Apparatus and method for processing fluids from a well

• US 9,291,021 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2014
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OneSubsea IP UK Limited (SLB)
• Original Assignee: OneSubsea IP UK Limited (SLB)
• Inventors: Donald, Ian, Reid, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Buck, Matthew R
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEMBO, AARON LLOYD
• Application Number:
  US14/330,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20150027718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 166/337, 166/338, 166/344, 166/347, 166/357, 166/360, 166/368, 166/97.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 subsea tree assembly mountable adjacent to a subsea production flowline, comprising:

a subsea tree with a production line therein, said subsea tree comprising an upper end;

a retrievable bridge comprising a production line connector and a production flowline connector operable for connection and fluid communication with said upper end of said subsea tree and with an upwardly directed end of said production flow line, respectfully, said retrievable bridge defining a fluid flow passageway therein, whereby said production line of said subsea tree is in fluid communication with said production flowline only through said retrievable bridge and only after said retrievable bridge is connected to said subsea tree and said production flowline;

an annulus connection between said retrievable bridge and an annulus line of said subsea tree, said annulus connection being the only annulus line fluid connection between said retrievable bridge and said annulus line of said subsea tree, and

an annulus access valve for access to said annulus line located in said subsea tree, an annulus master valve for said annulus line located in said subsea tree, and an annulus line to production line crossover valve located in said subsea tree to provide a valve between said annulus line and said subsea tree production line within said subsea tree.

2. The subsea tree assembly of claim 1, further comprising an intervention access passageway and an intervention package connection at an upper end thereof operable for connection to an intervention package.

3. The subsea tree assembly of claim 2, further comprising a valve within said intervention access passageway.

4. The subsea tree assembly of claim 1 wherein said retrievable bridge defines therein a choke within said fluid flow passageway.

5. The subsea tree assembly of claim 1 wherein said retrievable bridge comprises a subsea control module, said subsea control module comprising a plurality of electronic sensors.

6. The subsea tree assembly of claim 1 wherein said retrievable bridge comprises a flowmeter.

7. The subsea tree assembly of claim 1 wherein said retrievable bridge comprises an injection choke.

8. A retrievable bridge to provide the only fluid communication available between a subsea installation comprising a subsea tree and a production flowline, said retrievable bridge comprising:

a first connector for connecting to said subsea tree installation and a second connector for connecting to said production flowline, said retrievable bridge, when installed, defining a fluid flow passageway which connects between said subsea tree and said production flowline; and

an intervention access passageway and an intervention package connection positioned at an upper end of said retrievable bridge operable for connection to an intervention package.

9. The retrievable bridge of claim 8 further comprising a valve within said intervention access passageway.

10. The retrievable bridge of claim 8 wherein said retrievable bridge defines therein a choke within said fluid flow passageway.

11. The retrievable bridge of claim 8 wherein said retrievable bridge comprises a subsea control module, said subsea control module comprising a plurality of electronic sensors.

12. The retrievable bridge of claim 8 wherein said retrievable bridge comprises a flowmeter.

13. The retrievable bridge of claim 8 wherein said retrievable bridge comprises an injection choke.

14. A retrievable bridge for fluidly connecting between a production line in a subsea tree and a production flowline, said subsea tree and said retrievable bridge comprising:

at least two connectors in said retrievable bridge for connecting to said production line in a top of said subsea tree and an upwardly extending top of said production flowline, said retrievable bridge, when installed, defining a fluid flow passageway which connects between said production line and said production flowline, and a choke to control fluid flow through said fluid flow passageway;

an annulus connection between said retrievable bridge and an annulus line of said subsea tree, said annulus connection being the only annulus line fluid connection between said retrievable bridge and said annulus line of said subsea tree; and

an annulus access valve for access to said annulus line located in said subsea tree, an annulus master valve for said annulus line located in said subsea tree, and an annulus line to production line crossover valve located in said subsea tree to provide a valve between said annulus line and said subsea tree production line within said subsea tree.

15. The retrievable bridge of claim 14 further comprising a subsea control module comprising electronic sensors.

16. The retrievable bridge of claim 14 further comprising a flow meter.

17. The retrievable bridge of claim 14 further comprising an intervention access passageway and an intervention package connection positioned at an upper end of said retrievable bridge operable for connection to an intervention package.

18. The retrievable bridge of claim 17 further comprising a valve within said intervention access passageway.

19. An assembly mountable to a subsea tree and connectable to a subsea production flowline, the subsea tree including a production bore, comprising:

a pipework communicating with the production bore and including a pipework bore and an access port to the pipework bore;

a module comprising a production connector for connection to the access port for fluid communication with the production bore and a flowline connector for connection with a flowline, the module defining a fluid flow passageway therein, wherein the module, after connection to the access port, establishes fluid communication between the subsea tree and the subsea production flowline using the fluid flow passageway.

20. The assembly of claim 19 wherein the module includes a processing apparatus.

21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the processing apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a pump, a process fluid turbine, an injection apparatus for injecting gas or steam a material 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.

22. A flow processing module to provide the only fluid communication between a tree pipework communicating with a lateral production port of a subsea tree and a production flowline pipework, the flow processing module comprising a connector assembly for connecting the module to the tree pipework and to the production flowline pipework, the module, when installed, forming a fluid flow passageway which connects the tree pipework and the production flowline pipework.

23. The flow processing module of claim 22 wherein the module includes a flow measuring device without a production wing valve on the module.

24. The flow processing module of claim 22 wherein the module includes a processing apparatus.

25. The flow processing module of claim 24 wherein the processing apparatus includes at least one of the group consisting of a pump, a process fluid turbine, an injection apparatus for injecting gas or steam, a material 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, and a hydrocarbon separation apparatus.

26. A flow processing module for fluidly connecting a production bore in a subsea tree and a production flowline to a processing apparatus, the flow processing module comprising at least two connectors, one for connecting to the production bore in the subsea tree and another for connecting to the production flowline, the module, when installed, defining a fluid flow passageway which connects the production bore and the production flowline, and a choke and a valve to control fluid flow through the fluid flow passageway.

27. The flow processing module of claim 26 further including an intervention access passageway and an intervention package connection positioned at an upper end of the flow processing module operable for connection to an intervention package.