Apparatus and method for recovering fluids from a well and/or injecting fluids into a well
First Claim
1. A diverter assembly disposed on a lateral branch of a tree to access flow, the lateral branch having a lateral branch bore communicating with a tree production bore and an outlet connected to an export line with an export line bore, comprising:
- a choke body in use disposed on the lateral branch of the tree between the tree production bore and export line bore, the choke body comprising;
a lateral branch passage in fluid communication in use with the lateral branch bore and tree production bore;
an export line passage in fluid communication in use with the export line bore; and
a choke insert passage adapted to receive a choke insert of a choke;
andthe choke insert passage forming a fluid flow path therethrough to flow fluids in use through the choke insert passage into either the lateral branch passage or the export line passage or from either the lateral branch passage or the export line passage.
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Accused Products
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.
220 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A diverter assembly disposed on a lateral branch of a tree to access flow, the lateral branch having a lateral branch bore communicating with a tree production bore and an outlet connected to an export line with an export line bore, comprising:
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a choke body in use disposed on the lateral branch of the tree between the tree production bore and export line bore, the choke body comprising; a lateral branch passage in fluid communication in use with the lateral branch bore and tree production bore; an export line passage in fluid communication in use with the export line bore; and a choke insert passage adapted to receive a choke insert of a choke; and the choke insert passage forming a fluid flow path therethrough to flow fluids in use through the choke insert passage into either the lateral branch passage or the export line passage or from either the lateral branch passage or the export line passage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A diverter assembly disposed on a lateral branch of a tree to access flow, the lateral branch having a lateral branch bore communicating with a tree production bore and an outlet connected to an export line with an export line bore, comprising:
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a choke body in use disposed on the lateral branch of the tree between the tree production bore and export line bore, the choke body comprising; a lateral branch passage in fluid communication in use with the lateral branch bore and tree production bore; an export line passage in fluid communication in use with the export line bore; and a choke insert passage adapted to receive a choke insert of a choke; and a choke having a flow passage therethrough, the choke flow passage and choke insert passage forming a fluid flow path to flow fluids in use through the choke flow passage into either the lateral branch passage or the export line passage or from either the lateral branch passage or the export line passage. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A diverter assembly for injecting fluids through a lateral branch of a tree or an export line connected to the lateral branch, a choke body being disposed between the lateral branch and export line, comprising:
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a choke coupled to the top of the choke body; the choke having an inlet passage and an outlet passage; the inlet passage or outlet passage being connected to a processing apparatus; and the other of the inlet passage or outlet passage being in fluid communication with the lateral branch and/or export line. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method of diverting fluid from a production bore of a subsea production tree, the method comprising:
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connecting a choke body to a lateral branch of the tree; communicating a lateral branch passage of the choke body to a lateral branch bore of the lateral branch; communicating an export line passage of the choke body to an export line bore of an export line; and flowing fluid through a choke insert passage in the choke body into either the lateral branch passage or the export line passage or from either the lateral branch passage or the export line passage. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A diverter assembly disposed on a lateral branch of a tree to access flow, the lateral branch having a lateral branch bore for communication with a tree production bore and an outlet connected to an export line, comprising:
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a choke body disposed on the lateral branch of the tree between the tree production bore and the export line, the lateral branch bore having a first fluid flow path, the choke body comprising; an export line passage for fluid communication in use with the export line; and a choke insert passage receiving a flow insert; and the flow insert forming a second fluid flow path between a process apparatus and the export line. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A diverter assembly disposed on a lateral branch of a tree to access flow, the lateral branch having a lateral branch bore for communication with a tree production bore or an export line, comprising:
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a choke body having a first outlet connected to the export line and a second outlet connected to a process apparatus, the choke body being disposed on the lateral branch of the tree between the tree production bore and the export line, the choke body comprising; a lateral branch passage for fluid communication in use with the lateral branch bore and tree production bore; and a choke insert passage receiving a flow insert; the flow insert forming a fluid flow path between the process apparatus and the tree production bore and between the process apparatus and the export line.
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Specification