Subsea well completion system

• US 4,442,900 A
• Filed: 01/28/1982
• Issued: 04/17/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation (Exxon Mobil Corporation), SEAFLO SYSEMS, INC., AND MOBIL OIL CORPORATION
• Original Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Inventors: Padilla, Joseph R., Chatas, Angelos T., Richardson, Emmett M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Purser, Ernest R.
• Application Number:
  US06/343,634
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 166/339, 166/340, 166/341-343, 166/350, 166/356, 166/362, 166/366, 166/368, 405/188, 405/169, 405/227, 175/7
• US Class Current: 166/342
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/06 Work chambers for underwater operations, e.g. temporarily connected to well heads
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/08 Underwater guide bases, e.g. drilling templates; Levelling thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/10 Guide posts, e.g. releasable; Attaching guide lines to underwater guide bases
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/013 Connecting a production flow line to an underwater well head
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/0175 Hydraulic schemes for production manifolds

Abstract

A subsea well completion system, and components of such a system, are disclosed for handling marine well fluids from multiple subsea wells. The system includes a fluid-tight work enclosure hull containing manifold means, the hull having a plurality of radially-disposed lateral penetration means extending therethrough, the penetration means being operatively connected to the manifold means; and a base template having means for securing the template to the marine floor in a substantially horizontal position and having a lower support structure for supporting the work enclosure hull, the template further having an upper guidance structure comprising a plurality of substantially vertical guide members mounted in spaced radial array, each guide member extending inwardly toward the center of the template, forming an opening at the central portion of the template for receiving the work enclosure hull, a portion of the upper peripheral surface of each guide member sloping downwardly toward the opening for guiding the hull as it is lowered during installation of the hull onto the template. A method of establishing production capability from multiple subsea wellheads on a base template secured to the marine floor is also disclosed employing the aforecited system components.

Claims

1. A subsea well completion system for multiple subsea wells, comprising:

a fluid-tight work enclosure hull containing manifold means, the hull having a plurality of radially-disposed lateral penetration means extending therethrough, the penetration means being operatively connected to the manifold means; and

a base template lowered to the marine floor in a substantially horizontal position and having a lower support structure for supporting the work enclosure hull, the template further having an upper guidance structure comprising a plurality of substantially vertical guide members mounted in spaced radial array, each guide member extending inwardly toward the center of the template, forming an opening at the central portion of the template for receiving the work enclosure hull, a portion of the upper peripheral surface of each guide member sloping downwardly towad the opening for guiding the hull as it is lowered during installation of the hull onto the template.

2. A subsea well completion system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a work enclosure hull alignment means extending laterally from the periphery of the work enclosure hull wherein the upper template guidance structure further comprises blocking means rigidly mounted between each pair of adjacent guide members, except that said blocking means is not mounted between one pair of preselected adjacent members to permit receipt between said one pair of guide members of the work enclosure hull alignment means as the hull is lowered during installation of the hull onto the template, thereby orienting the hull.

3. A subsea well completion system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the blocking means are rigidly attached to the guide members.

4. A subsea well completion system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the free end of the work enclosure hull alignment means is smaller than the end adjacent the work enclosure hull, and wherein the base template further comprises a pair of substantially vertically extending bumpers spaced along the periphery of the template at a distance permitting close fitting of said free end therebetween, the vertically extending bumpers having facing portions sloping downwadly for guiding work enclosure hull alignment means as the work enclosure hull lowered during installation onto the template.

12. A subsea well completion system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the work enclosure hull includes slips and the base template includes a centrally located mandrel extending substantially vertically upward, and wherein the work enclosure hull is internally pressurized at about 1 atmosphere and possesses a negative bouyancy, whereby the hull is retained on the base template by the force of gravity and by the slips attaching to the mandrel.

13. A subsea well completion system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the work enclosure hull is divided into an upper control section having a breathable atmosphere and a lower service section having an inert, non-combustible, and substantially dry atmosphere.

14. A subsea well completion system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at the work enclosure hull has a substantially cylindrical portion and the lateral penetration means extend through said cylindrical portion, and wherein the guide members form a substantially cylindrical opening at the central portion of the template.

15. A subsea well completion system as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one laterally extending positioning stop is secured to the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion of the work enclosure hull for contacting a guide member to block movement of the hull as it is rotated during installation on the template, whereby a preselected position of the hull with respect to the template may be obtained.

19. A subsea well completion system as claimed in claim 1 or 5, wherein the lower support structure and upper guidance structure of the template are constructed of rigid structural piping.

20. A subsea well completion system as claimed in claim 1 or 5, wherein the downwardly sloping portion of each guide member defines an angle of about 45°

to the horizontal.

