Subsea flowline jumper containing ESP

• US 7,565,932 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Lawson, Peter F
• Primary Examiner(s): Beach; Thomas A
• Application Number:
  US11/697,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20070235195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 166/344, 166/346, 166/105, 166/338, 166/339, 166/349, 166/381, 166/75.51, 166/85.1, 166/241.3, 166/105.4
• US Class Current: 166/344
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/01 specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 47/06 having motor-pump units situated at great depth
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 1/06 Multi-stage pumps F04D1/02, F04D13/10 take precedence

Abstract

A subsea production system on a sea floor has a pump flowline jumper with a straight intermediate portion and two end portions. Each end portion has a connector for ROV assisted connection between production units. A submersible pump assembly is mounted in the straight portion of the flowline jumper and is lowered along with the flowline jumper into engagement with the production receptacles. The pump assembly boosts pressure of fluid flowing from one of the receptacles to the other. A gas separator may be mounted in the same flowline jumper or in a separate flowline jumper.

Claims

1. A subsea pumping apparatus for pumping fluid from a first to a second receptacle of a subsea production system on a sea floor, the apparatus comprising:

a pump flowline jumper having connectors at upstream and downstream ends for connection between the first and second receptacles comprising;

a submersible pump assembly having a longitudinal axis and mounted within the pump flowline jumper, the pump assembly having an intake for receiving fluid flowing from the first receptacle and a discharge for flowing the fluid to the second receptacle;

the flowline jumper extending from the pump assembly discharge in a direction coaxial with the axis of the pump assembly; and

wherein

the pump flowline jumper with the pump assembly contained therein is retrievable from the first and second receptacles.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the pump flowline jumper containing the pump assembly is inclined with the upstream end at a lower elevation than the downstream end.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pump assembly further comprises:

a gas separator within the pump flowline jumper upstream of the pump assembly for separating gas prior to entry into the pump assembly, the gas separator discharging separated gas into the interior of the pump flowline jumper; and

a gas outlet extending from the pump flowline jumper.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the connectors has a U-shape.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pump assembly comprises an electrical motor and a centrifugal pump.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the motor is located upstream from the pump so that the well fluid flowing into the flowline jumper flows over the motor before entering the pump.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flowline jumper extends from the intake in a direction transverse to the axis of the pump assembly.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the axis of the pump assembly and the axis of the flowline jumpers are in the same plane.

9. A subsea pumping apparatus for pumping fluid from a first to a second receptacle of a subsea production system on a sea floor, the apparatus comprising:

a pump flowline jumper having connectors at upstream and downstream ends for connection between the first and second receptacles;

a submersible pump assembly mounted within the pump flowline jumper, the pump assembly having an intake for receiving fluid flowing from the first receptacle and a discharge for flowing the fluid to the second receptacle;

wherein the pump flowline jumper with the pump assembly contained therein is retrievable from the first and second receptacles;

wherein the pump flow line jumper comprises;

a substantially straight intermediate section in which the pump assembly is located;

an inverted generally U-shaped section on each end of the intermediate section, having an upward extending leg and a downward extending leg; and

the connectors at the upstream and downstream ends of the flowline jumper are located on the downward extending legs.

10. A subsea pumping apparatus for pumping fluid from a first to a second receptacle of a subsea production system on a sea floor, the apparatus comprising:

a pump flowline jumper having a substantially straight intermediate portion and two end portions, each end portion having a connector for connection between the first and second receptacles;

a submersible pump assembly having an electrical motor coupled to a rotary pump, the motor and pump being mounted within an intermediate portion of the pump flowline jumper, defining an annulus for fluid flow from the first receptacle over the motor to an intake of the pump, the pump having a discharge separated from the intake by a pressure barrier and leading to the second receptacle; and

wherein

the connectors for the pump flowline jumper are remotely operable to enable the pump flowline jumper along with pump assembly contained therein to be installed and retrieved on a lift line.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the intermediate portion of the pump flowline jumper is inclined so as to elevate the discharge of the pump above the intake of the pump.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each of the end portions of the pump flowline jumper comprises:

an inverted generally U-shaped section, having an upward extending leg and a downward extending leg; and

the connectors are located on the downward extending legs.

13. A method of pumping fluid from a first receptacle to a second receptacle located on a sea floor of a subsea production system, comprising:

(a) mounting a submersible pump assembly within a pump flowline jumper;

(b) mounting a gas separator within the pump flowline jumper upstream of the pump assembly;

then

(c) lowering the pump flowline jumper on a line into engagement with the first and second receptacles, and connecting ends of the pump flowline jumper to the first and second receptacles;

then

(d) operating the pump assembly and flowing fluid from the first receptacle through the pump assembly to the second receptacle; and

(e) separating gas with the gas separator prior to entry into the pump assembly, discharging the separated gas into the interior of the pump flowline jumper, and flowing the discharged gas from the interior to the exterior of the pump flowline jumper.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein step (b) comprises:

inclining the portion of the pump flow line jumper containing the pump assembly so that when connected to the first and second receptacles, an intake of the pump assembly will be at a lower elevation than a discharge of the pump assembly.