SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A MODULAR PRODUCTION TREE ASSEMBLY TO REDUCE WEIGHT DURING TRANSFER OF TREE TO RIG

• US 20100101799A1
• Filed: 10/27/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vetco Gray Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Vetco Gray Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Wenham, Michael A., Spencer, David N., White, Paul W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,151,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/339
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/035 specially adapted for underwater installations E21B33/043, E21B33/064, E21B33/076 take precedence

Abstract

A modular tree production tree assembly reduces the weight during transfer of the tree components from a barge to a production rig. The tree assembly includes an upper tree module, a lower tree module, and a choke bridge module. The upper tree module has a tree head, the lower tree module has a guidance system and ties in the flow lines to the in-field infrastructure, and the choke bridge module has the choke and instrumentation bridge to link the three components together. Prior to delivery to the rig, the components of the modular tree assembly may be joined together and tested on shore. Upon arrival at the rig, the components are individually lifted from the barge onto the rig by a crane. After the tree components are on the rig, the modular tree is reassembled and then deployed to the sea floor via the draw works.

Claims

1. A method of deploying a production tree, comprising:

(a) providing a modular production tree assembly having a plurality of modules, including an upper tree module, a lower tree module, and a choke bridge module;

(b) assembling the upper tree module, lower tree module, and choke bridge module on land and testing the modular production tree assembly;

(c) transporting the modular production tree assembly to an offshore rig;

(d) separately lifting the upper tree module, lower tree module, and choke bridge module onto the offshore rig with a first crane mounted to the offshore rig;

(e) reassembling the upper tree module, lower tree module and choke bridge module into the modular production tree assembly;

(f) performing only interface testing between the upper tree module, lower tree module and choke bridge module; and

then

(g) deploying the modular production tree assembly to the sea floor with a second crane mounted to the offshore rig.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the modular production tree assembly is disassembled in either step (b) on land, or prior to step (d) on a transportation vessel.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first crane comprises an outrigger crane, and the second crane comprises a draw works.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the upper tree module comprises a tree head and a subsea control system, the lower tree module comprises a guidance system, counterweights and means for tying in flow lines to an in-field infrastructure.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the choke bridge module comprises a choke and instrumentation bridge to link together the upper tree module, lower tree module, and choke bridge module.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the upper tree module includes a treehead assembly, wellhead connector, a subsea control system and support frame work with integral guideline or guideline-less interfaces.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the lower tree module comprises a guideline-less, downward-facing funnel to interface with a wellhead, a manifold/flowline connection system, and associated pipe work for connection to the upper tree module via the choke bridge module.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the choke bridge module comprises sensors, flow meters and choke components that are operated from the upper tree module when the choke bridge module is connected between the upper and lower tree modules to provide an integrated production tree system.

9. A method of deploying a production tree, comprising:

(a) providing a modular production tree assembly having three modules, consisting of an upper tree module, a lower tree module, and a choke bridge module;

(b) assembling the upper tree module, lower tree module, and choke bridge module on land and testing the modular production tree assembly;

(c) transporting the modular production tree assembly to an offshore rig;

(d) disassembling the modular production tree assembly and separately lifting the upper tree module, lower tree module, and choke bridge module onto the offshore rig with a first crane mounted to the offshore rig;

(e) reassembling the upper tree module, lower tree module and choke bridge module into the modular production tree assembly on the offshore rig;

(f) performing only interface testing between the upper tree module, lower tree module and choke bridge module; and

then

(g) deploying the modular production tree assembly to the sea floor with a second crane mounted to the offshore rig.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the modular production tree assembly is disassembled in either step (b) on land, or prior to step (d) on a transportation vessel.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the first crane comprises an outrigger crane, and the second crane comprises a draw works.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the upper tree module comprises a tree head and a subsea control system, the lower tree module comprises a guidance system, counterweights, a cathodic protection system, and means for tying in flow lines to an in-field infrastructure.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein the choke bridge module comprises a choke and instrumentation bridge to link together the upper tree module, lower tree module, and choke bridge module.

14. A method according to claim 9, wherein the upper tree module includes a treehead assembly, wellhead connector, a subsea control system and support frame work with integral guideline or guideline-less interfaces.

15. A method according to claim 9, wherein the lower tree module comprises a guideline-less, downward-facing funnel to interface with a wellhead, a manifold/flowline connection system, and associated pipe work for connection to the upper tree module via the choke bridge module.

16. A method according to claim 9, wherein the choke bridge module comprises sensors, flow meters and choke components that are operated from the upper tree module when the choke bridge module is connected between the upper and lower tree modules to provide an integrated production tree system.

17. A method of deploying a production tree, comprising:

(a) providing a modular production tree assembly having three modules, consisting of an upper tree module, a lower tree module, and a choke bridge module, the upper tree module comprising a tree head and a subsea control system, the lower tree module comprising a guidance system, counterweights, a cathodic protection system, and means for tying in flow lines to an in-field infrastructure, and the choke bridge module comprising a choke and instrumentation bridge to link together the upper tree module, lower tree module, and choke bridge module;

(b) assembling the upper tree module, lower tree module, and choke bridge module on land and testing the modular production tree assembly;

(c) transporting the modular production tree assembly to an offshore rig;

(d) disassembling the modular production tree assembly and separately lifting the upper tree module, lower tree module, and choke bridge module onto the offshore rig with an outrigger crane mounted to the offshore rig;

(e) reassembling the upper tree module, lower tree module and choke bridge module into the modular production tree assembly on the offshore rig;

(f) performing only interface testing between the upper tree module, lower tree module and choke bridge module; and

then

(g) deploying the modular production tree assembly to the sea floor with a draw works mounted to the offshore rig.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the modular production tree assembly is disassembled in either step (b) on land, or prior to step (d) on a transportation vessel.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the upper tree module includes a treehead assembly, wellhead connector, a subsea control system and support frame work with integral guideline or guideline-less interfaces, the lower tree module comprises a guideline-less, downward-facing funnel to interface with a wellhead, a manifold/flowline connection system, and associated pipe work for connection to the upper tree module via the choke bridge module, and the choke bridge module comprises sensors, flow meters and choke components that are operated from the upper tree module when the choke bridge module is connected between the upper and lower tree modules to provide an integrated production tree system.