Apparatus and method for tieback of subsea wells
AssigneeJack Crain
InventorJack Crain
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and method are provided for applying a force to a movable subsea member to move it into a preferred location for joining to a fixed member while the location of the movable member is monitored. Nozzles in the device are placed in the direction such that fluid exiting the nozzles creates a force so as to move the movable member into the preferred location. Fluid is pumped through the device and out through one or more nozzles. An environmental conductor may be tied back from a subsea wellhead using the apparatus and method by observing the location of the conductor over the subsea wellhead using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) while fluid is pumped at the pressure and rate so as to move the conductor into position over the wellhead and lowering the conductor into the wellhead.
Claims13
A method for attaching a conductor having a lower end to a subsea wellhead having an upper receiving body, comprising the steps of:
- lowering the lower end of the conductor to a location near the wellhead;
- placing a work string in proximity to the lower end of the conductor and attaching a movable conduit thereto;
- attaching a jetting device having a nozzle to the outside of the conductor at a selected distance above the lower end of the conductor and attaching the movable conduit to the jetting device;
- directing the nozzle in a direction so as to move the conductor over the wellhead;
- and
- while observing the location of the lower end of the conductor with respect to the upper receiving body of the wellhead, pumping fluid through the jetting device at a selected rate to move the conductor into position over the upper receiving body then lowering the conductor into the upper receiving body and attaching the conductor thereto.
A method for moving an apparatus into a preferred location subsea, comprising the steps of:
- lowering the apparatus into a location near the preferred location;
- placing a work string in proximity to the location of the apparatus and attaching a movable conduit thereto;
- attaching a jetting device having a nozzle to the apparatus at a selected location on the apparatus and attaching the movable conduit to the jetting device;
- directing the nozzle in a direction so as to move the apparatus in a selected direction;
- and
- while observing the location of the apparatus, pumping fluid through the jetting device at a selected rate so as to move the apparatus into the preferred location subsea.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.