Hydraulic and earth engineering – Diving – Underwater docking or mooring
Patent
1988-01-05
1990-04-03
Taylor, Dennis L.
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Diving
Underwater docking or mooring
405192, 405195, 166356, B63C 1140
Patent
active
049135902
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a mono-atmospheric chamber module for placing on top of an underwater "Christmas tree" in a well-head, to keep equipment and personnel at surface conditions during execution of operations and including an opening arranged for tight engagement with the top of the Christmas tree and an access opening for personnel.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The invention aims at providing a chamber which can be arranged for tight engagement with the top of a Christmas tree, in which chamber mono-atmospheric conditions can be maintained, whereby personnel can stay inside the chamber, in order to execute various maintenance operations. In particular one is aiming at providing such a mono-atmospheric chamber which provides increased safety for personnel and which is suitable for the reception of equipment necessary for the execution of maintenance operations. Such equipment can for example be a blow-out preventer, which is placed on the top of the Christmas tree when required, a wire sluice, which is employed during down well operations, a tubing drum with coiled-up tubing for establishing a circulation path in the production hole, without using the annular space, a sluice for the insertion of equipment, for example a plug, under the Christmas tree by means of smoothly polished rods ("polished rod" technique), etc. The chamber is able to be placed in sealing engagement with the top of the Christmas tree without the use of securing means. The chamber shall also provide additional safety for personnel in the case of pressure build-up inside the chamber as a result of leakage from the well.
According to the invention a mono-atmospheric chamber module as initially mentioned is proposed, which chamber module is characterized by being made up of an assembly of a predominantly oblong cylindrical mantle and associated base-ends, where the opening facing the top of the Christmas tree is arranged in the lower base-end, where the upper base-end is unlocked, and where inside the chamber module a pressure resistant personnel chamber is arranged with direct connection to the access opening which is placed in the cylinder mantle.
Since the chamber module is made up of a principally oblong cylindrical mantle and associated base-ends, the chamber module can be designed as a relatively tall and slim module which will provide sufficient and desirable space for the necessary maintenance equipment, for example a wire sluice. Vertical erection of the cylindrical chamber module is made possible by the opening facing the top of the Christmas tree being arranged at one of the base-ends, that is the lower base-end when the chamber module is positioned on the top of the Christmas tree.
Since the upper base-end is unsecured, a high degree of security against harmful pressure build-up inside the chamber module is achieved. The upper base-end normally rests in a sealed manner against the cylinder mantle's adjacent end, by action of the water pressure. In the case of an internal pressure build-up, the upper base-end will raise itself, immediately revealing a large release-opening.
Since there is a pressure resistant personnel chamber arranged inside the module, having a direct connection with the access opening situated in the cylinder mantle, extra security for personnel is achieved, because personnel will be able to stay inside the personnel chamber and perform from there the desired steering/control functions. The personnel chamber is thus also utilized as a control chamber. When necessary, personnel can leave the personnel chamber by way of suitable hatches, and enter the rest of the module. Naturally the required barriers for shutting off the valves in the Christmas tree have been established in advance.
The upper loose base-end is preferably designed with a cylindrical wall extension stretching downwards on the outside of the cylinder mantle. Thus, a guiding of the upper base-end in relation to the cylinder mantle is achieved.
During transportation and placing of the new chamber module, the loose, upper base-e
REFERENCES:
patent: 1008301 (1911-11-01), Baker
patent: 3643736 (1972-02-01), Talley, Jr.
patent: 4256417 (1981-03-01), Bohannon
patent: 4753552 (1988-06-01), Karal et al.
Brevig Per
Svenning Bjornar
Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A.S
McBee J. Russell
Taylor Dennis L.
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