U.S. patent application number 14/280483 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-19 for downhole equipment suspension and power system background.
This patent application is currently assigned to OneSubsea IP UK Limited. The applicant listed for this patent is OneSubsea IP UK Limited. Invention is credited to Hans Paul Hopper, David R. June, Jack H. Vincent.
Application Number | 20150330194 14/280483 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52781037 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150330194 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
June; David R. ; et
al. |
November 19, 2015 |
Downhole Equipment Suspension and Power System Background
Abstract
A subsea production system for a subsea well including a tubing
hanger to suspend production tubing extending into the subsea well.
Downhole equipment is locatable inside the production tubing in the
subsea well. The system includes an adaptor spool including an
internal bore. A suspension apparatus is supportable above the
tubing hanger and within the internal bore of the adaptor spool. A
power penetrator is laterally coupleable to the suspension
apparatus. A suspension line is extendable from the suspension
apparatus to suspend the downhole equipment. A communication line
is extendable from the suspension apparatus to provide power to the
downhole equipment.
Inventors: |
June; David R.; (Houston,
TX) ; Hopper; Hans Paul; (Aberdeen, GB) ;
Vincent; Jack H.; (Houston, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
OneSubsea IP UK Limited |
London |
|
GB |
|
|
Assignee: |
OneSubsea IP UK Limited
London
GB
|
Family ID: |
52781037 |
Appl. No.: |
14/280483 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/351 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 33/043 20130101;
E21B 33/0422 20130101; E21B 34/04 20130101; E21B 33/035 20130101;
E21B 33/0407 20130101; E21B 17/003 20130101; E21B 43/128
20130101 |
International
Class: |
E21B 43/12 20060101
E21B043/12; E21B 34/04 20060101 E21B034/04; E21B 33/04 20060101
E21B033/04; E21B 17/00 20060101 E21B017/00; E21B 33/035 20060101
E21B033/035 |
Claims
1. A subsea production system for a subsea well including: a tubing
hanger configured to suspend production tubing extending into the
subsea well; downhole equipment locatable inside the production
tubing in the subsea well; an adaptor spool including an internal
bore; a suspension apparatus supportable above the tubing hanger
and within the internal bore of the adaptor spool; a power
penetrator laterally coupleable to the suspension apparatus; a
suspension line extendable from the suspension apparatus and
configured to suspend the downhole equipment; and a communication
line extendable from the suspension apparatus and configured to
provide power to the downhole equipment.
2. The system of claim 1, further including a subsea production
member and wherein the adaptor spool is connectable directly or
indirectly to the subsea production member.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the subsea production member is a
subsea production tree.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the subsea production tree is one
of a vertical tree or a horizontal tree.
5. The system of claim 2, wherein the subsea production member is
at least one of a spool and a head.
6. The system of claim 2, wherein the subsea production member is a
high pressure wellhead housing.
7. The system of claim 2, further including: a power source
external to the subsea production member; and wherein the power
source is configured to communicate power through the power
penetrator.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the power penetrator is laterally
coupleable to the suspension apparatus from outside the adaptor
spool.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication line includes
at least one of an electrical conductor, a hydraulic conduit, and a
fiber optic cable.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication line is
locatable within the suspension line.
11. The system of claim 1, further including multiple power
penetrators.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the downhole equipment includes
a pump operable by at least one of electrical power and hydraulic
power.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the downhole equipment includes
a lubricant circulating system and a lubricant recycle system.
14. The system of claim 1, further including an environmental
barrier in the adaptor spool internal bore above the suspension
apparatus.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the environmental barrier
includes at least one of a valve and a plug.
16. A downhole equipment suspension and power system for a subsea
production system including a subsea production member, a tubing
hanger, and a production tubing extending into a subsea well, the
suspension and power system including: an adaptor spool including
an internal bore and connectable with the subsea production system;
a suspension apparatus supportable within the internal bore of the
adaptor spool; an environmental barrier locatable in the adaptor
spool internal bore above the suspension apparatus; a power
penetrator laterally coupleable to the suspension apparatus;
downhole equipment installable in the production tubing in the
well; a suspension line extendable from the suspension apparatus
and configured to suspend the downhole equipment; and a
communication line extendable from the suspension apparatus and
configured to provide power to the downhole equipment.
17. The system of claim 16 further including a power source
configured to communicate power through the power penetrator.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein the power penetrator is
laterally coupleable to the suspension apparatus from outside the
adaptor spool.
19. The system of claim 16, wherein the communication line includes
at least one of an electrical conductor, a hydraulic conduit, and a
fiber optic cable.
20. The system of claim 16, wherein the communication line is
locatable within the suspension line.
21. The system of claim 16, further including multiple power
penetrators.
22. The system of claim 16, wherein the downhole equipment includes
a pump operable by at least one of electrical power and hydraulic
power.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein the downhole equipment includes
a lubricant circulating system and a lubricant recycle system.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Drilling and producing offshore oil and gas wells includes
the use of offshore facilities for the exploitation of undersea
petroleum and natural gas deposits. A typical subsea system for
drilling and producing offshore oil and gas can include the
installation of an electrical submersible pumping ("ESP") system
that can be used to assist in production.
[0002] Normally, when ESPs are used with wells they are used during
production to provide a relatively efficient form of "artificial
lift" by pumping the production fluids from the wells. By
decreasing the pressure at the bottom of the well bore below the
pump, significantly more oil can be produced from the well when
compared with natural production.
[0003] ESPs include both surface components housed in the
production facility or on an oil platform, and sub-surface
components located in the well. The surface components include the
motor controller, which can be a variable speed controller, and
surface cables and transformers. Subsurface components typically
include the pump, motor, seal, and cables. Sometimes, a liquid/gas
separator is also installed. The pump may include multiple stages,
with the number of stages being determined by the operating
requirements. Each stage includes a driven impeller and a diffuser
that directs flow to the next stage of the pump. The power to run
the ESP comes from a source connected with the ESP via cable from
the surface. The power source could be alternating current or
direct current. Typically, the cable is run from the surface
vertically through the well, including through any components above
the subsea production tree (e.g., intervention riser or blowout
preventer stack).
[0004] An issue with existing methods for suspending downhole
equipment, including ESPs, is suspending and providing power to the
downhole equipment. In general, power communication means (e.g.,
cables) must be run vertically through the top of the tree and
tubing hanger and through the well. Accordingly, the blowout
preventer ("BOP") stack must be removed prior to powering the ESP.
Removing this equipment can be a very costly and potentially
dangerous endeavor. Accordingly, a cost effective and safer
alternative to adding downhole equipment to a well, namely an ESP,
is desired.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] A better understanding of the various disclosed system and
method embodiments can be obtained when the following detailed
description is considered in conjunction with the drawings, in
which:
[0006] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a production system with a
downhole equipment suspension and power system including a tubing
spool;
[0007] FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of a production system with
a downhole equipment suspension and power system including a
horizontal subsea production tree; and
[0008] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a production system with
a downhole equipment suspension and power system including a
vertical subsea production tree.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] The following discussion is directed to various embodiments
of the invention. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale.
Certain features of the embodiments 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. Although one or more of these embodiments may be
preferred, the embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or
otherwise used, as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including
the claims. 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. In addition, one skilled in the art will understand that
the following description has broad application, and the discussion
of any embodiment is meant only to be exemplary of that embodiment,
and not intended to intimate that the scope of the disclosure,
including the claims, is limited to that embodiment.
[0010] Certain terms are used throughout the following description
and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one
skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to
the same feature or component by different names. This document
does not intend to distinguish between components or features that
differ in name but not function. Certain features and components
herein may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic
form and some details of conventional elements may not be shown in
interest of clarity and conciseness.
[0011] In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms
"including" and "comprising" are used in an open-ended fashion, and
thus should be interpreted to mean "including, but not limited to .
. . " Also, the term "couple" or "couples" is intended to mean
either an indirect or direct connection. Thus, if a first device
couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct
connection, or through an indirect connection via other devices,
components, and connections. In addition, as used herein, the terms
"axial" and "axially" generally mean along or parallel to a central
axis (e.g., central axis of a body or a port), while the terms
"lateral" and "laterally" generally mean about perpendicular to the
central axis. For instance, an axial distance refers to a distance
measured along or parallel to the central axis, and a lateral
distance means a distance measured perpendicular to the central
axis.
[0012] Accordingly, disclosed herein is a downhole equipment
suspension and power system for a well with a subsea production
member. The subsea production member may be a vertical, horizontal,
or modular production tree, tubing spool, high pressure wellhead
housing, or any equipment in which a tubing hanger could be landed.
The suspension and power system may be used for connecting to any
type of downhole equipment. For example, the downhole equipment may
include an electric submersible pump system for pumping production
fluids. Alternative embodiments of the suspension and power system
are disclosed.
[0013] FIG. 1 is an illustrative embodiment of a subsea production
system 101 including a subsea tubing spool 110. The production
system 101 also includes a downhole equipment suspension and power
system. In this embodiment, the subsea tubing spool 110 is attached
above a wellhead 116. The tubing spool 110 could also be any type
of subsea production tree, such as a horizontal or vertical
production tree (e.g., a vertical monobore production tree).
[0014] A tubing hanger 104 is landed in the subsea tubing spool
110. The tubing hanger 104 supports a production tubing 108 which
extends into the well. A production casing may surround the
production tubing 108 in one embodiment of the invention, creating
an annular space.
[0015] The downhole equipment suspension and power system includes
a suspension apparatus 106 supported by an adaptor spool 124. The
adaptor spool 124 is landed above the subsea production member 110,
which can be a tubing spool with either a dual bore or concentric
interface. The adaptor spool 124 can be installed prior to, during,
or after the well is completed. As an example, the suspension
apparatus 106 shown is a cable hanger which lands and locks into
the adaptor spool 124 below environmental barrier 109. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1, environmental barrier 109 is preferably
a valve. In other embodiments, there may be more than one
environmental barrier above the suspension apparatus. An
intervention blowout preventer with a high pressure intervention
riser 126 is located above the adaptor spool 124. The intervention
riser 126 provides an environmental barrier while allowing
through-tubing intervention operations to be carried out. In other
embodiments, other barrier equipment or only the intervention riser
126 may be used.
[0016] In other embodiments, the environmental barrier 109 could
also be any pressure barrier, such as a plug. Pressure barriers
other than valves can reduce the complexity of the adaptor spool
124 (e.g., size and configuration) because there is no requirement
for a valve bonnet. Reducing the size and complexity of the adaptor
spool 124 also provides additional room for the power penetrator
apparatus 103, which is discussed in more detail below.
[0017] A running tool may be used to run, land, and lock the
suspension apparatus 106 into the adaptor spool 124. The running
tool may include an electrical connection to monitor continuity of
power and signal electrical lines when running the suspension
apparatus 106 and also may provide access to the hydraulic lines
controlling an emergency disconnect feature.
[0018] The downhole equipment suspension and power system also
includes downhole equipment 130 installed in the production tubing
108. The downhole equipment may be any type of equipment. For
example, the downhole equipment 130 may include a pump operated by
electrical power, hydraulic power, or both electrical and hydraulic
power. The downhole equipment 130 may be installed with the
production tubing 108 or after the production tubing 108 is
installed. The downhole equipment may also be an internal
completion system, including sliding sleeves, chokes, valves, and
sensors (e.g., temperature, pressure, and flow).
[0019] The downhole equipment suspension and power system also
includes a suspension line 107 that extends through the production
bores of the tubing spool 110 and the tubing hanger 104 and
suspends downhole equipment 130 from the suspension apparatus 106.
The suspension line 107 may be any line appropriate for
load-bearing suspension of the downhole equipment 130, e.g., coiled
tubing, tubing, pipe, etc. Included within or run with the
suspension line 107 may also be one or more communication lines 111
that may include one or more of electrical conductors, hydraulic
conduits, and/or fiber optic cables that can be used to power and
operate the downhole equipment 130. These communication lines 111
may also be encapsulated inside the suspension line 107 for
protection. The suspension line 107 may not require any internal
pressure compensation. There may also be an emergency disconnect
function to disconnect the suspension line 107 from the downhole
equipment 130 in the event that the downhole equipment 130 or
suspension line 107 is stuck downhole and cannot be retrieved
during installation and retrieval. Alternative embodiments may
comprise more than one suspension line 107 and multiple
communication lines 111.
[0020] Also in this embodiment, the tubing spool 110 includes an
annulus bypass 122 such that the annular space surrounding the
production tubing 108 is in fluid communication with the vertical
bore of the adaptor spool 124 above the tubing hanger 104. The
annulus bypass 122 may optionally include one or more valves
128.
[0021] The suspension and power system also includes at least one
power penetrator 103 laterally coupled to the suspension and power
system. The power penetrator 103 can be deployed by remotely
operated vehicle. The power penetrator 103 is used for connecting
an external power source 132 with the downhole equipment 130 in
power communication through the communication lines 111.
