Abstract: The present application is directed to a subsea separator. The subsea separator suitably comprises (a) a housing having an inlet for receiving a fluid mixture, a non-gaseous fluid outlet located along the housing at a point lower than the inlet, and a gas outlet located along the housing at a point higher than the inlet; (b) a deflector means located within the housing for acting on fluid entering the housing; and (c) a sealing means in communication with the gas outlet for preventing non-gaseous fluid from exiting the housing through the gas outlet, the sealing means being operationally configured to open and seal the gas outlet based on the volume of non-gaseous fluid within the separator; wherein the separator is operationally configured to operate under a differential pressure including a greater external hydrostatic pressure than internal pressure and vice versa.

Abstract: A seafloor pump assembly is installed within a caisson that has an upper end for receiving a flow of fluid containing gas and liquid. The pump assembly is enclosed within a shroud that has an upper end that seals around the pump assembly and a lower end that is below the motor and is open. A separating device is connected to an upper end portion of the discharge pipe within the caisson. The separating device causes separation of gas from the flow containing gas and liquid to be enhanced prior to the flow reaching the operating liquid level in the caisson.

Abstract: A device for inhibiting severe slug flow in a multiphase fluid stream flowing through a pipeline and into a riser, wherein, the device is positioned immediately upstream of the riser and comprises at least one unit comprising (i) an upwardly inclined section of pipe having a lower end and an upper end and (ii) either a substantially horizontal section of pipe having a first end and a second end or a downwardly inclined section of pipe having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end of the upwardly inclined section of pipe is connected either directly or indirectly with the pipeline, the upper end of the upwardly inclined section of pipe is connected either directly or indirectly with the first end of the horizontal section of pipe or with the upper end of the downwardly inclined section of pipe, and the second end of the horizontal section of pipe or the lower end of the downwardly inclined section of pipe is connected either directly or indirectly with the riser, and wherein the angle of inclinati

Abstract: A statistical methodology is disclosed to provide time-to-event estimates for oilfield equipment. A method according to the present invention extracts unbiased information from equipment performance data and considers parameters interactions without recourse to data thinning. The analysis explicitly accounts for items of equipment that are still operational at the time of analysis. A method according to the present invention may also be utilized to apply survival analysis to any oilfield equipment components where time-to-event information has been recorded. The method of the present invention allows comparative reckoning between different components present in the system comprising several or many individual components and allows analysis of these components either individually or simultaneously, i.e., in the presence of other components.

Abstract: Techniques for separating downhole fluid from a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation are provided. These techniques may involve a cyclone separator having a housing with an intake for receiving the downhole fluid and at least one outlet, a cyclone section for rotating the downhole fluid, and an isolation plate positioned below the cyclone section. The isolation plate has a plurality of slots along a perimeter thereof positionable adjacent an inner surface of the housing for selectively passing portions of the downhole fluid out of the cyclone section. The cyclone separator further having a catching section for receiving the portions of the downhole fluid passing through the isolation plate for gravitational separation into a plurality of phases therein. The catching section has a plurality of baffles for stopping rotation of the portions of the downhole fluid.

Abstract: A system is provided for the production of heavy crude oil from an undersea reservoir, and for the treatment of the crude oil to facilitate its transport. A floating body (12) which produces the heavy crude oil, carries a hydrocarbon cracking station (32) that cracks the heavy crude into light liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons, and that uses heat resulting from the cracking to produce pressured steam. The pressured steam is used to drive a steam-powered engine (72) (with pistons or a turbine) that drives an electrical generator (74) whose electricity powers the system.

Abstract: A downhole device having an oil/water separator having a well fluid inlet, an oil stream outlet conduit, and a water stream outlet conduit; a removable flow-restrictor located in at least one of the water stream outlet conduit or the oil stream outlet conduit.

Abstract: Oceanic petroleum oil wells, though evolving over decades in technology, catastrophic events with mortality and morbidity, and damage to the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem are still threats to any ventures in this intriguing avenue. The present embodiments of inventions are directed to emergency measures to weather through adversities of some commonly encountered situations. They further include temporary and permanent reparative measures aiming at salvaging the oil well, whose work and economic involvements are far from normal dimensions. The novelty, simplicity, and workability in situations when none such consolations exist, the instant inventions are worthy of a try by all measures. The author inventor, also has to invent a suitable aphorism, to write along with: ‘When there is a thunder storm, rain or hail, a mansion may await . . . yet a shelter had to be found, even if a doll house.

Abstract: A system for continuously feeding drill cuttings extracted from a cutting source into a liquid. The system has an open bottomed vacuum hood, means for positioning the open bottom of the vacuum hood in a liquid, means for creating a vacuum in the vacuum hood, a conduit for transporting the drill cuttings from the cutting source to the open bottomed vacuum hood, from which vacuum hood the drill cuttings fall, under the influence of gravity, through the open bottom of the vacuum hood and are thereby deposited into said liquid. Embodiments include means for removing and recovering residual drilling fluids extracted with the drill cuttings, reducing the size of the drill cuttings so they may be injected into a porous earth formation, relieving choke points and blockages.

Abstract: A Vertical Annular Separation and Pumping System (VASPS) utilizing a outer annulus liquid discharge arrangement to replace a standard pump shroud associated with an electrical submersible pump. The outer annulus liquid discharge arrangement directs produced wellbore liquids around the electrical submersible pump motor to provide a cooling medium to prevent overheating and premature failure of the electrical submersible pump.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system adapted to transport two fluids and a gas comprising a nozzle comprising a first nozzle portion comprising the first fluid and the gas, and a second nozzle portion comprising the second fluid, wherein the second nozzle portion has a larger diameter than and is about the first nozzle portion; and a tubular fluidly connected to and downstream of the nozzle, the tubular comprising the first fluid and the gas in a core, and the second fluid about the core.

Abstract: A pressure driven pumping system includes a piston disposed within a first bore of a housing to separate a process chamber from a working chamber. A rod member coupled to the separating member extends into a reduced pressure chamber. The piston has a first face exposed to the process chamber and a second face exposed to the working chamber. The second face has an effective area less than an effective area of the first face. The housing may be placed in seawater at a selected depth. The process chamber can be in fluid communication with a well to pass well fluid into the process chamber at well pressure to move the piston, to discharge seawater from the seawater chamber. The working fluid, typically seawater in a subsea application, is pumped into the working chamber to move the piston, which discharges well fluid from the process chamber.

Abstract: A method for using a vessel assembly including two or more vessels in multiple drilling unit operations, the method including using a vessel in the container assembly for cuttings storage, and operating at least one vessel in the container system in at least two of a slurrification system, a drilling fluid recycling system, and a tank cleaning system.

Abstract: A cleaning magnet device (1a-1c) for cleaning drilling fluid, the cleaning magnet (1a-1c) being disposed in a liquid flow, and the cleaning magnet (1a-1c) being provided with a removable material (6) which is arranged to prevent magnetic bodies from accumulating directly on the cleaning magnet (1a-1c).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a subsea installation for treatment of hydrocarbons from a subsea well, having a pipe system comprising a first manifold (2) connected to at least one well (1) and at least two first pipe segments (3) with an inlet connected to the manifold (2) and where the first pipe segments (3) comprise at least two outlets, where the first manifold (2) and the first pipe segments (3) are arranged in a first plane and where one of the outlets from the first pipe segments leads to a second manifold (7). According to the invention a second of the outlets from the first pipe segments (3) leads to at least two second pipe segments (9) arranged in a second plane and where at least one of the outlets forms an inlet to the second pipe segments (9), where the second pipe segments (9) comprise at least one outlet leading to a third manifold (12).

