SUBSEA HYDRAULIC AND PNEUMATIC POWER

• US 20090151954A1
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC (KBR Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC (KBR Incorporated)
• Inventors: KREHBIEL, DREW, D'Souza, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,963,335 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/335
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/122 Gas lift
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/129 Adaptations of down-hole pump systems powered by fluid supplied from outside the borehole gas-lift E21B43/122; jet pumps E21B43/124
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/18 Repressuring or vacuum methods

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing energy to sub-sea support equipment. Energy can be provided by diverting at least a portion of a fluid from a well producing system to sub-sea support equipment units that can be disposed in the vicinity of the sea-floor, sea-bed, or mud-line. The well producing system can include, but is not limited to, a water injection system, a gas lift system, or combinations thereof. A water injection system designed to provide pressure support to one or more wells can be modified to provide an operational power source to one or more sub-sea support equipment units.

Claims

1. ) A method for providing power to sub-sea support equipment units, comprising:

diverting at least a portion of a pressurized fluid used by a well producing system, wherein the diverted fluid defines a diverted fluid energy source; and

providing the diverted fluid energy source to a sub-sea support equipment unit for use as an operational power source, wherein the sub-sea support equipment unit is disposed in the vicinity of a mud-line.

2. ) The method of claim 1, wherein the operational power source is direct mechanical power.

3. ) The method of claim 2, further comprising providing at least a portion of the direct mechanical power to a plurality of sub-sea support equipment units.

4. ) The method of claim 1, wherein the operational power source is electricity generated by converting the diverted fluid energy source into electrical energy.

5. ) The method of claim 4, further comprising providing at least a portion of the electricity to a plurality of sub-sea support equipment units for use as an operational power source.

6. ) The method of claim 1, wherein the support equipment unit supports the lifting of a hydrocarbon to above a water line.

7. ) The method of claim 1, wherein the support equipment unit performs at least one processing step on a hydrocarbon.

8. ) The method of claim 7, wherein the support equipment unit performs the processing step prior to supporting the lifting of the hydrocarbon to above a water-line.

9. ) The method of claim 1, further comprising converting the pressurized fluid energy source into electricity.

10. ) The method of claim 9, further comprising providing the electricity to a plurality of sub-sea support equipment units, wherein the plurality of sub-sea support equipment units are disposed in the vicinity of the mud-line.

11. ) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the diverted fluid energy to a plurality of sub-sea support equipment units, wherein the plurality of sub-sea support equipment units are disposed in the vicinity of the mud-line.

12. ) A method for providing power to sub-sea support equipment units, comprising:

diverting at least a portion of a pressurized fluid used by a well producing system, wherein the diverted fluid defines a diverted fluid energy source;

providing the diverted fluid energy to a plurality of sub-sea support equipment units for use as an operational power source, wherein the plurality of sub-sea support equipment units are disposed in the vicinity of a mud-line, wherein the operational power source is direct mechanical power, and wherein at least one support equipment unit supports the lifting of a hydrocarbon to above a water line.

13. ) A method for providing power to sub-sea support equipment units, comprising:

means for converting at least a portion of a fluid source used by a well finishing system into an energy source suitable for providing power to a sub-sea support equipment unit disposed in the vicinity of a mud-line, and

means for providing the energy source to the sub-sea support equipment unit.

14. ) The method of claim 13, wherein the energy source suitable for providing power to a sub-sea support equipment unit is direct mechanical power.

15. ) The method of claim 13, wherein the energy source suitable for providing power to a sub-sea support equipment unit is electrical energy.

16. ) The method of claim 13, wherein the support equipment unit supports the lifting of a hydrocarbon to above a water line.

17. ) The method of claim 13, wherein the support equipment unit performs at least one processing step on a hydrocarbon.

18. ) The method of claim 13, wherein the support equipment unit performs the processing step prior to supporting the lifting of the hydrocarbon to above a water-line.

19. ) The method of claim 13, further comprising means for providing the energy source to a plurality of support equipment units.