Multi-mode pumped riser arrangement and methods
AssigneeEnhanced Drilling AS
InventorsPer Christian Stenshorne, David Edward Smith, Gustav Olov Skärgård
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A riser system in the form of a pumped riser, i.e. a riser having an outlet from the riser at a depth below the surface of a body of water, where the outlet is coupled to a return pump to return fluid from the riser to the surface, and various operational methods to facilitate greater versatility when performing hydrocarbon drilling related operations. A sealing element to seal an annulus of the riser, and a by-pass around the sealing element. Various methods make it possible to switch between open mode and closed mode, and vice versa, monitoring leakage across the sealing element, as well as performing other operations exploiting the advantages of the two different modes.
Claims32
A riser arrangement for performing operations in a well extending from a bottom of a body of water, the riser arrangement comprising:
- a riser;
- a choke line coupled to the riser at a Blow Out Preventer (“BOP”) in the riser;
- the riser having a return outlet at a location substantially below a surface of the body of water, the return outlet being coupled to a subsea return pump;
- the subsea return pump being coupled to a return line to pump fluids from the riser to above the surface of the body of water;
- the return line being a separate line from the choke line;
- wherein the riser is selectively sealable above the return outlet at a position at which a bypass of the riser can be effected;
- wherein the bypass extends from a first port at the riser below the position and above the BOP to a second port at the riser above the position;
- wherein the first port is separate from the return outlet;
- and
- the bypass being equipped with at least one isolation valve that is selectively controllable.
A riser arrangement for performing operations in a well extending from a bottom of a body of water, the arrangement comprising:
- a riser;
- a choke line coupled to the riser at a Blow Out Preventer (“BOP”) in the riser;
- the riser having a return outlet to a subsea return pump at a location substantially below a surface of the body of water;
- the subsea return pump being coupled to a return line to pump fluids from the riser to above the surface of the body of water;
- the return line being a separate line from the choke line;
- wherein the riser is selectively sealable above the return outlet at a position at which a bypass of the riser can be effected;
- the bypass extending from a first port at the riser below the position and above the BOP to a second port at the riser above the position, and the bypass being equipped with at least one isolation valve that is selectively controllable;
- wherein the first port is separate from the return outlet;
- and
- the return line being coupled to a choke downstream of the subsea return pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.