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

• US 8,272,435 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2009
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Onesubsea IP UK Limited (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Cameron Systems (Ireland) Limited (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Donald, Ian, Reid, John
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, HOANG C
• Application Number:
  US12/541,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20090301727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,137 Days
• Field of Search: 166/95.1, 166/97.1, 166/75.12, 166/368
• US Class Current: 166/95.1
• 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 retro-fitted 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 branch of a mineral extraction tubing, wherein the branch comprises a branch outlet; 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.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein

the mineral extraction tubing includes a manifold with the branch;

and

wherein the first fluid path is in a first direction to divert flow of a fluid, and the second fluid path is in a second direction to return flow of the fluid.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein an internal passage of the diverter assembly is in communication with an interior of the branch.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein an internal passage of the diverter assembly is in fluid communication with the branch outlet of the branch.

5. The system of claim 2, the diverter assembly comprises a barrier to separate the branch inlet from the branch outlet.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein a part of the diverter assembly is sealed inside the branch to block fluid communication between two separate regions of the diverter assembly.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the two separate regions are connected by pipes.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the manifold is connected to a processing apparatus via the diverter assembly.

9. The system of claim 8, 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.

10. The system of claim 2, comprising another diverter assembly connected to another branch.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the first and second flow paths are coaxial paths, and the first and second directions are opposite from one another.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second fluid paths are coaxial with one another.

13. The system of claim 1, 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.

14. The system of claim 1, 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.