MXPA06006681A - Top tensioned riser adaptor - Google Patents

Abstract

An adaptor for a top tensioned riser that allows the riser to be tied in with wellheads beyond the normal range of the top tensioned riser. An adaptor spool attaches between the top tensioned riser and the subsea wellhead. An adaptor spool hanger may land in the adaptor spool. The adaptor spool is provided with a side penetration to which a flow line may be connected. The flow line is provided with a connector that connects to a production line from a remote location. This allows the fluid production to flow from the remote location through the existing top tensioned riser to the host facility. The tieback connector/stress joint may also be provided with a flow line prepared to accept remote field tiebacks, which are also piggable.

Description

SUPERIOR TENSIONED ELEVATOR ADAPTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is generally concerned with production elevators used in structures far from the coast and more particularly with higher tensioned elevators.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the far offshore production of oil and gas (Fluids), host facilities far from the coast can be one of many different types, such as TLP (tension leg platforms), mini-TLP, spare parts, semi-submersible, etc. These host facilities must frequently bring the production fluid on board and produce the fluid for export by means of a pipeline. The fluid comes from underwater wells either directly to the host facility or via multiple that mix the protection fluid from several different wells, before the fluids are brought on board to a host facility. The commonly used means to bring production fluids to the host facility include steel catenary elevators (SCR), flexible flow lines, upper tensioned elevators (TTR) and free vertical elevators.

The steel catenary elevators (SCR) are essentially a pipe that hangs from the host installation by means of either a hanging gantry and flexible joint or traction tube and stress joint. The installation involves a laying barge, which increases the installation costs, since welding in the field is required for the manufacture of the SCR. The weight of the SCR imparts a high hanging load on the host installation. There are also fatigue issues associated with the movements of the host facility that are transmitted to the SCR. The flexible flow lines are a flexible hose in multilayers that hang from the host installation via a collar. The hoses hang in a catenary form similar to an SCR but with a more dramatic subsidence. The flexible flow line offers the benefit of faster installation times in relation to the SCR, since there are no welds in the field that must be made. Commonly, the flexible flow line is unrolled during installation. The flexible flow line can also reduce the payload imparted on the host installation, since the deflection angles for the flexible flow lines are smaller than the SCRs, which produce a shorter free hanging catenary length, reducing the weight , which is another benefit. However, multiple layers are required to produce the flexible flow lines that commonly cause the weight per length to be greater than the SCR. The weight should be considered on a case-by-case basis. The flexible flow lines are expensive to manufacture in relation to the tube. Not only is the manufacturing cost high, but the flexible flow lines have limitations of temperature and pressure and relationship with the steel tube. Another alternative is an upper tensioned elevator (TTR). These elevators are made of steel tube with specialty joints located on the marine floor and the keel of the host installation. These specialty boards help reduce the localized high flexible loads generated in these areas. The weight of the TTR is either supported by the host installation or via air cans that provide independent flotation of the host facility. The installation of the upper tensioned elevator is carried out via a platform located on top of the host installation. The subsea well head to which a TTR is attached must be located within a relatively small distance from the well slot where the TTR enters the host facility. This is one of the main restrictions of a TTR. A free vertical elevator (FSR) is a combination of a TTR and a flexible elevator. The FSR is a TTR supported by a flotation can that is located outside the host facility. Another difference is that the top of the FSR. Can is located below the average water level, approximately 500 feet. Then a flexible flow line is attached from the top of the SFR to the host facility. This elevator concept has several benefits. The movements of the host installation are decoupled from the elevator via the flexible flow line. Another benefit is that the payload delivered at the guest facility is small because only about 1,000 feet of flexible flow line is hanging from the guest facility. You can see that the TTR have some disadvantages. For example, if the wells is producing the TTR stop production - exhausted before the design life of the elevator is empty, the TTR can not be easily moved to accommodate another wellhead, as described above. Because TTRs have not been designed to be tied into wellheads beyond the normal range of a TTR, the service life of TTRs may be limited. This results in the need to have other types of elevators, as described above, which adds to the complexity and cost of a guest facility far from the coast.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The above need is addressed. What is provided is an adapter for an upper tensioned elevator that allows the elevator to be attached with well heads that are beyond the normal range of the upper tensioned elevator. On the adapter reel is attached to the upper tensioned elevator and the underwater well head. An adapter spool pendant can be adapted on the adapter spool. The spool of the adapter is provided with a lateral penetration to which a flow line can be connected. Lateral penetration is provided with a flow line connector cube that accepts a flow line connector from a remote well production line. This allows the production fluid to flow from the far well through the existing higher stressed riser to the host. The clamp connector / strain joint can also be provided with a lateral penetration if the project anticipates the TTR that is used for remote mooring in the future.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention reference should be made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which are given to similar parts like reference numerals and wherein Figure 1 is a side sectional view of the invention illustrating the adapter spool hook placed on the spool of the adapter.

