# US 11,028,663 B1 · Process and apparatus for installing a payload onto a subsea structure

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- Number: US 11,028,663 B1
- Document ID: US11028663B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/686,996
- Filed: 2019-11-18
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-11-18
- Applicants: Trendsetter Engineering, Inc.
- Inventors: Patrick Michael Cargol, Jr.; Brett Morry; Weili Guo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028663B1

## CPC

- E21B 33/038: Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser
- E21B 33/037: Protective housings therefor
- E21B 33/064: specially adapted for underwater well heads
- E21B 41/04: Manipulators for underwater operations, e.g. temporarily connected to well heads
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A process for installing the payload onto a subsea structure has the steps of affixing an adapter spool on to the subsea structure, deploying a plurality of winches in spaced relation to the subsea structure, connecting an end of a plurality of slings received on the plurality of sheaves to a plurality of winches, connecting an opposite end of the plurality of slings to the payload, lowering the payload in a direction toward the subsea structure, actuating the plurality of winches so as to draw the payload downwardly into a position on the subsea structure, and locking the payload onto the subsea structure. The adapter spool has a collar with a plurality of sheaves extending outwardly therefrom. The payload can be a capping stack and the subsea structure can be a blowout preventer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for installing a payload onto a subsea structure, the process comprising:
affixing an adapter spool onto the subsea structure, the adapter spool having a bore and a plurality of sheaves thereon, each of the plurality of sheaves having a sling thereon;
deploying a plurality of winches in spaced relation to the subsea structure;
connecting an end of each of the plurality of slings to the plurality of winches;
connecting an opposite end of the plurality of slings to the payload;
lowering the payload in a direction toward the subsea structure;
actuating the plurality of winches so as to draw the payload into a position on the subsea structure; and
engaging the payload onto the subsea structure with a locking mechanism.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, the adapter spool having a collar with the plurality of sheaves extending outwardly therefrom, the step of affixing comprising:
locking the collar onto a mandrel of the subsea structure.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, each of the plurality of slings having a hookup connector at one end thereof, the step of connecting an end of each of the plurality of slings comprising:
connecting the hookup connector to a line extending from the winch.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, the step of deploying comprising:
deploying the plurality of winches from a vessel positioned over the subsea structure.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, the step of deploying comprising:
lowering the winches from a surface location; and
positioning the winches on opposite sides of the subsea structure.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The process of claim 5, the sling being connected to the payload and to the adapter spool prior to the step of lowering the payload.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, the subsea structure being a blowout preventer, the payload being a capping stack.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The process of claim 7, the blowout preventer being affixed to a blowing well, an upthrust of the blowing well being greater than a mass of the capping stack.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The process of claim 5, the step of positioning comprising:
positioning the plurality of winches along a line perpendicular to a direction of approach by a vessel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, the step of actuating comprising:
paying in the plurality of slings so as to drive the plurality of slings around the respective plurality of sheaves so as to move the payload downwardly toward the subsea structure.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, further comprising:
moving the payload toward the subsea structure with a remotely-operated vehicle.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, the payload having a bore therein, the process further comprising:
affixing a spider adapter around a low diverter spool flange of the payload, the spider adapter have arms extending outwardly therefrom, the plurality of slings being secured to the spider adapter.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, further comprising:
joining a line from each of said plurality of winches respectively to said plurality of slings.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, further comprising:
removing the adapter spool from the subsea structure.