WO2021202301A1 - High pressure riser connection to wellhead - Google Patents
High pressure riser connection to wellhead Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2021202301A1 WO2021202301A1 PCT/US2021/024451 US2021024451W WO2021202301A1 WO 2021202301 A1 WO2021202301 A1 WO 2021202301A1 US 2021024451 W US2021024451 W US 2021024451W WO 2021202301 A1 WO2021202301 A1 WO 2021202301A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- assembly
- ram
- wellhead
- rig
- jack
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 23
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 20
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 claims description 18
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 abstract description 3
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000006467 substitution reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 description 2
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 230000001965 increasing effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000006978 adaptation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007792 addition Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001010 compromised effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002708 enhancing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008707 rearrangement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007858 starting material Substances 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- 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
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
- E21B33/02—Surface sealing or packing
- E21B33/03—Well heads; Setting-up thereof
- E21B33/035—Well heads; Setting-up thereof specially adapted for underwater installations
- E21B33/038—Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
- E21B33/02—Surface sealing or packing
- E21B33/03—Well heads; Setting-up thereof
- E21B33/06—Blow-out preventers, i.e. apparatus closing around a drill pipe, e.g. annular blow-out preventers
- E21B33/061—Ram-type blow-out preventers, e.g. with pivoting rams
- E21B33/062—Ram-type blow-out preventers, e.g. with pivoting rams with sliding rams
- E21B33/063—Ram-type blow-out preventers, e.g. with pivoting rams with sliding rams for shearing drill pipes
-
- 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
- E21B34/00—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells
- E21B34/02—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in well heads
Definitions
- This invention relates to the drilling and completing of subsea hydrocarbon wells with subsea wellheads, using a drilling rig with a topside blow-out preventer (BOP).
- BOP topside blow-out preventer
- a jack-up type drilling rig (as opposed to a floating rig) tends to be used in relatively shallow water, e.g. up to about 100m depth.
- the conventional arrangement is for an offshore hydrocarbon well to be associated with a platform above sea level; the wellhead (WH) is located on the platform and a riser connects between the subterranean well and the wellhead. This riser passes within the supporting structure (jacket) of the platform and is therefore well protected from accidental impact by surface vessels or debris.
- Drilling and completion operations are performed by a jack-up rig which comes alongside the platform and extends a cantilever section over the platform. Drilling and completion operations are performed using a rig tower and other equipment, including a blowout preventer (BOP), supported on the cantilever section of the jack-up rig.
- BOP blowout preventer
- a jack-up rig would be used to install a subsea WH and BOP and to perform drilling and completion operations, but most jack-up rigs are in fact not designed to deploy, install and retrieve a subsea BOP which is a very heavy and large piece of equipment. Therefore, a specially adapted jack-up has to be used for this purpose, with associated issues of cost and availability of a specialized jack-up.
- the invention therefore aims to provide improved equipment and/or methodology for drilling and/or completion of a subsea well and wellhead using a jack up rig, when the BOP is located on the jack-up.
- the invention more particularly includes a process for drilling or completing a subsea wellbore with subsea wellhead from a jack-up rig, the process comprising: (a) installing a blow-out preventer on the jack-up rig, (b) installing a high pressure riser between the blow-out preventer and the subsea wellhead, and (c) connecting a suspension head assembly between the riser and wellhead, wherein the assembly includes at least one ram or valve for sealing the well.
- an emergency cut off may be provided for use in the event that the high-pressure riser is compromised (e.g. because of a collision with a vessel).
- the ability to seal the well at the wellhead can also be convenient for other operations which would otherwise require a temporary plug to be installed, which is expensive in rig time.
- the ram or valve may be used to close in the wellbore, or the ram or valve may close and seal around tubing or casing in the well.
- the ram or valve may be a shear and seal ram and wherein the process includes actuating the ram in the event of an emergency to shear drill pipe passing through the assembly and make a seal.
- the riser may be removed in order to install subsea equipment.
- the suspension head may be installed by the jack-up rig, since it has lower mass than a BOP.
