Multipurpose unit with multipurpose tower and method for tendering with a semisubmersible

A mooring and tender system for securing a tender to a production platform comprising

• a semisubmersible tender comprising a deck, a plurality of supports having a rounded shape connected to said deck, a plurality of pontoons connected to said plurality of supports, each of said plurality of pontoons adapted for ballast transfer, at least two hawsers connected to said semisubmersible tender for connecting said semisubmersible tender to a production platform having a mooring system, a hawser guidance system to direct each of said at least two hawsers to the object at sea, a crane removably secured to the deck of said semisubmersible tender, a multipurpose tower removably secured to said deck, said multipurpose tower comprising a base structure mounted in said deck, a tower mounted to the base structure, a top drive mounted to the tower, a drawworks secured to the tower;
• and a driller's cabin module mounted in said deck connected to the base structure, and an at least 6-point mooring system for the semisubmersible tender which comprises:
• a. at least 6 anchors, and
• b. at least 6 mooring lines, each mooring line consisting of:
• a first length of steel wire rope secured to each of the anchors, a length of rope secured to each of the first length of steel wire rope, a second length of steel wire rope having a first and second end, wherein the first end is secured to the length of rope and the second end is secured to said semisubmersible tender,
• wherein each of said at least 6 mooring lines has sufficient elasticity, stiffness and strength to accommodate load on the semisubmersible tender under an environmental load produced by and up to a 10-year storm in the semisubmersible tendering position, and further wherein each of said at least 6 mooring lines have a strength to withstand the environmental load produced by and up to a 100-year extreme weather condition when the semisubmersible tender is moved to a 100-year extreme weather condition standby position, and wherein said mooring system creates a global equilibrium between the mooring system of the production platform and said at least 6-point mooring system.

A method for erecting a disassembled multipurpose tower from the deck of a multipurpose unit (MPU) and onto a production platform, wherein said MPU comprises a deck, a plurality of supports having a rounded shape connected to said deck, a plurality of pontoons connected to the supports, each pontoon being adapted for ballast transfer, at least two hawsers connected to the MPU for connecting the MPU to an object at sea having a mooring system, a hawser guidance system to direct each hawser to the object at sea;

• a crane having a slew ring, said crane removably secured to said deck, a multipurpose tower removably secured to the deck, wherein said multipurpose tower comprises a base structure mounted in the deck, a central tower mounted to the base structure, a top drive mounted to the central tower, a drawworks secured to the central tower, and a driller's cabin module mounted in the deck connected to the base structure, said method comprising the steps of:
• a. mooring a multipurpose unit in proximity to a production platform, said production platform having a main deck, skid beams mounted on the main deck, and a preset mooring system;
• b. connecting said platform to said multipurpose unit (MPU);
• c. de-ballasting said platform to a first depth;
• d. ballasting said MPU to the first draft such that the slew ring of said crane is approximately level with said main deck of said platform;
• e. placing a skid frame on the skid beams on said platform using said crane;
• f. placing a cellar module on the skid frame;
• g. placing a BOP module on the cellar module;
• h. placing a mud module on the cellar module;
• i. placing a base frame on the mud module and the BOP module;
• j. connecting said drawworks to the base frame;
• k. placing said driller's cabin module on the mud module;
• l. connecting a service porch to said driller's cabin module;
• m. placing said multipurpose tower on the service porch and connecting it to said base frame;
• n. erecting said multipurpose tower with said drawworks;
• o. connecting setback drums to said multipurpose tower;
• p. connecting a pipe racker to said multipurpose tower;
• and
• q. connecting an upending table to said driller cabin module.

A method for disassembling an erected multipurpose tower on a platform and removing and re-assembling the multipurpose tower on a multipurpose unit (MPU), wherein said MPU comprises a deck, a plurality of supports having a rounded shape connected to said deck, a plurality of pontoons connected to said supports, each pontoon being adapted for ballast transfer, at least two hawsers connected to said MPU for connecting said MPU to an object at sea having a mooring system, a hawser guidance system to direct each of said at least two hawsers to the object at sea;

• a crane removably secured to said deck of the MPU, a multipurpose tower removably secured to said deck, said multipurpose tower comprising a base structure having a base frame and mounted in said deck, a central tower mounted to the base structure, a top drive mounted to the central tower, a drawworks secured to the central tower, and a driller's cabin module mounted in said deck connected to the base structure, and wherein said platform comprises an upending table, at least one pipe racker, at least one setback drum, a mud module, a BOP module, a cellar module and a skid frame, said method comprising the steps of:
• a. de-ballasting the platform to a first depth;
• b. ballasting the MPU to a first draft wherein the slew ring of the crane is approximately level with the deck of the platform;
• c. removing the upending table and placing it on said deck of said multipurpose unit (MPU);
• d. removing the at least one pipe racker and placing it on said deck of said MPU;
• e. removing the at least one setback drum and placing it on said deck of said MPU;
• f. lowering said multipurpose tower using said drawworks onto the deck of said MPU;
• g. disconnecting said multipurpose tower from the base frame;
• h. picking up said multipurpose tower onto the deck of said MPU;
• i. removing said drawworks onto the deck of said MPU;
• j. removing the driller's cabin module onto the deck of said MPU;
• k. removing the base frame onto the deck of the MPU;
• l. connecting said drawworks to the base frame;
• m. skidding the base frame over a moon pool;
• n picking up a driller's control and connecting it to the base frame on the deck over the moon pool;
• o. picking up said multipurpose tower and connecting said multipurpose tower to the base frame;
• p. raising said multipurpose tower to a vertical position using said drawworks;
• q. connecting a passive heave compensator to said multipurpose tower;
• r. connecting the at least one setback drum to said multipurpose tower;
• s. connecting the at least one pipe racker to said multipurpose tower;
• t. connecting the upending table to the driller cabin module;
• u. removing a mud module and placing it on said deck of said MPU;
• v. removing a BOP module and placing it on said deck of said MPU;
• w. removing a cellar module and placing it on said deck of said MPU, and
• x. removing a skid frame and placing it on said deck of said MPU.

A method for disassembling a multipurpose tower from a multipurpose unit (MPU) and erecting said multipurpose tower on a platform, wherein the MPU comprises a deck, a plurality of supports having a rounded shape connected to said deck, a plurality of pontoons connected to said plurality of supports, each pontoon being adapted for ballast transfer, at least two hawsers connected to said MPU for connecting said MPU to an object at sea having a mooring system, a hawser guidance system to direct each hawser to the object at sea;

• a crane removably secured to said deck of said MPU, a multipurpose tower removably secured to said deck, an upending table, at least one pipe racker, at least one setback drum, and a least one heave compensator, wherein said multipurpose tower comprises a base structure mounted having a base frame and in the deck, a central tower mounted to the base structure, a top drive mounted to the central tower, a drawworks secured to said multipurpose tower, and a driller's cabin module mounted in said deck connected to the base structure, said method comprising the steps of:
• a. de-ballasting the platform to a first depth;
• b. ballasting the MPU to a first draft wherein the slew ring of the crane is approximately level with the deck of the platform;
• c. placing a skid frame on said platform;
• d. placing a cellar module on said skid frame;
• e. placing a BOP module on said cellar module;
• f. placing a mud module on said cellar module;
• g. removing the upending table and placing it on said deck of said MPU;
• h. removing the at least one pipe racker and placing it on said deck of said MPU;
• i. taking the at least one setback drum off said multipurpose tower and placing it on said deck of said MPU;
• j. removing the heave compensator from said multipurpose tower and placing it on said deck of said MPU;
• k. lowering said multipurpose tower with said drawworks and resting it on said deck of said MPU;
• l. removing said multipurpose tower from the base frame and placing it on said deck of said MPU;
• m. removing the driller's cabin module and placing it on said deck of said MPU;
• n. skidding the base frame close to said crane and removing the drawworks module and placing it on said deck of said MPU;
• o. placing the skid frame onto the mud module and the BOP module;
• p. picking up the drawworks connection to the base frame;
• q. moving the driller's cabin module from said deck and placing it on the mud module;
• r. placing a service porch on said driller's cabin module and the mud module;
• s. lifting the multipurpose tower from said MPU deck and connecting it to the base frame and laying it on the service porch;
• t. using said drawworks to lift the tower to the vertical position;
• u. hanging the at least on setback drum in said multipurpose tower;
• v. hanging the at least one pipe racker on said multipurpose tower, and
• w. placing the upending table on the driller's cabin module.

A method for disassembling a multipurpose tower erected on a platform to the deck of a multipurpose unit (MPU), said MPU comprising a deck, a plurality of supports having a rounded shape connected to the deck, a plurality of pontoons connected to said plurality of supports, each pontoon being adapted for ballast transfer, at least two hawsers connected to said MPU for connecting said MPU to an object at sea having a mooring system, a hawser guidance system to direct each of said at least two hawsers to the object at sea;

• a crane removably secured to the deck of the MPU, a multipurpose tower removably secured to said deck, said multipurpose tower comprising a base structure having a base frame and mounted in the deck, a central tower mounted to the base structure, a top drive mounted to the tower, a drawworks secured to the multipurpose tower, and a driller's cabin module mounted in the deck connected to the base structure, and wherein said platform comprises a deck, an upending table, at least one pipe racker, at least one setback drum, a mud module, a BOP module, a cellar module, a service porch connected to the driller's cabin module, a skid frame, and skid beams said method comprising the steps of:
• a. de-ballasting the platform to a first depth;
• b. ballasting the MPU to a first draft wherein the slew ring of the crane is approximately level with the deck of the platform;
• c. disconnecting the upending table from a driller's cabin module and placing it on the deck of the MPU;
• d. disconnecting the at least one pipe racker from the tower and placing it on the deck of the MPU;
• e. disconnecting the at least one setback drum from the tower and placing it on the deck of the MPU;
• f. lowering the multipurpose tower with the drawworks to a service porch;
• g. disconnecting the multipurpose tower from the base frame and placing it on the deck of the MPU;
• h. disconnecting the service porch from the driller's cabin module and placing it on the deck of the MPU;
• i. removing the driller's cabin module from a mud module and placing it on the deck of the MPU;
• j. disconnecting the drawworks from the base frame and placing it on the deck of the MPU;
• k. removing the base frame from the mud module and BOP module and placing it on the deck of the MPU;
• l. removing the mud module from a cellar module and placing it on the deck of the MPU;
• m. removing the BOP module from the cellar module and placing it on the deck of the MPU;
• n. removing the cellar module from a skid frame and placing it on the deck of the MPU, and
• o. removing the skid frame from the skid beams using said crane.

A method for handling tubulars on a multipurpose unit (MPU), said MPU comprising a deck, a plurality of supports having a rounded shape connected to the deck, a plurality of pontoons connected to said plurality of supports, each pontoon being adapted for ballast transfer, at least two hawsers connected to said MPU for connecting said MPU to an object at sea having a mooring system, a hawser guidance system to direct each of said at least two hawsers to the object at sea;

• a crane removably secured to the deck of the MPU, an upending table, a pipe racker, a multipurpose tower removably secured to a deck, said multipurpose tower comprising a base structure mounted in the deck, a central tower mounted to the base structure, a top drive mounted to the tower, a drawworks secured to the multipurpose tower, and a driller's cabin module mounted in the deck connected to the base structure, said method comprising the steps of:
• a. making a stand of tubulars;
• b. disposing the stands of tubulars in a container on the deck of the MPU;
• c. lifting the container from the MPU deck and placing the container on the upending table;
• d. lifting the container with the upending table to a vertical position;
• e. latching the container in the vertical position to the multipurpose tower, and
• f. pulling tubulars from the container with the pipe racker for use.

A method of using a multipurpose unit (MPU) for the purpose of coil tubing intervention wherein the MPU is associated with a subsea well in which is installed a Christmas tree having a corrosion cap, a blow-out preventor (BOP), a master valve, and a subsurface safety control valve, and wherein said MPU comprises a deck, a configuration that results in a combined environmental load less than 1000 kips in a 100-year extreme weather condition, a plurality of supports having a rounded shape and connected to said deck, a plurality of pontoons connecting said plurality of supports, each of said plurality of pontoons being adapted for ballast transfer, and an at least 8-point tender mooring system, said method of coil tubing intervention comprising the steps of:

• a. closing said subsurface safety control valve;
• b. closing said master valve on the tree;
• c. deploying a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to inspect the tree, pull the tree corrosion cap and inspect the BOP (blow-out protector) connector;
• d. running a subsea BOP stack and a high-pressure well intervention riser;
• e. latching said BOP on the tree and nippling up the coil tubing injector head, BOP and high-pressure lubricator;
• f. opening said master valve and said subsurface safety control valve and recording the stabilized pressure at the surface;
• g. running coil tubing in the well hole to a specified depth;
• h. displacing said coil tubing with inert gas to another specified depth and recording the stabilized pressure at the surface;
• i. repeating the foregoing procedural steps at successively deeper depths until a target surface pressure is recorded;
• j. pulling out of the well hole with coil tubing;
• k. closing said subsurface safety control valve and said master valve;
• l. pulling the BOP and riser;
• m. setting the corrosion cap with the ROV and a subsea tugger;
• n. opening said subsurface safety control valve and said master valve, and
• o. resuming production.

A method of using a semi-submersible multipurpose unit (MPU) for the purpose of the removal of a subsea Christmas tree, wherein the MPU comprises a deck, a configuration that results in a combined environmental load less than 1000 kips in a 100-year extreme weather condition, a plurality of supports having a rounded shape and connected to said deck, a plurality of pontoons connecting said plurality of supports, each of said plurality of pontoons being adapted for ballast transfer, an at least 8-point mooring system, wherein said Christmas tree comprises a corrosion cap, a BOP, a master valve and a subsurface safety control valve, said method of removal of a subsea Christmas tree comprising the steps of:

• a. closing the subsurface safety control valve;
• b. closing the master valve on the tree;
• c. deploying a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), inspecting the tree, pulling the tree corrosion cap and inspecting the BOP connector;
• d. running a subsea BOP stack and a high-pressure well intervention riser;
• e. latching the BOP on the tree and nippling up surface well intervention BOP;
• f. opening the master valve on the tree while rigging up wire line;
• g. running in the well hole with tubing plug on wire line and setting in a hanger profile;
• h. disconnecting the tree, pulling the tree to the surface and setting back for refurbishment;
• i picking up a new tree and running it to the sea floor;
• j. connecting the new tree to the wellhead, function and pressure testing the new tree;
• k. running in the well hole with wire line and retrieving tubing plugs;
• l. pulling the BOP and riser;
• m. setting the corrosion cap with ROV and subsea tugger;
• n. opening the subsurface safety control valve and master valve, and
• o. resuming production.

A method of using a semi-submersible multipurpose unit (MPU) having a modular tower installed thereon, for the purpose of conducting a subsea well intervention operation in a subsea well on which there is installed a corrosion cap, said MPU comprising a deck, a configuration that results in a combined environmental load less than 1000 kips in a 100-year extreme weather condition, a plurality of supports each having a rounded shape and connected to said deck, a plurality of pontoons connecting said plurality of supports, each of said plurality of pontoons being adapted for ballast transfer, an at least 8-point mooring system, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) moving the tender and rig over the well;
• b) picking up the work string and tripping it into the well hole;
• c) pulling out the corrosion cap, preferably assisted by an ROV;
• d) tripping in the well hole with a wash tool, cleaning and inspecting the wellhead;
• e) rigging up the riser running tools and moving an subsea completion BOP with a subsea wellhead adapter under the tower;
• f) running a BOP using a high-pressure riser with a ball joint, stress joint, and tensioner slip joint;
• g) landing the BOP on the well;
• h) securing the surface systems and testing the BOP;
• i) picking up the completion work string;
• j) isolating the well preparatory fluid system from the sterile completion fluid system;
• k) tripping in the hole to clean out the casing to the bottom;
• l) circulating the well hole and tripping out of the hole;
• m) rigging up a wire line and running cement bond logs;
• n) running a casing scraper, using a bristle brush and displacing the hole with sterile completion fluid;
• o) rigging up the wire line, making a gamma ray trip and setting up a sump packer;
• p) testing the BOP;
• q) tripping in the hole with tubing conveyed perforating guns, perforating, flowing back and tripping out of the hole;
• r) tripping in the hole with gravel pack assembly and fracturing the gravel pack;
• s) tripping out of the hole, laying down a work string and gravel packing tools;
• t) picking up and running chrome tubing and flat packs;
• u) setting a tubing hanger and tubing plugs in the well bore;
• v) pulling a high-pressure riser and an BOP;
• w) moving a subsea completion tree under the tower;
• x) running the subsea completion tree with a high-pressure riser;
• y) installing tree control lines, function testing the tree and closing the lower subsurface control valve;
• z) installing and pulling in flex flow lines and control umbilicals;
• aa) pulling plugs from the tubing hanger;
• bb) running in the hole with coil tubing and displacing tubing down to lower a subsurface control valve;
• cc) pulling the coil tubing, and closing the tree master valve;
• dd) pulling the high-pressure riser;
• ee) installing a completion tree corrosion cap and filling with corrosion fluid;
• and installing a debris cap.