5. A subsea well completion system for establishing production capability from multiple subsea wells, comprising:

a fluid-tight work enclosure hull containing manifold means, the hull having a plurality of radially-disposed lateral penetration means extending therethrough, the penetration means being operatively connected to the manifold means; and

a base template lowered to the marine floor in a substantially horizontal position and having a lower support structure for supporting the work enclosure hull, the lower support structure of the template includes a plurality of substantially vertical well conductor pipes spaced around the template at a common radial distance from the center of the template for aligning the individual wells during drilling, the upper section of each conductor pipe terminating in a wellhead, the template further having an upper guidance structure comprising a plurality of substantially vertical guide members mounted in spaced radial array, each guide member extending inwardly toward the center of the template forming an opening at the central portion of the template for receiving the work enclosure hull, a portion of the upper peripheral surface of each guide member sloping downwardly toward the opening for guiding the hull as it is lowered during installation of the hull onto the template.

6. A subsea well completion system as claimed in claim 5, further comprising wellhead connector means for releasably connecting a wellhead to one of the lateral penetration means to establish fluid communication therebetween, and wherein the vertical guide members are situated such that adjacent members define a radially inwardly tapered well bay for each wellhead.

7. A subsea well completion system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the wellhead connector means comprises a fluid connection assembly adapted for mounting in a well bay.

8. A subsea well completion system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the wellhead connector means further comprises a rigid, open guide frame surrounding and rigidly secured to the fluid connection assembly, the frame having opposing side portions which are tapered similarly to the radially aligned sides of the well bay in which the wellhead connector means is to be mounted, the tapered side portions being sufficiently spaced apart and extending for a sufficient length and height to provide alignment of the frame in the well bay as it is moved laterally during installation of the wellhead connector means onto the template, whereby a desired orientation of the fluid connection assembly can be achieved.

9. A subsea well completion system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the guide frame is further adapted to provide structural protection for the fluid connection assembly.

10. A subsea well completion system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the guide frame comprises substantially symmetrical upper and lower support members and open, vertical structural members connected between the upper and lower support members, the fluid connection assembly being aligned for inward horizontal connection to a mating lateral penetration means and downward vertical connection to a mating wellhead.

11. A subsea well completion system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the upper and lower support members have a trapezoidal shape.

16. A subsea well completion system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising at least one master valve assembly for providing fluid communication between a wellhead and the associated wellhead connector means.

17. A subsea well completion system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the master valve assembly is mounted in one of the well bays and includes a rigid guide frame having opposing side portions which are tapered similarly to the radially aligned sides of the well bay into which the assembly is to be mounted, the tapered side portions being sufficiently spaced apart and extending for a sufficient length and height to provide alignment of the guide frame in the well bay as it is moved laterally during installation onto the template, whereby a desired orientation of the assembly can be achieved.

18. A subsea well completion system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the upper structure of the template further comprises substantially vertical bumpers extending along the outer periphery of the template for radially guiding and positioning the master valve assembly as it is lowered during installation onto the template, the vertical bumpers providing structural protection and alignment of the assembly.

21. A subsea system for handling marine well fluids from multiple subsea wells, comprising:

a fluid-tight work enclosure hull having a plurality of radially-disposed lateral penetration means for releasable fluid connection through the hull;

a base template having well bay forming means comprising a plurality of vertical dividers mounted in spaced radial array on the template and extending inwardly from the outer peripheral portion of the template toward the central portion of the template, the upper peripheral surface of each dividing means sloping downwardly toward the central portion of the template for guiding the work enclosure hull as it is lowered during installation onto the template;

wellhead connector means installed in a well bay for releasably connecting a wellhead to a penetration means to establish fluid communication therebetween, the wellhead connector means comprising a fluid connection assembly and a rigid, open guide frame surrounding and rigidly secured to the fluid connection assembly, the width of the radially outermost portion of the guide frame, with respect to the central portion of the template, being adapted to prevent lateral and radial inward misorientation of the guide frame and the wellhead connector means as they are moved laterally into the well bay during installation thereof onto the template.

22. A subsea base template as claimed in claim 21, wherein the template is substantially circular, when viewed from above, and wherein the well conductor pipes and the wellheads are spaced around the template at a common radial distance from the center of the template.

23. A subsea base template for guiding marine floor well drilling equipment at multiple wells and supporting a subsea work enclosure hull and wellheads, comprising:

a lower support structure comprising a substantially horizontally aligned, open tubular framework and a plurality of substantially vertical well conductor pipes spaced around the peripheral portion of the framework and integral therewith, for aligning the well drilling equipment, the upper section of each well conductor pipe terminating in a wellhead, the central portion of the framework being adapted to support the subsea work enclosure hull and the peripheral portion being adapted to support the wellheads; and

an upper guidance structure comprising a plurality of guide members rigidly mounted on, and extending vertically from, the lower support structure in spaced radial array, each guide member extending inwardly toward the center of the template, forming a substantially cylindrical opening at the central portion of the framework for receiving the work enclosure hull, a portion of the upper surface of each guide member sloping downwardly toward the cylindrical opening for guiding the work enclosure hull as it is lowered during installation thereof onto the template, the guide members further providing structural protection for the work enclosure hull and the wellheads.

24. A subsea base template as claimed in claim 23, further comprising means for securing the template to the marine floor in a substantially horizontal position.

