WO2010067098A1 - Ensemble et procédé permettant de supporter et de déployer un objet depuis un navire - Google Patents

Ensemble et procédé permettant de supporter et de déployer un objet depuis un navire Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2010067098A1
WO2010067098A1 PCT/GB2009/051640 GB2009051640W WO2010067098A1 WO 2010067098 A1 WO2010067098 A1 WO 2010067098A1 GB 2009051640 W GB2009051640 W GB 2009051640W WO 2010067098 A1 WO2010067098 A1 WO 2010067098A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
vessel
assembly
mounting arrangement
tower
support
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2009/051640
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Anthony Stephen Bamford
Original Assignee
Geoprober Drilling Limited
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 Geoprober Drilling Limited filed Critical Geoprober Drilling Limited
Publication of WO2010067098A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010067098A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
    • B66C13/00—Other constructional features or details
    • B66C13/02—Devices for facilitating retrieval of floating objects, e.g. for recovering crafts from water
    • 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
    • E21B15/00—Supports for the drilling machine, e.g. derricks or masts
    • E21B15/02—Supports for the drilling machine, e.g. derricks or masts specially adapted for underwater drilling

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an assembly for supporting and deploying an object from a vessel, to a vessel incorporating such an assembly and to a corresponding method.
  • the present invention relates to an assembly for supporting and deploying an object from a vessel of a type used in the oil and gas exploration and production industry, which object may take the form of tubing such as riser, casing, liner, production tubing or tubing forming a tool string, or a wireline/slickline.
  • conventional derricks whether suited for high or lightweight loading, require significant space around a moonpool above which the derrick is located for positioning of support legs. This restricts access to the moonpool for equipment to be deployed from the vessel; typically it is only possible to move the equipment to the moonpool from one side of the tower, usually in a direction from the stern towards the bow.
  • cylinder rig which has a closed loop hydraulics system employing cylinders as actuators.
  • cylinders Such a system has been used by Aker Kvaerner MH, (formerly Maritime Hydraulics) and is referred to as a "Ram Rig".
  • Aker Kvaerner MH formerly Maritime Hydraulics
  • Ram Rig Such cylinder rig systems employ two balanced cylinders which combine hoisting and compensating functions.
  • the two cylinders carry wire ropes passing over large sheaves, which seek to lower the centre of gravity and thus the height of the support point for the loading on the cylinder rig.
  • cylinder rigs are not well suited for monohull vessels with large moonpools, which may be of the order of 7.2 m in width.
  • the cylinders are balanced using a yolk, which must be relatively long, and also a large diameter sheave must be provided over which the supporting wire rope is reeved, therefore the rope must have a higher tensile strength than would otherwise be necessary. It is therefore amongst the objects of embodiments of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one of the foregoing disadvantages.
  • the invention to be more particularly described hereinbelow generally provides a removable deck mounted structure, and a tower mounted thereon for reciprocation with respect to the deck mounted structure, wherein the tower is equipped with mounting means incorporating compensation devices, whereby motion of the vessel can be compensated for to improve handling of an object to be deployed from or recovered to a vessel.
  • a tower will be equipped for operational use with a top drive, handling devices for lifting, supporting and deploying or recovering an object with respect to a vessel, e.g. in deploying tubulars, or downhole tools.
  • This will typically include a tubing injector or hoisting equipment for use in conjunction with the tower and drive during deployment and recovery of objects with respect to the vessel.
  • the tower can be equipped with both a pipe handling tool and a coil tubing injector tool to provide an even more versatile heave compensated tower.
  • this invention is concerned with a unique structure enabling new ways of compensating for vessel motion and improved methods of handling objects during deployment and recovery operations allowing improved use of space around the moonpool.
  • an assembly for supporting and deploying an object from a vessel comprising: a mounting arrangement adapted to be located on a vessel; a support tower coupled to the mounting arrangement, the support tower being movable relative to the mounting arrangement and thus to the vessel and adapted to support an object to be deployed from the vessel; and at least one compensation device coupled between the mounting arrangement and the support tower for compensating movement of the vessel under external loading.
