# US 12,180,809 B2 · 2-slot inline block manifold system

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- Number: US 12,180,809 B2
- Document ID: US12180809B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/734,155
- Filed: 2019-08-02
- Published: 2021-07-15
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2018-06-04
- Assignees: Vetco Gray Scandinavia AS
- Applicants: Vetco Gray Scandinavia AS
- Inventors: Steinar Lindemann Hestetun
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12180809B2

## CPC

- E21B 43/017: Production satellite stations, i.e. underwater installations comprising a plurality of satellite well heads connected to a central station
- E21B 43/01: specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations
- E21B 43/013: Connecting a production flow line to an underwater well head
- E21B 43/0175: {Hydraulic schemes for production manifolds}
- F16K 27/003: {Housing formed from a plurality of the same valve elements}
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a hub block (2) with two hubs (3a, 3b), each configured for connection with a branch pipe from a well. The two hubs are in line with each other. A flowline bore (12) extends between flowline inlet and exit ports (5, 10). The flowline bore (12) is intersecting and in fluid connection with two branch bores (23a, 23b) extending from the flowline bore (12) and to the hubs (3a, 3b). Two valve bores (11a, 11b) extend across the branch bores (23a, 23b). Furthermore the invention relates to a 2-slot inline block (1) with a hub block (2) and a manifold assembly of a plurality of 2-slot inline blocks (1).

## Claims

### Claim 1

An inline block manifold system including a plurality of hub blocks (2) connected by a plurality of flowline spacer pipes, each comprising:
a first hub (3a) connected to one of the plurality of flowline spacer pipes and comprising a first branch port configured for connection with a branch pipe from a first well and a second hub (3b) connected to another of the plurality of flowline spacer pipes comprising a second branch port, configured for connection with a branch pipe from a second well, wherein the second hub (3b) is in line with and in an opposite direction of the first hub (3a);
a flowline bore (12), extending between a flowline inlet port (5) and a flowline exit port (10), intersecting and in fluid connection with a first branch bore (23a) extending from the flowline bore (12) and to the first hub (3a) and a second branch bore (23b) extending from the flowline bore (12) and to the second hub (3b);
a first valve bore (11a) extending across the first branch bore (23a); and
a second valve bore (11b) extending across the second branch bore (23b); and
wherein the flowline bore (12) of each of the plurality of hub blocks (2) are inline.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The inline block manifold system of claim 1, wherein a centreline through the flowline bore (12) in each of the plurality of 2-slot inline blocks (1), and a centreline through each of the plurality of flowline spacer pipes (6), are in one single plane.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The inline block manifold system of claim 1 wherein each hub block (2), is made of one single block of metal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The inline block manifold system of claim 1 wherein each hub block (2), further include a flowline alignment geometry (9) surrounding the flowline inlet port (5) and the flowline exit port (10), whereby a flowline is aligned with the hub block (2) while the flowline is welded to the hub block (2).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The inline block manifold system of claim 1 wherein, in each of the hub blocks (1), the first valve bore (11a) is perpendicular to the first branch bore (23a); and
the second valve bore (11b) is perpendicular to second branch bore (23b).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The inline block manifold system of claim 1, further including a cut-off valve (7) in each of the first valve bore (11a) and the second valve bore (11b).

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The inline block manifold system of claim 6,
wherein a first end of a first flowline spacer pipe (6) of a plurality of flowline spacer pipes (6) is welded to the flowline exit port (10) of a first of the plurality of 2-slot inline blocks (1); and
a second end of the first flowline spacer pipe (6) is welded to the flowline inlet port (5) of a second of the plurality of 2-slot inline blocks (1).

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The inline block manifold system of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of 2-slot inline blocks (1) is secured to a carrier element (20) forming a centre section of a mud mat (15) whereby the plurality of 2-slot inline blocks (1) are in line with each other and include one 2-slot inline block (1) at a first end of the line and a second 2-slot inline block (1) at a second end of the line;
wherein the inlet port (5) of the 2-slot inline block (1) at the first end of the line and the flowline exit port (10) of the 2-slot inline block (1) at the second end of the line are in fluid connection with the flowline bore (12).

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The inline block manifold system of claim 8, wherein the mud mat (15) includes at least two mud mat parts, each hinged to the carrier element (20) forming the centre section of the mud mat (15), the at least two mud mat parts including an associated carrier surface,
wherein the mud mat (15) includes an installation configuration where the at least two mud mat parts are folded and each carrier surface define separate carrier planes; and
wherein the mud mat (15) includes a deployed configuration where the at least two mud mat parts are unfolded and each carrier surface define a single plane, and
wherein the mud mat (15) includes a number of telescopic arms (24) retractable for installation and extendable for stabilising the mud mat (15) when the mud mat (15) is unfolded.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The inline block manifold system of claim 8, further including a flowline (20) stress concentration reducing cocoon (16) connected to each end of the carrier element (20),
wherein a first flowline bend (22) connects the inlet port (5) of the 2-slot inline block (1) at the first end of the line and the flowline; and
wherein a second flowline bend (22) connects the flow line exit port of (10) of the 2-slot inline block (1) at the second end of the line and the flowline bore (12).

### Claim 11

A hub block (2) comprising a first hub (3a) connected to one of a plurality of flowline spacer pipes and comprising a first branch port configured for connection with a branch pipe from a first well and a second hub (3b) connected to another of the plurality of flowline spacer pipes comprising a second branch port configured for connection with a branch pipe from a second well, wherein the second hub (3b) is in line with and in an opposite direction of the first hub (3a);
a flowline bore (12), extending between a flowline inlet port (5) and a flowline exit port (10), intersecting and in fluid connection with a first branch bore (23a) extending from the flowline bore (12) and to the first hub (3a) and a second branch bore (23b) extending from the flowline bore (12) and to the second hub (3b),
a first valve bore (11a) extending across the first branch bore (23a); and
a second valve bore (11b) extending across the second branch bore (23b).