- the suspension head may have a mass of between 10,000 and 100,000kg, optionally between 20,000 and 60,000kg, and may be installed over the side of the jack-up using an offshore rig crane on the rig.
- the invention also provides a suspension head assembly for drilling or completing a well, the assembly comprising: (a) a first connector for connecting the assembly to a wellhead; (b) a second connector for connecting the assembly to a riser; (c) at least one ram or valve for sealing a well when the assembly is connected to a wellhead.
- the ram or valve may be suitable for closing and sealing around tubing or casing, or it may be a shear and seal ram (SSR) for use in an emergency. Both types of ram may be provided, e.g. in a double ram block.
- the second connector may include a re-entry hub.
- the second connector may take the form of a re-entry hub of the same type (profile and shape) as the wellhead.
- the high-pressure riser is deployed with a connector installed on it, which can connect into the re-entry hub of the suspension head in the same way it would connect with the re-entry hub of the wellhead.
- the invention also provides a system for drilling or completing a subsea wellbore, the system comprising a jack-up rig having a BOP installed on it, a riser, a subsea wellhead and apparatus as described above.
- the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non exclusive inclusion.
- a process, product, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited only those elements but can include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, process, article, or apparatus.
- “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).
- substantially is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies, such that the component need not be exact.
- substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder.
- any examples or illustrations given herein are not to be regarded in any way as restrictions on, limits to, or express definitions of, any term or terms with which they are utilized. Instead these examples or illustrations are to be regarded as being described with respect to one particular example and as illustrative only. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any term or terms with which these examples or illustrations are utilized encompass other examples as well as implementations and adaptations thereof which can or cannot be given therewith or elsewhere in the specification and all such examples are intended to be included within the scope of that term or terms. Language designating such non-limiting examples and illustrations includes, but is not limited to: “for example,” “for instance,” “e.g.,” “In some examples,” and the like.
- first, second, etc. can be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present inventive concept.
- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a jack up rig and high-pressure riser with subsea suspension head in accordance with the invention
- Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a known type of subsea assembly comprising a subsea wellhead and high-pressure riser;
- Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a subsea assembly including a suspension head in accordance with the invention.
- a jack-up type drilling rig 1 comprises a platform 2 supported by legs 3 which pass through the sea surface 4 and rest on the seafloor 5.
- a drilling rig tower 6 is located on the platform 2. All of this is conventional.
- a blowout preventer 7 is located on the platform 2, for the reasons explained above. Because the blow out preventer, or BOP, is located on the platform of the drilling rig rather than being mounted on the wellhead, a high-pressure riser 8 is required to connect the BOP 7 to the wellhead 9. Depending on the operation being performed, tubing or casing or drill string, or combinations of those, represented by reference numeral 10 in Figure 1, passes down into the well through the wellhead 9.
- a suspension head 11 in accordance with the invention is mounted on the wellhead 9 and the high-pressure riser connected to the top of the suspension head 11.
- the conventional arrangement for a subsea wellhead is to have the BOP mounted directly onto the wellhead.
- a conventional marine riser then connects the BOP to the drilling platform.
- the BOP is controlled from the drilling rig, and includes the normal safety features allowing the well to be closed in the event of an emergency, e.g. due to the pressure from the formation unexpectedly or suddenly increasing. Because the BOP is located on the wellhead, the pressure in the riser need not be high.
- the BOP on the rig provides the same safety functions which are normally performed by a subsurface BOP.
- the riser 8 is exposed to high pressures from the formation.
- the use of this high-pressure riser represents a potential increased risk because the riser passes through the surface 4 of the sea (the splash zone) and therefore is exposed to potential risks from collisions with surface vessels, foreign objects (e.g. a barge), or from extreme weather conditions.
- FIG. 3 shows in schematic form a subsea installation in accordance with the invention.
- the wellhead 9, tubing, etc., 10 and high-pressure riser 8 are shown, with the high-pressure riser 8 connected into the assembly via a riser connector 12.
- a suspension head assembly 20 is provided between the riser connector 12 and wellhead 9.