Abstract: A liquid/gas separator device for separating liquid and gaseous phases of a fluid, in particular crude oil, the device comprising a network of first and second separator pipes disposed horizontally, said first and second separator pipes being connected together by vertical link third pipes. The first separator pipes are fed from and connected upstream to a horizontal cylindrical diffuser and are connected downstream to a first horizontal cylindrical manifold. The second separator pipes are connected upstream to the same diffuser and downstream to a second horizontal cylindrical manifold.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system comprising a well drilled into an underground formation comprising hydrocarbons; a production facility at a topside of the well; a water production facility connected to the production facility; wherein the water production facility produces water by passing the water through a first and a second nanofiltration module, and then injects the water into the well.

Abstract: The invention comprises a sealing body (15) separating device) which can be used to separate fluids in risers used in offshore oil production from drilling vessels at the sea surface. The invention is characterized in that the sealing body (15) can be placed in position above the wellhead (13) using several appropriate methods and, in an especially preferred application, by utilizing an installation tool (27) which is not sealing against the inner wall of the riser and which contains a suitable positioning means (28), and that the body (15) which forms a seal against the inner wall of the riser separates fluids during the replacement of drilling fluid with water and of water with drilling fluid. The body (15) can be displaced using hydraulic force upwards in the longitudinal direction of the riser in that fluid is pumped at a relatively high pressure down the externally located smaller pipes (9, 10, 11) of the riser.

Abstract: A liquid/gas separator device for separating the liquid and gaseous phases of a fluid, the device having first and second vertically-disposed elongate reservoirs. The first reservoir has a first bottom orifice connected to an arrival pipe for the fluid that includes a pressure-lowering device, at least one first top orifice, and a plurality of first intermediate orifices. The first reservoir is connected to a plurality of second reservoirs via a plurality of first transfer pipes, and via at least one second transfer pipe. Each of second reservoirs has a second top orifice connected to a common gas discharge pipe, and a second bottom orifice connected to a common degassed fluid discharge pipe.

Abstract: A harvester (10) with warm water spray jets (11) that fluidizes and releases gas hydrates from seafloor sand and soil. The released gas hydrates float into the harvester (10) and are then transferred through a hydrate slurry pipe (14) to a separation vessel (18). Dissociation of the gas hydrates into methane gas occurs in the separation vessel (18) from its lower pressure than the seafloor and the optional use of heat. The liberated methane gas flows upward in a gas vent pipe (27) to a topside vessel (30) for storage from the pressure of the submerged separation vessel (18). Alternatively, the vent pipe can be fed directly into an available natural gas pipeline. Crude oil collected in the separation vessel (18) can be separated and pumped to a topside vessel (30) for storage and use in a refinery. No other processing is required to produce commercial quality natural gas harvested directly from gas hydrates on or near the seafloor.

Abstract: A method of producing a filtration system for filtering a chemical fluid used in a hydrocarbon extraction well is provided. The method comprises providing a filter arrangement comprising an inlet end and an outlet end, connecting the inlet end to a first fluid flow passageway using a first hydraulically operated connector, and connecting the outlet end to a second fluid flow passageway using a second hydraulically operated connector.

Abstract: A compact, low footprint water separation system for use in subsea well operations. A subsea production tree has a vertical passage and at least one laterally extending branch. A subsea gravity separation device having a hollow toroidal body detachably is mounted around and connected to the production tree. An inlet on a first side portion of the separation device is connected to the at least one laterally extending branch of the production tree and admits production fluid. The production fluid flows through the separation device where it passes through a separation unit. After passing through a separation unit, less dense fluid is discharged through an upper outlet and more dense fluid is discharged through a lower outlet. The upper and lower outlets are positioned opposite the first side portion of the separation device.

Abstract: A passive hydrocarbon containment system for containing hydrocarbons in a fluid comprises a subsea separator dome, an oil pathway in fluid communication with a hydrocarbon collector disposed within the collection dome, and a gas outlet pipe having a discharge height dimensioned and adapted in relation to the height of the oil pathway sufficient to keep a portion of the oil pathway submerged into a fluid such as seawater present in the collection dome interior void. The hydrocarbon containment system can be moored subsea and used to collect oil and gas coming out of the ocean floor. One advantage of the hydrocarbon containment system is that there are no moving parts. A further advantage is that the hydrocarbon containment system requires limited maintenance to pump out the collected oil as needed.

