends of said well pipes and making a water tight connection with said template surroundsaid capsule including a plurality of upper access hatches aligned with the plurality of wells to provide vertical access to said wells,
  • tether means connecting said template and said floating platform.
  • said tether means providing the sole anchor for said floating platform.
  • said flow lines being individually connected to said upper ends of said well pipes in said capsule and connecting to said floating platform through said tubular tension member.

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)
US797850A 1969-02-10 1969-02-10 Underwater multiple well installation Expired - Lifetime US3601189A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US79785069A 1969-02-10 1969-02-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3601189A true US3601189A (en) 1971-08-24

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ID=25171959

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US797850A Expired - Lifetime US3601189A (en) 1969-02-10 1969-02-10 Underwater multiple well installation

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3601189A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AU (1) AU1115070A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE745665A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2005960A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2030399A7 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1271356A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL7001891A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3853183A (en) * 1971-05-27 1974-12-10 G Downs Methods and apparatus for underwater drilling of oil and gas wells
US3881549A (en) * 1973-04-27 1975-05-06 Interseas Associates Production and flare caisson system
US3988898A (en) * 1974-12-26 1976-11-02 Intercontinental Marine Development Ltd. Pipelines and marine platforms
US4068729A (en) * 1976-06-14 1978-01-17 Standard Oil Company (Indiana) Apparatus for multiple wells through a single caisson
US4153113A (en) * 1977-12-02 1979-05-08 Lockheed Petroleum Services, Ltd. Subsea drill-thru manifold center
US4600339A (en) * 1983-06-28 1986-07-15 Societe Nationale Elf Aquitaine (Production) Shield for protecting a well head and functional modules of an under sea station
US4905764A (en) * 1989-07-06 1990-03-06 William Laput Protective cover assembly for a well casing and a method of protecting a well casing
WO1991018182A1 (en) * 1990-05-11 1991-11-28 Jp Kenny Caledonia Ltd. Production systems for underwater wells
US5195589A (en) * 1990-10-12 1993-03-23 Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Tool for simultaneous vertical connections
US20080156530A1 (en) * 2006-03-20 2008-07-03 Seabed Rig As Separation Device for Material from a Drilling Rig Situated on the Seabed
US9670733B1 (en) * 2016-01-21 2017-06-06 Ge Oil & Gas Pressure Control Lp Subsea multibore drilling and completion system
EP3935258A4 (en) * 2019-03-07 2022-12-07 ConocoPhillips Company Surface conductor

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2503516A (en) * 1946-10-16 1950-04-11 Raymond D Shrewsbury Method of and apparatus for exploiting oil or other mineral deposits underlying submerged areas
US3063507A (en) * 1958-08-07 1962-11-13 Neill O Method and apparatus for offshore drilling
US3202216A (en) * 1959-01-09 1965-08-24 Gray Tool Co Submergible apparatus for underwater operations
US3202217A (en) * 1961-09-15 1965-08-24 Gray Tool Co Submarine cellar for deep water drilling operations
US3247672A (en) * 1962-08-29 1966-04-26 Vincent C Johnson Underwater well head encasement structure
US3353364A (en) * 1962-04-26 1967-11-21 Gen Dynamics Corp Underwater well enclosing capsule and service chamber
US3366173A (en) * 1965-09-29 1968-01-30 Mobil Oil Corp Subsea production system
US3391734A (en) * 1966-01-19 1968-07-09 Mobil Oil Corp Subsea production satellite
US3504740A (en) * 1967-08-28 1970-04-07 Mobil Oil Corp Subsea satellite foundation unit and method for installing a satellite body within said foundation unit

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2503516A (en) * 1946-10-16 1950-04-11 Raymond D Shrewsbury Method of and apparatus for exploiting oil or other mineral deposits underlying submerged areas
US3063507A (en) * 1958-08-07 1962-11-13 Neill O Method and apparatus for offshore drilling
US3202216A (en) * 1959-01-09 1965-08-24 Gray Tool Co Submergible apparatus for underwater operations
US3202217A (en) * 1961-09-15 1965-08-24 Gray Tool Co Submarine cellar for deep water drilling operations
US3353364A (en) * 1962-04-26 1967-11-21 Gen Dynamics Corp Underwater well enclosing capsule and service chamber
US3247672A (en) * 1962-08-29 1966-04-26 Vincent C Johnson Underwater well head encasement structure
US3366173A (en) * 1965-09-29 1968-01-30 Mobil Oil Corp Subsea production system
US3391734A (en) * 1966-01-19 1968-07-09 Mobil Oil Corp Subsea production satellite
US3504740A (en) * 1967-08-28 1970-04-07 Mobil Oil Corp Subsea satellite foundation unit and method for installing a satellite body within said foundation unit

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3853183A (en) * 1971-05-27 1974-12-10 G Downs Methods and apparatus for underwater drilling of oil and gas wells
US3881549A (en) * 1973-04-27 1975-05-06 Interseas Associates Production and flare caisson system
US3988898A (en) * 1974-12-26 1976-11-02 Intercontinental Marine Development Ltd. Pipelines and marine platforms
US4068729A (en) * 1976-06-14 1978-01-17 Standard Oil Company (Indiana) Apparatus for multiple wells through a single caisson
US4153113A (en) * 1977-12-02 1979-05-08 Lockheed Petroleum Services, Ltd. Subsea drill-thru manifold center
US4600339A (en) * 1983-06-28 1986-07-15 Societe Nationale Elf Aquitaine (Production) Shield for protecting a well head and functional modules of an under sea station
US4905764A (en) * 1989-07-06 1990-03-06 William Laput Protective cover assembly for a well casing and a method of protecting a well casing
WO1991018182A1 (en) * 1990-05-11 1991-11-28 Jp Kenny Caledonia Ltd. Production systems for underwater wells
US5195589A (en) * 1990-10-12 1993-03-23 Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Tool for simultaneous vertical connections
US20080156530A1 (en) * 2006-03-20 2008-07-03 Seabed Rig As Separation Device for Material from a Drilling Rig Situated on the Seabed
US7644768B2 (en) * 2006-03-20 2010-01-12 Seabed Rig As Separation device for material from a drilling rig situated on the seabed
US9670733B1 (en) * 2016-01-21 2017-06-06 Ge Oil & Gas Pressure Control Lp Subsea multibore drilling and completion system
EP3935258A4 (en) * 2019-03-07 2022-12-07 ConocoPhillips Company Surface conductor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU1115070A (en) 1971-08-12
BE745665A (fr) 1970-08-10
FR2030399A7 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-11-13
NL7001891A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-08-12
DE2005960A1 (de) 1970-09-10
GB1271356A (en) 1972-04-19

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Owner name: CANOCEAN RESOURCES LTD.

Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:LOCKHEED PETROLEUM SERVICES LTD.;REEL/FRAME:003991/0453

Effective date: 19820504