OFFSHORE DRILLING AND PRODUCTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20110132615A1
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Gonzalez, Romulo, Shumilak, Edward Eugene II, Ju, Gwo-Tarng
• Granted Patent: US 8,919,449 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/366
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/002 specially adapted for underwater drilling E21B19/09, E21B19/143 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/035 specially adapted for underwater installations E21B33/043, E21B33/064, E21B33/076 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/01 specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/0175 Hydraulic schemes for production manifolds

Abstract

A method of drilling and producing from an offshore structure, comprising drilling a first well from the offshore structure with a drilling riser; completing the first well with a first subsurface tree; connecting the first subsurface tree to a manifold; drilling a second well from the offshore structure with a drilling riser; completing the second well with a second subsurface tree; connecting the second subsurface tree to the manifold; and connecting a production riser to the manifold and the offshore structure.

Claims

1. A method of drilling and producing from an offshore structure, comprising:

drilling a first well from the offshore structure with a drilling riser;

completing the first well with a first subsurface tree;

connecting the first subsurface tree to a manifold;

drilling a second well from the offshore structure with a drilling riser;

completing the second well with a second subsurface tree;

connecting the second subsurface tree to the manifold; and

connecting a production riser to the manifold and the offshore structure.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting the manifold to a subsea pump.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting the manifold to a subsea separator.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising flowing at least a portion of produced gases through a first opening in the production riser.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising flowing at least a portion of produced fluids through a second opening in the production riser.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising drilling with a surface blow out preventer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the offshore structure is floating.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the offshore structure is selected from a tension leg platform, a semi submersible, and a spar.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting the manifold to a subsea separator.

9. A method of producing from a offshore structure, comprising:

drilling a first well from a drill ship;

completing the first well with a first subsurface tree;

connecting the first subsurface tree to a manifold;

drilling a second well from the drill ship;

completing the second well with a second subsurface tree;

connecting the second subsurface tree to the manifold; and

connecting a production riser to the manifold and the offshore structure.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising connecting the manifold to a subsea pump.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the offshore structure is floating.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the offshore structure is selected from a tension leg platform, a semi submersible, and a spar.

14. A system for drilling and producing oil and/or gas, comprising:

an offshore structure located in a body of water;

a first well comprising a first subsurface tree;

a second well comprising a second subsurface tree;

a manifold connected to the first well and the second well; and

a production riser connected to the manifold and the offshore structure.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a drilling riser connected to the offshore structure and a third well.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a subsea pump connected to the manifold and the production riser.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising a subsea separator connected to the manifold.