[0022] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the power
penetrator 103 is shown penetrating the adaptor spool 124
perpendicular to the production bore in order to access the
suspension apparatus 106. However, the power penetrator 103 can be
laterally coupled through subsea equipment other than the adaptor
spool 124 provided that the power penetrator 103 accesses the
suspension apparatus 106 laterally. In the embodiment illustrated
in FIG. 1, the power penetrator 103 is shown laterally coupled to
the adaptor spool at about a 90.degree. angle. However, the power
penetrator 103 can be laterally coupled at any angle. In one
embodiment, the power penetrator may comprise a single line
including electrical, hydraulic, and fiber optic lines.
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the tree adaptor spool
424, comprising multiple power penetrators 403a, 403b, and 403c for
the same or different types of communication. As an example only,
the power penetrators 403a, 403b, and 403c may each comprise a
different power phase or one penetrator may provide fiber optic
communication while another provides hydraulic fluid. Like the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the embodiment shown in FIG. 4
comprises an environmental barrier 409 located in the tree adaptor
spool 424. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, environmental barrier
409 is preferably a valve. In other embodiments, the environmental
barrier 409 could be a plug. In other embodiments, there may be
more than one environmental barrier 409 above the suspension
apparatus. The embodiment may further comprise a hydraulic fluid
stab 446 and a dielectric flush line 448. Other embodiments of the
invention can include any number of additional power penetrators.
Although shown in the same plane, the power penetrators may be
equally spaced around the adaptor spool body 424. Alternative
embodiments allow for the power penetrator lines to be spaced
around the wellhead equipment in any arrangement that allows for
power to reach the downhole equipment. Other embodiments may
include more than one lateral power penetrator, wherein each power
penetrator comprises one or more lines.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the power penetrator 103 couples to the
suspension apparatus 106 through the adaptor spool 124. Seals can
be provided above and below the point where the power penetrator
103 couples to the adaptor spool 124. These seal the adaptor spool
124 and suspension apparatus to form a sealed enclosure through
which the power penetrator 103 couples to the suspension apparatus
106. The suspension line 107 runs from the suspension apparatus 106
down the well through the production tubing 108. Various
connections for the communication lines 111 may be used as known to
those skilled in the art as appropriate.
[0025] In operation, produced fluids are pumped upward from the
well inside of the production tubing and outside of the suspension
line 107 and then out through the tree lateral production bore 113
below the suspension apparatus 106. The suspension system provides
the necessary multiple environmental barriers, e.g., valves or
plugs. Power is provided to the downhole equipment through the
power penetrator 103 connection to the external power source 132,
which may provide power as electrical, hydraulic, or both. Should
the tubing spool 110 need to be removed for service, the suspension
system, including the suspension line 107 and the downhole
equipment 130 may be removed and appropriate barriers set in place.
The adaptor spool 124 may then be removed while leaving tubing
hanger 104 and production tubing 108 in place.
[0026] FIG. 2 is another illustrative embodiment of a subsea
production system 201 including a subsea horizontal production tree
210 attached above a high pressure wellhead housing 216. The
production system 201 also includes a downhole equipment suspension
and power system. The production tree 210 could also be any other
type of subsea production tree, such as a vertical production tree
(e.g., a vertical monobore production tree). A tubing hanger 204 is
landed in the subsea horizontal production tree 210 and supports
production tubing 208 that extends into the well.
[0027] The downhole equipment suspension and power system includes
a suspension apparatus 206 landed in the adaptor spool 224 above
the tubing hanger 204. The suspension apparatus 206 can be
installed prior to, during, or after the well is completed. As an
example, the suspension apparatus 206 shown is a cable hanger which
lands and locks into the adaptor spool 224 above the tubing hanger
204 and below environmental barrier 209. In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 2, environmental barrier 209 is a valve. In other embodiments,
the environmental barrier 209 could also be any pressure barrier,
such as a plug.
[0028] The downhole equipment suspension and power system also
includes downhole equipment 230 installed in the production tubing
208. The downhole equipment may be any type of equipment. For
example, the downhole equipment 230 may include a pump operated by
electrical power, hydraulic power, or both electrical and hydraulic
power, hydraulic supply, and fiber optics. The downhole equipment
230 may be installed with the production tubing 208 or after the
production tubing 208 is installed.
[0029] The downhole equipment suspension and power system also
includes a suspension line 207 that extends through the production
bores of the production tree 210 and the tubing hanger 204 and
suspends downhole equipment 230 from the suspension apparatus 206.
