METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DEPLOYMENT OF TUBING STRINGS FOR RISER-LESS APPLICATIONS
The disclosed embodiments include a tubing deployment system. In one embodiment, the tubing deployment system includes a first tubing string having a first weightable collar. The tubing deployment system also includes a second tubing string having a second weightable collar. The first weightable collar and the second weightable collar each includes an interlocking locking member and a plurality of receivers spaced radially about an external surface of the respective weightable collar, where each of the plurality of receivers is configured to receive a weight.
The present disclosure relates generally to continuous tubing deployment systems and methods to deploy multiple continuous tubing strings.
Riser pipes are often used in subsea drilling and intervention operations to connect subsea wells or pipelines to vessels or mobile offshore platforms or vessels (collectively referred to as platforms). More particularly, sections of riser pipes are connected together to form a conduit between a subsea well structures and the platforms. The conduit provides a flow path for fluids and particulates to travel from the platforms down to the subsea well, and provides a return flow path for hydrocarbon resources to travel from the subsea well to the platforms, where the hydrocarbon resources are extracted.
As hydrocarbon resources are discovered at greater sea depth, additional sections of riser pipes are used to connect the subsea wells to platforms, thereby greatly increasing material costs of the riser pipes and prolonging the installation and uninstallation processes. Further, once deployed, the riser pipes form a semi-permanent fixture, and may not be quickly or easily disconnected from the platforms. However, ocean weather conditions are often unpredictable and severe, in certain adverse weather conditions, such as, but not limited to hurricanes, tsunamis, and maelstroms, it may be desirable for platforms to quickly disengage from the riser pipes. In response to the foregoing shortcomings of riser pipes, tubing strings, such as coiled tubing, have been used as an alternative for riser pipes in subsea pipeline and intervention operations. Deployment and recovery of tubing strings is faster than the installation process of riser pipes. Further, the material cost of tubing strings is also less than riser pipes.
Illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein, and wherein:
The illustrated figures are only exemplary and are not intended to assert or imply any limitation with regard to the environment, architecture, design, or process in which different embodiments may be implemented.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe present disclosure relates to a tubing deployment system, a method to secure multiple tubing strings, and a weightable collar. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a tubing deployment system having a first tubing string having a first weightable collar and a second tubing string having a second weightable collar. The system facilitates the deployment of two or more strings of coiled tubing in, for example, pipeline intervention applications, and enhances the ability to prevent twisting or binding, and to extract tubing strings from a subsea environment. As such, each of the first weightable collar and the second weightable collar includes an interlocking mechanism and a plurality of receivers spaced radially about an external surface of the collar. The interlocking mechanism of each collar engages a complementary interlocking mechanism on an adjacent collar, thereby orienting the collars and their associating tubing strings with respect to each other. Each of the plurality of receivers is configured to receive a weight to facilitate deployment of the tubing string to which it is coupled.
Referring generally to the operation of subsea pipelines or wells, a platform or support structure may include a vessel or a floating rig (platform). The platform is often deployed offshore to excavate hydrocarbon resources trapped in underwater formations. Multiple tubing strings may be deployed from the platform at sea level to connect to a tie-in point such as a subsea well. Fluids and particulates may flow from the platform, through the tubing strings, into a subsea manifold, and hydrocarbon resources may flow from the subsea manifold, through the tubing strings, to the platform, where the hydrocarbon resources are collected. Different tubing strings may be deployed to form conduits and return conduits for wellbore fluids including hydrocarbon resources, as well as other types of fluids and/or particulates that may be pumped through the tubing strings. The tubing strings may be rapidly deployed, thereby reducing setup time. The tubing strings may also be rapidly retracted once well operations are complete or in presence of adverse weather conditions.