  • Providing an assembly for supporting and deploying an object from a vessel having a support tower which is movable relative to a mounting arrangement enables the load of the object to be supported at a lower height above the vessel compared with conventional derricks, and without a need for the support tower to be built into the vessel deck in the fashion of alternative prior arrangements. In this fashion, the assembly may easily be moved between alternative vessels. Additionally, loading on the assembly is transmitted to the vessel through the mounting arrangement, which enables the loading to be distributed so that the tower may be smaller than prior proposed towers.
  • the present invention has a utility both in the supporting of an object and in the deployment of an object from a vessel. Accordingly, the assembly may serve for deployment and subsequent support of the object.
  • the support tower may be maintained substantially stationary relative to a seabed or the like in a region that the vessel is deployed, the compensation device compensating for consequent movement between the vessel and the seabed.
  • the assembly may be a tubing support assembly for supporting tubing to be deployed from a vessel.
  • the tubing may be a continuous length of tubing such as coiled tubing or other reeled or welded continuous length tubing, or may comprise a plurality of tubing sections coupled together end-to-end such as riser, casing, liner, production tubing or tubing for forming part of a tool string to be deployed from the vessel.
  • the assembly may comprise a gripping device for selectively releasably gripping the object; this may be of a particular utility where the object to be deployed is tubing made up of a plurality of tubing sections coupled together.
  • the object may be any other object typically deployed from a vessel in the oil and gas exploration and production industry, such as a wireline or slickline carrying one or more downhole tools.
  • the assembly comprises a device for raising and lowering the object relative to the support tower, which device is coupled to the support tower for movement therewith relative to the mounting arrangement and thus relative to the vessel.
  • the device for raising and lowering the object may be used to deploy the object from the vessel and thus to facilitate a movement of the object relative to the tubing support.
  • the device for raising and lowering the object may comprise lifting equipment, e.g. a hoist including at least one, and preferably comprising two, winches each of which may be adapted to be coupled to the object via a pulley arrangement on the support tower. Where the device comprises two winches, the winches may act individually or in unison to raise and/or lower the object relative to the support tower.
  • the device for raising and lowering an object is coupled to the support tower for movement therewith relative to the mounting arrangement, this means that effectively, where such a device is a tubing injector or pipe hoisting equipment, it is an integral part of the support tower, and moves with the tower as one. This enables any equipment deployed by the motion compensated support tower to be deployed or hoisted up or lowered down whilst maintaining the motion compensation with respect to the seafloor.
  • Such coupling of the device for raising and lowering an object to the tower also offers enhanced clearance above the moonpool, because when the tower is raised by the compensation means it provides a clearance of several meters underneath it, which enables the deployment of subsea equipment of this height into the moonpool.
  • the invention admits the opportunity to bring heavy packages into well centre from both sides of the moonpool.
  • the support tower may be generally elongate, and may comprise at least one elongate support such as a column, beam, tube or the like which support is movable with respect to the mounting arrangement.
  • the support tower comprises a pair of spaced elongate supports, the supports coupled together and movable in unison with respect to the mounting arrangement.
  • the support tower may be translatable in a direction along a length of a main axis of the tower, relative to the mounting arrangement. An extent of movement of the support tower relative to the mounting arrangement may be governed by the compensation device.
  • the mounting arrangement may be configured to transmit loading experienced by the support tower to the vessel.
  • the mounting arrangement may comprise a mounting unit shaped to receive and support the support tower, which mounting unit may be adapted to be located at a height above a deck of the vessel and coupled to the vessel via bracing which may comprise a plurality of support members such as legs, arms and/or cables.
  • the bracing may comprise a plurality of support members in the form of tension legs, which legs exert a pre-stress compressive loading on the mounting unit.
  • the mounting arrangement may comprise a guide for guiding and supporting the support tower, and the mounting unit may define the guide or the guide may be coupled to the mounting unit.