Figure 2 is a side sectional view of the invention illustrating that the invention can be produced for sizes up to the size of the TTR borehole. As with Figure 1, this configuration has a pourable perforation. Figure 3 is a side sectional view of the invention illustrating an arrangement or arrangement that allows the production of the vertically accessible well and a remote well. Figure 3a is a side sectional view of the invention illustrating an arrangement with multiple flow lines for receiving production fluids from multiple remote wells and the vertically accessible well. Figure 3b is a side sectional view of the invention illustrating an arrangement or arrangement where the flow lines are used for injection to and production of remote wells. Figure 3c is a side sectional view of the invention illustrating an arrangement where the production of a remote well and the vertically accessible well are permitted together with the injection into the vertically accessible well. Figure 3d is a sectional view taken along the 3d-3d lines of Figure 3. Figure 3e is a sectional view taken along lines 3d-3d in Figure 3a. Figure 3f is a sectional view taken along the lines 3f-3f of Figure 3b.

Figure 3g is a sectional view taken along lines 3g-3g of Figure 3c. Figure 4 is a side sectional view of the invention illustrating an arrangement for the injection of fluids into a remote well. Figure 5 is a side sectional view of the invention illustrating an arrangement for vertically accessible well production and injection of fluids through the TTR annulus to a remote well. Figure 6 is a side sectional view of the invention illustrating a vertically accessible well injection arrangement and production of a remote well. Figure 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein the original strain-bead / connector-connector is designed in accordance with the general principle of the invention. Figure 8 is a side sectional view illustrating the remote mooring having a perforation size equal to the TTR bore.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the figures, shown in Figure 1 the invention is indicated generally by the numeral 10. The adapter 10 to the lift stressed upper generally consists of an adapter spool 12 and a gacho reel adapter 14. The hook 4 arrangement is optional depending on the situation. The adapter spool 12 is designed to physically block the uppermost part of the head of the subsea well 16 and thus is provided with a connector 18 at the lower end for the attachment to the well head 16. The upper end of the spool Adapter 12 is designed to be connected to the dock connector 20. So, the profile of the upper end of the mandrel 12 of the adapter spool duplicates the profile of the uppermost end of the head of the submarine well 16 and thereby forms a connection for attachment to the tie connector 20. The tie connector 20 is essentially the lower end of the elevator 23. The seals 24 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the adapter spool 12 and are of the same design and profiles originally used between the underwater wellhead 16 and the tie-down connector 20 since the spool of the adapter provides the same internal profiles as the original connection between the underwater wellhead 16 and the tie-down connector 20. The adapter reel 12 can be designed to be attached to any tie-down connector. A curved bore 16 is provided through the side wall of the adapter spool 12 to define a flow path. The perforation 26 exits the side of the adapter spool 12. The perforation 26 runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spool of the adapter 12. The rotation in the perforation 26 has a radius that is moldable and complies with the minimum molding radii determined by the standards industrial The flow line connector 28 is provided in the bore 26 and designed to receive a flow line 30. The flow line 30 extends away from the adapter spool 12, wellhead 16 and tie-down connector 20 a sufficient distance to allow the connection of a pipe, movable bridge, flexible elevator, etc., in it. An appropriate connection 32 is provided in the flow line 30 for this purpose. It can be seen in Fi 1 that the adapter spool 12 is provided with a longitudinal bore 34 therethrough to allow the flow of fluids in the normal manner from the wellhead 16 to the riser 23 when the hook 14 of the adapter spool does not it's used. The purpose of the hook 14 is to deflect the pipe bore from the vertical orientation of the upper tensioned elevator to exit the upper fully tensioned lifting system. This requires the hook to generate a seal between its OD (outer diameter) and the ID (internal diameter) of the space that is placed inside the adapter spool 12. Seals 36 are provided in the OD of the hook 14 for this purpose. The fluid can then flow from a field flow line through the external flow line 30, through the adapter spool 12, to the pipe chain and to the wellhead of the surface. The hook 14 of the adapter spool can be deployed either with the adapter spool or run independently or installed to the adapter spool 12 via a chain of surface run pipes or run through the upper tensioned elevator on a pipeline. In the latter case, the adapter spool hook 14 would have to function to lock either the adapter spool 12 or the tie connector 20. Fi 2 illustrates an arrangement where the hook of the adapter spool is not used. For perforations of this size, the flow line connector 28 will most likely not be used. The horizontal penetration through the adapter 12 will be manufactured as part of the adapter. There will not be a separate connection. The perforation 26 is provided with a moldable radius in this case also. This arrangement allows the accommodation of large diameter flow lines. In this arrangement, it is seen that the diameter through the elevator 23, spool adapter 12 and flow line 30 are the same. The tube 29 is received in the bore 26. Fi 2 illustrates a more suitable moldable turn in the invention. The remaining Fis illustrate a turn of a different radius simply for ease of illustration and it is also proposed to provide a turn of moldable radius. Fi 3 illustrates an arrangement allowing double consummation by means of an upper tension elevator 23. In addition to drilling 26, the hook 14 of the adapter spool is also provided with a through hole 40. The flow line 42 extends through the bore 40 from a packer 44 in the well head 16 and up through the riser 23 to produce well fluids. A second fluid line 46 in fluid communication with the perforation 26 extends upwardly through the elevator 23 to deliver production fluids from a remote well through the upper tension elevator 23. Figure 3a illustrates an arrangement similar to Figure 3 wherein additional flow lines 30 are provided in fluid communication with the hook 14 of the adapter spool by means of additional perforations 26 (seen in Figure 3e) to receive fluid from production of additional remote wells. Figure 3b illustrates an arrangement wherein the fluid line 46 is used to feed gas or water to a remote well to assist in the production of hydrocarbons. Figure 3c illustrates an arrangement where the fluid line 46 is used to inject water or gas into a well and the fluid line 42 is used to produce hydrocarbons from the well. The flow line 30 is used as described above to receive fluids from a remote well.