In an illustrative embodiment, a tubing deployment system facilitates deployment of multiple tubing strings. More particularly, the tubing deployment system prevents different tubing strings from becoming entangled. The tubing deployment system also inhibits undesirable motion caused by underwater environmental conditions, such as buoyancy, underwater currents, and other types of environmental conditions that the tubing strings may experience during deployment. The tubing deployment system includes at least one clamp assembly to clamp multiple tubing strings together. The tubing deployment system also includes at least one weightable collar with receiving slots (receivers). In some embodiments, receivers are spaced radially about the weightable collar to receive weights such as clump weights. The weights may be selected to have different weights based on the material strength of the tubing string and the amount of downward force desired in consideration of the subsea environment. In some embodiments, the weightable collar includes an interlocking mechanism to secure the weightable collar to another weightable collar of a nearby tubing string. Securing a weightable collar to an adjacent weightable collar effectively couples the tubing strings to which the collars are attached, thereby restricting relative motion between the tubing strings. In some embodiments, multiple weightable collars, each containing weights, are deployed at different depths to secure the tubing strings at intervals along the tubing strings.
Turning now to the figures,
The first and second tubing strings 108A and 108B form conduits connecting the platform 101 to the manifold 114 to provide a return flow path for hydrocarbon resources. Weightable collars 102, which may include clump weight housings, are deployed at different depths to inhibit undesired motion due to underwater environmental conditions, as previously discussed. The weightable collars 102 are coupled to the first and second tubing strings 108A and 108B and interlocked to stabilize the first and second tubing strings 108A and 108B individually and relative to each other.
In some embodiments, additional tubing strings (not shown) may be deployed from the platform 101 or from a nearby vessel (not shown). In such embodiments, the additional tubing strings may also connect to the manifold 114 to provide flow paths for pumped fluids or to provide return flow paths for hydrocarbon resources. The additional tubing strings may be secured by additional weightable collars that are interlocked to the weightable collars 102 illustrated in
The tubing deployment system 200 also includes a first deflector 210A and a second deflector 210B overlying to the first and second weightable collars 202A and 202B. The first and second deflectors 210A and 210B are configured to help guide the tubing strings 108A and 108B and to allow individual tubing strings to be separately manipulated. The deflectors 210A and 210B may also act as a shroud or shield to protect the adjacent weightable collars 202A and 202B from debris or impact from external objects.
In some embodiments, the first and second tubing strings 108A and 108B are coupled to a first clamp assembly 212 and a second clamp assembly 214. The first and second clamp assemblies 212 and 214 include extension portions such as extension rods, cords, articulated chains, or similar connecting members that extend from the first tubing string 108A to the second tubing string 108B, and clamps configured to secure the first and second tubing strings 108A and 108B to the first and second clamp assemblies 212 and 214. In some embodiments, each of the clamp assemblies 212 and 214 has a clamping member that forms a fixed interface with the first tubing 108A. In some embodiments, each of the clamp assemblies 212 and 214 also has a vertically compliant interface with the second tubing string 108B, which allows freedom of motion in a vertical or axial direction. In one of such embodiments, the vertically compliant interface is an articulated chain-type collar, where each link of the collar includes one or more ball bearings or rollers to provide the second tubing string 108B with freedom of motion in the vertical direction.
In some embodiments, the tubing deployment system 200 may include additional clamp assemblies, deflectors, and weightable collars to secure the first and second tubing strings 108A and 108B and to counteract adverse environmental conditions. Furthermore, the tubing deployment system 200 may also include additional clamp assemblies, deflectors, and weightable collars to secure additional tubing strings (not shown) that are deployed by the platform 101 or by a nearby vessel. Additional details of the weightable collars 202A and 202B and the clamp assemblies 212 and 214 are described in the following paragraphs and are illustrated in at least
In the embodiment illustrated in
The second weightable collar 202B, similar to the first weightable collar 202A, also includes a hollow interior, a mechanism to secure the second tubing string 108B, receivers 204 for receiving the weights 220, and a second interlocking member 206B. The first and second interlocking members 206A and 206B may be coupled to each other to join the first and second weightable collars 202A and 202B. Once coupled, the first and second interlocking members 206A and 206B may also be released to disengage the first and second weightable collars 202A and 202B from each other. In the embodiment illustrated in