The suspension line 207 may be any line appropriate for
load-bearing suspension of the downhole equipment 230, e.g., coiled
tubing, tubing, pipe, etc. Included within or run with the
suspension line 207 may also be one or more communication lines 211
that may include one or more of electrical conductors, hydraulic
conduits, and/or fiber optic cables that can be used to power and
operate the downhole equipment 230. These communication lines 211
may also be encapsulated inside the suspension line 207 for
protection. The suspension line 207 may not require any internal
pressure compensation. There may also be an emergency disconnect
function to disconnect the suspension line 207 from the downhole
equipment 230 in the event that the downhole equipment 230 or
suspension line 207 is stuck downhole and cannot be retrieved
during installation and retrieval. Alternative embodiments may
comprise more than one suspension line 207 and multiple
communication lines 211.
[0030] Also in this embodiment, the production tree 210 includes an
annulus bypass 222 such that the annular area surrounding the
production tubing 208 is in fluid communication with the vertical
bore of the production tree 210 above the tubing hanger 204. The
annulus bypass 222 may optionally include one or more valves
228.
[0031] The suspension and power system also includes at least one
power penetrator 203 is laterally coupled to the suspension and
power system. The power penetrator 203 can be deployed by remotely
operated vehicle. The power penetrator 203 is used for connecting
an external power source 232 with the downhole equipment 230 in
power communication through the communication lines 211.
[0032] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the power
penetrator 203 is shown laterally coupling to the adaptor spool 224
at about a 90.degree. angle with respect to the production bore.
However, the power penetrator 203 can be laterally coupled to the
equipment at any angle. As shown, the power penetrator 203 couples
to the suspension apparatus 206 through the production tree 210.
The suspension line 207 runs from the suspension apparatus 206 down
the well through the production tubing 208. Various electrical
connections for the communications lines 211 may be used as known
to those skilled in the art as appropriate.
[0033] FIG. 3 is an illustrative embodiment of a subsea production
system 301 including a subsea vertical production tree 310 attached
above a high pressure wellhead housing 316. The production system
301 also includes a downhole equipment suspension and power
system.
[0034] A tubing hanger 304 is landed in the high pressure wellhead
housing 316. The tubing hanger 304 supports production tubing 308
which extends into the well. A production casing may surround the
production tubing 308 in one embodiment of the invention, creating
an annular space.
[0035] The downhole equipment suspension and power system includes
a suspension apparatus 306 supported by an adaptor spool 324. The
adaptor spool 324 is landed above the subsea production tree 310.
The adaptor spool 324 can be installed prior to, during, or after
the well is completed. As an example, the suspension apparatus 306
shown is a cable hanger which lands and locks into the adaptor
spool 324 below an environmental barrier 309. An intervention
blowout preventer and intervention riser 326 are located above the
adaptor spool 324.
[0036] The downhole equipment suspension and power system also
includes downhole equipment 330 installed in the production tubing
308. The downhole equipment may be any type of equipment. For
example, the downhole equipment 330 may include a pump operated by
electrical power, hydraulic power, or both electrical and hydraulic
power. The downhole equipment 330 may be installed with the
production tubing 308 or after the production tubing 308 is
installed.
[0037] The downhole equipment suspension and power system also
includes a suspension line 307 that extends through the production
bores of the production tree 310 and the tubing hanger 304 and
suspends downhole equipment 330 from the suspension apparatus 306.
The suspension line 307 may be any line appropriate for
load-bearing suspension of the downhole equipment 330, e.g., coiled
tubing, tubing, pipe, etc. Included within or run with the
suspension line 307 may also be one or more communication lines 311
that may include one or more of electrical conductors, hydraulic
conduits, and/or fiber optic cables that can be used to power and
operate the downhole equipment 330. These communication lines 311
may also be encapsulated inside the suspension line 307 for
protection. The suspension line 307 may not require any internal
pressure compensation. There may also be an emergency disconnect
function to disconnect the suspension line 307 from the downhole
equipment 330 in the event that the downhole equipment 330 or
suspension line 307 is stuck downhole and cannot be retrieved
during installation and retrieval. Alternative embodiments may
comprise more than one suspension line 307 and multiple
communication lines 311.
[0038] Also in this embodiment, the subsea production tree 310
includes an annulus bypass 322, one or more valves 342 in the
vertical run of the production bore and one or more valves 344 in
the lateral production bore 327 of the tree.
[0039] The suspension and power system also includes at least one
power penetrator 303 which is laterally coupled to the suspension
and power system. The power penetrator 303 can be deployed by
remotely operated vehicle. The power penetrator 303 is used for
connecting an external power source 332 with the downhole equipment
330 in power communication through the communication lines 311.
