MOTION COMPENSATING FLOOR SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20190330934A1
• Filed: 11/17/2017
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wright's IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: David C Wright
• Inventors: Wright, David C.
• Granted Patent: US 11,002,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/02 placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/006 including heave compensators
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/09 specially adapted for drilling underwater formations from a floating support using heave compensators supporting the drill string
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/22 Handling reeled pipe or rod units, e.g. flexible drilling pipes lifting or hauling appliances using two or more cooperating endless chains B66D3/003
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/95 offshore

Abstract

A motion compensating system and method for use on a vessel during well intervention operations through a riser. The system can comprise an upper floor having an opening therethrough, a lower base having an opening therethrough positioned below the upper floor, a first plurality of cylinders extending between the upper floor and lower base, and a riser tensioner. Each cylinder of the plurality of cylinders can be pivotally connected to the upper floor and lower base for moving the upper floor with respect to the lower base. The riser tensioner can have an upper portion, lower portion, and central cavity extending longitudinally through the upper and lower portions, wherein the upper portion can be adapted for connection with a riser or an intermediate tubular member that is connectable to the riser. The lower portion can be connected to the lower base within or about the opening of the lower base.

Claims

1. A motion compensating system usable on a vessel during well intervention operations through a riser, wherein the motion compensation system comprises:

an upper floor having an opening therethrough;

a lower base having an opening therethrough, the lower base positioned below the upper floor,

a first plurality of cylinders extending between the upper floor and the lower base, wherein each cylinder of the first plurality of cylinders is pivotally connected to the upper floor and the lower base for moving the upper floor with respect to the lower base; and

a riser tensioner having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a central cavity extending longitudinally through the upper portion and the lower portion, wherein the upper portion is adapted for connection with a riser or an intermediate tubular member that is connectable to the riser, wherein the lower portion is connected to the lower base within or about the opening of the lower base, wherein the riser tensioner comprises a second plurality of cylinders connected between the upper portion and the lower portion.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of cylinders are connected to the upper floor around the opening of the upper floor, wherein the first plurality of cylinders are connected to the lower base around the opening of the lower base.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first plurality of cylinders are connected to the upper floor at eight locations around the opening of the upper floor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of cylinders comprise pairs of cylinders, wherein each cylinder of each pair of cylinders extends from the other to form a V-shaped configuration, wherein lower ends of each pair of cylinders are connected to the lower base in proximity to each other, wherein the upper ends of each pair of cylinders are connected to the upper floor apart from each other.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the lower base is adapted for connection to the deck or hull of the vessel over a moon pool of the vessel.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a counterweight in connection with the upper floor, the counterweight balancing the upper floor against the weight of other subsea equipment or downhole equipment positioned on the upper floor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the counterweight is movable along the upper floor to adjust the balancing forces produced by the counterweight in response to a change in the weight of the subsea equipment, the other subsea equipment, the downhole equipment, or combinations thereof, positioned on the upper floor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the upper floor is adapted to receive thereon a coiled tubing injector and a coiled tubing reel.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an extendable or telescoping tubular member extending between the opening of the upper floor and the riser tensioner.

10. A motion compensating system usable to stabilize personnel or equipment located thereon during well intervention operations through a riser, wherein the motion compensation system comprises:

an upper floor having an open space therein;

a lower base having an open space therein positioned below the upper floor, wherein the upper floor is movable with respect to the lower base;

a plurality of cylinders extending between the upper floor and the lower base, wherein each cylinder of the plurality of cylinders is pivotally connected to the upper floor and the lower base for moving the upper floor with respect to the lower base; and

a riser tensioner apparatus comprising a bracket and a base portion each having a central open space, wherein the upper bracket is connectable with a riser or another member that is connectable with the riser, wherein the base portion is connected to the lower base, and wherein the bracket is movable toward and away from the base portion.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of cylinders are connected to the upper floor around the open space of the upper floor, and wherein the plurality of cylinders are connected to the lower base around the open space of the lower base.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the riser tensioner comprises a second plurality of cylinders connected between the bracket and the base portion.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the lower base is adapted for connection to a deck or a hull of a vessel over a moon pool of the vessel.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising a counterweight in connection with the upper floor, the counterweight balancing the upper floor against the weight of other subsea or downhole equipment positioned on the upper floor.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the counterweight is movable along the upper floor to adjust the balancing forces produced by the counterweight in response to a change in the weight of the subsea equipment, the other subsea equipment, the downhole equipment, or combinations thereof positioned on the upper floor.

16. A method for stabilizing a riser platform on a vessel, the method comprising:

positioning the riser platform above a base platform connected to the vessel;

actuating and pivoting a first plurality of hydraulic cylinders connecting the riser platform and the base platform in response to motion of the vessel relative to the riser platform; and

actuating a second plurality of hydraulic cylinders connecting a riser tensioner to the riser platform in response to motion of the riser platform relative to a riser, wherein the first plurality of cylinders are actuated to keep the riser platform at a constant level, and wherein the second plurality of cylinders are actuated to keep the riser at a constant tension.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising actuating the position of a counterweight on the riser platform in response to a change in weight on the riser platform.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of actuating and pivoting the first plurality of hydraulic cylinders further comprises differentially actuating individual hydraulic cylinders within the first plurality of hydraulic cylinders in response to a pitch motion, a roll motion, a yaw motion, or combinations thereof;

by the vessel.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising rotatably connecting the riser to the riser tensioner and permitting the riser tensioner to have a range of angular motion relative to the riser.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising positioning the riser platform over a moon pool of a vessel.