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

• US 8,622,138 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2011
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OneSubsea IP UK Limited (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Cameron Systems (Ireland) Limited (SLB)
• Inventors: Donald, Ian, Reid, John
• Primary Examiner(s): BUCK, MATTHEW R
• Application Number:
  US13/205,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20110290500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 166/357, 166/344, 166/347, 166/368, 166/250.01, 166/88.1, 166/95.1, 166/97.1, 166/75.12, 166/97.5, 285/123.1, 285/124.1
• US Class Current: 166/344
• 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. An assembly, comprising:

a subsea tree having a vertical passage with first and second branches;

a fluid measurement apparatus having an inlet connected to the first branch and an outlet;

a tubular body disposed on the second branch adjacent the tree, the tubular body having a first port connected to the second branch, a second port for connection to a flowline, and a third port;

a conduit connecting the outlet of the fluid measurement apparatus and the third port of the tubular body;

wherein fluid flows from the vertical passage through the first branch, the inlet, the fluid measurement apparatus, the outlet, the conduit, the third port and into the flowline.

2. An assembly for a Christmas tree having a wall that forms a production bore and a branch communicating with the production bore, comprising:

a structure adapted to be removably coupled to the top of the Christmas tree;

a sleeve operatively coupled to said structure and supported therefrom;

said sleeve being adapted to be positioned at least partially within the production bore of the Christmas tree and extending from the top of the Christmas tree to below the branch;

a pump communicating with said sleeve to pressurize flow through the production bore; and

a conduit extending though the sleeve and into the production bore.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said structure is a tree cap with said sleeve sealingly engaging the wall of the production bore below the branch and the conduit sealingly engaging the structure above the sleeve.

4. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said sleeve is adapted to be positioned entirely within the production bore of said Christmas tree with the conduit extending below the sleeve.

5. The assembly of claim 2 wherein a production fluid outlet opening formed in a radial portion of said structure is above an upper end of the sleeve.

6. The assembly of claim 2 further including a multi-phase flowmeter not disposed on the branch.

7. The assembly of claim 2 wherein a gas injection inlet opening is formed in a radial portion of said structure above an upper end of the conduit.

8. An assembly for a Christmas tree having a production bore and a lateral branch in fluid communication with the production bore, comprising:

a tree cap adapted to be removably coupled to the Christmas tree;

first and second conduits each having a flowbore and being operatively coupled to said tree cap and supported therefrom;

the first conduit extending though the flowbore of the second conduit;

said conduits being adapted to be positioned at least partially within the production bore, the second conduit having a first end with seals adapted to sealingly engage a wall of the production bore below the communication with the lateral branch;

a closure member disposed on the tree cap to open and close the flowbore; and

the flowbore of the second conduit having fluid communication with a processing apparatus.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the processing apparatus is not disposed on the branch and is selected from the group consisting of at least one of a pump, process fluid turbine, gas injection apparatus, steam injection apparatus, chemical injection apparatus, materials injection apparatus, gas separation apparatus, water separation apparatus, sand/debris separation apparatus, hydrocarbon separation apparatus, fluid measurement apparatus, temperature measurement apparatus, flow rate measurement apparatus, constitution measurement apparatus, consistency measurement apparatus, chemical treatment apparatus, pressure boosting apparatus, and water electrolysis apparatus.

10. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the processing apparatus is a flow measurement device not disposed on the branch.

11. The assembly of claim 8 further comprising the flowbore of the first conduit having fluid communication with a gas injection line.

12. An assembly for a Christmas tree having a production bore and a lateral branch in fluid communication with the production bore, comprising:

a tree cap adapted to be removably coupled to the Christmas tree;

a conduit with a flowbore operatively coupled to said tree cap and supported therefrom;

said conduit being adapted to be positioned at least partially within the production bore and having a first end with seal adapted to sealingly engage a wall of the production bore below the communication with the lateral branch;

a closure member disposed on the tree cap to open and close the flowbore;

the flowbore having fluid communication with a processing apparatus;

wherein the processing apparatus is a separation device.

13. An assembly for a Christmas tree having a production bore and a lateral branch in fluid communication with the production bore, comprising:

a tree cap adapted to be removably coupled to the Christmas tree;

a conduit with a flowbore operatively coupled to said tree cap and supported therefrom;

said conduit being adapted to be positioned at least partially within the production bore and having a first end with seal adapted to sealingly engage a wall of the production bore below the communication with the lateral branch;

a closure member disposed on the tree cap to open and close the flowbore;

the flowbore having fluid communication with a processing apparatus;

wherein the processing apparatus is a pump disposed in the conduit within the production bore.