Systems and methods for pulling subsea structures

A method for straightening a bent subsea well, the method comprising:

• (a) securing an anchor to the sea floor;
• (b) lowering an adapter subsea and mounting the adapter to an upper end of the anchor, wherein an interface assembly is fixably coupled to the adapter and a tension assembly is moveably coupled to the adapter;
• (c) coupling a flexible tension member to a primary conductor of the bent well;
• (d) positioning the tension member in a first channel of the interface assembly and a second channel of the tension assembly, wherein the first channel and the second channel extend linearly along a longitudinal axis;
• (e) preventing the tension member from moving in a first axial direction relative to the tension assembly after (d);
• (f) moving the tension assembly axially relative to the interface assembly in a second axial direction that is opposite the first axial direction and pulling the tension member through the first channel in a second axial direction after (e);
• and
• (g) applying a tensile load to the tension member during (f), wherein (g) comprises:
• (g1) applying a lateral load to a primary conductor of the subsea well;
• (g2) pulling the primary conductor toward a vertical orientation.

A system for pulling a subsea structure, the system comprising:

• a pile secured to the sea floor;
• an adapter mounted to an upper end of the pile;
• an interface assembly coupled to the adapter, wherein the interface assembly includes a pair of laterally spaced guide members, a recess disposed between the guide members, a retainer disposed in the recess, and a tension member disposed in the recess and positively engaged by the retainer:
• and
• a tension assembly coupled to the interface assembly and configured to apply a tensile load to the tension member, wherein the tension assembly includes a base that slidingly engages the interface assembly and a traveling assembly moveably coupled to the base;
• wherein a linear actuator has a first end coupled to the traveling assembly and a second end coupled to the base.

A system for pulling a subsea structure, the system comprising:

• an anchor configured to be secured to the sea floor;
• a linear actuator having a central axis, a first end coupled to the anchor, and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the linear actuator is configured to move the first end axially relative to the second end;
• a flexible tension member having a first end coupled to the second end of the linear actuator and a second end configured to be coupled to the subsea structure:
• wherein the flexible tension member extends through a retaining mechanism coupled to the anchor, wherein the retaining mechanism is configured to allow the tension member to move therethrough in a first direction and prevent the tension member from moving therethrough in a second direction opposite the first direction.