- the suspension head assembly 20 comprises a heavy duty H4-profile connector 21 connected to the wellhead 9, a re-entry hub 24 connected to the riser connector 12, and a double ram block 26.
- the re-entry hub 24 includes a TH orientation pin 25.
- the double ram block 26 comprises a shear/seal ram (or SSR) 22 which is designed, when actuated, to cut through drill pipe passing through the block 26 and then form a seal.
- the shear/seal ram 22 is obviously for use in emergencies, e.g. if formation pressure cannot be contained by the normal means and presents a danger.
- the block 26 also contains a casing ram 23 which is designed to seal around 10 3 ⁇ 4” casing.
- a side inlet 28 is provided below the SSR 22, which communicates with the well. Side inlet fail safe close valves 29 control the opening or closing of the side inlet.
- fluid may be delivered to the well by an alternative route. This facilitates a more efficient installation and testing of the completion string. In addition, this allows the use of the tubing hanger running tool secondary release function. In the absence of the suspension head, a temporary plug would have to be installed requiring a day or more’s rig time, with associated expense.
- the re-entry hub 24 and orientation pin 25 are used when a tubing hanger is to be landed on the wellhead; the pin 25 is manipulated by an ROV to rotate the Tubing Hanger into the correct orientation.
- the suspension head 20 also includes a control panel 27 for actuating the rams 22, 23 and connectors, and for actuating failsafe close valves 29 for the side inlet 28.
- the controls on control panel 27 may be actuated by a remotely operated subsea vehicle (not shown).
- the suspension head assembly comprises some of the components normally found in a BOP (e.g. the rams), but is a considerably smaller and lighter piece of equipment than a BOP.
- a BOP includes, for example, several ram configurations, control pods, and an accumulator bank for enhancing the delivery of hydraulic power. Together all this sums up to the majority of the mass of a BOP.
- a BOP may have a mass of between 200 and 400 metric tonnes (200,000 to 400,000kg) whereas a suspension head in accordance with the invention may have a mass of about 40 metric tonnes (40,000kg). For this reason, a standard jack-up rig will normally have the lifting capacity to install a suspension head according to the invention, whilst the standard jack-up would be unable to install a BOP.
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- 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)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2021247093A AU2021247093A1 (en) | 2020-03-31 | 2021-03-26 | High pressure riser connection to wellhead |
CA3179380A CA3179380A1 (en) | 2020-03-31 | 2021-03-26 | High pressure riser connection to wellhead |
EP21779111.0A EP4127391A4 (en) | 2020-03-31 | 2021-03-26 | High pressure riser connection to wellhead |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US202063002515P | 2020-03-31 | 2020-03-31 | |
US63/002,515 | 2020-03-31 | ||
US17/214,238 US11927066B2 (en) | 2020-03-31 | 2021-03-26 | High pressure riser connection to wellhead |
US17/214,238 | 2021-03-26 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2021202301A1 true WO2021202301A1 (en) | 2021-10-07 |
Family
ID=77855574
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2021/024451 WO2021202301A1 (en) | 2020-03-31 | 2021-03-26 | High pressure riser connection to wellhead |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US11927066B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP4127391A4 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2021247093A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA3179380A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2021202301A1 (en) |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20040151549A1 (en) * | 2002-10-17 | 2004-08-05 | Joop Roodenburg | Cantilevered multi purpose tower |
US20090050329A1 (en) * | 2007-03-01 | 2009-02-26 | Chevron U.S.A. Inc. | Subsea adapter for connecting a riser to a subsea tree |
