Wells – Submerged well – Connection or disconnection of submerged members remotely...
Patent
1990-11-28
1992-02-18
Novosad, Stephen J.
Wells
Submerged well
Connection or disconnection of submerged members remotely...
166341, 166344, 166343, 166360, 166368, 166 651, 2851371, 285346, E21B 4301
Patent
active
050885588
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
The invention relates to installation of equipment at subsea stations, and in particular to the installation of operational equipment, for example, pumping and valve packages.
Pumping equipment in undersea pump stations normally requires maintenance or replacement during the life of the station. Maintenance requires to be carried out at the surface, so it has to be possible for the pump equipment to be separated from the station and retrieved to surface and thereafter installed and reconnected into the station. Electrical and/or fluid connections then have to be made, and difficulties arise in handling, connection and sealing. In conventional arrangements, for example, a retrievable motor unit has first to be brought to its required position relative to the subsea station and then the necessary connections have to be established as a seprate step, which involves operations of a different kind, at a different location.
Valve equipment, for example, a multiport valve unit for switching between two pumps at the subsea station, similarly tends to require replacement because of leakage problems due to wear. The valve equipment then requires to be removed from the subsea station for maintenance at the surface after which it has to be returned and the necessary connections re-established.
Installation of equipment at an undersea station can thus be complicated and time consuming, and the invention is concerned with the provision of means for alleviating the difficulties involved.
In accordance with the invention there is provided undersea equipment in the form of a unit or package which contains not only the appropriate operational elements but which integrally incorporates the necessary connections to the subsea station. A package of the invention is preferably so arranged so that installation of the package into a suitable connector or receptacle provided at the subsea station is integrated with the establishment of appropriate connections and any appropriate sealing means. As compared with conventional arrangements, installation in accordance with the invention is considerably simplified. A unit or package has merely to be centred along the direction in which it must move to reach the installed position and the establishment of electrical and/or fluid connections then follows as a consequence of movement to the final position.
The invention can thus be embodied in a pump/driver package containing pumping elements and driving means therefor, together with connection means for fluid communication, and also electrical communication if appropriate, with connection means at a subsea station at which the package is to be installed. The package is conveniently of elongate circular cylindrical form, for reception in a tubular receptacle located at the subsea station and provided with connection means at positions of registration with the package connection means.
The invention can also be embodied in a valve package, which can again be of elongate circular cylindrical form, with fluid connection ports at its outer surface. The package can again be received within a receptacle provided with fluid connection ports for registration with the fluid ports of the package. The valve mechanism of the package can be operable by fluid pressure or electrically.
In any package in accordance with the invention which requires fluid connection with the undersea installation, sealing means for ensuring integrity of the fluid communications between the fluid ports of the package and those of the receptacle are provided, conveniently on the package, the sealing means preferably being made effective as a consequence of, or during, the final stage of entry of the package into the receptacle.
A package of the invention can thus incorporate sealing rings which are inoperative when the package is initially received within the connector receptacle but which can then be rendered effective between the package and the connector wall around it. The sealing rings can thus be deformed by relative movement of support rings between which
REFERENCES:
patent: 3486556 (1969-12-01), Burgess
patent: 4278362 (1981-07-01), Scherrer
patent: 4863314 (1989-09-01), Baugh
patent: 4899822 (1990-02-01), Daeschler et al.
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