Method for conducting offshore well operations
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for conducting offshore well operations, comprising:
- installing a compliant platform in substantially vertical alignment with a selected well site;
restraining an offshore drilling vessel with respect to the compliant platform;
positioning the offshore drilling vessel over the selected well site, comprising;
driving the compliant platform out of substantially vertical alignment with the selected well site; and
substantially vertically aligning a drilling derrick of the offshore drilling vessel over the selected well site and securing this position for well operations while continuing to restrain the position of the offshore drilling vessel with respect to the compliant platform; and
conducting well operations from the offshore drilling vessel through a riser.
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Abstract
A method is disclosed for conducting offshore well operations from an auxiliary vessel in support of a compliant platform. The auxiliary offshore drilling vessel is docked to the compliant platform and is positioned over a selected well site for conducting drilling operations by driving the compliant platform out of alignment as necessary to bring the well operations facilities of the auxiliary vessel docked thereto into substantially vertical alignment. The production riser is transferred from the auxiliary vessel to the compliant platform after well operations are complete.
31 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for conducting offshore well operations, comprising:
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installing a compliant platform in substantially vertical alignment with a selected well site; restraining an offshore drilling vessel with respect to the compliant platform; positioning the offshore drilling vessel over the selected well site, comprising; driving the compliant platform out of substantially vertical alignment with the selected well site; and substantially vertically aligning a drilling derrick of the offshore drilling vessel over the selected well site and securing this position for well operations while continuing to restrain the position of the offshore drilling vessel with respect to the compliant platform; and conducting well operations from the offshore drilling vessel through a riser. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for conducting offshore well operations, comprising:
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installing a compliant platform in substantially vertical alignment with a selected well site; restraining an offshore drilling vessel with respect to the compliant platform; positioning the offshore drilling vessel over the selected well site by driving a compliant platform out of substantial vertical alignment with the well site with the offshore drilling vessel and substantially vertically aligning a drilling derrick of the offshore drilling vessel over the selected well site and securing this position for well operations; conducting well operations from the offshore drilling vessel through a substantially vertical drilling riser; and transferring a production riser from the offshore drilling vessel to the compliant platform. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for conducting offshore well operations in support of a compliant platform installed so as to have a normal position substantially vertically over a well pattern, comprising:
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restraining the compliant platform out of its normal position substantially over the well pattern; positioning an offshore drilling vessel over a selected well site of the well pattern at a location at the surface of the water not accessible to the offshore drilling vessel with the compliant platform in its normal position; and conducting well operations through a substantially vertical riser. - View Dependent Claims (13, 28)
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14. A method for conducting offshore well operations, comprising:
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installing a compliant platform in substantially vertical alignment with a well pattern; docking a semisubmersible vessel to the compliant platform and driving the joined semisubmersible vessel and compliant platform such that the compliant platform is edged out of alignment with the well pattern and the semisubmersible vessel is brought into substantially vertical alignment over a selected well site within the well pattern; conducting well operations at the selected well site from the semisubmersible vessel through a substantially vertical drilling riser; replacing the drilling riser with a production riser and completing the well through the production riser using the semisubmersible vessel; and transferring the completed production riser from the semisubmersible vessel to the compliant platform.
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15. A method for conducting offshore well operations, comprising:
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installing a compliant platform in substantially vertical alignment with a well pattern; positioning a drilling derrick of a semisubmersible vessel adjacent the well bay of a compliant platform and restraining the movement of the compliant platform with respect to the semisubmersible vessel; positioning the semisubmersible vessel over a selected well site within the well pattern by driving the compliant platform out of vertical alignment with the well pattern and vertically aligning the drilling derrick of the semisubmersible vessel over the selected well site; conducting well operations from the semisubmersible vessel through a substantially vertical riser supported by the semisubmersible vessel adjacent the well bay of the compliant platform; and transferring the riser from the semisubmersible vessel to the well bay of the compliant platform. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method for conducting offshore well operations, comprising:
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docking an offshore drilling vessel to a compliant platform and positioning the offshore drilling vessel over a selected well site within a well pattern by driving the compliant platform out of vertical alignment with the selected well site; conducting drilling operations from the offshore drilling vessel through a substantially vertical riser; and returning the compliant platform to vertical alignment with the selected well site. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for conducting offshore well operations in support of a compliant platform installed so as to have a normal position substantially vertically aligned over a desired well pattern, comprising:
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restraining an offshore drilling vessel with respect to a compliant platform; positioning the offshore drilling vessel over a selected well site within the well pattern, comprising; driving the compliant platform out of substantially vertical alignment with the well pattern; and substantially vertically aligning a drilling derrick of the offshore drilling vessel over the selected well site and securing this position for well operations while continuing to restrain the position of the offshore drilling vessel with respect to the compliant platform; and conducting well operations from the offshore drilling vessel through a riser; and returning the compliant platform to the normal position substantially vertically aligned over the well pattern.
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25. A method for conducting offshore well operations, comprising:
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installing a compliant platform in substantially vertical alignment with a desired well pattern; restraining the compliant platform out of its normal position substantially over the well pattern; positioning an offshore drilling vessel over a selected well site of the well pattern at a location at the surface of the water not accessible to the offshore drilling vessel with the compliant platform in its normal position; conducting well operations through a substantially vertical riser; and returning the compliant platform to its normal position.
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26. A method for conducting offshore well operations, comprising:
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installing a compliant platform in a manner such that its normal position is substantially over a well pattern; restraining a compliant platform out of its normal position substantially over a well pattern; positioning an offshore drilling vessel over a selected well site of the well pattern at a location at the surface of the water not accessible to the offshore drilling vessel with the compliant platform in its normal position; and conducting well operations through a substantially vertical riser. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification