LASER ASSISTED SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING DEEP WATER DRILLING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

• US 20120217017A1
• Filed: 02/24/2011
• Published: 08/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Chevron USA Incorporated (Chevron Corp.), Foro Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Zediker, Mark S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,720,584 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/358
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/01 Risers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/18 Pipes provided with plural fluid passages E21B17/203 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 29/08 Cutting or deforming pipes to control fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 29/12 specially adapted for underwater installations E21B29/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/063 for shearing drill pipes cutting of wireline E21B29/04

Abstract

There is provided a high power laser riser blowout preventer system and controller for operation thereof. The system utilizes high power laser cutters that are associated with the riser and the blowout preventer to provided an integrated operation to quickly weaken or cut tubulars to address potential emergency and emergency situations that can arise during deep sea drilling.

Claims

1. A laser riser and blowout preventer system for use with an offshore drilling rig, a vessel or platform to control and manage potential emergency and emergency situations, the laser riser blowout preventer system comprising:

a. a high power laser;

b. a high power beam switch that is optically associated with the high power laser;

c. a riser;

d. a blowout preventer;

e. a first laser cutter and a second laser cutter, in optical association with the high power beam switch;

f. wherein the first laser cutter is positioned adjacent the riser, whereby the first laser cutter is capable of directing a first high power laser beam toward a component of the riser;

g. wherein the second laser cutter is positioned in the blowout preventer, whereby the second laser cutter is capable of directing a second high power laser beam toward a tubular within the blowout preventer; and

,

h. a control network in data and control communication with the laser, the beam switch and the blowout preventer, wherein the control network provides for firing of the laser and actuation of the blowout preventer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control network comprises a programmable logic controller.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control network comprises a user interface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control network comprises a memory device comprising a series of instructions for executing a predetermined sequence of firing the first laser cutter and the second laser cutter and actuation of the blowout preventer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control network comprises a plurality of controllers.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the high power laser has at least about 10 kW of power.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the high power laser has at least about 20 kW of power.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the high power laser has at least about 40 kW of power.

9. The system of claim 1, comprising a second high power laser.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein only one of high power laser and the second high power laser is on line at any given time.

11. The system of claim 1, comprising a third laser cutter, wherein one of the second or third laser cutters is associated with an upper portion of the blowout preventer and another one of the second or third laser cutters is associated with a lower portion of the blowout preventer.

12. A laser riser and blowout preventer system to control and manage potential emergency and emergency situations, the laser riser blowout preventer system comprising:

a. a first high power laser and a second high power laser;

b. a riser;

c. a blowout preventer;

d. a first laser cutter and a second laser cutter, the first laser cutter being in optical association with the first high power laser and the second optical cutter being in optical association with the second high power laser; and

,

e. wherein the first laser cutter is associated with the riser and, wherein the second laser cutter is associated with the blowout preventer.

13. The system of claim 12, comprising a third laser cutter, wherein one of the second or third laser cutters is associated with an upper portion of the blowout preventer and another one of the second or third laser cutters is associated with a lower portion of the blowout preventer.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the first high power laser has at least about 10 kW of power.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the first high power laser has at least about 20 kW of power.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the first high power laser has at least about 40 kW of power.

17. A laser riser and blowout preventer system to control and manage potential emergency and emergency situations, the laser riser blowout preventer system comprising:

a. a high power laser;

b. a high power beam switch in optical and control association with the high power laser;

c. a riser comprising a first laser cutter, whereby the first laser cutter is capable of directing a first high power laser beam toward a component of the riser

d. a blowout preventer comprising a second laser cutter, whereby the second laser cutter is capable of directing a second high power laser beam toward a tubular within the blowout preventer; and

,

e. the first laser cutter and the second laser cutter are in optical association with the high power laser.

18. The system of claim 17, comprising a third laser cutter, wherein one of the second or third laser cutters is associated with an upper portion of the blowout preventer and another one of the second or third laser cutters is associated with a lower portion of the blowout preventer.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the high power laser has at least about 10 kW of power.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the high power laser has at least about 20 kW of power.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the high power laser has at least about 40 kW of power.

22. The system of claim 17, comprising a second high power laser.

23. An offshore drilling rig, vessel or platform having a laser riser and blowout preventer system to control and manage potential emergency and emergency situations, the laser riser and blowout preventer system comprising:

a. a high power laser in optical association with a high power beam switch;

b. a riser comprising a plurality of riser sections, wherein the plurality of riser sections are configured for being lowered from and operably connected to the offshore drilling rig to a depth at or near a seafloor;

c. a blowout preventer configured for being operably connected to the riser and lowered by the riser from the offshore drilling rig to the seafloor; and

,

d. one of the plurality of riser sections comprising a first laser cutter for emitting a first laser beam defining a first beam path, wherein the first beam path is directed toward the one of the plurality of riser sections;

e. the blowout preventer comprising a second laser cutter for emitting a second laser beam defining a second beam path, wherein the second beam path is directed toward a cavity defined by the blowout preventer; and

,

f. a control system;

g. wherein, when the riser and blowout preventer are deployed and operably associating the offshore drilling rig and a borehole in the seafloor, the control system is configured to control the firing of the first and second laser cutters.

24. The laser riser and blowout preventer system of claim 23 wherein the control system is configured to control the actuation of the blowout preventer.

25. A method of performing drilling, workover, intervention, completion or service on a subsea well by using a laser riser and blowout preventer system in conjunction with an offshore drilling rig to control and manage potential emergency and emergency situations, the method comprising:

a. lowering a blowout preventer, from an offshore drilling rig, vessel or platform to a seafloor using a riser comprising a plurality of riser sections;

b. wherein the blowout preventer comprises;

a blowout preventer cavity defined by the blowout preventer; and

a first laser cutter for emitting a first laser beam that defines a first beam path, wherein the first beam path is directed toward the blowout preventer cavity;

c. wherein the riser comprises;

a riser cavity defined by the riser; and

a second laser cutter for emitting a second laser beam that defines a second beam path, wherein the second beam path is directed toward a component of the riser;

d. operably connecting a high power laser into a control system;

e. securing the blowout preventer to a borehole, whereby the borehole cavity and the riser cavity are in fluid and mechanical communication; and

,

f. performing operations on the borehole by lowering structures from the offshore drilling rig down through the riser cavity, the blowout preventer cavity and into the borehole; and

,

g. wherein, the control system is configured to fire the first and second laser cutters.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the structures are selected from the group consisting of:

tubulars, wireline, coiled tubing and slickline.