Dual-BOP and common riser system

• US 7,975,770 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Incorporated (Transocean Limited)
• Original Assignee: Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Incorporated (Transocean Limited)
• Inventors: Keener, Chip
• Primary Examiner(s): Beach; Thomas A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Buck; Matthew R
• Application Number:
  US11/615,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20070163782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,663 Days
• Field of Search: 166/358, 166338-340, 166366-368, 175 5- 10
• US Class Current: 166/358
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/002 specially adapted for underwater drilling E21B19/09, E21B19/143 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/038 Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/064 specially adapted for underwater well heads

Abstract

The disclosure is drawn to methods of drilling wells utilizing blow out prevention components of differing pressure ratings. In the initial drilling phase, a lower pressure rated blow out prevention component is used. In a subsequent drilling phase where a reservoir of a natural resource is penetrated, a higher pressure rated blow out prevention component is used.

Claims

1. A method of drilling a well comprising the steps of

positioning a first drilling apparatus having a riser connected to a first subsea blowout prevention component on the well;

drilling the well to a first well depth with the first drilling apparatus;

moving the first drilling apparatus from the well to a seabed storage location;

positioning said first drilling apparatus on the seabed storage location, and

drilling the well to a second well depth with a second drilling apparatus having the riser connected to a second-subsea blowout prevention component positioned at or near the seabed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of replacing in the first drilling apparatus the first subsea blowout prevention component with the second subsea blowout prevention component.

3. The methods of claims 2, wherein the seabed storage location is unconnected to the first well depth.

4. The method of claims 2, further comprising the steps of

installing the second subsea blowout prevention component onto a first well head, and

assembling the second drilling apparatus having the second subsea blowout prevention component on the first well head.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of installing the second subsea blowout prevention component onto the first well head is performed utilizing a lowering apparatus separate from the second drilling apparatus.

6. The method of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first subsea blowout prevention component has a lower pressure rating than the second subsea blowout prevention component.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second well depth penetrates into a high pressure reservoir.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first subsea blowout prevention component has a pressure rating of 15,000 psi or less and the second subsea blowout prevention component has a pressure rating of 20,000 psi or greater.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first subsea blowout prevention component has a pressure rating of 5,000, 10,000 or 15,000 psi and the second subsea blowout prevention component has a pressure rating of 10,000, 15,000 or 20,000 psi.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one subsea blowout prevention component diameter is selected from the group consisting of 11 and ¾

inch, 13 and ⅝

inch, 16 and ¾

inch, 18 and ¾

inch, 21 and ¼

inch and combinations thereof.

11. A method for drilling a well comprising the steps of:

positioning a first subsea blowout preventer on a well head;

drilling a first portion of the well through a riser and lower marine riser package connected to the first subsea blowout preventer;

removing the riser, lower marine riser package, and first subsea blowout preventer from the well head;

positioning the riser, lower marine riser package, and first subsea blowout preventer on a seabed storage location;

separating the lower marine riser package from the first subsea blowout preventer;

lowering a second subsea blowout preventer to the well head; and

drilling a second portion of the well through the riser and lower marine riser package connected to the second subsea blowout preventer.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first subsea blowout preventer is positioned on the well head using a first lowering apparatus and the second subsea blowout preventer is lowered to the seabed using a second lowering apparatus.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first and second lowering apparatuses are supported by a single derrick.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first apparatus is supported by a derrick and the second lowering apparatus is a crane.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the time used for lowering the second subsea blowout preventer to the well head occurs before the first portion of the well has been drilled.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of positioning the second subsea blowout preventer on a second seabed storage location.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of separating the lower marine riser package from the first subsea blowout preventer occurs after the step of positioning the first subsea blowout preventer on the seabed storage location;

and

wherein said method further comprises the step of connecting the lower marine riser package to the second subsea blowout preventer.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the seabed storage location is a selected from the group consisting of a second well head, mud mat, and a section of conductor driven into the seabed.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of lowering the first subsea blowout preventer to a seabed storage location.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of disconnecting the lower marine riser package from the second subsea blowout preventer and connecting it to the first subsea blowout preventer.