  • the guide may comprise at least one bearing, and preferably comprises a plurality of bearings. Additionally, or alternatively, the guide may comprise one or more guide surfaces adapted to contact the support tower in sliding abutment, and the guide surfaces may be of a low friction material, for example a polymer such as a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
  • PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene
  • the assembly comprises a plurality of compensation devices.
  • the compensation device may be fluid actuated and may be hydraulically and/or pneumatically actuated.
  • the compensation device may comprise a piston movable within a cylinder, one of the piston and the cylinder secured to the mounting arrangement and the other one of the piston and the cylinder secured to the support tower. Accordingly, movement of the vessel relative to the seabed may be compensated for by extending and retracting the piston within the cylinder to maintain the object substantially stationary with respect to the seabed.
  • the assembly may comprise a control arrangement for controlling actuation of the compensation device.
  • the extent of movement of the support tower relative to the mounting arrangement may be governed by the compensation device, and in particular may be determined by the dimensions of the piston and the cylinder and the corresponding extent of movement provided when an end of the piston is coupled to the one of the support tower and the mounting arrangement.
  • the support tower may be movable laterally / in a direction transverse to a main axis of the tower. This may permit or ease access to a moonpool in a hull of the vessel carrying the assembly. Such movement may facilitate making-up / breaking-out of tool strings to be supported by the assembly.
  • the mounting arrangement may be movably mounted on the vessel to facilitate such movement of the support tower.
  • the mounting arrangement may comprise a pair of support legs pivotally mountable on the vessel and which are optionally pivotally coupled to the mounting unit, rotation of the legs relative to the vessel thereby shifting the tower laterally / in said transverse direction.
  • the mounting arrangement may comprise a device for controlling the position of the tower, which device may comprise at least one hydraulic actuator such as a piston and cylinder arrangement coupled to the vessel, extension and retraction of the piston controlling the tower position.
  • the mounting arrangement (26) is situated upon a deck of a vessel with access to a moonpool, and the support tower (28) is elevatable relative to the mounting arrangement by the said at least one compensation device (30) to clear the deck and moonpool by a height of several metres.
  • a vessel comprising an assembly according to the first aspect of the present invention.
  • the vessel may be a drillship, floating production, storage and off-loading vessel (FPSO), a rig such as a semi-submersible rig or any other vessel liable to move relative to a seabed, which may be suitable for use in a drilling, completion, production and/or a workover/ intervention operation.
  • FPSO floating production, storage and off-loading vessel
  • rig such as a semi-submersible rig or any other vessel liable to move relative to a seabed, which may be suitable for use in a drilling, completion, production and/or a workover/ intervention operation.
  • the vessel may be a monohull vessel.
  • the assembly is releasably mounted to the vessel and may be configured for quick release, for example, using temporary fixings.
  • the mounting arrangement may be releasably secured to the vessel.
  • a method of supporting and deploying an object from a vessel comprising the steps of: locating a mounting arrangement for a support tower on a vessel; coupling the support tower to the mounting arrangement such that the support tower is movable relative to the mounting arrangement and thus to the vessel; supporting an object to be deployed from the vessel from the support tower; and compensating for movement of the vessel under external loading using at least one compensation device coupled between the mounting arrangement and the support member.
  • the step of compensating for movement of the vessel may further comprise maintaining the support tower substantially stationary relative to a seabed, or relative to another external point of reference. In this fashion the object may be maintained substantially stationery relative to the seabed by appropriate movement of the support tower relative to the mounting arrangement, and thus relative to the vessel, using the at least one compensation device.
  • the method may comprise controlling actuation of at least one compensation device to maintain the support tower substantially stationery relative to the seabed or other external point of reference.
  • the method may comprise deploying the object from the vessel towards a deployment site e.g. seabed, river basin or the like, which may be achieved using a device for raising and lowering the object relative to the support tower.
  • the device for raising and lowering the object may adapted to be actuated in conjunction with the at least one compensation device to provide a controlled movement of the object with respect to the seabed, taking account of vessel movement.
  • the device for raising and lowering the object may be coupled to the support tower and thereby moved relative to the mounting arrangement and thus the vessel together with the support tower.
  • the method may comprise locating the mounting arrangement such that the support tower is provided adjacent a passage extending through the vessel, such as a moonpool, to facilitate deployment of the object from the vessel through the passage.
  • the mounting arrangement may be positioned such that the support tower is movable into and/or within the moonpool.
  • the method may comprise supporting and deploying a continuous length object such as a string of coiled tubing or other reeled or welded tubing, a wireline or slickline.
  • the method may comprise supporting and deploying a string of tubing comprising a number of tubing sections coupled together end-to- end such as a riser, casing, liner, production tubing or tool string.
  • the method may therefore comprise selectively releasably supporting the object using a releasable gripping device, to permit coupling of further tubing sections to an upper end of a string of tubing being deployed from the vessel, the tubing sections suspended from the support tower.
  • the gripping device may be coupled to or relative to the support tower so as to be movable therewith relative to the mounting arrangement and thus to the vessel.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of an assembly for supporting and deploying an object from a vessel, and of a vessel carrying the assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are enlarged front, side and plan views, respectively, of the assembly shown in Fig. 1 , each drawn to a different scale;
  • Fig. 5 is a further enlarged plan view of part of the assembly shown in Fig. 1 ;
  • Figs. 6 and 7 are schematic side and plan views, respectively, of a support tower and part of a mounting arrangement of the assembly shown in Fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 8 is an enlarged front view of the assembly shown in Fig. 1 , showing a pulley arrangement of the assembly in more detail;
  • Fig. 9 is a schematic illustration of the pulley arrangement of Fig. 8.
  • Fig. 10 (originally presented on the same sheet as Figs. 6 and 7) is a schematic plan view of parts of a support tower and mounting arrangement of a mounting assembly in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, similar to the view of Fig. 7;
  • Figs. 1 1 and 12 are front and side views, respectively, of an assembly for supporting and deploying an object from a vessel in accordance with a further alternative embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 13 is a view of the assembly of Figs. 11 and 12 following movement of part of the assembly off well centre;
  • Figs. 14 and 15 are views illustrating a tubing guide frame of the assembly of Figs. 1 1 and 12 in tubing receiving and deployment positions, respectively.
  • FIG. 1 there is shown a schematic side view of an assembly for supporting and deploying an object from a vessel, the assembly indicated generally by reference numeral 10 and shown mounted on a vessel in the form of a drillship 12, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the drillship 12 is shown in an offshore location and is illustrated during the conduction of an intervention procedure where coiled tubing 14 is being deployed from the vessel 12 into a well 16 through a riser 18 extending from a blowout preventer (BOP) 20 provided on a wellhead 22 of the well 16.
  • BOP blowout preventer
  • the assembly 10 serves for supporting and deploying the coiled tubing 14 and the riser 18, the coiled tubing being supplied from a reel 24 on the vessel 12.
  • the assembly 10 is shown in more detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 which are enlarged front, side and plan views, respectively.
  • the assembly 10 generally comprises a mounting arrangement 26 adapted to be located on the vessel 12 and a support tower indicated generally by reference numeral 28 and which is movable relative to the mounting arrangement 26 and thus to the vessel 12.
  • the tower 28 is adapted to support the object to be deployed from the vessel 12, in this case the coiled tubing 14/riser 18.
  • the assembly 10 also comprises at least one compensation device, and in the illustrated embodiment includes two compensation devices 30, each of which is coupled between the mounting arrangement 26 and the support tower 28, for compensating movement of the vessel 12 under external loading.
  • the coiled tubing 14 / riser 18 is coupled to the support tower 28 and is thus suspended from the vessel 12 through mounting of the tower 28 in the mounting arrangement 26. Accordingly, the loading of the coiled tubing 14 / riser 18 is ultimately transmitted to a deck 32 of the drillship 12 through the support tower 28 and mounting arrangement 26. External loading on the drillship 12, including wind, wave, tidal and current loads, results in the drillship pitching, rolling and/or heaving and thus moving relative to the seabed 34 through which the well 16 extends. Mounting the support tower 28 for movement relative to the mounting arrangement 26 permits such movement of the drillship 12 without transmission of loading to the coiled tubing 14 / riser 18 and thus to the BOP 20 and wellhead 22.
  • the loading of the coiled tubing 14 / riser 18 is effectively transmitted from the support tower 28 to the mounting arrangement 26 (and thus to the drillship 12) via the compensation devices 30.
  • These compensation devices 30 also serve for controlling a position of the support tower 28 relative to the mounting arrangement 26, and thus compensate for the movement of the drillship 12 under external loading. This is achieved by corresponding relative movements of the support tower 28, which maintains the tower and thus the coiled tubing 14 / riser 18 substantially stationary relative to the seabed 34.
  • the mounting arrangement 26 comprises a mounting unit 36 which is generally cruciform in plan view, as best shown in Fig. 4.
  • the mounting unit 36 is located at a height above a deck 32 of the drillship 12 via a pair of main support legs 38 which are securely mounted to the vessel deck 32 via mounting brackets 40.
  • front and rear tension legs 42 and 44 are coupled to the mounting unit 36. These tension legs 42 and 44 pre-stress the support legs 38 coupled to the mounting unit 36, placing the legs 38 in compression. This assists in supporting the loads exerted on the mounting arrangement 26 by the support tower 28 in use of the assembly 10.
  • the tension legs 42 and 44 are coupled to the vessel deck 32 at widely spaced locations to spread the loading and to resist the loads exerted through the support tower 28. It will be understood that whilst the support legs 38 and tension legs 42 and 44 are described as being coupled to the drillship deck 32, an appropriate load distributing substructure is provided in the regions where these components are coupled to the deck.
  • the mounting unit 36 includes a main elongate beam 46 to which the support legs 38 are coupled, and a guide unit in the form of a cross-beam 48 which defines a through-passage 50 shaped to receive the support tower 28.
  • the support tower 28 takes the form of a double ventral column structure and comprises a pair of elongate tubular columns 52 which are coupled together at opposite ends thereof by a mounting bracket 57.
  • the columns 52 are received within the passage 50 in the cross-beam 48 and are slidable in a direction along a length of a main axis of the support tower 28.
  • the mounting arrangement 46 includes two sets of roller bearings 58 for each of the columns 52, as shown in the further enlarged view of Fig. 5 and the schematic side and plan views of Figs. 6 and 7.
  • Each set 58 includes a number of aligned roller bearings 60a to 6Od and are spaced at 90 degrees around the circumference of the respective columns 52.
  • cross-beam 48 is shaped to define guide surfaces 62 of a low-friction material such as PTFE and which are shaped to contact the columns 52 in sliding abutment. It will be understood that the surfaces 62 are illustrated out of abutment with the columns 52, for ease of illustration.
  • the combination of the roller bearing sets 58 and the guide surfaces 62 on the cross-beam 48 permit low-friction sliding movement of the support tower columns 52 within the cross-beam 48, and thus relative to the mounting arrangement 26.
  • This offers numerous advantages in terms of reducing the height at which loads are supported from the drillship 12.
  • the tower 28 can be brought down to deck 32 level to provide additional stability during transit, especially in heavy seas.
  • the compensation devices 30 are hydraulically actuated and each comprises a cylinder 64 which is mounted on the cross-beam 48 of the mounting arrangement 26, and a piston 66 mounted for movement within the cylinder 64.
  • the pistons 66 are each secured to a bracket 68 coupled to the support tower columns 52 by clevis pins 70.
  • the cylinders 64 are coupled to the mounting arrangement 26, and thus secured against movement with the support tower 28, whilst the pistons 66 are secured to the support tower 28 and thus movable with the tower.
  • extension and retraction of the pistons 66 within the corresponding cylinders 64 permits the required movement of the support tower columns 52 within the cross-beam 48 of the mounting arrangement 26.
  • the pistons 66 are shown in Fig.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates the position the tower 28 takes during maximum upward heave of the drillship 12.
  • the assembly 10 also comprises a device for raising and lowering the coiled tubing 14 / riser 18, in the form of a pair of winches 72 and 74, which are secured to the support tower 28.
  • a device for raising and lowering the coiled tubing 14 / riser 18, in the form of a pair of winches 72 and 74 which are secured to the support tower 28.
  • the winches 72 and 74 are carried with the tower. This prevents the winches 72 and 74 having to pay-out and reel in winch cable to account for movement of the drillship 12.
  • the winches 72 and 74 act to control the position of a top drive 76 relative to the support tower 28, and can raise and lower the top drive as appropriate. This is achieved through an arrangement 78 of pulleys provided towards an upper end 54 of the support tower 28.
  • a coiled tubing injector 80 is suspended from the top drive 76, and both are slidably mounted on a track 82 which is coupled to the support tower 28.
  • Coiled tubing 14 is fed from the reel 24 into the injector 80 through a gooseneck 84, and the injector 80 controls movement of the coiled tubing 14 into the riser 18, which is suspended from the bottom of the injector.
  • the top drive 76, injector 80 and thus the coiled tubing 14 and riser 18 may be raised and lowered independently and relative to the support tower 28, by appropriate control of the winches 72, 74 acting through the pulley arrangement 78.
  • the pulley arrangement 78 is shown in more detail in the enlarged front view of Fig. 8, and in the schematic view of Fig. 9.
  • the winch 72 carries a rope 86 which extends over a rear tower sheave 88a, a front tower sheave 90a and from there around a first one of a pair of adjacent travelling sheaves 92a on the top drive 76. From there the cable 86 is fed back up to a further front tower sheave 91a, back down to a second one of the pair of travelling sheaves 92a, and then to a transverse sheave 94 on the top of the tower 28.
  • the rope 86 then passes back down through a second set of travelling sheaves 92b on the top drive 76 and a front tower sheave 91 b, over a front tower sheave 90b, a further rear tower sheave 88b and back to the winch 74.
  • the top drive 76, and thus the injector 80, coiled tubing 14 and riser 18 may be raised and lowered relative to the support tower 28. This therefore permits deployment of the coiled tubing 14 and riser 18 from the drillship 12, whilst also permitting compensation of movement of the drillship 12 relative to the seabed 34 using the compensation devices 30.
  • the assembly 10 operates as follows to support and deploy the coiled tubing 14 and riser 18 from the drillship 12. With the mounting arrangement 26 secured to the drillship deck 32, and the support tower 28 mounted for movement relative to the mounting arrangement and located in a mid-point of its movement, sections of riser tubing are suspended from the top drive 76, which is secured against rotation by mounting on the track 82. Initially, the support tower 28 may be locked against movement relative to the mounting arrangement 26. The riser section is lowered into a moonpool 96 of the drillship 12, suspended from a gripping device (not shown) and then released from the top drive 76. A further riser section is then coupled to the top drive 76 and secured to the section protruding from the gripping device.
  • the gripping device is then released and the string of riser tubing sections lowered. This process is repeated, successively deploying the riser 18 from the drillship 12 towards the seabed 34.
  • the riser 18 approaches the wellhead 22, relative movement between the drillship 12 and the seabed 34 is compensated for by activating the compensation devices 30. Accordingly, the riser 18 is lowered in a controlled fashion, by extension and retraction of the pistons 66 within the cylinders 64 and controlled lowering of the top drive 76.
  • the riser 18 is further lowered until it mates with a re-entry hub 100 on the BOP 20, and the coiled-tubing injector 80 is then secured to the upper end of the riser 18.
  • the coiled tubing 18 may then be introduced into the riser 18 and thus through the BOP 20 and into the well 16, and lowered to a desired depth in the well, in a known fashion.
  • the injector 80 is coupled to the top drive 76, as described above, and therefore movement of the drillship 12 relative to the seabed 34 compensated for, to maintain the riser 18 and coiled tubing 14 stationary relative to the seabed 34.
  • Fig. 10 there is shown a schematic plan view of part of an assembly for supporting and deploying an object from a vessel in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the assembly indicated generally by reference numeral 10'.
  • the assembly 10' is in fact of similar construction to the assembly 10 of Figs. 1 to 9, and like components share the same reference numerals with the addition of the suffix '.
  • the assembly 10' has a guide unit 48' in which the support columns 52' of a tower 28' are mounted by bearing sets 58'. Accordingly, the guide unit 48' does not have guide surfaces in sliding abutment with the tower 28'.
  • FIGs. 1 1 and 12 there are shown front and side views, respectively, of an assembly for supporting and deploying an object from a vessel in accordance with a further alternative embodiment of the present invention, the assembly indicated generally by reference numeral 10".
  • the assembly 10" is in fact of similar construction to the assembly 10 of Figs. 1 to 9, and like components share the same reference numerals with the addition of the suffix ".
  • the assembly 10" is of like construction to the assembly 10, save that support legs 38" of a mounting arrangement 26" are pivotally coupled to a mounting unit 36" of the arrangement. Also, brackets 40" on the support legs 38" are each pivotally coupled to a vessel deck 32". In this fashion, a support tower 28" of the assembly 10" may be shifted laterally to move a top drive (not shown) and injector 80" off well centre. This is achieved by pivoting the leg brackets 40" about their deck mountings (one shown and given reference numeral 102), and by pivoting the legs 38" about the mounting unit 36". The legs 38" are pivoted under control of actuating pistons (not shown) coupled between the deck 32" and the legs 38". The assembly 10" is shown following such lateral movement in Fig. 13.
  • Movement of the top drive/injector 80" off well centre may facilitate on operation such as making-up of a string of tubing which comprises tubing sections coupled end-to-end, for example, the riser 18 described above.
  • the assembly 10" includes a tubing guide frame 104 coupled at an upper end 106 to the upper end 54" of the support tower 28", and at a point 108 to the lower end 56" of the support tower 28", via an hydraulic actuator 110. In this fashion, an end 112 of the frame 104 may be maintained above well- centre, for making-up or breaking-out sections of the riser 18.
  • the frame 104 includes a tubing support 114 which is hinged at the frame lower end 1 12 for movement between a deployment position shown in Fig. 14, and a tubing-receiving position shown in Fig. 15. Movement of the support 114 between the receiving and deployment positions thus facilitates feeding of tubing sections to above well centre to make up the riser 18, and/or breaking-out of the riser sections.
  • the position of the support 1 14 is controlled by an hydraulic actuator 116 and, after the riser 18 has been made-up, the injector 80" is moved back over well centre for deployment of coiled tubing into the riser. Operation of the assembly 10" is otherwise as described above in relation to the assembly 10.
  • the current invention also facilitates the handling of both jointed pipe and coiled tubing offline and off well centre.
  • the double ventral column structure including compensation cylinders for the tower provides a reciprocable tower, movable relative to deck-mounted structural support legs, whereby inter alia the tower serves as its own motion compensation with respect to a heaving vessel.
  • a further advantageous feature of the invention lies in the avoidance of a complex support structure for the reciprocable tower, in that in one aspect the invention provides a box frame on the deck-mounted structural support leg, within which a roller bearing assembly is fixed and upon which the reciprocable tower runs during a motion compensation response.
  • the invention by providing a moveable support tower (MST) which carries the hoisting equipment in its entirety, including e.g. the dual winches and any other associated lifting devices, enables any equipment deployed with the MST to be hoisted up or lowered down whilst maintaining the motion compensation with respect to the seafloor.
  • a moveable support tower with motion compensation and inclusion of the lifting equipment for deployment of an object on the motion compensated tower.
