U.S. patent application number 11/244695 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-20 for subsea fluid delivery system and method.
Invention is credited to Chad Blanchard, Michael Cunningham, Earl V. JR. Schultz.
Application Number | 20060083624 11/244695 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36143163 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060083624 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cunningham; Michael ; et
al. |
April 20, 2006 |
Subsea fluid delivery system and method
Abstract
A system for delivering fluids to a subsea device comprises a
first fluid pressurizer for pressurizing fluid at a first pressure
in communication with a fluid pressure intensifier located subsea
that is capable of increasing the fluid pressure of the fluid. It
is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the
rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other
reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical
disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not
be used to interpret or limit the scope of meaning of the
claims.
Inventors: |
Cunningham; Michael;
(Richards, TX) ; Blanchard; Chad; (Magnolia,
TX) ; Schultz; Earl V. JR.; (Spring, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DUANE, MORRIS, LLP
3200 SOUTHWEST FREEWAY
SUITE 3150
HOUSTON
TX
77027
US
|
Family ID: |
36143163 |
Appl. No.: |
11/244695 |
Filed: |
October 6, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60616240 |
Oct 6, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/53 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 9/113 20130101;
E21B 33/0355 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/053 |
International
Class: |
F04B 49/06 20060101
F04B049/06 |
Claims
1. A method of providing fluid under pressure for subsea use,
comprising: a. pumping a fluid at a first fluid pressure from a
first location to a fluid pressure intensifier located subsea; b.
increasing the first fluid pressure to a higher fluid pressure at
the fluid pressure intensifier located subsea; and c. providing the
higher fluid pressure fluid to a device for use subsea.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid is pumped at a first
fluid pressure from at least one of (i) a pump located at a surface
location or (ii) a pump located subsea but not located proximate
the fluid pressure intensifier.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein: a. the device is a component of
a subsea installation workover control system; and b. the fluid is
adapted to be used with the device for a subsea installation
workover control system function.
4. A system for providing fluid under pressure for subsea use,
comprising: a. a fluid source located distally from a seabed and
adapted to provide a fluid suitable for use with a subsea device;
b. a fluid pressurizer in fluid communication with the fluid
source, the fluid pressurizer adapted to pressurize the fluid to a
first pressure; c. a fluid pressure intensifier located subsea, the
fluid pressure intensifier further adapted to receive the fluid at
the first fluid pressure and output the fluid at a fluid pressure
higher than the first fluid pressure; and d. a fluid conduit in
fluid communication in between the fluid pressurizer and the fluid
pressure intensifier.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the subsea device is adapted to
provide a predetermined installation workover function.
6. The system of claim 4, wherein the fluid is at least one of (i)
a control fluid or (ii) a tree chemical fluid.
7. The system of claim 4, wherein the fluid pressurizer is adapted
to provide fluid at a fluid pressure substantially lower than the
delivery pressure required for injection of fluid to a subsea
device.
8. The system of claim 4, wherein the fluid pressurizer is located
at least (i) proximate the surface or (ii) subsea distally from the
fluid pressure intensifier.
9. The system of claim 4, wherein the fluid pressure intensifier is
adapted to provide a pressure substantially higher than 10,000
PSI.
10. The system of claim 4, further comprising a surface control
panel operatively in communication with at least one of (i) the
fluid pressurizer or (ii) the fluid pressure intensifier.
11. The system of claim 4, wherein the fluid conduit is an
umbilical.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the umbilical further comprises
at least one of (i) a fluid conduit, (ii) an electrical power
conduit, and (iii) a data conduit.
13. The system of claim 4 the fluid pressure intensifier comprises
a plurality of fluid pressure intensifiers.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein a first of the plurality of
fluid pressure intensifiers is fluidly connected to at least one
other of the plurality of fluid pressure intensifiers.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of fluid pressure
intensifiers are fluidly interconnected in at least one of a series
or parallel fluid connection.
16. A system for providing an installation workover control system,
comprising: a. a fluid source located distally from a seabed and
adapted to provide a fluid suitable for use with a subsea
installation workover function; b. a fluid pressurizer in fluid
communication with the fluid source, the fluid pressurizer adapted
to pressurize the fluid to a first pressure; c. a fluid pressure
intensifier located at a surface location, the fluid pressure
intensifier further adapted to receive fluid at a first fluid
pressure and output the fluid at a fluid pressure higher than the
first fluid pressure; and d. a fluid conduit in fluid communication
with the fluid pressurizer and the fluid pressure intensifier.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the fluid pressure intensifier
is adapted to be driven hydraulically from the surface.
Description
PRIORITY INFORMATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/616,240, filed on Oct. 6, 2004.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The inventions relate to a system and method for delivering
fluid under pressure for use subsea.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Subsea devices often require fluids, e.g. hydraulic fluids
or chemicals for injection and the like. These fluids are typically
delivered to the device under pressure. As subsea devices are
deployed deeper and deeper, the pressures required have
increased.
[0004] Existing installation workover control systems are limited
in the projects on which they can be used, in part due to the
pressure ratings of umbilicals used to provide fluids under
pressure from a source of fluids, e.g. a surface vessel, to devices
subsea that need that fluid. Deepwater trees, for example, will or
currently need fluid pressures in the ranges that exceed 10,000
psi.
[0005] Additionally, umbilicals from the surface currently need to
contain a plurality of fluid conduits which increases cost and
complexity. The greater the number of required conduits, the
greater the cost associated with the umbilical.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The various drawings supplied herein are representative of
one or more embodiments of the present inventions.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a planar view in of an exemplary system;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary
conduit;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a planar view of a second exemplary system;
and
[0010] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTIONS
[0011] Referring now to FIG. 1, system 1 is adapted to provide
fluid under pressure to a subsea device, e.g. a device adapted for
use in an installation workover control system. In a preferred
embodiment, system 1 comprises fluid source 10 located distally
from seabed 100 and adapted to provide fluid 5 suitable for use
with the subsea device, e.g. to provide a subsea installation
workover function; fluid pressurizer 20 in fluid communication with
fluid source 10, fluid pressurizer 20 adapted to pressurize fluid 5
to a first pressure; fluid pressure intensifier 30 adapted to be
located subsea, fluid pressure intensifier 30 further adapted to
receive fluid 5 at a first fluid pressure and output fluid 5 at a
fluid pressure higher than the first fluid pressure; and fluid
conduit 40 in fluid communication with fluid pressurizer 20 and
fluid pressure intensifier 30.
[0012] Fluid source 10 may be located on vessel 2 but does not have
to be. In a preferred embodiment, fluid source 10 is located
distally from seabed 100 such as near or at the water surface.
Fluid 5 may be a control fluid, a tree chemical fluid, or the like,
or a combination thereof.
[0013] Fluid pressurizer 20 is adapted to provide a pressure
substantially lower than the delivery pressure required for
injection of fluid 5 to subsea device 110. Fluid pressurizer 20 may
be located proximate the surface or subsea distally from fluid
pressure intensifier 30 and may be part of fluid source 10, i.e.
integrated with fluid source 10, or otherwise in fluid
communication with fluid source 10 such as via fluid conduit
11.
[0014] Fluid pressurizer 20 is in fluid communication with fluid
pressure intensifier 30, which is located proximate seabed 100,
such as via fluid conduit 40. In preferred embodiments, fluid
pressure intensifier 30 may be located on seabed 100 or near seabed
110 such as on an ROV (not shown in the figures). Fluid pressurizer
intensifier 30 is adapted to provide fluid 5 to one or more subsea
devices, e.g. subsea device 110, at higher fluid pressure than
fluid pressurizer 20 provides. In an embodiment, fluid pressure
intensifier 30 is adapted to provide a pressure substantially
higher than 10,000 PSI and, more preferably, in the range of around
15,000 to around 20,000 psi.
[0015] In certain embodiments, fluid pressure intensifier 30
comprises a plurality of fluid pressure intensifiers 30 connected
in series, parallel, or a combination thereof. One or more fluid
pressure intensifiers 30 may utilize proportional hydraulic
valves.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, fluid conduit 40 is an umbilical
which may further comprise one or more fluid conduits 42,
electrical power conduits 43, data conduits 44, or a combination
thereof.
[0017] System 1 may further comprise surface control panel 4
operatively in communication with fluid pressurizer 20, fluid
pressure intensifier 30, or both.
[0018] In an alternative embodiment, system 1 is adapted to provide
an installation workover control system and comprises fluid source
10 located distally from seabed 100 and adapted to provide fluid 5
suitable for use with a subsea installation workover function;
fluid pressurizer 20 in fluid communication with fluid source 10,
fluid pressurizer 20 adapted to pressurize fluid 5 to a first
pressure; fluid pressure intensifier 30 located at a surface
location, fluid pressure intensifier 30 further adapted to receive
fluid 5 at a first fluid pressure and output fluid 5 at a fluid
pressure higher than the first fluid pressure; and fluid conduit 40
in fluid communication with fluid pressurizer 20 and fluid pressure
intensifier 30.
[0019] Fluid pressure intensifier 30 may be further adapted to be
driven hydraulically from the surface.
[0020] In the operation of an exemplary embodiment, fluid under
pressure may be provided for subsea use such as with a subsea
installation workover control system by pumping fluid 5 at a first
fluid pressure from a first location to fluid pressure intensifier
20 located subsea; increasing the fluid pressure to a higher
pressure at the subsea fluid pressure intensifier 20; and providing
the increased pressure fluid 5 for use subsea.
[0021] In an embodiment, fluid 5 is pumped at a first fluid
pressure from a pump located at a surface location or a pump
located subsea, e.g. fluid pressurizer 20, but not located
proximate fluid pressure intensifier 30.
[0022] The foregoing disclosure and description of the inventions
are illustrative and explanatory. Various changes in the size,
shape, and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrative
construction and/or a illustrative method may be made without
departing from the spirit of the invention.
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