Apparatus and method for recovering fluids from a well and/or injecting fluids into a well

• US 7,992,633 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2009
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Onesubsea IP UK Limited (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Cameron Systems (Ireland) Limited (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Reid, John, Donald, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, HOANG C
• Application Number:
  US12/541,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20090301728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 724 Days
• Field of Search: 166/75.12, 166/90.1, 166/91.1, 166/95.1, 166/105
• US Class Current: 166/75.12
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/03 Well heads; Setting-up thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/0353 Horizontal or spool trees, i.e. without production valves in the vertical main bore
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/0387 Hydraulic stab connectors
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/047 for plural tubing strings
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/068 having provision for introducing objects or fluids into, or removing objects from, wells cementing-heads E21B33/05
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/076 specially adapted for underwater installations
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/025 Chokes or valves in wellheads and sub-sea wellheads for variably regulating fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/04 in underwater well heads
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0007 for underwater installations E21B41/005, E21B41/04, E21B41/06, E21B41/08, E21B41/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/01 specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/12 Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/16 Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/162 Injecting fluid from longitudinally spaced locations in injection well
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/166 Injecting a gaseous medium; Injecting a gaseous medium and a liquid medium CO2 injection E21B43/164; steam injection E21B43/24
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/36 Underwater separating arrangements E21B43/38 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for diverting fluids either into or from a well are described. Some embodiments include a diverter conduit that is located in a bore of a tree. The invention relates especially but not exclusively to a diverter assembly connected to a wing branch of a tree. Some embodiments allow diversion of fluids out of a tree to a subsea processing apparatus followed by the return of at least some of these fluids to the tree for recovery. Alternative embodiments provide only one flowpath and do not include the return of any fluids to the tree. Some embodiments can be retrofitted to existing trees, which can allow the performance of a new function without having to replacing the tree. Multiple diverter assembly embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a diverter assembly for a manifold of an oil or gas well, wherein the diverter assembly comprises a housing with an internal passage, and the diverter assembly is adapted to connect to a branch of the manifold;

a pump adapted to fit within a bore of the manifold; and

wherein the diverter assembly is adapted to divert fluids from a first portion of a first flowpath to a second flowpath, and to divert the fluids from the second flowpath to a second portion of the first flowpath.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising a separator to provide two separate regions within the diverter assembly.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an axial insert portion having a conduit.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the conduit divides the internal passage into a first region comprising an internal passage of the conduit and a second region comprising an annulus between the housing and the conduit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the diverter assembly comprises a first path in a first direction to divert flow of a fluid, and a second path in a second direction to return flow of the fluid, wherein the first and second paths are coaxial paths, and the first and second directions are opposite from one another.

6. A system comprising:

a diverter assembly for a manifold of an oil or gas well, wherein the diverter assembly comprises a housing with an internal passage, and the diverter assembly is adapted to connect to a branch of the manifold;

a pump adapted to fit within a bore of the manifold; and

the manifold including the branch, wherein the diverter assembly is inserted into the bore in the branch.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the housing is inserted into a choke body.

8. A system comprising:

a diverter assembly for a manifold of an oil or gas well, wherein the diverter assembly comprises a housing with an internal passage, and the diverter assembly is adapted to connect to a branch of the manifold;

a pump adapted to fit within a bore of the manifold;

wherein the housing comprises an axial insert portion having a conduit;

wherein the conduit divides the internal passage into a first region comprising an internal passage of the conduit and a second region comprising an annulus between the housing and the conduit; and

wherein the conduit is adapted to seal within an inside of the branch to block direct fluid communication between the annulus and the internal passage of the conduit.

9. A system comprising:

a diverter assembly for a manifold of an oil or gas well, wherein the diverter assembly comprises a housing with an internal passage, and the diverter assembly is adapted to connect to a branch of the manifold;

a pump adapted to fit within a bore of the manifold; and

wherein the diverter assembly is adapted to divert fluids flowing through a first region of the bore, through the pump, and back to a second portion of the bore for recovery therefrom via an outlet.

10. A system, comprising:

a manifold of an oil or gas well comprising a branch;

a pump disposed within the manifold; and

a diverter assembly coupled to the branch, wherein the diverter assembly comprises coaxial flow paths in opposite first and second directions.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein an internal passage of the diverter assembly is in communication with an interior of the branch.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein an internal passage of the diverter assembly is in fluid communication with a branch outlet of the branch.

13. A system, comprising:

a manifold comprising a branch;

a pump disposed within the manifold;

a diverter assembly coupled to the branch, wherein the diverter assembly comprises coaxial flow paths in opposite first and second directions; and

the manifold further comprising a production bore and wherein the branch comprises an outlet, and the diverter assembly comprises a tubular barrier to separate the production bore from the branch outlet.

14. A system comprising:

a manifold comprising a branch;

a pump disposed within the manifold;

a diverter assembly coupled to the branch, wherein the diverter assembly comprises coaxial flow paths in opposite first and second directions; and

the manifold further comprising a production bore and wherein a part of the diverter assembly is sealed inside the production bore to block fluid communication between two separate regions of the diverter assembly, and the two separate regions define the coaxial flow paths.

15. A system comprising:

a manifold comprising a branch;

a pump disposed within the manifold;

a diverter assembly coupled to the branch, wherein the diverter assembly comprises coaxial flow paths in opposite first and second directions; and

wherein the manifold is connected to a processing apparatus via the diverter assembly.

16. A system, comprising:

a branch of a mineral extraction tubing, wherein the branch comprises a branch outlet;

a pump coupled to the branch; and

a diverter assembly coupled to the branch, wherein the diverter comprises a first fluid path to a diverter outlet and a second fluid path from a diverter inlet to the branch outlet.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first and second fluid paths are coaxial with one another.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the first fluid path has a first flow direction away from the branch outlet, and the second fluid path has a second flow direction toward the branch outlet.

19. A system, comprising:

a branch of a mineral extraction tubing, wherein the branch comprises a branch outlet;

a pump coupled to the branch;

a diverter assembly coupled to the branch, wherein the diverter comprises a first fluid path to a diverter outlet and a second fluid path from a diverter inlet to the branch outlet;

wherein the first fluid path has a first flow direction away from the branch outlet, and the second fluid path has a second flow direction toward the branch outlet; and

wherein the diverter assembly comprises a tubular insert disposed inside a wall of the branch, an interior of the tubular insert defines the second fluid path, and an annular space between an exterior of the tubular insert and the wall defines the first fluid path.