Abstract: Method, riser assembly and gas handler for diverting gas from a riser. The riser assembly includes a riser having a first end and a second end and a conduit extending from the first end to the second end; a gas handler connected to the riser and provided between the first end and the second end, the gas handler having an external casing; plural pipes attached to an outside of the riser such that at least one pipe of the plural pipes enters through the external casing; and a gas vent pipe configured to start at the gas handler and extend towards the second end of the riser and the gas vent pipe is further configured to divert a gas from the gas handler through the outside of the riser.

Abstract: A vertical flexible oil flow director hose is used to recover, to guide, and to filter the spilled oil from its source beneath the sea floor to the surface of water and to accumulate the floating oil therein for being ready to be pumped into an oil tanker. The said hose extends in the sea all the way from the sea floor to the surface of water by connecting its lower end to a circular sinking weight block and its upper end to a hollow doughnut-shaped floating device. The said hose includes two main portions abutting each other, the lower portion is for guiding and displacing water out through the gaps or meshes. The upper portion is for continued guiding and accumulating the oil in its upper section. A gas-tight dome cap having an opening at its bottom may be used to cap the upper opening of the oil accumulator well in the floating object, for holding the gas as necessary. A gas-compressor and gas tank or tanks will be equipped on the oil tanker ready to take and to store the gas.

Abstract: In a dual-gradient drilling apparatus, a subsea solids processing unit includes a housing, a solids processing mechanism disposed in the housing between a drilling mud inlet and a drilling mud outlet, and a flushing mechanism configured to flush the solids processing mechanism with a flushing fluid. A subsea solids processing unit may be controlled by rotating the solids processing mechanism in a forward direction and increasing a drive torque when a measured speed of the solids processing mechanism is below a desired rotation speed. The desired rotation speed may be decreased when a measured torque exceeds a selected maximum and a rotation direction of the solids processing mechanism may be reversed when the measured speed falls below a selected minimum.

Abstract: A separation device for the separation of constituents of different density, in particular of a fluid fed from a well hole, exhibits a container in which the fluid at least partially after entry via a feed line is separated into its constituents using centrifugal force in the radial direction and/or using gravitational force in the vertical direction. To improve this type of separation device such that it can be constructed more compact and in a constructively more simple manner and also that it simultaneously can reliably enable separation of all constituents and their removal from the separation device, a classifier device is arranged in a lower section of the container interior, which at least exhibits one discharge line, extending radially outwards, for the discharge of the fluid into the container interior and delivery lines, joined to the container interior at different levels in the vertical direction, for the separated fluid constituents.

Abstract: A Vertical Annular Separation and Pumping System (VASPS) utilizing an isolation baffle to replace a standard pump shroud associated with an electrical submersible pump. The isolation baffle may be a one piece plate positioned so as to direct produced wellbore liquids around the electrical submersible pump motor to provide a cooling medium to prevent overheating and early failure of the electrical submersible pump.

Abstract: A drain liquid relief system for a subsea compressor is provided. The system includes a suction scrubber a drain storage tank for collecting drain liquid contaminating the compressor flow in the drain storage tank. The system further includes an intermittently pressurizing device and a suction line connected to the bottom of the drain storage tank. The suction scrubber is connected to the compressor suction nozzle and/or a compressor casing drain line, the suction scrubber being further connected, via a first check valve, to the drain storage tank for collecting the drain liquid in the drain storage tank. The intermittently pressurizing device is adapted to intermittently pressurize the drain storage tank to intermittently blow the drain liquid out of the drain storage tank through the suction line.

