This invention relates in general to production of oil and gas wells, and in particular to a device and method for delivery and/or retrieval of modules used in conjunction with subsea hydrocarbon production.
Subsea wellbores are formed from the seafloor through subterranean formations lying underneath. Systems for producing oil and gas from subsea wellbores typically include a subsea wellhead assembly set over a wellbore opening. A typical subsea wellhead assembly includes a high pressure wellhead housing supported in a lower pressure wellhead housing and secured to conductor casing that extends downward past the wellbore opening. Wells are generally lined with one or more casing strings coaxially inserted through, and significantly deeper than, the conductor casing. The casing strings are suspended from casing hangers landed in the wellhead housing. One or more tubing strings are provided within the innermost casing string; that among other things are used for conveying well fluid produced from the underlying formations. A production tree mounts to the upper end of the wellhead housing for controlling the well fluid. The production tree is typically a large, heavy assembly, having a number of valves and controls mounted thereon
Controls mounted on a production tree may be in the form of a subsea control module. Typically, subsea control modules are modular devices that regulate a supply of hydraulic fluid to subsea actuators, where the actuators are generally used to open and/or close a valve or valves. A choke bridge module is another type of module that is sometimes found on a production tree. Choke bridge modules generally regulate production flow from a production tree with an integrated flow restriction. Subsea control modules and choke bridge modules typically require replacement, installation, or removal during the operational life of the subsea wellhead assembly.
Disclosed herein is a running tool for handling a control module attachable to a subsea production tree. In an example embodiment the running tool includes a body having a connector that attaches to a subsea wellhead assembly. Also included is a swivel on the body distal from the connector that rotates about an axis of the body. A hoist assembly is included that couples with the swivel.
Also disclosed is a method of handling a control module subsea. In an example embodiment the method includes providing a running tool, where the running tool includes a body having an axis and a hoist assembly. The running tool is deployed subsea on a wire line to a subsea wellhead assembly and a control module is retrieved from the wellhead assembly using the hoist assembly.
The apparatus and method of the present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which embodiments are shown. This subject of the present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. For the convenience in referring to the accompanying figures, directional terms are used for reference and illustration only. For example, the directional terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “above”, “below”, and the like are being used to illustrate a relational location.
It is to be understood that the subject of the present disclosure is not limited to the exact details of construction, operation, exact materials, or embodiments shown and described, as modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art. In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed illustrative embodiments of the subject disclosure and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation. Accordingly, the subject disclosure is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
Referring now to
The running tool 10 is shown being lowered towards a subsea wellhead assembly 16 shown disposed at the sea floor. The running tool 10 includes a body 18, which in an example embodiment, is an elongate substantially cylindrical member. Shown on an upper end of the body 18 is a swivel portion 20 that is substantially coaxial with the body 18 and rotatable about an axis. A portion of a hoist assembly 22 attaches to a side of the swivel portion 20 and includes a jib or boom 24 shown as an elongated member that projects radially outward from the swivel portion 20. Supported on the jib 24 is a pulley 26 that is selectively movable along the length of the jib 24. A line 28, separate from the lift line 12, extends between the pulley 26 and the body 18. The running tool 10 attaches to the lift line 12 with a lift line attachment 29 shown coupled between the lift line 12 and swiveling portion 20. A replacement choke bridge module 30 is shown attached on a lateral side of the body 18. Choke bridge module 30 is releaseably parked on the body 18 and is a component to be attached to subsea equipment. In an example embodiment, the choke bridge module 30 can be deployed with the running tool 10 and used to replace an existing choke bridge module 31 shown provided with the wellhead assembly 16. The choke bridge modules 30, 31 can be used for regulating and/or diverting flow produced or otherwise flowing from the subsea wellhead assembly 16.
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While the invention has been shown or described in only some of its forms, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible to various changes without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in addition to the modules 30, 31, 62 discussed above, other wellhead components may be replaced or installed using the devices and methods provided herein. Such additional components include choke inserts, sand detectors, and flow control devices. Thus, in an example embodiment, a hoist assembly 22 could be deployed having one or more of a choke bridge module, subsea control module, a choke insert, a sand detector, flowmeter control unit, and a flow control device. Moreover, the hoist assembly 22 can also carry with it the tools for replacing any of the components, such as an interface tool. In an example embodiment, an interface tool is included with the connector 57 for interfacing with the component being replaced. One advantage of the device and method described herein is the running tool 10 can be lowered subsea at a rate of descent so it “softly” lands on the wellhead assembly 16 without imparting a damaging impulse in the running tool 10 or component being replaced.
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