In an exemplary embodiment, the shear pin 208 is selected to have a predetermined yield strength that results in failure in response to the failure of one of the tubing strings 108A or 108B. For example, if one of the tubing strings 108A or 108B fails when both the first and second interlocking members 206A and 206B are engaged, the weight of the failed tubing string 108A or 108B together with the combined weight of the weightable collars 202A and 202B may cause the other tubing string 108A or 108B to eventually fail. In such an embodiment, the shear pin 208 is manufactured to have a yield strength that is less than the force that would be exerted on to the shear pin 208 due to failure of one of the first or second tubing strings 108A or 108B. In such an example, the shear pin 208 would fail as a result of the force generated by the failed tubing string (108A or 108B) force, thereby allowing the first and second interlocking members 206A and 206B to disengage from each other, and mitigating the risk that failure of (for example) the first tubing string 108A will result in failure of the second tubing string 108B. Additional embodiments of the first and second weightable collars 202A and 202B are described in the following paragraphs and are illustrated in at least
The first and second weightable collars 302A and 302B also include the first and second interlocking members 306A and 306B. The first and second interlocking members 306A and 306B include hollow passages that may be aligned when the first and second weightable collars 302A and 302B are engaged along an engagement surface 309 to allow a shear pin 308 to slide into both hollow passages to couple the first and second interlocking members 306A and 306B. In some embodiments, the hollow passage of the first and second interlocking members 306A and 306B contain internal threads. In such embodiments, the shear pin 308 includes external threads and is rotatable about an axis that is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the first and second tubing strings 108A and 108B to engage the internal threads of the hollow passages to engage the first and second interlocking members 306A and 306B. The shear pin 308 can be removed from the hollow passages of the first and second interlocking members 306A and 306B to disengage the first and second weightable collars 302A and 302B.
In some embodiments, each of the weightable collars 302A and 302B includes additional interlocks that are configured to engage the interlocks of additional weightable collars. Although each of the weightable collars 302A and 302B illustrated in
The second extendable member 403B is connected to a second clamp 408 that is operable to engage the second tubing string 108B. When both the first and second tubing strings 108A and 108B are engaged, and one of the first or second tubing string 108A or 108B fails, the weight of the failed tubing string 108A or 108B may cause the other tubing string to also fail. To prevent such sequential failure, the second clamp 408 may be fitted with ball bearings 410. When the second clamp 408 is in the engage position, the second clamp 408 wraps around the second tubing string 108B, thereby inhibiting horizontal motion of the second tubing string 108B. However, the ball bearings 410 provide the second tubing string 108B with freedom of motion in the vertical direction. As such, if the second tubing string 108B fails, the second tubing string 108B would slide through the second clamp 408 without overloading and inducing failure of the first tubing string 108A.
In some embodiments, the second clamp is fitted with rollers. The rollers, similar to the ball bearings 410, also provide the second tubing string 108B with freedom of motion in the vertical direction. In some embodiments, the clamp assembly 400 includes additional sections with additional clamps (not shown) that are operable to engage additional tubing strings. In some embodiments, both the first and the second clamps 406 and 408 include ball bearings or rollers to allow vertical motion of the first and second tubing strings 108A and 108B. In further embodiments, both the first and the second clamps 406 and 408 are operable to tightly grip the first and second tubing strings 108A and 108B, respectively, to fixedly secure the clamp assembly 400 to the first and second tubing strings 108A and 108B. In some embodiments, multiple clamp assemblies are deployed at different depths to engage both the first and second tubing strings 108A and 108B. The number of clamp assemblies deployed as well as the locations of deployment may be based on the depth of the manifold 114, the number of tubing strings deployed, and environmental conditions proximate to the deployed tubing strings 108A and 108B.
The above-disclosed embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the disclosure, but the disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the forms disclosed. Many insubstantial modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. For instance, although the flowcharts depict a serial process, some of the steps/processes may be performed in parallel or out of sequence, or combined into a single step/process. The scope of the claims is intended to broadly cover the disclosed embodiments and any such modification. Further, the following clauses represent additional embodiments of the disclosure and should be considered within the scope of the disclosure:
Clause 1: a tubing deployment system comprising a first tubing string having a first weightable collar; and a second tubing string having a second weightable collar, wherein each of the first weightable collar and second weightable collar comprises an interlocking member and a plurality of receivers spaced radially about an external surface of the weightable collar, each of the plurality of receivers being configured to receive a weight.
Clause 2: the system of clause 1, further comprising a clamping member having a fixed interface with the first tubing string, the fixed interface comprising a clamp.
Clause 3: the system of any combination of clauses 1 and 2, comprising a clamping member having a vertically compliant interface with the second tubing string.
