US3682242A - Underwater production and storage system - Google Patents

Underwater production and storage system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3682242A
US3682242A US826842A US3682242DA US3682242A US 3682242 A US3682242 A US 3682242A US 826842 A US826842 A US 826842A US 3682242D A US3682242D A US 3682242DA US 3682242 A US3682242 A US 3682242A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
platform
minerals
wells
storage means
deck
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US826842A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Warren B Brooks
James T Dean
William F Manning
Lewis A Rupp
William A Talley Jr
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mobil Oil AS
ExxonMobil Oil Corp
Original Assignee
Mobil Oil AS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mobil Oil AS filed Critical Mobil Oil AS
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3682242A publication Critical patent/US3682242A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/01—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations

Definitions

  • a bottom-supported platform is fixed 1n the relatively shallow depths of the Sizer ..166/-6 production area and is used to process minerals 3,292,695 12/1966 Haeber ..l66/.5 completgd in depths greater than that at which the 3,407,768 10/1968 Graham ..l 14/ .5 platform is fiXecL Aft?r the minerals are processed on the platform, they are transferred to a storage means.
  • This invention relates to the production of minerals from underwater production areas and more particularly relates to a method and'system for producing minerals such as oil and gas from an underwater production area where the marine bottom slopes from relativelyshallow depths to greater depths.
  • One such system involves drilling and completing wells in a production area from drilling vessels and then producing the wells through facilities mounted on a floating platform.
  • the platform is maintained on location by either a fixed multipoint mooring system of tion and storage system.
  • the first subsystem comprises a bottom-supported, above-surface platform located in the more shallow depths of the area to be produced. This normally will be near the outer perimeter of a continental shelf.
  • the basic design and installation of the platform is in accordance with known procedures in the art.
  • the platform is first used to drill and complete wells in the vicinity of the platform, after or during which the platform is converted into a producwhich are spaced from the platform. These producing anchor and lines or by a dynamic positioning system.
  • Such a production system requires substantially continuous maintainence and surveillance of the locating system since any failure of the locating system may cause shear or rupture of the multiple flexible hoses connecting the wells to the floating platform.
  • the produced minerals after processing within the enclosures, are brought to the surface through a riser pipe or the like and are either loaded onto a waiting tanker or are stored in floating or submerged storage facilities. Still other systems utilize combinations of submerged production facilities, e.g., wellheads, and floating production facilities. All of the above-described deepwater systems have merit.
  • the present invention provides still another system for producing minerals from deep-water locations.
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION means which can range in number from one to many are normally drilled and completed from drilling vessels or by any other known techniques on the sloping part of the production area or on the marine bottom which lies at substantially greater depths than that at which the platform is positioned. However, some of the producing means may lie on the same level or even on shallower levels of the marine bottom than the platform, if desired.
  • the produced minerals are flowed through flowlines extending across the marine bottom from the producing means to the platform and then up to a deck thereon for processing, e.g., separating gas from oil, etc. Where the producing means is comprised of satellite gathering units, some processing may occur in the units, but most of the major processing operations are carried out on the platform.
  • the third subsystem comprises a storage means which is used to store minerals from the platform once they have been processed.
  • the storage means may comprise onshore storage connected to the platform by underwater pipeline, submerged storage anchored on the marine bottom, or floating storage means moored near the platform.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an underwater production system in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic, sectional view of the system of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 1 discloses a system 10 for producing and storing minerals, e.g., oil and gas, from underwater deposits.
  • System 10 is comprised of three subsystems; a bottomsupported, fixed platform 11, one or more (three shown in FIG. 1) means 12 for producing minerals from deposits which are spaced from platform 11, and a storage means, e.g., moored, floating storage means 13.
  • Platform 1 l is shown in the figures'as a typical threelegged, bottom-supported platform having a deck. 14 above the surface 15 of a body of water.
  • Platform 11 can be fabricated on shore, towed to location, righted, and anchored to the bottom of the water, e.g., by piles driven through the legs, all of which is in accordance with well-known techniques in the art.
  • the threelegged platform is shown for illustration only and it should be recognizedthat several other types'of wellknown platforms of various configurations,-e.g., four legs, could be used without departing from the present towers 16 on deck 14 which can be used for drilling and completing directional wells (not shown), e.g., through the legs of platform 11, in theimmediate vicinity of the platform.
  • producing means 12 are used to produce minerals in the deeper parts of the production area.
