SUBSEA FLUID DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD

SYSTEME ET PROCEDE DE DISTRIBUTION DE FLUIDE SOUS-MARIN

English Abstract

A system for delivering fluids to a subsea device comprises a first fluid
pressurizer for pressurizing fluid at a first pressure in communication with a
fluid pressure intensifier located subsea that is capable of increasing the
fluid pressure of the fluid. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided
to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or
other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical
disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to
interpret or limit the scope of meaning of the claims.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un système permettant de distribuer des fluides à un dispositif sous-marin. Ledit système comprend un premier dispositif de mise en pression fluidique permettant de mettre un fluide sous pression à une première pression en communication avec un multiplicateur de pression fluidique situé sous la mer capable d'augmenter la pression d'un fluide.

Claims

CLAIMS:
We claim:
1. A method of providing fluid under pressure for subsea use, comprising:
a. pumping a fluid at a first fluid pressure from a first location to a fluid
pressure
intensifier located subsea;
b. increasing the first fluid pressure to a higher fluid pressure at the fluid
pressure
intensifier located subsea; and
c. providing the higher fluid pressure fluid to a device for use subsea.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid is pumped at a first fluid
pressure from at
least one of (i) a pump located at a surface location or (ii) a pump located
subsea but not
located proximate the fluid pressure intensifier.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein:
a. the device is a component of a subsea installation workover control system;
and
b. the fluid is adapted to be used with the device for a subsea installation
workover control system function.
4. A system for providing fluid under pressure for subsea use, comprising:
a. a fluid source located distally from a seabed and adapted to provide a
fluid
suitable for use with a subsea device;
b. a fluid pressurizer in fluid communication with the fluid source, the fluid
pressurizer adapted to pressurize the fluid to a first pressure;
c. a fluid pressure intensifier located subsea, the fluid pressure intensifier
further
adapted to receive the fluid at the first fluid pressure and output the fluid
at a
fluid pressure higher than the first fluid pressure; and
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d. a fluid conduit in fluid communication in between the fluid pressurizer and
the
fluid pressure intensifier.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the subsea device is adapted to provide a
predetermined installation workover function.
6. The system of claim 4, wherein the fluid is at least one of (i) a control
fluid or (ii) a
tree chemical fluid.
7. The system of claim 4, wherein the fluid pressurizer is adapted to provide
fluid at a
fluid pressure substantially lower than the delivery pressure required for
injection of fluid to a
subsea device.
8. The system of claim 4, wherein the fluid pressurizer is located at least
(i) proximate
the surface or (ii) subsea distally from the fluid pressure intensifier.
9. The system of claim 4, wherein the fluid pressure intensifier is adapted to
provide a
pressure substantially higher than 10,000 PSI.
10. The system of claim 4, further comprising a surface control panel
operatively in
communication with at least one of (i) the fluid pressurizer or (ii) the fluid
pressure
intensifier.
11. The system of claim 4, wherein the fluid conduit is an umbilical.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the umbilical further comprises at least
one of (i) a
fluid conduit, (ii) an electrical power conduit, and (iii) a data conduit.
13. The system of claim 4 the fluid pressure intensifier comprises a plurality
of fluid
pressure intensifiers.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein a first of the plurality of fluid pressure
intensifiers is
fluidly connected to at least one other of the plurality of fluid pressure
intensifiers.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of fluid pressure
intensifiers are fluidly
interconnected in at least one of a series or parallel fluid connection.
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16. A system for providing an installation workover control system,
comprising:
a. a fluid source located distally from a seabed and adapted to provide a
fluid
suitable for use with a subsea installation workover function;
b. a fluid pressurizer in fluid communication with the fluid source, the fluid
pressurizer adapted to pressurize the fluid to a first pressure;
c. a fluid pressure intensifier located at a surface location, the fluid
pressure
intensifier further adapted to receive fluid at a first fluid pressure and
output
the fluid at a fluid pressure higher than the first fluid pressure; and
d. a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the fluid pressurizer and the
fluid
pressure intensifier.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the fluid pressure intensifier is adapted
to be driven
hydraulically from the surface.
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Description

