Offshore universal riser system

• US 8,776,894 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2012
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Orbell, Charles R., Leuchtenberg, Christian, Godfrey, Craig W.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAYRE, JAMES G
• Application Number:
  US13/542,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20120285697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 166/334, 166/339, 166/344, 166/345, 166/359, 166/367
• US Class Current: 166/367
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/01 Risers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/08 Controlling or monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid, e.g. automatic filling of boreholes, automatic control of bottom pressure valve arrangements therefor E21B21/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/106 Valve arrangements outside the borehole, e.g. kelly valves valves specifically for maintaining circulation of drilling fluid while connecting or disconnecting tubular joints E21B21/019
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/02 Surface sealing or packing
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/038 Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/12 Underwater drilling using heave compensators E21B19/09

Abstract

An offshore universal riser system may include a valve module which selectively permits and prevents fluid flow through a flow passage extending longitudinally through a riser string. An anchoring device may releasably secure the valve module in the passage. A method of constructing a riser system may include the steps of installing the valve module in the passage, and installing at least one annular seal module in the passage. The annular seal module may prevent fluid flow through an annular space between the riser string and a tubular string positioned in the passage. Drilling methods may include injecting relatively low density fluid compositions into the annular space, and selectively varying a restriction to flow through a subsea choke in a drilling fluid return line. The riser string, including housings for the various modules and external control systems, may be dimensioned for installation through a rotary table.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

installing at least one annular seal module and at least one valve module within an internal flow passage extending longitudinally through a riser string, the modules being installed within the flow passage between opposite end connections of the riser string, wherein the annular seal module includes a seal which seals an annular space between a tubular string and the riser string, and wherein the valve module includes a valve which selectively permits and prevents fluid flow through the flow passage;

inserting the tubular string through an interior of each of the modules; and

then simultaneously retrieving the modules from the flow passage on the tubular string.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the retrieving step further comprises operating anchoring devices for the respective modules to thereby release the modules for displacement relative to the riser string.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the anchoring devices includes an actuator externally connected to the riser string.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the anchoring devices is operable by a subsea remotely operated vehicle from an exterior of the riser string.