Apparatus and method for processing fluids from a well

• US 8,297,360 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2007
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OneSubsea IP UK Limited (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Donald, Ian, Reid, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Beach, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lembo, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US12/515,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20100025034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,811 Days
• Field of Search: 166/336, 166/337, 166/338, 166/344, 166/347, 166/357, 166/360, 166/368, 166/97.1
• US Class Current: 166/364
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/038 Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/076 specially adapted for underwater installations
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/35 specially adapted for separating solids down-hole drilling fluid separation systems E21B21/002; separating solids from drilling fluids E21B21/065
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/36 Underwater separating arrangements E21B43/38 takes precedence

Abstract

Provided is a system, including a first module (35b) configured to process fluid from a well, wherein the first module (35b) has an extension conduit (5b), having a connection that is coupleable to a central mandrel of a manifold (5), a processing device arranged in a region surrounding the extension conduit (5b), a processing input (18a), and a processing output (19a). Further provided is a method of processing well fluids, including diverting fluids from a bore of a manifold (1) to a processing module (35b), wherein the processing module (35b) is coupled to a mandrel of the manifold (5), processing the fluids in the processing module (35b), and returning the fluids to a flowpath (19a) for recovery.

Claims

1. A system for a subsea well, comprising:

a manifold with a mandrel and having a first choke body with a first flowpath communicating with a production bore of the manifold and a second flowpath communicating with a flowline of the manifold;

a first module mounted on the manifold and configured to process fluid from the production bore, wherein the first module comprises;

an extension conduit having a connection that is coupleable to and co-axial with the mandrel of the manifold;

a processing device having access therethrough for the extension conduit;

the processing device having a first processing aperture communicating with the first flowpath; and

a second processing aperture; and

a second choke body disposed on the processing device having a first choke aperture communicating with the second processing aperture and a second choke aperture communicating with the second flowpath.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the manifold comprises a Christmas tree and the extension conduit has a common diameter bore with the mandrel.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing device comprises a pump, a process fluid turbine, an injection apparatus for injecting gas or steam, a chemical injection apparatus, a chemical reaction vessel, a pressure regulation apparatus, a fluid riser, a measurement apparatus, a temperature measurement apparatus, a flow rate measurement apparatus, a constitution measurement apparatus, a consistency measurement apparatus, a gas separation apparatus, a water separation apparatus, a solids separation apparatus, a hydrocarbon separation apparatus, or a combination thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first module is configured to couple to a second module configured to process fluid from the well, a second extension conduit being connected to the mandrel and extending through the second module.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the second module is connected in series with the first module and configured to couple to successive modules configured to process fluid from the well.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first module comprises a processing input and a processing output, each comprising a flowpath configured to couple to the second module.

7. The system of claim 1, comprising:

a lower interface, comprising the extension conduit; and

a rigid structure, comprising;

an upper plate; and

a lower plate;

wherein the processing device is contained between the upper plate and the lower plate.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first module is stackable with a second module with the extension conduit extending through the modules.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first module comprises an upper interface that is coupleable to a lower interface of the second module.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first module comprises a first diverter configured to mate with a second diverter of the second module.

11. The system of claim 1 further including:

a diverter, comprising;

a feed flow path, comprising;

a first input coupleable to the production bore of the manifold; and

a first output coupleable to the first processing aperture of the processing device,

wherein the processing device is configured to process fluids from a well; and

a return flowpath, comprising;

a second input coupleable to the second choke aperture of the processing device; and

a second output coupleable to the first choke body.

12. The diverter of claim 11, wherein the diverter is configured to mount in a branch of the manifold.

13. The diverter of claim 11, wherein the diverter is configured to be disposed on the first choke body of the manifold.

14. The diverter of claim 13, wherein the second output is in communication with a choke inlet of the first choke body.

15. The diverter of claim 11, wherein the diverter comprises a first flow passage in communication with the first output, and a second flow passage between the second input and the second output.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the mandrel has a top profile, and

the processing device has a lower profile configured to couple directly to the top profile of the mandrel.

17. The well system of claim 16, wherein the processing module is configured to couple to the top of the manifold via the conduit extension, and wherein the conduit extension comprises a bore that is configured to align with a bore of the manifold.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the first module has loads transferred to the mandrel.

19. The system of claim 1 further including a second module and an annulus choke communicating with an annulus of the well, the annulus choke communicating with an input of the second processing module and with an output of the second processing module.

20. A system for a subsea well, comprising:

a manifold with a mandrel and having a choke body, the choke body having first and second choke apertures, the second choke aperture communicating with a flowline;

a first module mounted on the manifold and configured to process fluid from the production bore, wherein the first module comprises;

an extension conduit having a connection that is coupleable to and co-axial with the mandrel of the manifold;

a processing device, the extension conduit extending through the processing device;

the processing device having a first processing conduit forming a first flowpath extending between the production bore and the processing device, and a second processing conduit forming a second flowpath extending between the processing device and the first choke aperture.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the processed fluid flows into the first choke aperture and then out the second choke aperture to the choke body.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the manifold includes a branch through which the fluid from the production bore flows and wherein the first processing conduit connects the branch to the processing device.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the choke body is disposed on the branch and another choke body is disposed on the processing device.

24. A method of processing well fluids, comprising:

lowering a processing module with a processing device onto a subsea manifold having a first choke body with a first flowpath communicating with a production bore and a second flowpath communicating with a flowline;

extending an extension conduit connected to a mandrel of the manifold through the processing module;

coupling the processing module to the mandrel of the manifold with the processing module surrounding the extension conduit;

diverting fluids from the first flowpath to the processing module,

processing the fluids in the processing module;

flowing the processed fluids from the processing module to a second choke body on the processing module; and

returning the processed fluids from the second choke body to the second flowpath for recovery.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein processing comprises passing the fluids into a pump, a process fluid turbine, an injection apparatus for injecting gas or steam, a chemical injection apparatus, a chemical reaction vessel, a pressure regulation apparatus, a fluid riser, a measurement apparatus, a temperature measurement apparatus, a flow rate measurement apparatus, a constitution measurement apparatus, a consistency measurement apparatus, a gas separation apparatus, a water separation apparatus, a solids separation apparatus, a hydrocarbon separation apparatus, or a combination thereof.