US3602302A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil production system
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1969-11-10
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Granted: 1971-08-31
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Expires: 1989-11-10
Abstract
Abstract An elongated floating vessel in the form of a large fluid capacity barge has a swivel near the forward end thereof which passes down through the vessel and is securely moored to the water bottom so that the barge may weathervane about the swivel. The barge carries oil production equipment for processing well fluid. A plurality of flexible flow lines extend down through the swivel to connect with a plurality of individual wellheads, or with one or more central manifolds on the water bottom. Servicing of the individual wells is made possible by apparatus on the swivel which allows for selective well testing and selective well access for a full range of pump down tool techniques.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles S Kluth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:10
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B21/00; B63B21/50; B63B21/507; E; E21; E21B; E21B23/00; E21B23/08; E21B23/12; E21B33/00; E21B33/02; E21B33/03; E21B33/068; E21B33/076; E21B43/00; E21B43/01; E21B43/017; E21B43/0175; B63B35/00; B63B35/44; B63B2035/448
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
Offshore oil production apparatus comprising a. an elongated vessel having a well extending vertically therethrough to below the vessel''s waterline; b. swivel means positioned within said well, and including a swivel platform at the upper portion thereof; c. means for mooring said swivel means to the bottom of a body of water; d. oil production equipment carried by said vessel; e. said vessel including storage tanks for receiving the output of said oil producing equipment, a test separator and metering station, and a pumping station; f. a plurality of flexible fluid carrying lines for connection to a plurality of underwater oil wells, said flexible fluid carrying lines extending up through said swivel means to said swivel platform; g. means for inserting tool strings into selected one of said flexible fluid carrying lines; h. flow control means i. for selectively connecting individual ones of said flexible fluid carrying lines with said test separator and metering station for placing individual ones of said underwater wells on test, and ii. for selectively connecting individual one of said flexible fluid carrying lines with said pumping station for delivering and returning tool strings inserted into selected flexible fluid carrying lines; I. first header means for comingling produced well fluid from said underwater oil wells; and J. first conduit means for carrying said comingled well fluid to said oil production equipment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
Offshore oil production apparatus comprising a. an elongated vessel having a well extending vertically therethrough to below the vessel''s waterline; b. swivel means positioned within said well, and including a swivel platform at the upper portion thereof; c. means for mooring said swivel means to the bottom of a body of water; d. oil production equipment carried by said vessel; e. said vessel including storage tanks for receiving the output of said oil producing equipment, a test separator and metering station, and a pumping station; f. a plurality of flexible fluid carrying lines for connection to a plurality of underwater oil wells, said flexible fluid carrying lines extending up through said swivel means to said swivel platform; g. means for inserting tool strings into selected one of said flexible fluid carrying lines; h. flow control means i. for selectively connecting individual ones of said flexible fluid carrying lines with said test separator and metering station for placing individual ones of said underwater wells on test, and ii. for selectively connecting individual one of said flexible fluid carrying lines with said pumping station for delivering and returning tool strings inserted into selected flexible fluid carrying lines; I. first header means for comingling produced well fluid from said underwater oil wells; and J. first conduit means for carrying said comingled well fluid to said oil production equipment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein: A. each production line and each circulation line of each underwater well extends up through the swivel means; and which includes B. a test header and a circulation header positioned on the swivel platform; C. a first plurality of valves respectively connecting each production line with said test header; and D. a second plurality of valves respectively connecting each circulation line with said circulation header.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: A. the swivel means includes a relatively large diameter vertical tube depending from the swivel platform; and B. a plurality of relatively smaller diameter vertical tubes extending vertically within said large diameter tube; C. at least pairs of flexible fluid carrying lines extending to the swivel platform through respective ones of said smaller diameter tubes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: A. for each underwater well there is provided at least two flexible fluid carrying lines, constituting a produCtion line and a circulation line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 which includes: A. at least one underwater gathering station; B. valve connections at said gathering station for combining the production lines of a plurality of underwater wells; C. other valve connections at said gathering station for combining the circulation lines of a plurality of underwater wells; D. means connecting the combined production lines with a first one of the flexible fluid carrying lines extending up the swivel means and for connecting the combined circulation lines with a second one of the flexible fluid carrying lines extending up the swivel means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 which includes: A. a switching matrix at said gathering station for diverting tool strings into a selected one of the production lines.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein: A. the swivel means is located near the bow of the vessel, and which includes, B. crew''s living quarters situated between the swivel means and said bow.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: A. the first header means is centrally located on the swivel platform, and which includes B. a rotary pipe joint connecting the first conduit means to the first header means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein: A. the production header and circulation header are concentrically disposed about the first header.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: A. the pumping station pumps crude oil from one of the storage tanks.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein: A. the pumping station includes metering means for metering the quantity of the crude oil pumped, for determining the approximate location of a tool string in a selected one of the flexible fluid carrying lines.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 which includes: A. second and third header means; B. selected ones of said flexible fluid carrying lines being connected to said second header means; C. other ones of said flexible fluid carrying lines being connected to said third header means; D. a pair of connection means respectively connected to said second and third header means; E. a pair of hose reels each operable to wind and unwind carried hose; F. one end of the hoses from said pair of hose reels being connectable with respective ones of said pair of connection means; G. means for selectively connecting the other end of said hoses to the test separator and metering station and the pumping station.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein: A. the pair of connection means are disposed on the periphery of the swivel platform; and which includes B. a guide on said periphery of the swivel platform for receiving respective hoses from the hose reel when the vessel and swivel means relatively rotate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-30 | 1975-03-01 | 1975-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-30 | 1979-03-01 | 1979-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-30 | 1983-03-01 | 1983-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |