U.S. patent application number 14/536263 was filed with the patent office on 2015-05-14 for frontier field development system for large riser count and high pressures for harsh environments.
The applicant listed for this patent is Seahorse Equipment Corp. Invention is credited to Jos Bronneberg, Kent Davies, Randy Jordan, Oriol Rijken.
Application Number | 20150128840 14/536263 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53042556 |
Filed Date | 2015-05-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150128840 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rijken; Oriol ; et
al. |
May 14, 2015 |
Frontier Field Development System for Large Riser Count and High
Pressures for Harsh Environments
Abstract
A system comprising a semisubmersible, at least two offloading
terminals and shuttle tankers in optional combination with an FSO
may be deployed in deep water harsh environments where riser
performance (either SCR or LWSCR) is a key performance parameter.
The semisubmersible is used to support the risers because of its
favorable motion characteristics under harsh conditions. The
semisubmersible supports the entire process train and provides well
maintenance, which may include water and/or gas injection. The
semisubmersible may provide work-over capabilities for well
intervention. The produced hydrocarbons are exported through
flexible pipes to at least two off-loading buoys. A FSO or shuttle
tanker receives the produced hydrocarbons. Two or more off-loading
buoys may be employed to allow for uninterrupted production when a
shuttle-tanker-only embodiment is utilized.
Inventors: |
Rijken; Oriol; (Houston,
TX) ; Jordan; Randy; (Houston, TX) ; Davies;
Kent; (San Diego, CA) ; Bronneberg; Jos;
(Houston, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Seahorse Equipment Corp |
Houston |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53042556 |
Appl. No.: |
14/536263 |
Filed: |
November 7, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61901758 |
Nov 8, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
114/265 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 35/44 20130101;
B63B 27/34 20130101; B63B 22/021 20130101; B63B 21/507 20130101;
B63B 2035/448 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/265 |
International
Class: |
B63B 35/44 20060101
B63B035/44; B63B 22/02 20060101 B63B022/02; B63B 21/50 20060101
B63B021/50 |
Claims
1. A system for offshore oilfield development comprising: a
semi-submersible having hydrocarbon processing equipment thereon; a
plurality of subsea risers in fluid communication with the
hydrocarbon processing equipment and wellheads on the seafloor; a
submersible mooring buoy having means for fluid connection to a
shuttle tanker moored to the mooring buoy; and at least one fluid
conduit connecting the mooring buoy to the hydrocarbon processing
equipment on the semi-submersible.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/901,758 filed on Nov. 8, 2013.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention generally relates to the offshore
production of oil and gas. More particularly, it relates to surface
vessels used to receive, process and store hydrocarbons from subsea
wells.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] Including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and
1.98.
[0007] The invention relates to a field development methodology for
offshore oil and gas fields in harsh environments (e.g.
hurricane/cyclonic) for a frontier location where the existing
pipeline infrastructure is insufficient during the entire field
life or during the early phases thereof.
[0008] An "FPSO" is a Floating Production Storage and Offloading
system--a floating facility installed above or close to an offshore
oil and/or gas field to receive, process, store and export
hydrocarbons.
[0009] It consists of a floater, which is either a newly built or
converted tanker, permanently moored on site. The cargo capacity of
the vessel is used as buffer storage for the oil produced. The
process facilities (topsides) and accommodation are installed on
the floater. The mooring configuration may be of the spread mooring
type or a single point mooring system, generally a turret.
[0010] The high pressure mixture of produced fluids is delivered to
the process facilities mounted on the deck of the tanker, where the
oil, gas and water are separated. The water is discharged overboard
after treatment to eliminate hydrocarbons. The stabilized crude oil
is stored in the cargo tanks and subsequently transferred into
shuttle tankers either via a buoy or by laying side by side or in
tandem to the FPSO. The gas is used for enhancing the liquid
production through gas lift, and for energy production onboard the
vessel. The remainder is compressed and transported by pipeline to
shore or re-injected into the reservoir.