Clause 4: the system of any combination of clauses 1-3, wherein the vertically compliant interface comprises an articulated chain.
Clause 5: the system of any combination of clauses 1-4, wherein each link of the articulated chain comprises one or more ball bearings.
Clause 6: the system of any combination of clauses 1-5, wherein each link of the articulated chain comprises one or more rollers.
Clause 7: the system of any combination of clauses 1-6, further comprising a first deflector overlying to the plurality of receivers of the first weightable collar and coupled to the first tubing string, and a second deflector overlying to the plurality of receivers of the second weightable collar and coupled to the second tubing string.
Clause 8: the system of any combination of clauses 1-7, wherein the interlocking member of the first weightable collar and the interlocking member of the second weightable collar are engagable along an engagement surface to secure the interlocking member of the first weightable collar to the interlocking member of the second weightable collar.
Clause 9: the system of any combination of clauses 1-8, further comprising a pinned coupling, wherein the first interlocking member is secured to the second interlocking member by a shear pin.
Clause 10: the system of any combination of clauses 1-9, further comprising: a first clamping member having a fixed interface with the first tubing string, the fixed interface comprising a clamp; a second clamping member having a vertically compliant interface with the second tubing string; a first deflector overlying to the plurality of receivers of the first weightable collar and coupled to the first tubing string; and a second deflector overlying to the plurality of receivers of the second weightable collar and coupled to the second tubing string, wherein the first interlocking member of the first weightable collar extends from the first weightable collar and the interlocking member of the second weightable collar extends from the second weightable collar.
Clause 11: the system of any combination of clauses 1-10, further comprising a releasable coupling between the interlocking members of the first and the second weightable collars.
Clause 12: a weightable collar, the weightable collar comprising: a hollow interior for receiving a tubing string; an interlocking mechanism; and a plurality of receivers spaced radially about an external surface of the weightable collar, each receiver of the plurality of receivers being configured to receive a weight.
Clause 13: the weightable collar of clause 12, wherein the weight is radially and inwardly inserted within a receiver of the plurality of receivers.
Clause 14: the weightable collar of any combination of the clauses 12 and 13, wherein the receiver comprises a securing mechanism configured to engage the inserted weight.
Clause 15: the weightable collar of any combination of the clauses 12 and 14, wherein the weight is radially and downwardly inserted into one or more receivers of the plurality of receivers.
Clause 16: the weightable collar of any combination of the clauses 12-15, wherein the interlocking mechanism is configured to engage an adjacent interlocking mechanism of an adjacent weightable collar.
Clause 17: the weightable collar of any combination of the clauses 12-16, wherein the interlocking mechanism comprises a shear pin to engage the adjacent interlocking mechanism.
Clause 18: a method of securing at least two tubing strings, the method comprising: attaching the first tubing string to a first weightable collar, the first weightable collar comprising an interlocking member and a plurality of receivers spaced radially about an external surface of the first weightable collar, each of the plurality of receivers being configured to receive a weight; attaching a second tubing string to a second weightable collar, the second weightable collar comprising an interlocking member and a plurality of receivers spaced radially about an external surface of the second weightable collar, each of the plurality of receivers being configured to receive a weight; inserting at least one weight into one or more of the plurality of receivers of the first weightable collar and the second weightable collar; and engaging the first interlocking member with the second interlocking member.
Clause 19: the method of clause 18, further comprising: engaging a first deflector to the first tubing string, the first deflector overlying to the plurality of receivers of the first weightable collar and coupled to the first tubing string; and engaging a second deflector to the second tubing string, the second deflector overlying to the plurality of receivers of the second weightable collar and coupled to the second tubing string.
Clause 20: the method of any combination of clauses 18 and 19, wherein each of the first and second interlocking members comprises a hollow passage, and wherein engaging the first interlocking member with the second interlocking member further comprises: engaging the first and second interlocking members along an engagement surface to align the hollow passages of the first and second interlocking members; and inserting a shear pin through the hollow passages of the first and second interlocking members.
As used herein, a “platform” is defined to include oil rigs, vessels, and any other support structure operable to deploy tubing strings in a subsea environment.
As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification and/or the claims, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. In addition, the steps and components described in the above embodiments and figures are merely illustrative and do not imply that any particular step or component is a requirement of a claimed embodiment.