25. A subsea base template as claimed in claim 23, wherein the vertical guide members are situated such that adjacent guide members define a well bay for each wellhead.

26. A subsea base template as claimed in claim 23, wherein the upper guidance structure of the template further comprises substantially vertical bumpers extending along the outer periphery of the template for radially guiding and positioning a master valve assembly over said wellheads as the valve assembly is lowered during installation thereof onto the template.

27. A subsea base template as claimed in claim 23, wherein the lower support structure and upper guidance structure of the template are constructed of rigid structural piping.

28. A subsea base template as claimed in claim 23, wherein the downwardly sloping portion of each guide member defines an angle of about 45°

to the horizontal.

29. A subsea base template for guiding marine floor well drilling equipment at multiple wells and supporting a subsea work enclosure hull and wellheads, comprising:

a lower support structure comprising a substantially horizontally aligned, open tubular framework and a plurality of substantially vertical well conductor pipes spaced around the peripheral portion of the framework and integral therewith, for aligning the well drilling equipment, the upper section of each well conductor pipe terminating in a wellhead, the central portion of the framework being adapted to support the subsea work enclosure hull and the peripheral portion being adapted to support the wellheads; and

an upper guidance structure comprising a plurality of guide members rigidly mounted on, and extending vertically from, the lower support structure in spaced radial array, each guide member extending inwardly toward the center of the template, forming a substantially cylindrical opening at the central portion of the framework for receiving the work enclosure hull, a portion of the upper surface of each guide member sloping downwardly toward the cylindrical opening for guiding the work enclosure hull as it is lowered during installation thereof onto the template, the guide members further providing structural protection for the work enclosure hull and the wellheads, the upper guidance structure further comprising blocking means rigidly mounted between each pair of adjacent guide members, except that said blocking means is not mounted between one pair of preselected adjacent guide members to permit receipt between said one pair of guide members of a work enclosure hull alignment means extending laterally from the periphery of the work enclosure hull as the hull is lowered during installation of the hull onto the template, thereby orienting the hull.

30. A subsea base template as claimed in claim 29, wherein the blocking means are rigidly attached to the guide members.

31. A subsea base template as claimed in claim 30, wherein the base template further comprises a pair of substantially vertically extending bumpers between said one pair of preselected guide members, said bumpers being spaced apart at a distance permitting close fitting of the remote end of the hull alignment means therebetween, the vertically extending bumpers having facing portions sloping downwardly for guiding the hull alignment means and thereby the work enclosure hull, as they are lowered during installation of the hull onto the template.

32. A subsea base template for guiding marine floor well drilling equipment at multiple wells and supporting a subsea work enclosure hull, wellheads, and wellhead connector means, comprising:

a lower support structure comprising a substantially horizontally aligned, open tubular framework and a plurality of substantially vertical well conductor pipes spaced around the peripheral portion of the framework and integral therewith, for aligning the well drilling equipment, the upper section of each well conductor pipe terminating in a wellhead, the central portion of the framework being adapted to support the subsea work enclosure hull and the peripheral portion being adapted to support the wellheads and wellhead connector means; and

an upper guidance structure comprising a plurality of guide members rigidly mounted on, and extending vertically from, the lower support structure in spaced radial array, each guide member extending inwardly toward the center of the template, forming a substantially cylindrical opening at the central portion of the framework for receiving the work enclosure hull, a portion of the upper surface of each guide member sloping downwardly toward the cylindrical opening for guiding the work enclosure hull as it is lowered during installation thereof onto the template, the vertical guide members being situated such that adjacent members define a radially inwardly tapered well bay for each wellhead for funneling the wellhead connector means into place during installation thereof onto the template;

the guide members further providing structural protection for the work enclosure hull, the wellheads, and the wellhead connector means.

33. A method of establishing production capability from multiple subsea wellheads on a base template lowered to the marine floor, comprising:

providing a work enclosure hull containing a manifold, the hull having a substantially cylindrical portion with a plurality of radially-disposed lateral hull penetrators extending therethrough and operatively connected to the manifold;

providing an upper guidance structure on the template comprising a plurality of substantially vertical guide members mounted in spaced radial array, each guide member extending inwardly from the outer periphery of the template, thereby providing a substantially cylindrical opening at the central portion of the template for receiving the work enclosure hull, a portion of the upper peripheral surface of each guide member sloping downwardly toward the cylindrical opening;

lowering the work enclosure hull from a position directly above the template and funneling it through the upper guidance structure into the cylindrical opening at the central portion of the template, the work enclosure hull being guided into its resting position on the template by the guide members; and

establishing subsea fluid communication between the subsea wellheads and the work enclosure hull.

34. A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein the fluid communication between the work enclosure hull and the wellheads is established by operatively connecting a wellhead connector therebetween within a well bay defined by adjacent vertical guide members.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34, including the step of lowering the wellhead connector in the vicinity of the template and laterally moving the wellhead connector into the well bay, the wellhead connector being guided into its resting position on the template by the adjacent vertical guide members defining the well bay.