Abstract: Systems and methods include using a subsea machine for separating a mixture received from a seabed well. The subsea machine includes: a chamber configured to receive and separate by gravity the mixture received from the seabed well. The chamber includes: a housing configured to contain the mixture received from the undersea well during separation, and a piston provided inside the housing and separating the housing into a top section and a bottom section. The piston is configured to move in a first direction along an axis to create more space in the top section for receiving the mixture from the seabed well and to move in a second opposite direction along the axis for removing the mixture from the chamber after separation has occurred.

Abstract: A system for developing one or more offshore hydrocarbon fields includes at least one floating hydrocarbon processing unit moored to the seabed and connected to a hydrocarbon reservoir via a riser and a wellhead on the seabed, the unit receiving and processing the hydrocarbon mixture received from the reservoir via the riser, and having equipment to separate the hydrocarbon mixture into oil, water and gas and store them in storage tanks. A gas storage buffer reservoir is placed at a certain distance from and isolated from the hydrocarbon reservoir. A gas export riser is connected to the floating hydrocarbon processing unit and the gas buffer reservoir to export separated gas and inject it into the gas buffer reservoir. A gas riser has one end connected to the gas buffer reservoir and another end connected to the floating gas processing unit for processing gas received from the gas buffer reservoir for enabling transportation to shore.

Abstract: The method of removing a first liquid from a subsea pipeline which has a central portion lower than each of the ends of the subsea pipeline by pumping a second lower density fluid into the pipeline and the either removing the second lower density fluid by either displacing it with gas or evaporating the second lower density fluid to a gas.

Abstract: A gravity water separation system that may be integrated within a well completion. A diverted flowpath is provided for produced hydrocarbons, external to the completion tubing. As produced hydrocarbons travel through the diverted flowpath, they pass through separation stages wherein gravity separation ensues by migration through predefined flow ports which extend from produced oil “separation chamber(s)” into separated “water chamber(s).

Abstract: A system for offshore treatment of drill cuttings that includes a first pressurized vessel configured to receive contaminated drill cuttings and adapted to allow a compressed gas be introduced therein as the sole means for inducing movement of said contaminated drill cuttings in the first pressurized vessel, whereby at least a portion of the contaminated drill cuttings is discharged from the first pressurized vessel; and a reactor unit in fluid connection with the first pressurized vessel for separating the contaminated drill cuttings into drill cuttings and contaminants, wherein the reactor unit includes a processing chamber having at least one inlet and outlet; and a rotor mounted in the processing chamber, the rotor including a shaft; and a plurality of fixed rotor arms extending radially from the shaft is disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for diverting fluids either into or from a well are described. Some embodiments include a diverter conduit that is located in a bore of a tree. The invention relates especially but not exclusively to a diverter assembly connected to a wing branch of a tree. Some embodiments allow diversion of fluids out of a tree to a subsea processing apparatus followed by the return of at least some of these fluids to the tree for recovery. Alternative embodiments provide only one flowpath and do not include the return of any fluids to the tree. Some embodiments can be retro-fitted to existing trees, which can allow the performance of a new function without having to replacing the tree. Multiple diverter assembly embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding method of use extracts, cools, and transports effluents from subterranean, sub-sea oil formations to distant shore based processing facilities. The effluents, mostly crude oil, are conveyed rapidly to a cold flow generator near the oil wellhead on the sea bottom using the cold seawater to chill the effluents to a dispersed mixture including generated solids. The mixture is transported close to sea bottom temperatures, slowly, with small pressure drops, in low-cost submerged bare pipes over long distances to on or near shore processing facilities that can produce useful hydrocarbon products more cost effectively than at sea processing facilities. The apparatus eliminates or minimizes the need for heated or insulated pipe, the need for large floating processing structures, the need for sub-sea processing equipment, and/or the need for chemical additions to production flow.

Abstract: A system and method for hydraulically powering a seafloor pump and thereby delivering produced fluid from a subsea well are provided. The system includes a power fluid source, such as a seawater source, which is located at a seasurface location of a sea, and a hydraulically-driven pump, which is located at a seafloor location. The pump is configured to receive a flow of produced fluid from a subsea well and deliver the produced fluid through a riser to a receiver at a seasurface location. One or more conduits that define a feed passage connect the source and the pump, and the source is configured to receive power fluid and provide a flow of the power fluid via the feed passage of the conduit to the pump. The pump is hydraulically operated by the flow of power fluid and delivers the produced fluid from the pump to the receiver.

Abstract: A riser-based slug control system and a method of controlling slugging in a fluid flowing through a riser are provided. The system includes a gas-liquid separation separator that has a housing defining an internal volume. An inclined inlet is connected to the housing and configured to receive a flow of multiphase fluid and direct the flow of fluid into the housing so that the fluid flows spirally in the volume and separates, with gas from the fluid collecting in an upper portion of the volume and liquid from the fluid collecting in a lower portion of the volume. A tubular passage, which extends at least partially through the internal volume of the housing, defines a plurality of orifices. The tubular passage is configured to receive liquid from the lower portion of the volume and gas from upper portion of the volume, and deliver the mixture of the combined liquid and gas through an outlet.

Abstract: An in-line flow separator (1) comprises an uphill section (2) of pipeline which, in use, carries a gravitationally stratified flow of a first liquid (3) and a second denser liquid (4). The second liquid (4) forms a sump (5) extending uphill from the foot of the uphill section (2), and an interface between the first and second liquids on the uphill section is inclined from the horizontal. An extraction port (6) in the pipeline extracts the second liquid from the sump.

Abstract: A process for removing water from a natural gas in an underwater environment is described. The process comprises dehydrating a natural gas feed stream in an apparatus arranged to exchange heat with the underwater environment, preferably including the step of forming hydrates in a hydrate forming zone of a hydrate vessel. The step of forming hydrates in the hydrate zone may comprise the step of introducing the natural gas feed stream into the hydrate vessel through an expansion device with the expansion device is located at and defines a gas inlet to the hydrate vessel. Heat exchange with the hydrate vessel itself need not occur as in one embodiment, heat exchange with the underwater environment takes place through an arrangement of pipes upstream of the hydrate vessel.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a subsea separator. The subsea separator suitably comprises (a) a housing having an inlet for receiving a fluid mixture, a non-gaseous fluid outlet located along the housing at a point lower than the inlet, and a gas outlet located along the housing at a point higher than the inlet; (b) a deflector means located within the housing for acting on fluid entering the housing; and (c) a sealing means in communication with the gas outlet for preventing non-gaseous fluid from exiting the housing through the gas outlet, the sealing means being operationally configured to open and seal the gas outlet based on the volume of non-gaseous fluid within the separator; wherein the separator is operationally configured to operate under a differential pressure including a greater external hydrostatic pressure than internal pressure and vice versa.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for subsea processing multiphase well effluents comprising natural gas and liquid from a subsea hydrocarbon containing formation, which system (1) comprises: —a fluid separation vessel (6) which is connected to a downstream end of a multiphase well effluent transportation conduit (7); —a liquid level transmitter assembly (21,22) for monitoring the gas liquid interface (23) in the fluid separation vessel (6); —a liquid enriched fluid transportation flowline (14) connected at or near the bottom (13) of the fluid separation vessel (6) and a gas enriched fluid transportation flowline (12) connected at or near a top (11) of the fluid separation vessel (6); —a pump (17) connected to an electric motor (18); and —a fast acting variable speed drive system, which is coupled to the liquid level controller which adjusts the pump and motor speed setpoint within 2 seconds to maintain the liquid level in the vessel at a predetermined setpoint.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing energy to sub-sea support equipment. Energy can be provided by diverting at least a portion of a fluid from a well producing system to sub-sea support equipment units that can be disposed in the vicinity of the sea-floor, sea-bed, or mud-line. The well producing system can include, but is not limited to, a water injection system, a gas lift system, or combinations thereof. A water injection system designed to provide pressure support to one or more wells can be modified to provide an operational power source to one or more sub-sea support equipment units.

