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

• US 8,066,067 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2009
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OneSubsea IP UK Limited (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Reid, John, Donald, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, HOANG C
• Application Number:
  US12/541,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20090294125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 836 Days
• Field of Search: 166/267, 166/75.12, 166/305.1, 166/268
• US Class Current: 166/267
• 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 method of injecting fluids into a well having a mandrel with a production bore, the mandrel having a branch that extends to an export line and a choke body disposed on the branch, the method comprising diverting fluids from the export line to a first flowpath extending through the choke body and diverting the fluids from the first flowpath to a second flowpath communicating with the production bore.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluids are diverted through a processing apparatus connected between the first and second flowpaths.

3. A method of recovery of fluids from, and injection of fluids into, a well having a manifold with a production bore and an annulus bore, the mandrel having a branch that has a choke body disposed thereon;

wherein at least one of the steps of recovery and injection includes diverting fluids from the production bore through a first flowpath extending through the choke body to a second flowpath and diverting the fluids from the second flowpath to the annulus bore.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein recovery and injection is simultaneous.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein at least some of the recovered fluids are re-injected into the well.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein a processing apparatus separates a hydrocarbon component of the fluids from the rest of the recovered fluids, and wherein a non-hydrocarbon component of the fluids is re-injected into the well.

7. A method of recovery of fluids from, and injection of fluids into, a well having a manifold;

wherein at least one of the steps of recovery and injection includes diverting fluids from a first portion of a first flowpath to a second flowpath and diverting the fluids from the second flowpath to a second portion of the first flowpath, wherein the manifold comprises a tree, wherein a hydrocarbon component of the recovered fluids is returned to the tree and is recovered from an outlet of the tree.

8. A method of recovering fluids from a first well and re-injecting at least some of the recovered fluids into a second well, wherein the method comprises diverting fluids from a first choke body of a first diverter assembly of the first well to a first flowpath, and diverting at least some of the fluids from the first flowpath to a second flowpath communicating with a second choke body of a second diverter assembly of the second well.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising processing production fluids in a processing apparatus connected between the first and second wells.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the processing apparatus is chosen from at least one of:

a pump;

a process fluid turbine;

injection apparatus;

chemical injection apparatus;

a fluid riser;

measurement apparatus;

temperature measurement apparatus;

flow rate measurement apparatus;

constitution measurement apparatus;

consistency measurement apparatus;

gas separation apparatus;

water separation apparatus;

solids separation apparatus; and

hydrocarbon separation apparatus.

11. A method of recovering fluids from a first well and re-injecting at least some of these recovered fluids into a second well, wherein the method comprises diverting fluids from a first portion of a first flowpath to a second flowpath, and diverting at least some of the fluids from the second flowpath to a second portion of the first flowpath, wherein the fluids are recovered from the first well via a first diverter assembly, and wherein the fluids are re-injected into the second well via a second diverter assembly, the method further including returning a portion of the recovered fluids to the first diverter assembly and thereafter recovering that portion of the recovered fluids via the first diverter assembly.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising separating hydrocarbons from the rest of the recovered fluids, and transferring a non-hydrocarbon component of the recovered fluids to the second well and returning the hydrocarbons to the first diverter assembly for recovery therefrom.

13. A method of injecting fluids into a well, the method comprising diverting fluids from a first portion of a first flowpath to a second flowpath and diverting the fluids from the second flowpath into a second portion of the first flowpath wherein diverting fluids comprises flowing fluids to and from a processing loop in opposite directions through a central passage and an annular passage coaxial with the central passage.

14. A method of recovery of fluids from, and injection of fluids into, a well having a manifold;

wherein at least one of the steps of recovery and injection includes diverting fluids from a first portion of a first flowpath to a second flowpath and diverting the fluids from the second flowpath to a second portion of the first flowpath, wherein diverting fluids comprises flowing fluids to and from a processing loop in opposite directions through a central passage and an annular passage coaxial with the central passage.