This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. ยง 119 to European patent application EP23164203.4, filed Mar. 25, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates to working decks in general and a portable working deck to access offshore well heads in particular.
Oil and gas well heads must be serviced and/or must be assessed for a different number of reasons. For example, valves or seals in the oil and gas well heads may need to be replaced, flanges may need to be removed or installed in the oil and gas well heads, and blowout preventers may need to be removed, added, or serviced.
The U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,097 B1 discloses an offshore jack-up workover rig for servicing of oil and gas wells. The workover rig includes a vessel which may be self-powered or powered by a tug. The vessel may be raised above the surface of a water body by extending the legs until they reach the water body bed and then continuing to extend the legs. The workover rig of this patent contains a workover floor unit which includes at least a winch, a winch motor, and a well aperture. The workover rig is detachably mounted on an extensible cantilevered frame. The frame may be extended to position the workover floor unit over an offshore platform to be serviced. The workover floor unit is also configured to mover laterally relative to the extensible frame. The vessel is also provided with a crane. The crane may be used to lift the detachable workover floor unit from the vessel and install it, including its equipment, on the platform.
Limitations regarding the structures of servicing or maintenance decks, such as conventional single deck Texas decks, are known which require a lot of the barge deck space to be utilized for rigging up/down offshore. Beams for supporting the structure are required to penetrate deep into the main deck of the barge which can cause a delay in cast off/release of the barge in case of an emergency. Shipping the conventional Texas deck into or from the barge is challenging due to the limited space on the barges to accommodate the deck, support beams and gangway. In addition, it is difficult to access offshore well heads, supported only with jacket frames at main sea level.
The servicing of well heads is carried out in some cases by drilling and workover rigs. However, the costs for hiring and operating the drilling and workover rig for the servicing is significantly high.
The Texas deck is a specific deck on an offshore jack-up drilling rig. It is located below the rotary table and rig floor. Workers use this deck to access the BOP (Blowout Preventer) stack. The platform surrounds the base of the BOP stack and is suspended from the cantilever where the rig floor is situated by adjustable cables. Access to the Texas deck is typically via a semipermanent stairwell from the main deck of the jack-up barge/rig.
The Texas deck is primarily used for installing the wellhead and manipulating the BOP stack, namely by raising or lowering it. When drilling operations are underway, this deck plays a crucial role in ensuring well integrity and safety. It facilitates the connection of the BOP stack to the wellhead, which is essential for well control during drilling and completion activities.
So, the Texas deck is where critical well control equipment is accessed and operated, contributing to safe and efficient drilling, completion and well interventions operations in offshore environments.
When it comes to well operations as well completions and intervention the Texas deck on offshore rigs, there are some important considerations and limitations:
Regarding the maneuverability of a Texas Deck there is no consideration for the potential need to adjust the positioning of the working platform to evenly accommodate all wells on location. This could be required if barge/vessel approach and positioning is not ideal as planned.
The inability to reposition the working platform around well slot could limit the accessibility to wellheads Christmas tree, because well orientation and/or the direction of Christmas tree valves which could impose a specific way of rigging up the fit for purpose equipment in preparations for the required scope of work.
There are also space constraints. The Texas deck is a relatively small area on the rig. Limited space can make it challenging to perform complex well intervention tasks efficiently. Workers need to carefully plan their movements and equipment placement to avoid congestion.
Additionally, while the Texas deck provides access to the BOP stack, it may not accommodate all necessary intervention equipment. Larger tools or machinery might be difficult to position and operate within this confined space. Rig crews must prioritize essential equipment and ensure it fits comfortably on the deck.
The Texas deck is situated near critical well control components. Any intervention work carries inherent risks, especially when dealing with high-pressure systems. Rig personnel must adhere to strict safety protocols to prevent accidents or equipment damage.
Further, offshore rigs operate in dynamic environments with changing weather and sea states. Rough seas, strong winds, or adverse conditions can impact well intervention activities on the Texas deck. Crews must be vigilant and adapt their procedures accordingly.
Routine maintenance and inspections are essential for the Texas deck and associated equipment. Ensuring proper functionality of the BOP stack, cables, and other components is crucial. Regular checks help identify any issues early and prevent operational disruptions.
The Texas deck interacts with other rig decks, such as the main deck and rig floor. Effective communication and coordination are vital to avoid conflicts or delays. Rig crews must synchronize activities across different levels to maintain operational efficiency. In summary, while the Texas deck facilitates critical wellhead installation and BOP manipulation, its limitations require careful planning, safety awareness, and efficient use of available space.