  • Producing means 12 are drilled and completed from drilling vessels or the like at locations spaced from platform 11, e.g., producing means are completed on both slope 21 and marine bottom 22 which lies at depth B,
  • the producing means 12 may comprise individual wells or may comprise groups of wells joined together in satellite gatheringunits. Normally, individualwells will be spaced at resting on the marine bottom.
  • the wells are all completed with subsea wellheads ,32 mounted atop conductor elements 30 and are .in turn capped with connector pipes 33 for directing produced minerals from the wells into the interior of the satellite gathering unit 12.
  • Means are nonnally provided within the satellite for testing the production from each of the wells and for carrying out minor processing operations before the fluidsare transferred from satellite units 12 to platform 14.
  • the platform 11 is shown with twin drilling Also, submerged or partially submerged storage means Produced minerals from the individual wells or satellite gathering units 12 are flowed to deck 14 of platform 11 through flowlines 35 which lie along the marine bottom. All flowlines 35 can be manifolded into a riser pipe 36 (FIG. 2) which can be either internally or externally mounted-in or on a leg of platform 11. Of
  • riser pipes for each flowline 35 could be used, if desired.
  • the riser pipe 36or individual lines carry the minerals to the deck 14 where it is processed by equipment 17, e.g., water, gas, and oil separated into separate phases.
  • the desired minerals are stored.
  • the means used for storage may be ofany type which would lend itself to the particular environment involved. For example, if theplatform were relatively close to shore 50, the minerals may be transferred to onshore storage facilities 51 by underwater pipeline 52.
  • floating storage means 13 can be moored near the platform for receiving processed minerals from deck 14.
  • processed minerals are flowed down through another riser pipe 37, which is preferably also supported by a leg of platform 11,.to a flowline 38 which extends across the marine bottom to an anchored manifold 39 or the like. From manifold 39,
  • buoyed riser pipe 40 carries the processed fluids to floating storage means 13.
  • floating storage means 13 Floating storage means 13.
  • the buoyed, riser pipe40 is connected to floating storage means 13 through a swivel 41 (shown in dotted lines) whereby storage means 13 may pivot in the manner of a weather vane. This allows the means 13 to always point into the direction of wind and waves and alleviates several mooring problems.
  • the floatingstorage means 13 is "moored over riser pipe 40 by means of mooring lines 42 extending between anchor points 43 and the swivel mechanism.
  • the present production system allows the benefits of a a fixed platform to be utilized in the production of minerals from deep-water areas.
  • a platform along with outlying production means By using a platform along with outlying production means, the problems normally associated with bringing produced minerals to the surface from deep-water producing means and the procesing of such minerals are significantly reduced.
  • the flowlines carrying the essentially unprocessed minerals to the processing means are never completely unsupported as is normally the case with a typical buoyed, riser pipe commonly used with other known deep-water systems.
  • utilization of a fixed platform for supporting the processing equipment allows said equipment to be of simpler design since the effects of waves and surface conditions normally encountered by floating-platform mounted equipment are not present. 1
  • a method for producing minerals from an un- I thesurface of the water; derwater production area where the marine bottom of 7 means for processing the minerals on said deck of said area slopes from relatively shallow depths to said platform; greater depths comprising:
  • each of said plurality of wells is manifolded into a hollow-shelled satellite gathering unit.
  • said grouped wells are completed at depths greater than the depth at which the platform is constructed.
  • the produced minerals are flowed from said grouped wells along the marine bottom to and then substantially vertical upward at said platform to said deck.
  • said processed minerals are stored in onshore storage means which is connected to said platform by underwater pipeline.
  • said processed minerals are stored in said floating storage means by flowing the processed minerals substantially vertical downward from said deck of said platform to the marinebottom, across the marine bottom to a point substantially underlying said floating storage means, and then upward into grouped at a point spaced from said platform; means located at said point spaced from said platform for testing each of said plurality of wells; means for manifolding said plurality of wells together at said point spaced from said platform; and means for conducting said minerals from said grouped manifolded wells to said processing means on said deck of said platform through a sin- Od ti 1' l e sys i ni cl m fil wherein:
  • each of said plurality of wells is completed on a single template, said system including:
  • said storage means comprises onshore means; and e said means for conducting said processed minerals to said storage means comprises an underwater pipeline.
  • said storage means comprises a floating storage means spaced from said platform;
  • said means for conducting processed minerals from said deck of said platform to said storage means comprises: flow means extending substantially vertically downward from the deck of said platform to the marine bottom, said flow means extending across the marine bottom from said platform to a point substantially underlying said floating I storage meansyand flow means fluidly connected to said first-menstorage Said floating storage means tioned flow means and extending upward to 9.11, method ofclaim 8 wherein: fluidly communicate with said floating storage means.
  • Smmge means a 1s.
  • a system for producing minerals from, deposits storage means underlying water comprising: 7 a m- Sw'vel tanker a bottom-supported platform having a deck above

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Micro-Organisms Or Cultivation Processes Thereof (AREA)
US826842A 1969-05-22 1969-05-22 Underwater production and storage system Expired - Lifetime US3682242A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US82684269A 1969-05-22 1969-05-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3682242A true US3682242A (en) 1972-08-08

Family

ID=25247665

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US826842A Expired - Lifetime US3682242A (en) 1969-05-22 1969-05-22 Underwater production and storage system

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3682242A (fr)
JP (1) JPS4945125B1 (fr)
ES (1) ES379902A1 (fr)
GB (1) GB1308653A (fr)
MY (1) MY7400331A (fr)
OA (1) OA03271A (fr)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4371037A (en) * 1978-02-14 1983-02-01 Institut Francais Du Petrole Transfer terminal for offshore production
US5582252A (en) * 1994-01-31 1996-12-10 Shell Oil Company Hydrocarbon transport system
US6047781A (en) * 1996-05-03 2000-04-11 Transocean Offshore Inc. Multi-activity offshore exploration and/or development drilling method and apparatus
US6622793B1 (en) * 1999-06-01 2003-09-23 Igor Igorevich Rylov Method for carrying out operations on petroleum and gas fields and deep-sea platform for realizing the same
US7802636B2 (en) 2007-02-23 2010-09-28 Atwood Oceanics, Inc. Simultaneous tubular handling system and method
US8215888B2 (en) 2009-10-16 2012-07-10 Friede Goldman United, Ltd. Cartridge tubular handling system
US20130067732A1 (en) * 2006-09-05 2013-03-21 Anadarko Petroleum Corporation Method for Installing a Pipeline While Minimizing Associated Ground Disturbance

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2731168A (en) * 1952-11-17 1956-01-17 Socony Mobil Oil Co Inc System for gathering and loading oil from underwater oil wells
US3292695A (en) * 1963-09-12 1966-12-20 Shell Oil Co Method and apparatus for producing underwater oil fields
US3407768A (en) * 1967-01-11 1968-10-29 Continental Oil Co Offshore storage, mooring and loading facility
US3408971A (en) * 1965-07-22 1968-11-05 Texaco Inc Submerged oil storage vessel and oil loading facility for offshore wells
US3444927A (en) * 1967-11-21 1969-05-20 Exxon Production Research Co Servicing of wells
US3467129A (en) * 1965-03-31 1969-09-16 Jean Louis Gratzmuller Hydraulically-operated valve
US3504741A (en) * 1968-06-27 1970-04-07 Mobil Oil Corp Underwater production satellite
US3515179A (en) * 1966-04-06 1970-06-02 Shell Oil Co Offshore loading/unloading of tankers
US3517735A (en) * 1968-08-28 1970-06-30 Shell Oil Co Underwater production facility
US3542125A (en) * 1968-11-12 1970-11-24 Otis Eng Corp Well apparatus

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2731168A (en) * 1952-11-17 1956-01-17 Socony Mobil Oil Co Inc System for gathering and loading oil from underwater oil wells
US3292695A (en) * 1963-09-12 1966-12-20 Shell Oil Co Method and apparatus for producing underwater oil fields
US3467129A (en) * 1965-03-31 1969-09-16 Jean Louis Gratzmuller Hydraulically-operated valve
US3408971A (en) * 1965-07-22 1968-11-05 Texaco Inc Submerged oil storage vessel and oil loading facility for offshore wells
US3515179A (en) * 1966-04-06 1970-06-02 Shell Oil Co Offshore loading/unloading of tankers
US3407768A (en) * 1967-01-11 1968-10-29 Continental Oil Co Offshore storage, mooring and loading facility
US3444927A (en) * 1967-11-21 1969-05-20 Exxon Production Research Co Servicing of wells
US3504741A (en) * 1968-06-27 1970-04-07 Mobil Oil Corp Underwater production satellite
US3517735A (en) * 1968-08-28 1970-06-30 Shell Oil Co Underwater production facility
US3542125A (en) * 1968-11-12 1970-11-24 Otis Eng Corp Well apparatus

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
W. B. Bleakley A Look At Tomorrow s Offshore Production, Oil and Gas Journal, pages 128 to 132, July 10, 1967 *

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4371037A (en) * 1978-02-14 1983-02-01 Institut Francais Du Petrole Transfer terminal for offshore production
US5582252A (en) * 1994-01-31 1996-12-10 Shell Oil Company Hydrocarbon transport system
US6047781A (en) * 1996-05-03 2000-04-11 Transocean Offshore Inc. Multi-activity offshore exploration and/or development drilling method and apparatus
US6056071A (en) * 1996-05-03 2000-05-02 Transocean Offshore Inc. Multi-activity offshore exploration and/or development drilling method and apparatus
US6068069A (en) * 1996-05-03 2000-05-30 Transocean Offshore Inc. Multi-activity offshore exploration and/or development drilling method and apparatus
US6085851A (en) * 1996-05-03 2000-07-11 Transocean Offshore Inc. Multi-activity offshore exploration and/or development drill method and apparatus
US6622793B1 (en) * 1999-06-01 2003-09-23 Igor Igorevich Rylov Method for carrying out operations on petroleum and gas fields and deep-sea platform for realizing the same
US20130067732A1 (en) * 2006-09-05 2013-03-21 Anadarko Petroleum Corporation Method for Installing a Pipeline While Minimizing Associated Ground Disturbance
US8186455B2 (en) 2007-02-23 2012-05-29 Atwood Oceanics, Inc. Simultaneous tubular handling system and method
US7802636B2 (en) 2007-02-23 2010-09-28 Atwood Oceanics, Inc. Simultaneous tubular handling system and method
US8584773B2 (en) 2007-02-23 2013-11-19 Atwood Oceanics, Inc. Simultaneous tubular handling system and method
US9410385B2 (en) 2007-02-23 2016-08-09 Friede Goldman United, Ltd. Simultaneous tubular handling system
US10612323B2 (en) 2007-02-23 2020-04-07 Friede & Goldman United B.V. Simultaneous tubular handling system
US8215888B2 (en) 2009-10-16 2012-07-10 Friede Goldman United, Ltd. Cartridge tubular handling system
US8696289B2 (en) 2009-10-16 2014-04-15 Friede Goldman United, Ltd. Cartridge tubular handling system
US9476265B2 (en) 2009-10-16 2016-10-25 Friede Goldman United, Ltd. Trolley apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES379902A1 (es) 1973-04-01
OA03271A (fr) 1970-12-15
MY7400331A (en) 1974-12-31
GB1308653A (en) 1973-02-21
JPS4945125B1 (fr) 1974-12-02

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4762180A (en) Modular near-surface completion system
US4907912A (en) Submersible production storage barge and method for transporting and installing a jack-up rig in a body of water
US7086809B2 (en) Minimum floating offshore platform with water entrapment plate and method of installation
WO2005003509A1 (fr) Procede de fabrication d'un puits longue distance destine a la production, au transport, au stockage et a l'exploitation de couches et fluides mineraux
US4934871A (en) Offshore well support system
US20140230712A1 (en) Docking and Drilling Stations for Running Self-Standing Risers and Conducting Drilling, Production and Storage Operations
EP0742868A1 (fr) Systeme de transport d'un fluide d'hydrocarbure
BRPI0720259A2 (pt) Método para desenvolvimento de um campo de petróleo ou gás ao largo da costa.
US3612177A (en) Deep water production system
US6263971B1 (en) Multiphase production system suited for great water depths
US3682242A (en) Underwater production and storage system
US3401746A (en) Subsea production satellite system
WO1988008806A1 (fr) Agencements destines a la production, au stockage et au transfert d'hydrocarbures en mer
US20040079530A1 (en) Method for, and the construction of, a long-distance well for the production, transport, storage and exploitation of mineral layers and fluids
Smith et al. Overview of the Highlander field development
Lalli et al. Tecnomare steel gravity platforms for marginal fields
Fahman et al. An overview of the Anoa field development
Homer et al. Deepwater Templates and Cluster Well Manifolds: Is There a Single Correct Approach?
US3388556A (en) Marine storage structure
Fraser et al. Petroleum Developments in Western Australia
Milton et al. The Possibilities of Marginal Field Development in Indonesia
Shields The role of floating platforms for marine drilling and well completion operations
Childers et al. Submerged System for Offshore Oil and Gas Production
Fee 3rd Round Projects
Adams et al. The development of the Maui gas and condensate field