It should be apparent from the foregoing that embodiments of an invention having significant advantages have been provided. While the embodiments are shown in only a few forms, the embodiments are not limited but are susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.
Claims
1. A tubing deployment system comprising:
- a first tubing string having a first weightable collar; and
- a second tubing string having a second weightable collar,
- wherein each of the first weightable collar and second weightable collar comprises: an interlocking member and a plurality of receivers spaced radially about an external surface of the weightable collar, each of the plurality of receivers being configured to receive a weight.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a clamping member having a fixed interface with the first tubing string, the fixed interface comprising a clamp.
3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a clamping member having a vertically compliant interface with the second tubing string.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the vertically compliant interface comprises an articulated chain.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein each link of the articulated chain comprises one or more ball bearings.
6. The system of claim 4, wherein each link of the articulated chain comprises one or more rollers.
7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first deflector overlying to the plurality of receivers of the first weightable collar and coupled to the first tubing string, and a second deflector overlying to the plurality of receivers of the second weightable collar and coupled to the second tubing string.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the interlocking member of the first weightable collar and the interlocking member of the second weightable collar are engagable along an engagement surface to secure the interlocking member of the first weightable collar to the interlocking member of the second weightable collar.
9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a pinned coupling, wherein the first interlocking member is secured to the second interlocking member by a shear pin.
10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a first clamping member having a fixed interface with the first tubing string, the fixed interface comprising a clamp;
- a second clamping member having a vertically compliant interface with the second tubing string;
- a first deflector overlying to the plurality of receivers of the first weightable collar and coupled to the first tubing string; and
- a second deflector overlying to the plurality of receivers of the second weightable collar and coupled to the second tubing string,
- wherein the first interlocking member of the first weightable collar extends from the first weightable collar and the interlocking member of the second weightable collar extends from the second weightable collar.
11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a releasable coupling between the interlocking members of the first and the second weightable collars.
12. A weightable collar, the weightable collar comprising:
- a hollow interior for receiving a tubing string;
- an interlocking mechanism; and
- a plurality of receivers spaced radially about an external surface of the weightable collar, each receiver of the plurality of receivers being configured to receive a weight.
13. The weightable collar of claim 12, wherein the weight is radially and inwardly inserted within a receiver of the plurality of receivers.
14. The weightable collar of claim 13, wherein the receiver comprises a securing mechanism configured to engage the inserted weight.
15. The weightable collar of claim 12, wherein the weight is radially and downwardly inserted into one or more receivers of the plurality of receivers.
16. The weightable collar of claim 12, wherein the interlocking mechanism is configured to engage an adjacent interlocking mechanism of an adjacent weightable collar.
17. The weightable collar of claim 16, wherein the interlocking mechanism comprises a shear pin to engage the adjacent interlocking mechanism.
18. A method of securing at least two tubing strings, the method comprising:
- attaching the first tubing string to a first weightable collar, the first weightable collar comprising an interlocking member and a plurality of receivers spaced radially about an external surface of the first weightable collar, each of the plurality of receivers being configured to receive a weight;
- attaching a second tubing string to a second weightable collar, the second weightable collar comprising an interlocking member and a plurality of receivers spaced radially about an external surface of the second weightable collar, each of the plurality of receivers being configured to receive a weight;
- inserting at least one weight into one or more of the plurality of receivers of the first weightable collar and the second weightable collar; and
- engaging the first interlocking member with the second interlocking member.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
- engaging a first deflector to the first tubing string, the first deflector overlying to the plurality of receivers of the first weightable collar and coupled to the first tubing string; and
- engaging a second deflector to the second tubing string, the second deflector overlying to the plurality of receivers of the second weightable collar and coupled to the second tubing string.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the first and second interlocking members comprises a hollow passage, and wherein engaging the first interlocking member with the second interlocking member further comprises:
- engaging the first and second interlocking members along an engagement surface to align the hollow passages of the first and second interlocking members; and
- inserting a shear pin through the hollow passages of the first and second interlocking members.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 21, 2015
Publication Date: Sep 20, 2018
Inventors: Alan Charles John TURNER (Aberdeenshire), Richard Ian GILLINGS (Aberdeen), Duncan Forbes HAY (Aberdeenshire)
Application Number: 15/755,463