Not Applicable.
Subsea oil/gas fields may have a plurality of wells linked to a host facility that receives the oil/gas via flowlines. Such a field may have a subsea well field architecture that employs either single or dual flowlines designed in a looped arrangement with in-line pipe line end termination (“PLET”) units positioned at selective locations for well access. The linkage between wells creates a need for PLETs to be deployed within prescribed target box areas to allow for well jumper connections to the flowline. These typically non-recoverable PLETS support flowline connectors that allow fluid flow access between the wells and the flowline. Well jumpers connect the production trees on the wells to the flowline through the flowline connectors. For well testing or intervention operations, unless a well can be accessed through the tree, selected flowlines may be depressurized and a well isolated to flow fluids to or from a well.
The subsea oil/gas field may also include processing systems or production manifolds between the wells and the host facility. Using a manifold system, each well has a well jumper attached to a manifold, consisting of either single or dual flowline headers accepting production from a single well jumper distributed into single or dual flowlines. The manifold provides flowline access valves to selectively isolate wells. In this manner, fluids may flow to or from an isolated well without having to depressurize both of the flowlines. Fluid flow for testing, intervention, or other operations may be done through direct connection with each well tree. Fluids may also flow to or from an isolated well from the host facility through one or both of the flowlines. If only one of the flowlines is depressurized, the dual well jumpers allow for fluid flow from the non-isolated wells to the non-depressurized flowline.
An alternative subsea well field architecture employs the use of well production hubs connecting wells to one or more flowlines as illustrated in
Independent of the well field architecture, operational activities are typically performed on well throughout the life of the well. For example, well operations may include well/flowline circulation, intervention activities, bull heading/well kill, or pigging. These and other well operations may be performed by connecting tools directly at the subsea wellhead/subsea tree location and/or at the host production facility. The direct access into the wellhead/subsea tree typically requires intervention vessels, special intervention tooling, shut-in of production and depressurization of at least selected flowline sections, multiple rig mooring, and additional anchor handling due to the satellite offsets between the wells.
For a more detailed description of the embodiments, reference will now be made to the following accompanying drawings:
In the drawings and description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features of the invention may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form and some details of conventional elements may not be shown in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The present invention is susceptible to embodiments of different forms. Specific embodiments are described in detail and are shown in the drawings, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that illustrated and described herein. It is to be fully recognized that the different teachings of the embodiments discussed below may be employed separately or in any suitable combination to produce desired results. Any use of any form of the terms “connect”, “engage”, “couple”, “attach”, or any other term describing an interaction between elements is not meant to limit the interaction to direct interaction between the elements and may also include indirect interaction between the elements described. The various characteristics mentioned above, as well as other features and characteristics described in more detail below, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the embodiments, and by referring to the accompanying drawings.
The well production hub 10, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
The dual bore jumper 16 illustrated in
As illustrated in
Within the junction assembly block 62 is at least one first junction bore 64 configured to allow fluid communication between the first pipe bores 16a attached to the junction assembly block 62. Flow between the first pipe bores 16a and the first junction bore 64 communicates through first pipe bore conduits 66 that extend from the junction assembly block 62 and into the first pipe bores 16a. Also within the junction assembly block 62 is a second junction bore 68 configured to allow fluid communication between the second pipe bores 16b. The first junction bore 64 is configured to isolate fluid flow from the second junction bore 64 as fluid flows though the junction assembly 60. The junction assembly 60 may be configured such as to allow any suitable angle between the flow axis of the sets of first and second pipes 17a, 17b. For example, as illustrated in
The junction assembly 60 may further optionally comprise a bore access module 70 attached to the junction assembly block 62. The bore access module 70 may attach to the junction assembly by any suitable connection, for example, a standard API flange connection. When attached to the junction assembly block 62, the bore access module 70 may be placed in selective fluid communication with the first and second junction bores 64 and 68. The bore access module 70 communicates with the first junction bore 64 through a first access bore 72 located in the junction assembly block 62 and a first module bore 74 located in the bore access module 70. The bore access module 70 communicates with the second junction bore 68 through a second access bore 76 located in the junction assembly block 62 and a second module bore 78 located in the bore access module 70. The bore access module 70 may perform any multitude of functions. For example the bore access module 70 may comprise a valve located in a utility bore 80 configured to allow fluid communication between the first junction bore 64 and the second junction bore 68. In this manner, the normally isolated fluids in the first and second pipe bores 16a,b may be commingled if desired. Alternatively, the bore access module may comprise a sensor located in the utility bore 80 for determining a characteristic of a fluid, the sensor being in selective fluid communication with the first and second junction bores 64 and 68. Also alternatively, the bore access module 60 may allow fluid injection into one or both of the first and second junction bores 64 and 68 through the utility bore 80.
The first and second pipe bores 16a,b provide independent pressure and fluid conduits to each other. With at least one well 12 connected to the well production hub 10, the initial stages of production may be performed, such as clean up, flow back, well testing, or other pre-production operations. The production header module 18 further comprises a utility interface 44 to which a utility module may be connected. The utility module may be any suitable utility module. For example, the utility module may be a lower marine rise package (“LMRP”) that extends to the MODU or other vessel. With the LMRP connected to the well production hub 10, fluid flow through the dual bore jumper 16 may flow through the well production hub 10 and into the LMRP. The fluids initially produced by a well 12 may then be collected and tested to perform well clean up and well testing operations. Once a well 12 has been tested, flow from the dual bore well jumper 16 may then be directed into the flowline header module 20 and out through the flowline 40 to the host facility 41. The well production hub 10 may also be configured and set to isolate and test one well 12 at a time if more than one well 12 is connected to the well production hub 10. The well clean up and test fluids may also be directed to a host facility 41 through the flowline 40 instead of through the LMRP.
The dual bore well jumper 16 thus allows intervention procedures to be performed by allowing access to the production tubing in the well 12 as well as the production tubing annulus simultaneously. Thus, fluids may be circulated from a well production hub 10 and into the production tubing 12b through the second pipe bore 16b as illustrated by the connection in
During the life of a well 12, it may be necessary to perform additional intervention operations to improve the fluid flow from the well 12. Intervention operations may comprise any number of different operations. For example, intervention operations may comprise flow assurance management, pressure management, production annulus management, pressure testing, chemical sweeping, circulation and reverse circulation, bullheading, well kill, pigging, fluid sampling, inspection, acoustic testing, metering, production flow management, well isolation, and/or hydrate remediation.
To perform the intervention operations, different utility modules may be connected to the well production hub 10. For example, the utility modules may comprise a pressure/temperature sensor module, a sand erosion sensor module, a production choke module, a control pod module, a chemical injection module, an acoustics system module, and/or an LMRP as discussed above. It should be appreciated that the particular utility module may also be designed to incorporate one or more utilities into one module. There may also be more than one module connected to the well hub 10 at one time. In this manner, each well 12 may be isolated and intervention operations performed for that well 12 while any other wells 12 continue to produce production fluids. In addition, multiple wells 12 may be isolated together to allow fluid flow from one well 12 to another well 12.
