System, method and apparatus for a modular production tree assembly to reduce weight during transfer of tree to rig

• US 8,151,890 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2008
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vetco Gray Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Vetco Gray Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Spencer, David N., Wenham, Michael A., White, Paul W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beach, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUCK, MATTHEW R
• Application Number:
  US12/258,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20100101799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 166/352, 166/336, 166/337, 166339-341, 166/344, 166/351, 166/360, 166/365, 166/368, 166/250.01, 166377-379, 166/381, 166/85.1
• US Class Current: 166/352
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/035 specially adapted for underwater installations E21B33/043, E21B33/064, E21B33/076 take precedence

Abstract

A modular tree production tree assembly reduces the weight during transfer of the tree components from a barge to a production rig. The tree assembly includes an upper tree module, a lower tree module, and a choke bridge module. The upper tree module has a tree head, the lower tree module has a guidance system and ties in the flow lines to the in-field infrastructure, and the choke bridge module has the choke and instrumentation bridge to link the three components together. Prior to delivery to the rig, the components of the modular tree assembly may be joined together and tested on shore. Upon arrival at the rig, the components are individually lifted from the barge onto the rig by a crane. After the tree components are on the rig, the modular tree is reassembled and then deployed to the sea floor via the draw works.

Claims

1. A method of deploying a production tree to a sea floor, comprising:

(a) providing an upper tree module, a lower tree module, and a choke bridge module;

(b) assembling the upper tree module, the lower tree module, and the choke bridge module into operative engagement with each other on land to form a modular production tree assembly and testing the modular production tree assembly;

(c) after testing the modular production tree assembly, transporting the upper tree module, the lower tree module, and the choke bridge module to an offshore rig;

(d) separately lifting the upper tree module, the lower tree module, and the choke bridge module onto the offshore rig with a first crane mounted to the offshore rig;

(e) reassembling on the offshore rig the upper tree module, lower tree module and choke bridge module into the modular production tree assembly;

then

(f) performing interface testing of the modular production tree assembly of interfaces between the upper tree module, lower tree module and choke bridge module; and

then

(g) deploying the modular production tree assembly to the sea floor with a second crane mounted to the offshore rig.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the modular production tree assembly is disassembled after completing step (b) and prior to step (d).

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first crane comprises an outrigger crane, and the second crane comprises a draw works.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the upper tree module comprises a tree head and a subsea control system, and the lower tree module comprises a guidance system, counterweights and means for tying in flow lines to an in-field infrastructure.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the choke bridge module comprises a choke and instrumentation bridge to link together the upper tree module, the lower tree module, and the choke bridge module.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the upper tree module includes a treehead assembly, a wellhead connector, a subsea control system and a support frame work with integral guideline or guideline-less interfaces.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the lower tree module comprises a guideline-less, downward-facing funnel to interface with a wellhead, a manifold/flowline connection system, and associated pipe work for connection to the upper tree module via the choke bridge module.

8. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the choke bridge module comprises sensors, flow meters and choke components that are operated from the upper tree module when the choke bridge module is connected between the upper and lower tree modules.

9. A method of deploying a production tree to a sea floor, comprising:

(a) providing three modules, consisting of an upper tree module, a lower tree module, and a choke bridge module;

(b) assembling the upper tree module, the lower tree module, and the choke bridge module on land to define a modular production tree assembly and testing the modular production tree assembly on land;

(c) after testing the modular production tree assembly, loading the upper tree module, the lower tree module, and the choke bridge module onto a vessel and transporting the upper tree module, the lower tree module, and the choke bridge module to an offshore rig;

(d) disassembling the modular production tree assembly and separately lifting the upper tree module, lower tree module, and choke bridge module from the vessel onto the offshore rig with a first crane mounted to the offshore rig;

(e) reassembling the upper tree module, lower tree module and choke bridge module into the modular production tree assembly on the offshore rig;

then

(f) performing interface testing between the upper tree module, the lower tree module and the choke bridge module; and

then

(g) deploying the modular production tree assembly to the sea floor with a second crane mounted to the offshore rig.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the modular production tree assembly is disassembled in step (d) either on land, or on the vessel.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the first crane comprises an outrigger crane, and the second crane comprises a draw works.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the upper tree module comprises a tree head and a subsea control system, and the lower tree module comprises a guidance system, counterweights, a cathodic protection system, and means for tying in flow lines to an in-field infrastructure.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein the choke bridge module comprises a choke and instrumentation bridge to link together the upper tree module, the lower tree module, and the choke bridge module.

14. A method according to claim 9, wherein the upper tree module includes a treehead assembly, a wellhead connector, a subsea control system, and a support frame work with integral guideline or guideline-less interfaces.

15. A method according to claim 9, wherein the lower tree module comprises a guideline-less, downward-facing funnel to interface with a wellhead, a manifold/flowline connection system, and associated pipe work for connection to the upper tree module via the choke bridge module.

16. A method according to claim 9, wherein the choke bridge module comprises sensors, flow meters and choke components that are operated from the upper tree module when the choke bridge module is connected between the upper and lower tree modules

17. A method of deploying a production tree to a sea floor, comprising:

(a) providing an upper tree module, a lower tree module, and a choke bridge module, the upper tree module comprising a tree head and a subsea control system, the lower tree module comprising a guidance system, counterweights, a cathodic protection system, and means for tying in flow lines to an in-field infrastructure, and the choke bridge module comprising a choke and an instrumentation bridge to link together the upper tree module, the lower tree module, and the choke bridge module;

(b) assembling the upper tree module, the lower tree module, and the choke bridge module on land to define a modular production tree assembly and testing the modular production tree assembly on land;

(c) transporting the upper tree module, the lower tree module, and the choke bridge module on a vessel to an offshore rig;

(d) disassembling the modular production tree assembly and separately lifting the upper tree module, the lower tree module, and the choke bridge module from the vessel onto the offshore rig with an outrigger crane mounted to the offshore rig;

(e) reassembling the upper tree module, the lower tree module and the choke bridge module into the modular production tree assembly on the offshore rig;

then

(f) performing only interface testing between the upper tree module, the lower tree module and the choke bridge module; and

then

(g) deploying the modular production tree assembly to the sea floor with a draw works mounted to the offshore rig.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the modular production tree assembly is disassembled in step (d) either on land or on the vessel.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the upper tree module includes a treehead assembly, a wellhead connector, and a support frame work with integral guideline or guideline-less interfaces, and the lower tree module comprises a guideline-less, downward-facing funnel to interface with a wellhead, a manifold/flowline connection system, and associated pipe work for connection to the upper tree module via the choke bridge module, and the choke bridge module comprises sensors, flow meters and choke components that are operated from the upper tree module when the choke bridge module is connected between the upper and lower tree modules.