NO20171677A1 discloses a cantilever structure for use in well intervention operations. The cantilever structure is arranged on a platform deck of a jack-up rig or a liftboat and is movable relative to the platform deck.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,932,553B1 discloses a multipurpose system for a drilling and well intervention made of pivotable, slidable cantilever on platform adapted to pivot and to slide along an x-y axis.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,566,992B1 discloses a method and apparatus for providing an extendable and retractable work platform from a work vessel. The apparatus comprises of first and second platform support frames with associated decking surfaces.
It is an object to present a cost effective solution, for the access of the oil and gas wells, for well services, maintenance or other scope of well operations while ensuring and maintaining flexibility and safety in operations. The solution should be simple and portable in order to be installed or uninstalled quickly and safely.
This document discloses a working deck configured to access offshore well heads, wherein the working deck comprises a barge, transverse beams fixed to an upper surface of the barge, at least two cantilever beams attachable on to the transverse beams, and a work platform positioned on the at least two cantilever beams and being movable in a lateral direction of the cantilever beams.
In one aspect, the transverse beams are oriented perpendicular to a forward direction of the barge. This orientation of transverse beams supports the stability of the whole construction while moved to the working location and saves space on the barge.
In another aspect, the transverse beams comprise at least one of a track beam and one of a hold-down beam for receiving the at least two cantilever beams.
In another aspect, the at least two cantilever beams are connected with a link beam mounted between them. The link beam guarantees the stability of the cantilever beams and makes sure that the cantilever beams are oriented parallel to each other.
In another aspect, the at least two cantilever beams further comprise rollers for rolling on the at least one track beam of the transverse beams, and further comprise sliders, for sliding along the hold-down beam of the transverse beams. The at least two cantilever beams are able to be moved along the at least one track beam and the hold down beam to change the position of the at least two cantilever beams relative to the barge.
Cantilever beams are designed to move horizontally or laterally not longitudinally. Unlike the current or conventional Texas decks installed on rigs/barges or vessels at which cantilever is arranged on the deck and is movable back and forth on the deck, during such movement one end of the cantilever structure can be extended beyond the perimeter of the rig deck. Subsequent to the intervention operation the cantilever structure can be retracted back onto the rig deck. Then the entire jack-up rig is removed and transported to a different location. This is not the case here with the projected solution due to the capability of having the cantilever beams to move laterally/horizontally which facilitates the flexibility of changing the working position of the working deck without the need to move the whole barge/vessel in a lateral direction after jacking down to the desired working level/position, hence accessing the wellheads can be managed even if the well orientation or direction of the Christmas tree is imposed, which results in a specific rigging up procedures are not necessary.
In another aspect, the at least one track beam further comprises C-clamps for holding a position of the at least two cantilever beams on the at least one track beam. With the C-clamps the at least two cantilever beams can be fixed relative to the at least one track beam.
In another aspect, the work platform further comprises of removable floor panels for accessing the well heads. The floor panels can be removed as desired for an easier access of wells at different positions. Thus, the work platform itself is adjustable and more flexible for accessing the well heads. Unlike other work structures which require to be moved by a piston arrangement, a hydraulic cylinders or rotating lifting screw, relying on the changing position of the whole structure by retracting or extending one end in order to access the wellheads at different positions.
In another aspect, the work platform further comprises at least one wheel driven by at least one electromotor for moving the work platform on rails of the at least two cantilever beams. The work platform can, thus, be moved or re-positioned in a lateral direction along the at least two cantilever beams to access a desired horizontal working position.
In another aspect, the working deck is not telescopically extendable, but its operations relying on rollers/wheels operated by electric motors for controlling the movement in a lateral direction of the cantilever beams.
In another aspect, the working deck further comprises a gangway positioned on the at least two cantilever beams, comprising a stair member and a length-adjustable platform member.
In another aspect, the working system portable working deck with the cantilever beams is not a fixed structure on the rig/vessel/barge but a portable part that can be shipped and assembled offshore on the vessel/barge when required based on the scope of work.
The cantilever beams with the working deck can be assembled and dismantled at site. The entire unit is able to store it in a 40 ft ISO container and can be transported to site easily. This also enables the unit to transport any part of the world separately and assembled onsite for the desired operation when needed. Unlike other structures that require the cantilever structure to be retracted back on the rig/vessel then the entire jack up rig/vessel/barge can be removed and transported to a different location. Which Means these other cantilever structure cannot be disassembled on site, nor taken apart. Hence not considered portable.
In another aspect, the barge further comprises a jack-up mechanism for jacking-up the barge above the well heads and for jacking-down the barge to a desired vertical working position.
A method for accessing an offshore well heads with a working deck is also disclosed. The method comprises the steps of positioning a barge next to the offshore well head, jacking-up the barge to a height above the offshore well head, mounting a link beam between at least two cantilever beams, attaching the at least two cantilever beams to transverse beams fixed to the barge, positioning a work platform with floor panels on the at least two cantilever beams, electrically connecting at least one electromotor of the work platform, moving the work platform in a lateral direction to the at least two cantilever beams to a desired horizontal working position by using the at least one electromotor, positioning a gangway on the at least two cantilever beams between the barge and the work platform, removing of ones of the floor panels at the work platform for accessing the offshore well head, and jacking-down the barge over the offshore well heads to a desired vertical working position.
In one aspect, the positioning of the at least two cantilever beams on the transverse beams is carried out in such a way that rollers of the at least two cantilever beams roll on at least two track beams of the transverse beams and a slider of the at least two cantilever beams slides along a hold-down beam of the transverse beams.
In another aspect, the method further comprises fixing the at least two cantilever beams attached to the transverse beams with C-clamps.
The invention will now be described on the basis of the drawings. It will be understood that the embodiments and aspects of the invention described herein are only examples and do not limit the protective scope of the claims in any way. The invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents. It will be understood that features of one aspect or embodiment of the invention can be combined with a feature of a different aspect or aspects and/or embodiments of the invention.
As seen in
The two track beams 20a are in the form of a rail, but this is not limiting of the invention. The two cantilever beams 30 are affixed at a desired position on the track beams 20a using C-clamps 20c which position the two cantilever beams 30 onto the track beams 20a.
The hold down beams 20b is very essential and unique part of the transverse beams structural design and its main advantages are, working as anchoring and supporting structure for the whole cantilever structure weight and stability of the whole system. The hold-down beam 20b comprises the plurality of stiffening elements 25 which have the function of stiffening the hold-down beam 20b and to prevent or limit deformation of the hold-down beam 20b. The hold down beam 20b is oriented perpendicular to a forward direction of the barge. This orientation of the hold-down beam supports the stability of the whole construction while moved to the working location. Limiting the length of penetration of the cantilever beams on the barge/vessel main deck. Which makes most of the working space of the barge/vessel main deck available for other scopes of work to be carried out in parallel or for facilitating other equipment allocations.
As seen in
The overboard work platform 40 is made up of removable floor panels 40a for ease of operation. Depending on the location of wellhead, and/or certain orientation for accessing such wellheads, then the floor panels 40a can be added and removed accordingly, which brings good flexibility to the working deck/platform for the well operations.
Unlike other conventional platforms or Texas Decks which relying on the changing position of the whole cantilever structure by retracting or extending one end of the platform over the perimeter by a piston arrangement, a hydraulic cylinders or rotating lifting screw.
The work platform 40 further comprises at least one wheel 40b driven by at least one electromotor 40c. In
In order to access the work platform 40 in a safe way the gangway 50 (see
With reference to
In step S1 the barge 10 is positioned next to the offshore well heads 70 of the offshore well head platform and jacked-up to a height above the offshore well heads 70 in step S2 of the method 200 of
In step S4 of the method 200 of
In a second part of step S4, as seen in
In step S5 of the method 200 of
After the work platform 40 arrives at the desired horizontal position, the gangway 50 can be assembled. In step S8 of the method 200 of
For accessing at least one of the offshore well heads 70, one or more of the removable floor panels 40a are removed in step S9 before the barge 10 is jacked-down to the desired vertical working position in step S10 of the method of
To access others of the offshore well heads 70 the work platform 40 can be moved in the lateral direction D1 which also causes an adjustment of the length-adjustable platform member 50b. If needed, the barge 10 can be jacked-up/jacked-down between different work positions during operation and or maintenance work.
When the work is finished, the barge 10 is jacked-up above the well heads 70 and the components are disassembled and stored again on the upper surface 11 of the barge 10. After all components are secured the barge 10 is jacked-down and able to continue work at another offshore working location.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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23164203 | Mar 2023 | EP | regional |