Abstract: A method and device for recovering drilling fluid used in connection with the provision of a subsea well, in which the drilling fluid is circulated from a vessel on a sea surface via a drill string and out through a drill bit into an annulus which is defined by a borehole and the drill string. The device includes a filtering device which is connected, in respect of fluid, to an annulus and which is arranged to contain drill cuttings and drilling fluid. A fluid line extends from a portion of the filtering device to the vessel, the fluid line being arranged to carry drilling fluid which has been separated from the drill cuttings back to the vessel.

Abstract: A booster pumping system is disclosed for producing hydrocarbons from a subsea production well. The booster pumping system includes: (1) a submersible pump hydraulically connected to the production well to provide energy to the hydrocarbon flow and boost production to another destination such as a subsea production facility or the surface via a riser; (2) an inlet conduit to receive the flow from the production well and isolate the flow from the dummy wellbore and direct the flow to the intake of the pump; and (3) a motor exposed to the dummy wellbore to drive the pump. The dummy wellbore may be flooded or circulated with seawater to cool the motor.

Abstract: A well fluid processing system has a separator for separating heavier and lighter components of well fluid flowing from a subsea well and directing the lighter components to flow to a surface processing facility. The separator has a cylindrical chamber having a length at least ten times its diameter. A coalescing unit located in the chamber causes water droplets in the well fluid flowing through the tubes to coalesce into larger droplets. A dielectrophoresis unit having undulating sheets spaced close to each other is also located in the chamber. The sheets of the unit are supplied with an electrical potential to force the water droplets into predetermined passage portions to form high water content sections of liquid. Bypass valves allow backflushing of one of the separators while others continue to operate.

Abstract: This invention relates to equipment and a subsea pumping system using a subsea module installed on the sea bed, preferably away from a production well and intended to pump hydrocarbons having a high associated gas fraction produced by one or more subsea production wells to the surface. One object of this invention is achieved by means of the design of a pumping module (PM) which is linked to pumping equipment already present in a production well and which basically comprises: an inlet pipe (2), separator equipment (3), a first pump (4) and a second pump (8). In the subsea pumping system for the production of hydrocarbons with a high gas fraction, the other object of this invention, when oil is pumped from the production well (P) the well pump (13) increases the energy of the fluid in the form of pressure and transmits this increase in energy in the form of an increase in suction pressure in the second pump (8) of the subsea module (PM).

Abstract: A subsea and modular tanker-based hydrocarbon production system comprising a plurality of interlinked individual tank units which is wholly submersible, is wholly detachable from, and wholly re-attachable to, its associated subsea wellhead infrastructure. Modularity of the interlinked tank unit system allows for the processing, measurement, and storage of hydrocarbons from a wide variety of offshore hazard and water-depth related conditions and situations. In addition to being both detachable and re-attachable, the modularity of the system provides for a number of unit systems to be conjoined at surface and towed to market.

Abstract: A seafloor pump assembly is installed within a caisson that has an upper end for receiving a flow of fluid containing gas and liquid. The pump assembly is enclosed within a shroud that has an upper end that seals around the pump assembly and a lower end that is below the motor and is open. A separating device is connected to an upper end portion of the discharge pipe within the caisson. The separating device causes separation of gas from the flow containing gas and liquid to be enhanced prior to the flow reaching the operating liquid level in the caisson.

Abstract: A subsea compression system and method wherein a wellstream fluid is flowed through a flow line (12) from a reservoir (10) and into a separation vessel (16) for subsequent compression in a compressor (18; 18?, 18?) prior to export of gas. A recycle line (24; 24?, 24?) is fluidly connected at a first end to the compressed wellstream at the outlet side of the compressor (18; 18?, 18?) and at a second end to the wellstream at a location between the separation vessel (16) and the inlet side of the compressor (18; 18?, 18?), the recycle line being capable of controllably (32) feeding fluid due to surge back to the compressor inlet side and avoiding the need to feed the fluid into the separation vessel, because the re-circulated gas is dry both due to having been separated at seawater temperature, and then being heated during recirculation.