Figure 4 illustrates an arrangement where the fluid line 46 is used to feed gas or water to a remote well to help propel the production. Figure 5 illustrates an arrangement where water or gas is fed through the annulus of the elevator 23 while the vertically accessible well is still producing fluids through the fluid line 42. The packer 44 causes the water or gas to be directed to flow line 30 and to a remote well. Figure 6 illustrates an arrangement wherein the adapter spool 14 is provided with a longitudinal bore 48. This allows the injection of water or gas through the annulus of the riser 23 and into the vertically accessible well while still receiving production fluids. from a remote well through flow line 30 and line 46. Figure 7 illustrates an arrangement where the original strain joint / strain relief connector has been designed with lateral penetration for remote well locks. Accordingly, the lashing connector / strain joint can be used as is commonly until the vertically accessible well is exhausted, at which time a remote well can be tied without inserting an adapter spool. A flow line 30 is either pre-installed on the lashing connector / strain joint or installed via ROV at a later date. The same type of multiple line arrangements seen in Figures 3-6 can also be used in this arrangement with the lashing connector / strain joint. Figure 8 illustrates the large punch moldable radius and an arrangement where the adapter spool hook is not used. As with all figures included herein this provision can be made with a moldable arrangement. During installation, the adapter spool 12 can be deployed from the surface during the initial installation of the upper tensioned elevator, while it is reset in operation of an existing upper tensioned elevator or is retrofitted with a top tensioned elevator that has already been deployed. If the reel is deployed to an existing upper tension riser, the adapter reel is dropped to a line, the tie-down connector 20 is unlocked, the upper tensioned reel is reconnected, the adapter reel is stretched and locked to the subsea wellhead 16, with assistance provided by an ROV (remotely operating vehicle) and the upper tensioned elevator is then deposited and locked to the adapter reel 12. This makes the adapter reel 12 part of the external barrier to the environment for the upper tensioned elevator. The adapter spool 12 is manufactured in order to meet or exceed all the design requirements of the upper tensioned elevator, that is, material selection, drag diameter, load requirements, etc. The adapter spool 12 will generate a sealed bore of the uppermost part of the subsea wellhead equipment through the tie connector 20 on the upper tensioned riser. This is done by using the same interface design and interface profiles originally between the upper tensioned lift and the subsea wellhead, as indicated above. The connector on the adapter spool 12 is rated to meet or exceed all load requirements, overall fatigue, internal pressures, external pressures, etc. The invention provides a variety of advantages. Existing upper tensioned elevators can have their life extended if the wells that the elevators are producing have their production exhausted before the design life of the elevator is exhausted. The installation of the adapter spool 12 and the adapter spool hook 14 allows the production of remote trees through the existing upper tension riser. This allows the operator to produce remote wells in series or parallel through the same upper tension riser. If the upper tension riser is tensioned from an air can, which is independent of the host facility, the host facility may take additional berths without any additional charge burden. Otherwise, the additional slots would have to be available or planned to the original design. If an upper tensioned elevator is still producing but at a low speed, the operator can plug the borehole of the elevator just below the mud line using a plug 38 (see Figure 2), run an adapter spool 12 and spool hook 14 adapter and bring a high production satellite well on the line. The vertically accessible well can be brought back on the line at a later date. Fewer elevators or no steel catenary riser (SCR) could be designed to the host installation production system, thereby reducing the design criteria for the entire host installation. The number of SCRs and higher stressed elevators could be optimized on a project basis. This is especially beneficial for higher stressed elevators that are tensioned by floating cans. Larger diameter flow lines can be accommodated if the vertically accessible well is capped after the pipe is removed from the upper stressed riser. In this case, the diameter through the riser tube, adapter spool 12 and flow line to a manifold would be the same. or there would be no hook of spool adapter 14 in this case.

