US4848475A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sea bed process complex
Assignee: BP PLC
•
Filing: 1988-03-24
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Granted: 1989-07-18
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Expires: 2008-03-24
Abstract
Abstract A sea bed oil producing and processing complex has a template with three bays housing pairs of modules, viz, well, gas and oil production modules. The complex includes a separator for separating oil and gas and a pump for the produced oil, and bars having pipework to carry fluids between the pairs of modules and to despatch separated gas and oil. Saddles may carry fluids across between individual modules of a pair and the complex may have facilities for artificial lift, water injection, chemical fluid injection and for test fluids. Multiples of the three bays and pairs of modules may be within a single template and a number of modules may surround a central piping template. The complex can be services and maintained in a diverless mode using a monohull vessel and an ROV.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan J. Dean
- 👤 Hans P. Hopper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:46
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/34; E21B43/36; E21B34/00; E21B34/02; E21B34/025; E21B43/01; E21B43/017
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A sea bed oil producing and processing complex comprising (i) three rectangular bays housing pairs of modules, which are (a) a well bay housing a well module and a well choke module, (b) a gas production bay housing a gas production module and a second gas module, and (c) an oil production bay housing an oil production module and a pump module, said bays being positioned side-by-side, with the longer sides of the rectangles adjacent so that the well module, gas production module and oil production module are in a line at right angles to the length of the bays and well choke module, second gas module and pump module are similarly in line at right angles to the length of the bays, (ii) a separator and pump for separating oil and gas and pumping separated oil, (iii) a piping bar connecting the well choke module, second gas module and pump module, said bar being at right angles to the length of the bays, and (iv) a gas piping bar parallel to the length of the gas production bay for the despatch of separated gas, and an oil piping bar parallel to the length of the oil production bay for the despatch of separated oil.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
A sea bed oil producing and processing complex comprising (i) three rectangular bays housing pairs of modules, which are (a) a well bay housing a well module and a well choke module, (b) a gas production bay housing a gas production module and a second gas module, and (c) an oil production bay housing an oil production module and a pump module, said bays being positioned side-by-side, with the longer sides of the rectangles adjacent so that the well module, gas production module and oil production module are in a line at right angles to the length of the bays and well choke module, second gas module and pump module are similarly in line at right angles to the length of the bays, (ii) a separator and pump for separating oil and gas and pumping separated oil, (iii) a piping bar connecting the well choke module, second gas module and pump module, said bar being at right angles to the length of the bays, and (iv) a gas piping bar parallel to the length of the gas production bay for the despatch of separated gas, and an oil piping bar parallel to the length of the oil production bay for the despatch of separated oil.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sea bed complex as claimed in claim 1 wherein the well choke, gas production and oil production modules are each formed of a lower block and an upper block with an upper cap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A sea bed complex as claimed in claim 1 wherein a saddle carries pipework across each of the pairs of well, gas production and oil production modules.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sea bed complex as claimed in claim 1 having a control tray for feeding power and signals to the complex.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A sea bed complex as claimed in claim 1 wherein the separator is in the sea bed below the oil production pump module.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A sea bed complex as claimed in claim 1 having facilities for artificial lift, water injection, chemical fluid injection and for test fluid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A sea bed complex as claimed in claim 6 wherein the artificial lift and water injection facilities are in the second gas module.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sea bed complex as claimed in claim 1 wherein the complex has multiples of the three bays and pairs of modules.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A sea bed complex as claimed in claim 1 wherein a number of complexes are situated around a piping template.
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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) | 1992-07-17 | 1993-01-16 | 1993-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-17 | 1997-01-16 | 1997-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-17 | 2001-01-16 | 2001-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |