Subsea well intervention vessel

• US 6,840,322 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Multi Opertional Service Tankers Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Multi Opertional Service Tankers Incorporated
• Inventors: Jones, Colin, Haynes, Anthony P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beach, Thomas A
• Application Number:
  US10/149,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20030000740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 166/352, 166/357, 166/358, 166/359, 175/7, 175/8, 175/5
• US Class Current: 166/352
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/4413 Floating drilling platforms, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/085 Underbalanced techniques, i.e. where borehole fluid pressure is below formation pressure

Abstract

A subsea well intervention vessel including a dynamically positionable tanker and direct well intervention equipment mounted on a deck of the tanker. The direct well intervention equipment is mounted on a superstructure above the main deck of the tanker and includes equipment for underbalanced non-rotating drilling and hydrocarbon liquid separation. The liquid separation equipment is coupled to storage tanks of the tanker so as to receive separated hydrocarbon liquids for storage purposes.

Claims

1. A subsea well intervention vessel comprising a dynamically positionable tanker and direct well intervention equipment mounted on a deck of the tanker, the direct well intervention equipment including equipment for underbalanced non-rotating drilling and hydrocarbon liquid separation coupled to storage tanks of the tanker such that separated hydrocarbon liquids can be stored in the tanker.

2. A vessel according to claim 1, wherein the well intervention equipment is mounted on a superstructure above the main deck of a shuttle tanker.

3. A vessel according to claim 1, wherein coiled tubing drilling equipment is mounted adjacent a skid deck which may be displaced to an outboard position over a well riser to which the coiled tubing drilling equipment is to be connected.

4. A vessel according claim 1, wherein coiled tubing drilling equipment is mounted adjacent a moon pool located over a well riser to which the coiled tubing drilling equipment is to be connected.

5. A method for conducting off-shore underbalanced drilling, wherein a tanker having direct well intervention equipment mounted on its deck is dynamically positioned over a riser extending from a subsea well, the well intervention equipment is coupled to the riser, and underbalanced non-rotating drilling is performed, the resultant multi-phase mixture being separated on the tanker and separated hydrocarbon liquids being stored in storage tanks of the tanker.

6. A method for conducting off-shore underbalanced drilling, wherein a tanker having coiled tubing drilling equipment mounted on its deck is dynamically positioned over a riser extending to a subsea production well, the coiled tubing drilling equipment including a non-rotating continuous coiled tube and a hydraulically driven drill mounted on one end of the tube, the coiled tubing drilling equipment is coupled to the riser and the tube is uncoiled and pushed through the riser into the production well so that the drill is located at a location where drilling is to be performed, hydraulic fluid is supplied to the drill through the tube to drive the drill, drilling being underbalanced such that a multi-phase mixture which includes hydrocarbon liquids and solids is produced at the drill location which is at a pressure greater than the pressure differential between that location and the tanker deck, the mixture is delivered to the tanker through the well and the riser, hydrocarbon liquids are separated from the mixture on the tanker, and the separated hydrocarbon liquids are stored in storage tanks of the tanker.