[0011] An "FSO" is a similar vessel but without the process
facilities.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The invention comprises a semisubmersible, at least two
offloading terminals and shuttle tankers in optional combination
with an FSO. A system according to the invention may be deployed in
deep water harsh environments where riser performance (either SCR
or LWSCR) is a key performance parameter. The semisubmersible is
used to support the risers because of its favorable motion
characteristics under harsh conditions. The semisubmersible
supports the entire process train and provides well maintenance,
which may include water and/or gas injection. The semisubmersible
may provide work-over capabilities for well intervention. The
produced hydrocarbons are exported through flexible pipes to at
least two off-loading buoys. A FSO or shuttle tanker receives the
produced hydrocarbons. Two or more off-loading buoys may be
employed to allow for uninterrupted production when a
shuttle-tanker-only solution is utilized.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an offshore field
development according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a top plan schematic view of another embodiment of
the present invention that uses an FSO and a shuttle tanker.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side schematic view of a field development in
operating conditions according to the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a side schematic view of the field development
shown in FIG. 3 in extreme metocean conditions.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a side schematic view of the field development
shown in FIG. 3 in a mature stage.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The invention comprises a semisubmersible, at least two
offloading terminals and shuttle tankers in possible combination
with an FSO. A system according to the invention may be deployed in
deep water harsh environments where riser performance (either SCR
or LWSCR) is a key performance parameter. The semisubmersible
supports the risers because of its favorable motion characteristics
under harsh conditions. The semisubmersible supports the entire
process train and provides well maintenance, which may include
water and/or gas injection. The semisubmersible could provide
work-over capabilities for well intervention. The produced
hydrocarbons are exported through flexible pipes to at least two
off-loading buoys. A FSO or shuttle tanker receives the produced
hydrocarbons (FIG. 3 or FIG. 2). At least two off-loading buoys are
necessary to allow for uninterrupted production (FIG. 1) when a
shuttle-tanker--only solution is utilized (i.e. no FSO), see FIG.
2.
[0019] The pipeline infrastructure may reach the location where
this semisubmersible is located. The pipeline infrastructure can be
an oil line, a gas line or both. The gas can then be exported via
the gas pipeline while the oil could be the existing offloading
terminals. The offloading terminals can be removed if an oil
pipeline is present. Use of a system according to the invention
allows for a delay on the decision to build the pipeline
infrastructure; a pipeline infrastructure to a frontier area is an
expensive preposition.
[0020] The shuttle tanker/FSO disconnects from the offloading
terminal when the environment becomes too intense. The offloading
terminal is connected to the semisubmersible via a bundle of lines
which include power and data. This allows for controlled ballast
operations on the offloading terminal to submerge it to reduce the
environmental forces.
[0021] The invention is intended for use in harsh environments. The
methodology is highly applicable to locations where the harsh
environments are rare but intense (a benign methodology might work
except for those rare occasions). Such locations include the many
of the hurricane/cyclonic areas of the world.
[0022] The system is similar to the Rapid Deployment Offloading
System (RDOS) which was developed for Shell, BP and Chevron,
2007-2009, project 46028. The RDOS is intended to provide temporary
offloading capacity in case of a non-functional pipeline. The
design life is specified as typically ten deployments of 6 months
each. A system according to the invention may have a single
deployment ranging from several years to field design life.
[0023] Competing systems include the FPSO or semisubmersible by
itself, a disconnect able buoy similar to White Rose or Stones or
the MoorSpar, or RDOS. The advantages of the proposed methodology
include: [0024] Support for a large number of risers under harsh
conditions, including high pressure, sour service, high H.sub.2S
content; [0025] A fluid transfer system between the semisubmersible
and shuttle tanker that is "low pressure", and comprises of only a
few lines. Therefore simplifying the design and allowing for more
motion; [0026] A disconnect able buoy which supports only a few
lines and may not have any rotational parts; [0027] A swivel
requiring only a few flow paths and an electronic data path; [0028]
The entire system comprises of field proven hardware; [0029]
Ability to start producing a field before pipeline infrastructure;
and, [0030] Limited additional hardware required before pipe line
infrastructure is present.
[0031] The possible disadvantages of this system include: [0032]
Requirement for one semisubmersible and two offloading terminals in
relatively close proximity, with associated mooring line
infrastructure; and, [0033] Operation of three vessels in
relatively close proximity to one another.
[0034] Systems or methodologies that perform similar functions
include the FPSO, the semisubmersible, the disconnect able FPSO,
the MoorSpar, riser tower and RDOS. Each system has advantages and
disadvantages. Most of these systems cannot meet at least one of
the following requirements: many risers, high pressure, sour
service, high H.sub.2S content, large quantities and/or high
pressure water injection, harsh environment, storage &
offloading.
[0035] The independent innovative aspects of the invention include:
[0036] Support deep water risers in harsh environment without
initial pipeline infrastructure; [0037] Support deep water risers
that will have to withstand high H.sub.2S levels and/or high
temperatures and/or sour service, without initial pipeline
infrastructure; [0038] Use of one or more shuttle tankers to
directly store the all or some of the hydrocarbons that are being
produced/processed by the semisubmersible; and, [0039] Use of one
or more FSOs to directly store all or some of the hydrocarbons that
are being produced/processed by the semisubmersible.
[0040] Although particular embodiments of the present invention
have been shown and described, they are not intended to limit what
this patent covers. One skilled in the art will understand that
various changes and modifications may be made without departing
from the scope of the present invention as literally and
equivalently covered by the following claims.
* * * * *