US3777812A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Subsea production system
Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
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Filing: 1971-11-26
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Granted: 1973-12-11
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Expires: 1991-11-26
Abstract
Abstract A submergible template structure is completely equipped with manifolding for handling well production fluids, gas injection and well maintenance with through-the-flowline (TFL) pumpdown tools. The template is designed to contain a number of clustered wells and is provided with a pollution control system, electrohydraulic power source and an unmanned manipulator unit capable of traveling on a track arranged on the template for specific maintenance work on valves, control pods, pipe sections, etc. The template is furnished power and control through an electrical cable laid to a remote surface power source. Pipelines connect the template manifolding to remote gathering terminals. The template structure and the manifolding are disconnectable and reconnectable in sections for removal, repair and replacement of damaged sections. The template structure is completely equipped at the surface and then lowered to the sea floor using lines and controlled buoyancy. Once on bottom, the template is leveled and piles driven to anchor it. Wells are drilled from floating rigs and the wellheads are grouped together on the template. Christmas trees are lowered and connected to the wellheads and to the manifolding. Basic well maintenance is performed with TFL equipment although the wells may be re-entered vertically from a floating rig when necessary. All valves are hydraulic fail-safe and manual valves in the manifold are operable by the manipulator unit. The manipulator is lowered to the track and positioned where desired when performing operation of the valves or basic maintenance on the valves and manifold.
Inventors
- 👤 J Burkhardt
- 👤 T Childers
- 👤 R Koerner
- 👤 J Mason
- 👤 D Tidwell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:52
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/01; E21B43/017; E21B43/0175; E21B41/00; E21B41/04; E21B41/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A subsea oil and/or gas production system comprising: a template including a base support structure and an upper support structure; a plurality of spaced apart well bays arranged on said upper support structure; a track arranged on said upper support structure about said well bays; a manifold system arranged on said upper support structure looping said well bays; first disconnect-reconnect means located at selected points on said manifold system to permit selective removal and replacement of sections of said manifold system; said upper support structure being formed in disconnectablereconnectable sections to permit selective removal and replacement of sections of said upper support structure; said track being formed in disconnectable-reconnectable sections to permit selective removal and replacement of sections of said track; a wellhead in each of said well bays; a christmas tree mounted on each of said wellheads; a production manifold section connecting each christmas tree to said manifold system; each production manifold section including a plurality of removable and replaceable valves for use in controlling flow of fluids through said production manifold section; and a manipulator unit capable of traversing said track and accessible to said reconnect-disconnect means for operation of said reconnect-disconnect means, said manipulator unit also being accessible to said valves for removal and replacement of said valves.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
A subsea oil and/or gas production system comprising: a template including a base support structure and an upper support structure; a plurality of spaced apart well bays arranged on said upper support structure; a track arranged on said upper support structure about said well bays; a manifold system arranged on said upper support structure looping said well bays; first disconnect-reconnect means located at selected points on said manifold system to permit selective removal and replacement of sections of said manifold system; said upper support structure being formed in disconnectablereconnectable sections to permit selective removal and replacement of sections of said upper support structure; said track being formed in disconnectable-reconnectable sections to permit selective removal and replacement of sections of said track; a wellhead in each of said well bays; a christmas tree mounted on each of said wellheads; a production manifold section connecting each christmas tree to said manifold system; each production manifold section including a plurality of removable and replaceable valves for use in controlling flow of fluids through said production manifold section; and a manipulator unit capable of traversing said track and accessible to said reconnect-disconnect means for operation of said reconnect-disconnect means, said manipulator unit also being accessible to said valves for removal and replacement of said valves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A subsea production system as recited in claim 1 in which said base support structure is located on the sea bottom and extends to an elevation at least sufficient to permit piping connected to said manifold system to extEnd under said track.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A subsea production system as recited in claim 2 in which said manifold system includes two large production headers and three smaller service headers, two of said service headers being capable of servicing wells by TFL techniques and the other service header being capable of servicing wells for gas-lift operations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A subsea production system as recited in claim 3 in which said removable and replaceable valves include two TFL wing valves and a production wing valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A subsea production system as recited in claim 4 including removable and replaceable electric power, hydraulic power, and block valve units arranged on said upper support structure along the outer perimeter of said track.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A subsea production system as recited in claim 5 including electro-hydraulic pods associated with each christmas tree and mounted on said upper support structure for controlling operation of the well to which said christmas tree is connected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A subsea production system as recited in claim 6 including a scraper pigging system arranged in said manifold system.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
257 words
A method of assembly of a subsea well fluid production system comprising the steps of: assembling at the surface of the sea a template including a base support structure containing a plurality of well bays and an upper support structure mounted thereon, said upper support structure supporting a track arranged about said well bays and a manifold system looping said well bays, said manifold system and said upper support structure and said track being formed so as to permit selective removal and replacement of sections thereof, said manifold system including removable and replaceable valves for controlling production of the well and servicing of the well and maintenance of the well, said upper support structure supporting outside said track electric, hydraulic, and block valve units removable from and replaceable on said upper support structure, said manifold system containing removable and replaceable pods for controlling operation of the valves; lowering said template and said equipment supported thereon to the sea bottom; drilling a hole and setting well pipes; running and setting a christmas tree on said well; connecting said christmas tree to said manifold system; connecting said manifold system to a pipeline; perforating said well; lowering to said track a manipulator capable of disconnecting and reconnecting components of said subsea production system including sections of said manifold system and said removable and replaceable units and of removing and replacing said valves; positioning said manipulator adjacent one of said valves to be removed; removing said one valve by said manipulator; and replacing said valve by said manipulator with another valve.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
257 words
A method of assembly of a subsea well fluid production system comprising the steps of: assembling at the surface of the sea a template including a base support structure containing a plurality of well bays and an upper support structure mounted thereon, said upper support structure supporting a track arranged about said well bays and a manifold system looping said well bays, said manifold system and said upper support structure and said track being formed so as to permit selective removal and replacement of sections thereof, said manifold system including removable and replaceable valves for controlling production of the well and servicing of the well and maintenance of the well, said upper support structure supporting outside said track electric, hydraulic, and block valve units removable from and replaceable on said upper support structure, said manifold system containing removable and replaceable pods for controlling operation of the valves; lowering said template and said equipment supported thereon to the sea bottom; drilling a hole and setting well pipes; running and setting a christmas tree on said well; connecting said christmas tree to said manifold system; connecting said manifold system to a pipeline; perforating said well; lowering to said track a manipulator capable of disconnecting and reconnecting components of said subsea production system including sections of said manifold system and said removable and replaceable units and of removing and replacing said valves; positioning said manipulator adjacent one of said valves to be removed; removing said one valve by said manipulator; and replacing said valve by said manipulator with another valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 8 including positioning said manipulator adjacent a component to be removed, and operating said manipulator to disconnect said component from said subsea production system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as recited in claim 9 including lifting said diconnected component to the surface, repairing or replacing said component, returning said component to its initial position, and then operating said manipulator to reconnect said component into said subsea production system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 9 including removing said disconnected component by said manipulator and replacing said component by said manipulator and then operating said manipulator to reconnect said replaced component into said subsea production system.
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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) | 1976-12-10 | 1977-06-11 | 1977-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-10 | 1981-06-11 | 1981-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-10 | 1985-06-11 | 1985-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |