Apparatus and a Method For Deployment of a Well Intervention Tool String Into a Subsea Well

• US 20080277122A1
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Well Technology AS
• Original Assignee: Well Technology AS
• Inventors: Tinnen, Bard Martin
• Application Number:
  US11/908,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20080277122A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/339
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/14 for displacing a cable or a cable-operated tool, e.g. for logging or perforating operations in deviated wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/076 specially adapted for underwater installations

Abstract

The present invention regards an apparatus and a method for subsea deployment and/or intervention through a wellhead (102) of a petroleum well (112). The apparatus comprises a first module (101) integrated in a portion of a subsea well intervention system assembly (102, 103) and/or a subsea production system assembly, the first module (101) comprising an intervention tool bore (201); a second module (301) comprising a tubular element (302) initially housing an intervention tool (314), wherein the second module (301) being arranged for sliding into releasable engagement with the intervention tool bore (201) of the first module (101), whereupon the intervention tool (314) is arranged for disengagement from the tubular element (302) for deployment of the intervention tool (314) into the wellbore (112).

Claims

1. An apparatus for subsea deployment and/or intervention through a wellhead (102) of a petroleum well (112), characterized in that the apparatus comprises:

a first module (101) integrated in a portion of a sub-sea well intervention system assembly (102, 103) and/or a subsea production system assembly, the first module (101) comprising an intervention tool bore (201);

a second module (301) comprising a tubular element (302) initially housing an intervention tool (314),

the second module (301) being arranged for sliding into releasable engagement with the intervention tool bore (201) of the first module (101), whereupon the intervention tool (314) is arranged for disengagement from the tubular element (302) for deployment of the intervention tool (314) into the wellbore (112).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one portion of the tool bore (201) is provided with at least one seal element (202) arranged for sealing an annulus defined by the tool bore (201) and the second module (301).

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least one seal element is a dynamic seal (202).

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the second module (301) is provided with a seal arrangement (305, 309) for sealing off an annular space defined by the tubular element (302) and the intervention tool (314).

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a portion of the tool bore (201) of first module (101) comprises a valve assembly (203) which in a closed position provides a barrier between the well (112) and a downstream portion of said first module (101).

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the second module (301) is provided with at least one latch device (306, 310) arranged for selectively disengaging the intervention tool (314) from the tubular element (302).

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the first module (101) is provided with a bore (111′

) for connection of a kill line (111).

8. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the apparatus is provided with an anti-blowout device (206).

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the anti-blowout device (206) comprises an anti-blowout sub (207) and an anti-blowout profile (208), said profile (208) being provided within or being an integrated part of a portion of the bore (201) of the first module (101), said profile (208) being arranged downstream of said sub (207), wherein an outside diameter of said sub is larger than the internal diameter of said profile (208).

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the sub (207) is hollow and is arranged to engage with a portion of the tubular element (302).

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the anti-blowout device (206) comprises means arranged for gripping and locking the movement of the second module (301) in the first module (101).

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the anti-blowout device (206) comprises a slips module comprising slips arranged to glide along the outside of the second module (301) during deployment into the well (112) and, if the second module (301) is instantly moved in an upward direction out of the well (112), is arranged to grip around a portion of the second module (301).

13. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first module (101) is provided with at least one flushing system (209, 210) for removing unwanted fluids from contained spaces before providing access to the well.

14. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first module (101) is provided with a stop arrangement (213) for engaging a substantially corresponding stop arrangement (313) in the second module (301), thereby preventing further insertion of the second module (301) beyond an ultimate insertion position of the second module (301) in the bore (201) of the first module (101).

17. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that flushing operations are executed during the retrieval of the second module (301) from the first module (101) in order to avoid any well fluid to communicate into the environment outside the well.

15. A method for subsea deployment and/or intervention of a petroleum well (112) through a wellhead (102), characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:

integrating a first module (101) that comprises an intervention tool bore (201), in a portion of a subsea well intervention system assembly (102, 103) and/or a subsea production system assembly;

lowering a second module (301) comprising a tubular element (302) sealingly housing an intervention tool (314) engaged with the tubular element (302) into engagement with the tool bore (201) of the first module, at least a portion of the annulus defined between the tool bore (201) and the tubular element (302) being sealed;

disengaging the intervention tool (314) from the tubular element (302), and

running the intervention tool (314) into the wellbore (112).

16. A method for retrieval and/or deploying out of an intervention tool (314) through a wellhead (102) of a subsea petroleum well (112), characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:

pulling the intervention tool (314) into engaging connection inside a tubular element (302) of a second module (301), the annulus defined by the tubular element (302) and the intervention tool (314) being sealed at a top portion and a bottom portion of the second module (301), a portion of which being in engagement with and sealingly housed in a tool bore (201) of a first module (101);

disengaging the second module (301) sealingly housing the intervention tool (314), and

retrieving the second module (301) out of the first module (101) through open water and to a surface.