A double consummation could be had by means of a higher tensioned elevator. The vertically accessible well can continue to produce while a second pipeline leaves the adapter spool 12 and the adapter spool 14. In this instance, the adapter spool hook 14 will have a longitudinal through-hole and a radial perforation that goes out to the adapter reel 12 as seen in Figure 3. Both a gas production and lift line can go out to satellite wells through the spool adapter 12 and hook 14 spool adapter. Multiple chains of completion pipes, gas lift lines and / or water injection lines can be run through the same upper tension riser. The adapter spool 12 and hook 14 of spool adapter 14 will require multiple outputs in this instance. The production arrangement can be used for water injection. It reverses the normal flow path, sending water up the elevator and out into a water production well. The water injection can be sent directly through the pipe, which leaves the adapter spool 12. The water injection can be sent to an upper stressed riser annulus while the vertically accessible well is still producing through the pipeline . In this case, the pipe will come out from the bottom of the adapter spool hook 14 and the upper tension riser annulus will feed outward from the penetration to the adapter spool. The water injection can be sent by the annulus of the tensioned elevator upper to the vertically accessible well while the production comes through the adapter reel 12 and the hook 14 of the adapter cart 14. from a satellite well. Both double top and single barrier tensioned elevators can be accommodated by the invention. Because many different and different embodiments can be made within the scope of the inventive concept taught herein and because many modifications can be made to the invention detailed herein in accordance with the descriptive requirement of the laws, You will understand that the details herein will be construed as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims (9)

1. CLAIMS 1. In a production facility far from the coast where an upper tensioned lift is connected to an underwater wellhead by means of a tie-down connector having a longitudinal bore in fluid communication with the underwater well head and the upper tensioned riser , an adapter for the upper tensioned lifter, the adapter is characterized in that it comprises: (a) an adapter spool with a longitudinal perforation therethrough, and (b) an adapter spool hook received in the longitudinal through hole of the adapter spool. The adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that the spool of the adapter is received between the elevator and the wellhead to be in fluid communication with the elevator and the well head. The adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter spool hook includes a bore therethrough which exits on the hook side of the adapter spool and the adapter spool and is in fluid communication with the riser. The adapter according to claim 3, characterized in that the perforation through an adapter spool hook is moldable. The adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter spool hook includes a bore therethrough which comes out from the side of the adapter spool hook and the adapter spool is in fluid communication with the riser and a longitudinal bore through it in fluid communication with the head of the well and the elevator. 6. In a production arrangement far from the coast where an upper tensioned lift is connected to an underwater wellhead by means of a tie-down connector having a longitudinal bore in fluid communication with the underwater well head and the upper stressed riser, a adapter for the upper tensioned elevator, the adapter is characterized in that it comprises: (a) an adapter spool received between the well head and the riser, the adapter spool has a longitudinal bore therethrough in fluid communication with the riser and head of well, and (b) an adapter spool hook received in the longitudinal bore through the adapter spool, the adapter spool hook has a moldable hole therethrough which comes out from the side of the adapter spool hook and The adapter spool is in fluid communication with the elevator. The adapter according to claim 6, characterized in that it further comprises the adapter spool having a longitudinal bore therethrough in fluid communication with the elevator and well head. 8 In a production arrangement far from the coast where an upper tensioned elevator is connected to a subsea wellhead by means of a tie-down connector having a longitudinal bore in fluid communication with the underwater well head and the upper stressed riser, a adapter for the upper tensioned elevator, the adapter is characterized in that it comprises: (a) an adapter spool received between the well head and the riser, the adapter spool has a bore that emerges from the side of the adapter spool and is in fluid communication with the elevator, and (b) a separate fluid line received in the adapter spool, the elevator and the well to produce wellhead fluid. 9. In a production arrangement far from the coast, where an upper tensioned elevator is connected to an underwater wellhead by means of a tie-down connector having a longitudinal bore in fluid communication with the underwater wellhead and the upper tensioned riser , an adapter for the upper tensioned lift, the adapter comprises an adapter spool received between the wellhead and the riser, the adapter spool has a bore that comes out from the side of the adapter spool and is in fluid communication with the riser .