  • the object handling or hoisting equipment can be configured to handle a joint of pipe or alternately can be a coiled tubing injector which can secured to the guide rails of the MST and can be raised or lowered to adjust the height at which the CT injector operates.
  • the ability to move the tower with the compensation device(s) to maximum elevation permits a significant clearance from the deck around the moonpool and greatly enhanced accessibility for handling the deployment of subsea equipment of several metres height into the moonpool.
  • the assembly may comprise a gripping device for selectively releasably gripping the object; this may be of a particular utility where the object to be deployed is tubing made up of a plurality of tubing sections coupled together, whereby it is possible to take account of the joints.
  • the object may be a tubular, or any other object typically deployed from, or recovered to a vessel in the oil and gas exploration and production industry, such as a wireline or slickline carrying one or more downhole tools.
  • a support tower this should not be taken as being limiting on the shape of the tower or whether the tower is formed from a single or plurality of component parts.

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  • Earth Drilling (AREA)

Abstract

Un ensemble (10) permettant de supporter et de déployer un objet depuis un navire (12) comprend un agencement de montage (26) comprenant une structure amovible montée sur pont pour une tour de support (28) couplée à l’agencement de montage, la tour de support étant déplaçable par rapport à l'agencement de montage et effectuant un mouvement de va-et-vient par rapport à la structure montée sur pont, et est équipé d’au moins un dispositif de compensation (30) accouplé entre l'agencement de montage et la tour de support pour compenser le mouvement du navire sous une charge externe, le mouvement du navire pouvant ainsi être compensé pendant la manipulation d’un objet devant être déployé depuis un navire ou récupéré sur un navire. Ladite tour sera équipée pour son fonctionnement d'une commande supérieure et de dispositifs de manipulation permettant de supporter et de déployer ou de récupérer un objet par rapport à un navire, par exemple en déployant des outils tubulaires ou des outils d’extraction.
PCT/GB2009/051640 2008-12-11 2009-12-03 Ensemble et procédé permettant de supporter et de déployer un objet depuis un navire WO2010067098A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0822604A GB0822604D0 (en) 2008-12-11 2008-12-11 Assembly and method for supporting and deploying an object from a vessel
GB0822604.5 2008-12-11

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2010067098A1 true WO2010067098A1 (fr) 2010-06-17

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2009/051640 WO2010067098A1 (fr) 2008-12-11 2009-12-03 Ensemble et procédé permettant de supporter et de déployer un objet depuis un navire

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB0822604D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2010067098A1 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6000480A (en) * 1997-10-01 1999-12-14 Mercur Slimhole Drilling Intervention As Arrangement in connection with drilling of oil wells especially with coil tubing
EP1103459A1 (fr) * 1999-11-24 2001-05-30 Mercur Slimhole Drilling and Intervention AS Arrangement pour la compensation des mouvements de levée et de marée
US6595494B1 (en) * 1999-10-19 2003-07-22 Huisman Special Lifting Equipment B.V. Hoisting device, with compensator built into hoisting cable system
WO2007093787A1 (fr) * 2006-02-14 2007-08-23 Geoprober Drilling Limited Ensemble d'installation de forage à unités de plancher de forage mobiles

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6000480A (en) * 1997-10-01 1999-12-14 Mercur Slimhole Drilling Intervention As Arrangement in connection with drilling of oil wells especially with coil tubing
US6595494B1 (en) * 1999-10-19 2003-07-22 Huisman Special Lifting Equipment B.V. Hoisting device, with compensator built into hoisting cable system
EP1103459A1 (fr) * 1999-11-24 2001-05-30 Mercur Slimhole Drilling and Intervention AS Arrangement pour la compensation des mouvements de levée et de marée
WO2007093787A1 (fr) * 2006-02-14 2007-08-23 Geoprober Drilling Limited Ensemble d'installation de forage à unités de plancher de forage mobiles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0822604D0 (en) 2009-01-21

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