US20120273213A1 (en) * | 2011-04-27 | 2012-11-01 | Bp Corporation North America Inc. | Marine subsea riser systems and methods |
US20120318521A1 (en) * | 2011-06-17 | 2012-12-20 | Bp Corporation North America Inc. | Subsea containment cap adapters |
US20140262309A1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-18 | Cameron International Corporation | Offshore Well System with a Subsea Pressure Control System Movable with a Remotely Operated Vehicle |
US20150021038A1 (en) * | 2013-07-18 | 2015-01-22 | Conocophillips Company | Pre-positioned capping device on high pressure wells |
US20150027717A1 (en) * | 2013-07-25 | 2015-01-29 | Chevron U.S.A. Inc. | Process For Subsea Deployment of Drilling Equipment |
Family Cites Families (11)
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US4003428A (en) * | 1975-09-19 | 1977-01-18 | Trw Inc. | Apparatus and method for underwater pump installation |
US4331203A (en) * | 1980-09-25 | 1982-05-25 | Trw Inc. | Method and apparatus for the installation and withdrawal of pumping equipment in an underwater well |
US7779917B2 (en) * | 2002-11-26 | 2010-08-24 | Cameron International Corporation | Subsea connection apparatus for a surface blowout preventer stack |
US7021402B2 (en) * | 2003-12-15 | 2006-04-04 | Itrec B.V. | Method for using a multipurpose unit with multipurpose tower and a surface blow out preventer |
US9019118B2 (en) * | 2011-04-26 | 2015-04-28 | Hydril Usa Manufacturing Llc | Automated well control method and apparatus |
US10876369B2 (en) * | 2014-09-30 | 2020-12-29 | Hydril USA Distribution LLC | High pressure blowout preventer system |
WO2017071710A1 (en) * | 2015-10-29 | 2017-05-04 | Maersk Drilling A/S | Offshore drilling unit |
EP3368722B1 (en) * | 2015-10-29 | 2020-02-12 | Mærsk Drilling A/S | Offshore drilling unit |
US10081986B2 (en) * | 2016-01-07 | 2018-09-25 | Ensco International Incorporated | Subsea casing tieback |
US20190093445A1 (en) * | 2016-03-04 | 2019-03-28 | National Oilwell Varco, L.P. | Systems and methods for controlling flow from a wellbore annulus |
WO2018146267A1 (en) * | 2017-02-09 | 2018-08-16 | Maersk Drilling A/S | System and method for supporting a riser |
-
2021
- 2021-03-26 EP EP21779111.0A patent/EP4127391A4/en active Pending
- 2021-03-26 CA CA3179380A patent/CA3179380A1/en active Pending
- 2021-03-26 WO PCT/US2021/024451 patent/WO2021202301A1/en unknown
- 2021-03-26 US US17/214,238 patent/US11927066B2/en active Active
- 2021-03-26 AU AU2021247093A patent/AU2021247093A1/en active Pending
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US20040151549A1 (en) * | 2002-10-17 | 2004-08-05 | Joop Roodenburg | Cantilevered multi purpose tower |
US20090050329A1 (en) * | 2007-03-01 | 2009-02-26 | Chevron U.S.A. Inc. | Subsea adapter for connecting a riser to a subsea tree |
US20120273213A1 (en) * | 2011-04-27 | 2012-11-01 | Bp Corporation North America Inc. | Marine subsea riser systems and methods |
US20120318521A1 (en) * | 2011-06-17 | 2012-12-20 | Bp Corporation North America Inc. | Subsea containment cap adapters |
US20140262309A1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-18 | Cameron International Corporation | Offshore Well System with a Subsea Pressure Control System Movable with a Remotely Operated Vehicle |
US20150021038A1 (en) * | 2013-07-18 | 2015-01-22 | Conocophillips Company | Pre-positioned capping device on high pressure wells |
US20150021036A1 (en) | 2013-07-18 | 2015-01-22 | Conocophillips Company | Pre-positioned capping device for source control with independent management system |
US20150027717A1 (en) * | 2013-07-25 | 2015-01-29 | Chevron U.S.A. Inc. | Process For Subsea Deployment of Drilling Equipment |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See also references of EP4127391A4 |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20210301617A1 (en) | 2021-09-30 |
AU2021247093A1 (en) | 2022-11-03 |
US11927066B2 (en) | 2024-03-12 |
CA3179380A1 (en) | 2021-10-07 |
EP4127391A4 (en) | 2023-08-23 |
EP4127391A1 (en) | 2023-02-08 |
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