Subsea well head template

• US 4,832,124 A
• Filed: 12/17/1987
• Issued: 05/23/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Texaco Incorporated (Chevron Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Texaco Incorporated (Chevron Corp.)
• Inventors: Rayson, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Massie, Jerome W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MELIUS, TERRY L
• Application Number:
  US07/134,127
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 166/366, 166/338, 166/342, 166/343, 166/360, 166/339, 166/356
• US Class Current: 166/339
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/08 Underwater guide bases, e.g. drilling templates; Levelling thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/013 Connecting a production flow line to an underwater well head
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/017 Production satellite stations, i.e. underwater installations comprising a plurality of satellite well heads connected to a central station

Abstract

Where a subsea well is completed for production or water injection service, a subsea christmas tree must sealably connect with both the wellhead and the pipeline(s) or subsea manifold template pipework in order that fluids may flow out of (or into) the well. An intermediate series of pipework loops mounted within a space frame, herein referred to as a Flowline Connection Module (FCM) is removably interposed between the subsea wellhead and the subsea christmas tree to facilitate the piping connections. Each of the modules is further provided with removable U-looped pipework spools at its extremities and said spools may contain adjustable chokes to control the flow of fluids into or out of the wells. The replacement of one choke spool with another may adapt the service function of the well from, for example, production to water injection.

Claims

1. A flowline connection structure for subsea wells comprising at least one well head including discrete passages for conducting fluids to and from a well during either a production or a liquid injection phase of operation, a base structure template supported on the ocean floor to encompass a plurality of well heads, at least one flow control subsea tree detachably engageable with the base structure and communicated with a well head for regulating fluid flows passing into and out of one or more of the respective wells, and pipelines communicating with remotely located means for holding well fluids and having access connectors adjacent said base structure which are connected to said subsea tree by the flowline connection structure removably mounted on the base structure, said flowline connection structure including means to removably receive fluid flow pipework thereon defining flow paths for well fluids to pass therethrough during different modes of operation of an associated well in either the production or injection function, and including fluid flow pipework defining flow paths for well fluids to pass through the different modes of operation of an associated well in either the production or injection function thereof, and including separate pipework sections which are adapted to be selectively and detachably engaged with discrete segments of said fluid flow pipework, and communicably mounted on the flowline connection structure of a single well, without interrupting operation of other wells associated with said base structures, whereby to complete the flow paths to achieve a selected mode of operation of said single well.

2. A flowline connection structure according to claim 1 wherein the separate sections of said pipework are locatable on the flowline connector structure at positions to allow them to be installed or removed without necessitating the removal of said subsea tree mounted thereon.

3. A flowline connection structure according to claim 1, wherein each pipework section comprises a generally inverted U-shape pipework spool having downwardly-facing flanged terminal portions for connection to a pair of upwardly-facing flanged terminal portions of other sections of said pipework, an upwardly-facing flanged terminal portion of pipework provided on a subsea well template.

4. A flowline connection structure according to claim 1, wherein a flow control choke is provided in at least one of the separate pipework sections.

5. A flowline connection structure according to claim 1, including a structural framework for supporting a pipework spool to guide it into an elevated position above the pipework with which it is to be connected.

6. A flowline connection structure according to claim 5, including a jacking mechanism within said framework, adapted to allow the spool to be moved vertically and laterally relative to the framework to enable a controlled flange-to-flange connection to be effected.

7. A flowline connection structure according to claim 6, wherein said module comprises a docking port, and a plurality of guide sleeves spaced outwardly of the docking port, each guide sleeve defining a substantially vertically aligned passage for engaging a substantially vertical guide piece on the aforesaid base structure for registering said docking port with the respective well head.

8. A flowline connection structure according to claim 1, wherein said flow paths communicate with upwardly facing fluid receptacles for sealably registering with respective downwardly projecting nozzles provided on the respective subsea tree.

9. A flowline connection structure according to claim 8, wherein said pipework is provided by elongate pipework loops which have a degree of structural flexibility allowing lateral and axial movement of the upwardly-facing fluid receptacles to assist mating of said nozzles therewith.