Riser installation vessel and method of using the same

• US 7,367,750 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings of America Incorporated (Single Buoy Moorings)
• Original Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings of America Incorporated (Single Buoy Moorings)
• Inventors: Poldervaart, Leendert, Pollack, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): LAGMAN, FREDERICK LYNDON
• Application Number:
  US10/531,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20060140726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 4052242-2244, 405/223.1
• US Class Current: 405/224.2
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/012 with buoyancy elements E21B17/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/013 Connecting a production flow line to an underwater well head

Abstract

A vessel for exploration of hydrocarbons includes one or more risers extending from the vessel to the seabed, a hydrocarbon processing unit connected to the one or more risers and to a storage or transport structure for storing the processed hydrocarbons. The vessel is anchored to the seabed, the vessel includes a lifting member for lowering risers vertically towards the sea bed and for connecting a riser with a first end to a subsea hydrocarbon structure, which riser includes a connector on a second end, the vessel having a connector for attaching to the riser connector and for placing the riser in fluid connection with the processing unit.

Claims

1. Vessel for exploration of hydrocarbons, comprising:

at least one riser extending from the vessel to the sea bed,

a hydrocarbon processing unit on the vessel connected via a connector on the vessel to a connector at an upper end of the at least one riser and connected to a storage or transport structure for storing or transporting of the processed hydrocarbons,

the vessel being anchored to the seabed,

the vessel comprising a lifting means for lowering a further riser vertically towards the sea bed and for connecting a first end of the further riser with a sub sea hydrocarbon structure,

a second end of the further riser having a connector attachable to a connector on the vessel for placing the further riser in fluid connection with the processing unit,

the lifting means and the connectors of the at least one riser being adapted such that the at least one riser remains attached to the connector of the processing unit during the lowering and the connection of the further riser.

2. Vessel according to claim 1, the storage structure comprising a tank on the vessel.

3. Vessel according to claim 2, wherein the means for lowering comprise a crane, placed on the vessel.

4. Vessel according to claim 1, wherein,

the risers extend alongside the vessel, and

the lifting means comprises a crane for lowering the risers alongside the vessel.

5. Vessel according to claim 4, wherein the vessel comprises a derrick and a drill string extending from the derrick to the seabed.

6. Vessel according to claim 1, wherein the vessel further comprises a derrick and a drill string extending from the derrick to the sea bed.

7. Vessel according to claim 1, the riser comprising a lower part being made of a rigid material and being connected to a submerged buoy, an upper part of the riser being made of a flexible material and extending from the buoy to the vessel.

8. Vessel according to claim 1, the vessel comprising a shaft extending from deck level to keel level, the lifting means being located near the shaft for lowering a riser through the shaft towards the sea bed.

9. Vessel according to claim 1, the riser comprising a lower part being made of a rigid material and being connected to a submerged buoy, an upper part of the riser being made of a flexible material and extending from the buoy to the vessel.

10. Vessel according to claim 1, the vessel comprising a shaft extending from deck level to keel level, the lifting means being located near the shaft for lowering a riser through the shaft towards the seabed.

11. Vessel for exploration of hydrocarbons, comprising one or more risers extending from the vessel to the sea bed, a hydrocarbon processing unit on the vessel connected to the one or more risers and to a storage or transport structure for storing or transporting of the processed hydrocarbons, characterized in that, the vessel is anchored to the seabed, the vessel comprising a lifting means for lowering risers vertically towards the sea bed and for connecting a riser with a first end to a subsea hydrocarbon structure, which riser comprises a connector on a second end, the vessel comprising a connector for attaching to the riser connector and for placing the riser in fluid connection with the processing unit, wherein the vessel comprises a derrick and a drill string extending from the derrick, via a shaft in the vessel, to the seabed.

12. Vessel according to claim 11, the riser comprising a lower part being made of a rigid material and being connected to a submerged buoy, an upper part of the riser being made of a flexible material and extending from the buoy to the vessel.

13. Vessel according to claim 11, the vessel comprising a shaft extending from deck level to keel level, the lifting means being located near the shaft for lowering a riser through the shaft towards the seabed.

14. Method of installing a number of risers between a floating vessel and the sea bed, the vessel comprising a hydrocarbon processing unit connected to the one or more risers and a storage or transport structure for storing or transporting of the processed hydrocarbons, the vessel being anchored to the sea bed, characterized in that, the vessel comprises a lifting means for lowering risers vertically towards the sea bed and for connecting a riser with a first end to a subsea hydrocarbon structure, and a connector means on a second end of the riser and on the vessel for placing the riser in fluid connection with the processing unit, the method comprising the steps of

lowering the first riser part from the lifting means,

connecting an upper end of the riser to a buoyancy device,

lowering the riser and buoyancy device,

connecting the lower end of the first riser part to a subsea structure with a remote operated vehicle,

releasing the buoyancy device from the lifting means,

lowering the flexible riser part from the lifting device

connecting the lower part of the flexible riser part to the buoyancy device, in fluid communication with the lower riser part, and the upper end of the flexible riser part to the processing unit.

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein prior to lowering the first riser part,

a connector base is lowered to the seabed at a distance from a distribution member,

a transverse pipe section is lowered to the distribution member, and is attached thereto,

the vessel is moved sideways to extend the transverse pipe section over the seabed from the distribution member to the connector base,

the transverse pipe section is connected to the connector base.

16. Method according to claim 14, wherein the lower end of the flexible riser part is lowered from a second vessel alongside the vessel.

17. Method according to claim 16, wherein the lower riser part is attached to the connector base and the second vessel is displaced sideways to extend the lower riser part at least partially horizontally over the seabed.

18. Method according to claim 14, wherein the lower riser part and the buoyancy device are lowered from a second vessel alongside the vessel.

19. Method according to claim 14, wherein the lower end of the flexible riser part is lowered from a second vessel alongside the vessel.

20. Method according to claim 14, wherein the lower riser part and the buoyancy device are lowered from a second vessel alongside the vessel.