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US 6,182,761 B2Granted
Flowline extendable pigging valve assembly
AssigneeExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
InventorJohn M. Bednar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for extending subsea hydrocarbon flowlines from an initial installation on a template/manifold system to later drilled subsea wells. The extension utilizes a pigging valve assembly which completes a flow path to allow for line cleaning or pigging and is modified by adding a curved flowline connector adaptor to extend the subsea flowlines. The apparatus and method minimizes the amount of equipment that must be pre-installed to provide such flexibility, thus facilitating the ability to defer incremental development decisions.
Claims32
An apparatus for extending a subsea flowline from a template/manifold system at a first well site to a second well site, comprising:
- a first and second flowline for transporting hydrocarbons from the first well site to a surface facility;
- a first production header having (a) a first end in fluid communication with said first flowline, (b) a well connector, and (c) a second end;
- a second production header having (a) a first end in fluid communication with said second flowline, (b) a well connector, and (c) a second end;
- means for circulating fluids from the second end of said first production header into the second end of said second production header, said circulating means being removably attached to said second ends and adapted to pass a pigging device;
- and
- a valve in fluid communication with the second end of said first production header for isolating said first production header from said second production header, said valve being adapted to pass a pigging device;
- wherein removal of said means for circulating fluids, from said second ends, provides a connection point for means for expanding said system for fluid distribution from the first well site to the second well site.
4 more elements
An apparatus for extending a subsea flowline from a template/manifold system at a first well site to a second well site, comprising:
- a first and second flowline for transporting hydrocarbons from the first well site to a surface facility;
- a first production header having (a) a first end in fluid communication with said first flowline, (b) a well connector, and (c) a second end;
- a second production header having (a) a first end in fluid communication with said second flowline, (b) a well connector, and (c) a second end;
- means for circulating fluids from the second end of said first production header into the second end of said second production header, said circulating means capable of (a) passing a pigging device, and (b) expanding said system for fluid distribution from the first well site to the second well site;
- a first valve in fluid communication with the second end of said first production header for isolating said first production header, said valve being capable of passing a pigging device;
- a second valve in fluid communication with the second end of said second production header for isolating said second production header, said second valve being capable of passing a pigging device;
- a mounting base attached to the subsea template/manifold system and having a mounting hub;
- and
- an assembly base for securing said valves and said circulating means to said mounting hub.
6 more elements
A method of extending a subsea flowline from a template/manifold system at a first well site to a second well site, comprising the steps of:
- providing a template/manifold system having a first production header in fluid communication with a first flowline, a second production header in fluid communication with a second flowline, and a pigging assembly having at least one pigging valve and a detachable curved piping section for circulating fluids between the first and second production headers and capable of passing a pig;
- removing the detachable curved piping section when extension of the flowlines is desired;
- replacing the detachable curved piping section with at least one flowline connector adaptor for making a connection to a flowline extension;
- and
- adding a flowline extension to the flowline connector adaptor.
2 more elements
A method of extending a subsea flowline from a template/manifold system at a first well site to a second well site, comprising the steps of:
- providing a template/manifold system having a first production header in fluid communication with a first flowline, a second production header in fluid communication with a second flowline, and a pigging assembly having at least one pigging valve and a detachable curved piping section for circulating fluids between the first and second production headers and capable of passing a pig;
- retrieving the pigging assembly from the subsea template/manifold system to a surface facility;
- removing the detachable curved piping section when extension of the flowlines is desired;
- replacing the detachable curved piping section with at least one flowline connector adaptor for making a connection to a flowline extension;
- and
- reinstalling the assembly on the subsea template/manifold system at the first well site;
- and
- adding a flowline extension to the flowline connector adaptor.
5 more elements
An apparatus for extending a subsea flowline from a template/manifold system at a first well site to a second well site, comprising:
- a first and second flowline for transporting hydrocarbons from the first well site to a surface facility;
- a first production header having (a) a first end in fluid communication with said first flowline, (b) a well connector, and (c) a second end with a connection point;
- a second production header having (a) a first end in fluid communication with said second flowline, (b) a well connector, and (c) a second end with a connection point;
- a flow path allowing fluid communication between the second end of said first production header and the second end of said second production header, said flow path being removably attached to the connection points of the second ends of said production headers and being adapted to receive and pass a pigging device;
- and
- a valve in fluid communication with the second end of said first production header for isolating said first production header from said second production header, said valve adapted to pass a pigging device;
- wherein upon removal of said flow path, the connection point of the second end of said first production header provides a point of attachment for a flowline extension between the first well site and the second well site.
4 more elements
An apparatus for extending a subsea flowline from a template/manifold system at a first well site to a second well site, comprising:
- a first and second flowline for transporting hydrocarbons from the first well site to a surface facility;
- a first production header having (a) a first end in fluid communication with said first flowline, (b) a well connector, and (c) a second end;
- a second production header having (a) a first end in fluid communication with said second flowline, (b) a well connector, and (c) a second end;
- means for circulating fluids from the second end of said first production header into the second end of said second production header;
- said circulating means capable of (a) passing a pigging device, and (b) expanding said system for fluid distribution from the first well site to the second well site;
- a first valve in fluid communication with the second end of said first production header for isolating said first production header, said valve being capable of passing a pigging device;
- and
- a second valve in fluid communication with the second end of said second production header for isolating said second production header, said second valve being capable of passing a pigging device.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.