A method for drilling and completing a well from a deep draft caisson vessel (DDC), wherein the multipurpose unit (MPU) is tendered to the DCC in a tender assist mode, said said MPU comprising a deck, a configuration that results in a combined environmental load less than 1000 kips in a 100-year extreme weather condition, a plurality of supports each having a rounded shape and connected to said deck, a plurality of pontoons connecting said plurality of supports, each of said plurality of pontoons being adapted for ballast transfer, an at least 6-point mooring system, said method comprising the following steps:

• a) set skid drilling equipment over a center well slot located on the DDC, while removing the corrosion cap from a subsea wellhead;
• b) move the DDC over the subsea wellhead using the DDC's mooring system;
• c) lower a drilling riser, which has been parked over the center well slot, and connect the drilling riser to the subsea wellhead;
• d) nipple up the surface BOP on the drilling riser;
• e) run in the hole with drilling assembly, drill out a casing, and displace to weighted drilling fluid while drilling the casing shoe;
• f) drill a hole to casing point and pick up drill out of the hole;
• g) run a casing and a casing hanger in wellhead and cement;
• h) run in hole with a drilling assembly, drill to casing point, and pick up drill out of the hole;
• i) run wire line logs;
• j) run a casing and land casing hanger in wellhead and cement;
• k) displace cement with seawater and check to ensure casing cement float equipment is working properly;
• l) run in hole with a test packer and set below subsea wellhead;
• m) pressure test casing, disconnect from test packer, and pick up drill out of the hole in the completion work string;
• n) nipple down surface BOP and set back on BOP test stump;
• o) disconnect drilling riser from subsea wellhead and set in its park position;
• p) skid drilling equipment set to the well's designated production slot;
• q) trip in hole with wash tool and clean and inspect wellhead;
• r) rig-up casing running tools;
• s) run a riser with stress joint and keel joint;
• t) lock a tieback connector and test;
• u) rig-down riser running tools and offload;
• v) install a tubing plug;
• w) nipple up BOPs and test and set wear bushing;
• x) rig-up a wire line, run base line metal thickness, and log across stress & keel joints;
• y) pick up a completion work string and trip in hole to clean out casing to bottom and circulate hole with saltwater;
• z) rig up and run wire line logs;
• aa) run a casing scraper/bristle brush and displace hole with completion fluid;
• bb) rig up wire line logs and set a sump packer;
• cc) test BOPs;
• dd) trip in hole with perforating guns, perf, flow back, and trip out of hole;
• ee) trip in hole with a gravel pack assembly and a gravel pack;
• ff) trip out of hole and lay down a completion work string and gravel pack tools;
• gg) pick up and run a chrome tubing, a dual string, and flat packs;
• hh) set tubing hanger plugs;
• ii) nipple down BOPs, nipple up tree, flex flowlines and umbilicals;
• jj) pull plugs, set dual packer, and displace riser with nitrogen, and
• kk) remove tubing plug and flow back well to platform in order to unload well.