CA 02583270 2007-04-05
WO 2006/039719 PCT/US2005/035886
Title of Invention: Subsea Fluid Delivery System And Method
Inventors: Michael Cunningham; Chad Blanchard
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The inventions relate to a system and method for delivering fluid under
pressure for use subsea.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Subsea devices often require fluids, e.g. hydraulic fluids or chemicals
for
injection and the like. These fluids are typically delivered to the device
under pressure. As
subsea devices are deployed deeper and deeper, the pressures required have
increased.
[0003] Existing installation workover control systems are limited in the
projects on
which they can be used, in part due to the pressure ratings of umbilicals used
to provide fluids
under pressure from a source of fluids, e.g. a surface vessel, to devices
subsea that need that
fluid. Deepwater trees, for example, will or currently need fluid pressures in
the ranges that
exceed 10,000 psi.
[0004] Additionally, umbilicals from the surface currently need to contain a
plurality
of fluid conduits which increases cost and complexity. The greater the number
of required
conduits, the greater the cost associated with the umbilical.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0001] The various drawings supplied herein are representative of one or more
embodiments of the present inventions.
[0002] Fig. 1 is a planar view in of an exemplary system;
[0003] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary conduit;
[0004] Fig. 3 is a planar view of a second exemplary system; and
[0005] Fig. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary method.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF
EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTIONS
[0005] Referring now to Fig. 1, system 1 is adapted to provide fluid under
pressure to
a subsea device, e.g. a device adapted for use in an installation workover
control system. In a
preferred embodiment, system 1 comprises fluid source 10 located distally from
seabed 100
and adapted to provide fluid 5 suitable for use with the subsea device, e.g.
to provide a subsea
installation workover function; fluid pressurizer 20 in fluid coinmunication
with fluid source
10, fluid pressurizer 20 adapted to pressurize fluid 5 to a first pressure;
fluid pressure
intensifier 30 adapted to be located subsea, fluid pressure intensifier 30
further adapted to
receive fluid 5 at a first fluid pressure and output fluid 5 at a fluid
pressure higher than the
first fluid pressure; and fluid conduit 40 in fluid communication with fluid
pressurizer 20 and
fluid pressure intensifier 30.
[0006] Fluid source -10 may be located on vessel 2 but does not have to be. In
a
preferred embodiment, fluid source 10 is located distally from seabed 100 such
as near or at
the water surface. Fluid 5 may be a control fluid, a tree chemical fluid, or
the like, or a
combination tliereof.
[0007] Fluid pressurizer 20 is adapted to provide a pressure substantially
lower than
the delivery pressure required for injection of fluid 5 to subsea device 110.
Fluid pressurizer
20 may be located proximate the surface or subsea distally from fluid pressure
intensifier 30
and may be part of fluid source 10, i.e. integrated with fluid source 10, or
otherwise in fluid
communication with fluid source 10 such as via fluid conduit 11.
[0008] Fluid pressurizer 20 is in fluid communication with fluid pressure
intensifier
30, which is located proximate seabed 100, such as via fluid conduit 40. In
preferred
embodiments, fluid pressure intensifier 30 may be located on seabed 100 or
near seabed 110
such as on an ROV (not shown in the figures). Fluid pressurizer intensifier 30
is adapted to
provide fluid 5 to one or more subsea devices, e.g. subsea device 110, at
higher fluid pressure
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than fluid pressurizer 20 provides. In an embodiment, fluid pressure
intensifier 30 is adapted
to provide a pressure substantially higher than 10,000 PSI and, more
preferably, in the range
of around 15,000 to around 20,000 psi.
[0009] In certain embodiments, fluid pressure intensifier 30 comprises a
plurality of
fluid pressure intensifiers 30 connected in series, parallel, or a combination
thereof. One or
more fluid pressure intensifiers 30 may utilize proportional hydraulic valves.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment, fluid conduit 40 is an umbilical which may
further
corri-prise one or more fluid conduits 42, electrical power conduits 43, data
conduits 44, or a
coinbination thereof.
[0011] System 1 may further comprise surface control panel 4 operatively in
communication with fluid pressurizer 20, fluid pressure intensifier 30, or
both.
[0012] In an alternative embodiment, system 1 is adapted to provide an
installation
workover control system and comprises fluid source 10 located distally from
seabed 100 and
adapted to provide fluid 5 suitable for use with a subsea installation
workover function; fluid
pressurizer 20 in fluid communication with fluid source 10, fluid pressurizer
20 adapted to
pressurize fluid 5 to a first pressure; fluid pressure intensifier 30 located
at a surface location,
fluid pressure intensifier 30 further adapted to receive fluid 5 at a first
fluid pressure and
output fluid 5 at a fluid pressure higher than the first fluid pressure; and
fluid conduit 40 in
fluid communication with fluid pressurizer 20 and fluid pressure intensifier
30. '
[0013] Fluid pressure intensifier 30 may be further adapted to be driven
hydraulically
frorn the surface.
[0014] In the operation of an exemplary embodiment, fluid under pressure may
be
provided for subsea use such as with a subsea installation workover control
system by
purnping fluid 5 at a first fluid pressure from a first location to fluid
pressure intensifier 20
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located subsea; increasing the fluid pressure to a higher pressure at the
subsea fluid pressure
intensifier 20; and providing the increased pressure fluid 5 for use subsea.
[0015] In an einbodiment, fluid 5 is pumped at a first fluid pressure from a
pump
located at a surface location or a pump located subsea, e.g. fluid pressurizer
20, but not
located proximate fluid pressure intensifier 30.
[0016] The foregoing disclosure and description of the inventions are
illustrative and
explanatory. Various changes in the size, shape, and materials, as well as in
the details of the
illustrative construction and/or a illustrative method may be made without
departing from the
spirit of the invention.
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Representative Drawing