The well production hub 10 may comprise a flowline connector 42 connecting the flowline 40 to the flowline header module 20 as illustrated in
In a second embodiment as illustrated in
The dual bore jumper 16 illustrated in
As illustrated in
Within the junction assembly block 62 is at least one first junction bore 64 configured to allow fluid communication between the first pipe bores 16a attached to the junction assembly block 62. Also within the junction assembly block 62 is a second junction bore 69 configured to allow fluid communication between the second pipe bores 16b. The first junction bore 64 is configured to isolate fluid flow from the second junction bore 64 as fluid flows though the junction assembly 60. The junction assembly 60 may be configured such as to allow any suitable angle between the flow axis of the sets of first and second pipes 17a, 17b. For example, as illustrated in
The junction assembly 60 may further optionally comprise a bore access module 70 attached to the junction assembly block 62. The bore access module 70 may attach to the junction assembly by any suitable connection, for example, a standard API flange connection. When attached to the junction assembly block 62, the bore access module 70 may be placed in selective fluid communication with the first and second junction bores 64 and 68. The bore access module 70 communicates with the first junction bore 64 through a first access bore 72 located in the junction assembly block 62 and a first module bore 74 located in the bore access module 70. The bore access module 70 communicates with the second junction bore 68 through a second access bore 76 located in the junction assembly block 62 and a second module bore 78 located in the bore access module 70. The bore access module 70 may perform any multitude of functions. For example the bore access module 70 may comprise a valve located in a utility bore 80 configured to allow fluid communication between the first junction bore 64 and the second junction bore 68. In this manner, the normally isolated fluids in the first and second pipe bores 16a,b may be commingled if desired. Alternatively, the bore access module may comprise a sensor located in the utility bore 80 for determining a characteristic of a fluid, the sensor being in selective fluid communication with the first and second junction bores 64 and 68. Also alternatively, the bore access module 60 may allow fluid injection into one or both of the first and second junction bores 64 and 68 through the utility bore 80.
The first and second pipe bores 16a, 16b provide independent pressure and fluid conduits to each other. With at least one well 12 connected to the well production hub 10, the initial stages of production may be performed, such as clean up, flow back, well testing, or other pre-production operations. The production header module 18 further comprises a utility interface 44 to which a utility module may be connected. The utility module may be any suitable utility module. For example, the utility module may be a lower marine rise package (“LMRP”) that extends to the MODU or other vessel. With the LMRP connected to the well production hub 10, fluid flow through the dual bore jumper 16 may flow through the well production hub 10 and into the LMRP. The fluids initially produced by a well 12 may then be collected and tested to perform well clean up and well testing operations. Once a well 12 has been tested, flow from the dual bore well jumper 16 may then be directed into the flowline header module 20 and out through the flowline 40 to the host facility 41. The well production hub 10 may also be configured and set to isolate and test one well 12 at a time if more than one well 12 is connected to the well production hub 10. The well clean up and test fluids may also be directed to a host facility 41 through the flowline 40 instead of through the LMRP.
The dual bore well jumper 16 thus allows intervention procedures to be performed by allowing access to the production tubing in the well 12 as well as the production tubing annulus simultaneously. Thus, fluids may be circulated from a well production hub 10 and into the production tubing 12b through the second pipe bore 16b as illustrated by the connection in
During the life of a well 12, it may be necessary to perform additional intervention operations to improve the fluid flow from the well 12. Intervention operations may comprise any number of different operations. For example, intervention operations may comprise flow assurance management, pressure management, production annulus management, pressure testing, chemical sweeping, circulation and reverse circulation, bullheading, well kill, pigging, fluid sampling, inspection, acoustic testing, metering, production flow management, well isolation, and/or hydrate remediation.
To perform the intervention operations, different utility modules may be connected to the well production hub 10. For example, the utility modules may comprise a pressure/temperature sensor module, a sand erosion sensor module, a production choke module, a control pod module, a chemical injection module, an acoustics system module, and/or an LMRP as discussed above. It should be appreciated that the particular utility module may also be designed to incorporate one or more utilities into one module. There may also be more than one module connected to the well hub 10 at one time. In this manner, each well 12 may be isolated and intervention operations performed for that well 12 while any other wells 12 continue to produce production fluids. In addition, multiple wells 12 may be isolated together to allow fluid flow from one well 12 to another well 12.
The well production hub 10 may comprise a flowline connector 42 connecting the flowline 40 to the flowline header module 20 as illustrated in
While specific embodiments have been shown and described, modifications can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or teaching of this invention. The embodiments as described are exemplary only and are not limiting. Many variations and modifications are possible and are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited to the embodiments described, but is only limited by the claims that follow, the scope of which shall include all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims.
This application claims the benefit of 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/630,009, filed Nov. 22, 2004 and entitled “Well Production Hub”, hereby incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
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