[0040] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the power
penetrator 303 is shown penetrating the adaptor spool 324
perpendicular to the production bore in order to access the
suspension apparatus 306. However, the power penetrator 303 can be
laterally coupled through subsea equipment other than a adaptor
spool provided that the power penetrator 303 accesses the
suspension apparatus 306 laterally. In the embodiment illustrated
in FIG. 3, the power penetrator 303 is shown laterally coupled to
the adaptor spool at about a 90.degree. angle. However, the power
penetrator 303 can be laterally coupled at any angle.
[0041] As shown, the power penetrator 303 couples to the suspension
apparatus 306 through the adaptor spool 324. Seals can be provided
above and below the point where the power penetrator 303 couples to
the adaptor spool 324. These seal the adaptor spool 324 and
suspension apparatus 306 together to form a sealed enclosure
through which the power penetrator 303 couples to the suspension
apparatus 306. The suspension line 307 runs from the suspension
apparatus 306 down the well through the production tubing 308.
Various electrical connections for the communication lines 311 as
known to those skilled in the art as appropriate.
[0042] As shown as an example in FIG. 3, the subsea production tree
310 is installed directly to a high pressure wellhead housing 316.
Alternatively, the subsea production tree 310 may be installed
indirectly to the high pressure wellhead housing 316, e.g., by way
of a tubing spool.
[0043] In operation, produced fluids are pumped upward from the
well inside of the production tubing and outside of the coil tubing
and then out through the tree lateral production bore 327 below the
suspension apparatus 306. The suspension system provides the
necessary multiple environmental barriers, e.g., valves or plugs.
Power is provided to the downhole equipment through the power
penetrator 303 connection to the external power source 330, which
may provide power as electrical, hydraulic, or both through the
communication lines 311. Should the production vertical tree 310
need to be removed for service, the suspension system, including
the suspension line 307 and the downhole equipment 330 may be
removed and appropriate barriers set in place. The production
vertical tree 310 may then be removed while leaving tubing hanger
304 and production tubing 308 in place.
[0044] The various embodiments disclosed above may optionally
include a means for providing fresh or recycled lubricants, such as
oil or dielectric lubricant, to the downhole equipment.
Traditionally, downhole pump motors are less reliable than
conventional seabed pump motors and pumps because they are in
harsher environments and have not previously been able to receive
fresh or recycled lubricating oil. Embodiments of the present
invention may include means for providing fresh or recycled
lubricating oil to the downhole equipment. For instance,
embodiments of the present invention may include a hydraulic
conduit 334 routed on a path from the adaptor spool 324, or the
suspension apparatus 306, to the suspension line 307 and down to
the downhole equipment 330. Fresh oil could travel this path by
pressure and feed to the downhole equipment 330. The pressure
pushes the oil through and out of the pump motor and pumps and into
the production flow. Other embodiments could also include a closed
loop oil recycling arrangement. The closed loop arrangement could
be used to deliver oil to the pump motor and pumps, receive the oil
back and circulate through an oil recycling process facility
located on the adaptor spool 324.
[0045] Providing fresh or recycled lubricating oil to the downhole
equipment extends the life of the downhole equipment, resulting in
cost efficiencies. An apparatus for providing fresh and/or recycled
lubricating oil to the downhole equipment may be incorporated in
any embodiment of the disclosed invention. For instance, the
apparatus for providing fresh and/or recycled lubricating oil may
be incorporated in any embodiment of this disclosure, including
those illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, and any other combinations
of the disclosure.
[0046] The present disclosure provides for flexibility in
installation. As discussed above, there are various options for
configuration and the use of multiple components. For instance, the
tubing hanger can be landed in the production member (e.g., tree,
high pressure wellhead housing, etc.) or in a spool or head. In
addition, the suspension apparatus can be landed in the production
trees or in a adaptor spool. Further, the power penetrator may be
laterally coupled to the production member or to the adaptor
spool.
[0047] The present disclosure allows for the addition of downhole
equipment, e.g., an ESP, to an existing well without having to pull
the tree or tubing hanger and make modification. This provides a
safe and cost-effective way to add the downhole equipment when
eventually needed due to one or more valves being located above the
suspension apparatus, e.g., cable hanger, and the fact that the
power can be turned on to the ESP with a barrier in place above the
production tree, such as an intervention riser or blowout preventer
stack.
[0048] 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.
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