APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING FLUIDS FROM A WELL

• US 20100044038A1
• Filed: 11/15/2007
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OneSubsea IP UK Limited (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Reid, John, Donald, Ian
• Granted Patent: US 8,104,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/267
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/035 specially adapted for underwater installations E21B33/043, E21B33/064, E21B33/076 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/038 Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/35 specially adapted for separating solids down-hole drilling fluid separation systems E21B21/002; separating solids from drilling fluids E21B21/065
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/36 Underwater separating arrangements E21B43/38 takes precedence

Abstract

Provided is a system, including a first module (35b) configured to process fluid from a well, wherein the first module (35b) includes a processing device coupleable to a manifold (5), a first access tunnel (4b) extending through the processing device, wherein the access tunnel (4b) is configured to provide access to the manifold (5), a processing input (18a), and a processing output (19a). Further provided is a method of assembling a manifold, including coupling a processing module (35b) to a manifold (5), wherein the processing module comprises an access tunnel (4b) through the processing module (35b) that enables access to the manifold (5) while the processing module (35b) is coupled to the manifold (5).

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first module configured to process fluid from a well, wherein the first module comprises;

a processing device coupleable to a manifold;

a first access tunnel extending through the processing device, wherein the access tunnel is configured to provide access to the manifold;

a processing input; and

a processing output.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first access tunnel is configured to align with a mandrel of the manifold.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first access tunnel is configured to provide access to a bore of the manifold.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first access tunnel is defined by a region void of the processing device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first access tunnel is configured to enable a tool to be passed through the first module, and into the bore of the manifold.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the manifold comprises a tree.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing device comprises a pump, a process fluid turbine, an injection apparatus for injecting gas or steam, a chemical injection apparatus, a chemical reaction vessel, a pressure regulation apparatus, a fluid riser, a measurement apparatus, a temperature measurement apparatus, a flow rate measurement apparatus, a constitution measurement apparatus, a consistency measurement apparatus, a gas separation apparatus, a water separation apparatus, a solids separation apparatus, a hydrocarbon separation apparatus, or a combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing input comprises a first flowpath extending between a bore of the manifold and the processing device, and wherein the processing output comprises a second flowpath extending between an output of the processing device and a production output.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first module is configured to couple to a second module configured to process fluid from a well, and wherein the first access tunnel extending through the processing device of the first module is configured to align with a second access tunnel extending through a second processing device of the second module.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second module is coupled in series with the first module.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first module comprises:

a rigid structure, comprising;

an first upper interface; and

a first lower interface coupleable to the manifold;

wherein the processing device is contained between the first upper interface and the first lower interface, and wherein the first access tunnel extends through the rigid structure.

12. The well processing system of claim 11, comprising:

a second module, comprising;

a second rigid structure, comprising;

a second upper interface;

a second lower interface coupleable to the first upper interface; and

a second processing device contained between the second upper interface and the second lower interface; and

a second access tunnel extending through the second rigid structure and the second processing device, wherein the second access tunnel is configured to align with the first access tunnel.

13. The well processing system of claim 12, wherein first module and the second module are configured to be stacked on top of one another.

14. A system, comprising:

a diverter for diverting flow from a well, comprising;

a first flow path, comprising;

a first input coupleable to a bore of a manifold; and

a first output coupleable to a processing input of a processing module, wherein the processing module is configured to process fluids from a well and is coupleable to the manifold, and the processing module comprises an access tunnel extending through the processing module that is configured to align with a mandrel of the manifold; and

a second flowpath, comprising;

a second input coupleable to a production output of the processing module;

a second output coupleable to a production output.

26. The system of claim 14, comprising the manifold and the processing module.

15. A modular well system, comprising:

a diverter configured to mount to a manifold; and

a first processing module configured to couple to the manifold, wherein the first processing module comprises an access tunnel configured to be coaxial with a central mandrel of the manifold.

16. The modular well system of claim 15, comprising the manifold, wherein the central mandrel of the manifold comprises a wellbore.

17. The modular well system of claim 16, wherein the wellbore in accessible without removing or adjusting the first processing module.

18. The modular system of claim 16, wherein the diverter comprises a first flowpath that couples the wellbore to the first processing module, and a second flowpath couples the first processing module to a production output.

19. The modular system of claim 15, comprising a second processing module coupleable to the first processing module.

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)