System, vessel, seabed installation and method for producing oil or gas

• US 6,213,215 B1
• Filed: 05/26/1999
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Statoil Petroleum As (Asa Equinor)
• Original Assignee: Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A. S
• Inventors: Ingebrigtsen, Atle, Breivik, Kåre
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsay, Frank
• Application Number:
  US09/308,629
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 166/339, 166/342, 166/349, 166/366, 166/350, 405/190
• US Class Current: 166/350
• 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 7/128 from floating support with independent underwater anchored guide base

Abstract

A system for offshore production of oil or gas, comprising a surface vessel having a means for maintaining a desired position and orientation, a bottom installation at the seabed for at least two production wells, and risers for connecting the bottom installation to the vessel. The vessel is provided with drilling equipment for wells at the seabed and with process equipment for produced oil or gas. The bottom installation comprises a template having its foundation at the seabed and being provided with a manifold unit and is designed with at least two well head sections adapted for installing associated Christmas trees. A drill string is adapted to extend from the drilling equipment on the vessel to an operation module at the bottom installation, and a product riser is adapted to connect the operation module to the process equipment on the vessel.

Claims

1. A system for offshore production of oil or gas, comprising

a surface vessel having an apparatus for maintaining a desired position and orientation;

a bottom installation at a seabed for at least two production wells; and

at least one riser for connecting the bottom installation to the vessel;

wherein the vessel is provided with drilling equipment for wells at the seabed and with process equipment for produced oil or gas;

wherein the bottom installation comprises a template having a foundation at the seabed, and provided with a manifold unit and designed with at least two wellhead sections adapted for installation of associated christmas trees;

and further comprising a drill string adapted to extend from the drilling equipment at the vessel, and a movable operation module adapted to be installed on the bottom installation and to be connected to a lower end of the drill string; and

wherein the at least one riser includes a product riser adapted to connect the operation module to the process equipment on the vessel.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a swivel unit having a vertical axis, in association with the product riser.

3. The system according to claim 2,

wherein the swivel unit is located on the vessel.

4. The system according to claim 2,

wherein the swivel unit is incorporated in the operation module.

5. The system according to claim 4,

wherein the operation module includes a blowout preventer and the swivel unit is located underneath said blowout preventer.

6. The system according to claim 4,

wherein the product riser extends upwards through the water for connection at the vessel at a point at a distance from the drilling equipment.

7. The system according to claim 6,

wherein the product riser extends up through the water in an approximate S-shape with an upwardly curved, elevated middle portion of the product riser.

8. The system according to claim 4,

wherein the product riser extends upwards through the water for connection at the vessel at a point at a distance from the drilling equipment, abaft on the vessel.

9. The system according to claim 2,

wherein the swivel unit is motor-driven.

10. The system according to claim 2,

wherein the swivel unit has a through-going axial hole for the drill string.

11. The system according to claim 2,

wherein the swivel unit is motor-driven under control by said apparatus for maintaining the vessel at a desired position and orientation.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the product riser is attached along a drilling riser for the drill string.

13. The system according to claim 1,

wherein the vessel is provided with an apparatus for dynamic positioningl/orientation.

14. A vessel comprising;

drilling equipment for wells at a seabed and process equipment for produced oil and gas;

an apparatus for maintaining a desired position and orientation at the sea surface; and

an apparatus for controlling a swivel unit, in association with said position maintaining apparatus for maintaining a desired position and orientation, being based on dynamic positioning and orientation.

15. The vessel according to claim 14, equipped with a swivel unit for an upper end of a product riser.

16. The vessel according to claim 14, wherein the drilling equipment includes an associated work opening and is located generally midship, and wherein the process equipment is located abaft.

17. The vessel according to claim 16, wherein the process equipment includes associated coupling for the product riser.

18. A bottom installation comprising;

a template having a foundation at a seabed, wherein the template is provided with a manifold unit and is designed with at least two wellhead sections adapted for installation of associated christmas trees; and

a movable operation module adapted to establish a rotatable connection to a riser extending to a surface vessel.

19. The bottom installation according to claim 18, wherein the movable operation module includes a swivel unit which is motor-driven.

20. The bottom installation according to claim 19 wherein the moveable operation module includes a blowout preventer and the swivel unit is located underneath said blowout preventer.

21. The bottom installation according to claim 18 wherein the movable operation module includes a blowout preventer and the swivel unit is located over said blowout preventer.

22. The bottom installation according to claim 19 wherein the operation module has a through-going axial hole for a drill string.

23. The bottom installation according to claim 18, wherein the operation module at a lower portion has an interface of the same type as christmas trees intended for being landed and connected to said wellhead sections.

24. The bottom installation according claim 18, wherein the operation module is provided with a guide yoke adapted to hold product risers extending laterally and at an inclination upwards, with a clearance in relation to remaining components and equipment on the template.

25. A bottom installation according to claim 18, wherein the movable operation module includes a swivel unit.

26. A system for offshore production of oil or gas, comprising;

a surface vessel equipped with an apparatus for maintaining a desired position and orientation;

a bottom installation at a seabed for at least two production wells; and

risers for connecting the bottom installation to the vessel;

wherein the vessel is provided with drilling equipment for wells at the seabed and with process equipment for produced oil or gas;

wherein the bottom installation comprises a template having a foundation at the seabed, and provided with a manifold unit and designed with at least two wellhead positions or sections adapted for installation of associated christmas trees;

and further comprising a drill string adapted to extend from the drilling equipment on the vessel to a blowout preventer on the bottom installation; and

wherein the risers include a product riser adapted to connect one or more production wells on the bottom installation to the process equipment on the vessel.

27. A method of producing oil or gas with a system including a surface vessel, a bottom installation for at least two production wells and provided with a manifold unit and a plurality of wellhead sections, and at least one riser for connecting the bottom installation to the vessel comprising;

deploying said bottom installation at a seabed and positioning said vessel at the sea surface above the bottom installation;

drilling and completing a first well at one of said plurality of wellhead sections;

initially drilling a second well at a second one of said plurality of wellhead sections;

setting down an operation module with one of said at least one risers for landing and connection at the second one of said plurality of wellhead sections and additionally drilling and completing the second well;

establishing production from the first well through said manifold and the operation module at the second one of said plurality of wellhead sections contemporaneous with the additional drilling of the second well;

drilling a corresponding third well from a third one of said plurality of wellhead sections and subsequently establishing production through the operation module from the third well.

28. The method of producing oil or gas according to claim 27, wherein the step of initially drilling the second well comprises:

installing both conductor and casing tubes for the second well.

29. The method of producing oil or gas according to claim 27, further comprising:

additionally drilling one or more new wellhead sections;

disconnecting and removing the operation module from the one or more new wellhead sections after a desired number of wells have been drilled, completed and put into production.

30. The method of producing oil or gas according to claim 27, further comprising:

additionally drilling one or more new wellhead sections;

finally locating the operation module at a dedicated section of the bottom installation separated from the new well head sections.