Device and method for installing and handling a module of a subsea treatment station

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11148913-B2
Application number	US-201916961791-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2019
Priority date	Jan 18, 2018
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

A device for installing and handling a module of a subsea processing station, comprises a frame, and a hydraulic system comprising hydraulic cylinders each comprising a cylinder body, and a piston intended to be put into contact with a foot and movable inside the cylinder body between a first mechanical abutment corresponding to a deployed position of the piston and a second mechanical abutment corresponding to a retracted position of the piston. The piston divides the internal volume of the cylinder body into a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber is supplied with hydraulic fluid by two independent hydraulic circuits comprising a shock-absorbing circuit able to move the piston between the deployed and intermediate positions located between the deployed position and the retracted position defined by a hydraulic abutment, and a controlled-lowering circuit able to move the piston between the intermediate position and its retracted position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for installing and handling a module of a subsea processing station, comprising a frame intended to be fixed to a module, and a hydraulic system intended to ensure a shock-absorption and a controlled-lowering of the module on a base of the station, the hydraulic system comprising a plurality of hydraulic cylinders each intended to be connected to a foot able to come into contact with a base of the subsea processing station, each hydraulic cylinder comprising:
a cylinder body secured to the frame; and
a piston intended to be put into contact with a foot and movable in translation inside the cylinder body between a first mechanical abutment corresponding to a deployed position of the piston and a second mechanical abutment corresponding to a retracted position of the piston, the piston dividing the internal volume of the cylinder body into a first chamber and a second chamber which are sealed relative to each other;
the first chamber of each hydraulic cylinder being supplied with hydraulic fluid by two independent hydraulic circuits comprising a shock-absorbing circuit able to move the piston between its deployed position and an intermediate position located between the deployed position and the retracted position and defined by a hydraulic abutment, and a controlled-lowering circuit able to move the piston between the intermediate position and its retracted position.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the piston of each hydraulic cylinder has, at one end located inside the body of the cylinder, an opening communicating with the first chamber and a flange coming into sealed contact with an inner wall of the body of the cylinder.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the cylinder body of each hydraulic cylinder is equipped with a finger protruding inside the first chamber, the finger having an external diameter corresponding substantially to the internal diameter of the piston so to cooperate with the opening of the piston to form the hydraulic abutment corresponding to the intermediate position of the piston.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the finger comprises a discharge duct of the hydraulic controlled-lowering circuit which opens out inside the piston when the latter is in the intermediate position so as to allow moving the piston between the intermediate position and the retracted position.

5. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the inside of the cylinder body of each hydraulic cylinder comprises bearing surfaces against which the flange of the piston is able to come into contact to form the first and the second mechanical abutment.

6. The device according to claim 3 , wherein each hydraulic cylinder further comprises a guide rod connecting the finger to the piston and a spring mounted around the guide rod to assist in the deployment of the piston.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the second chamber of each hydraulic cylinder is supplied with hydraulic fluid by a hydraulic raising circuit.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the hydraulic raising circuit of each hydraulic cylinder comprises grooves formed in an outer wall of the piston which open outside the device and open out into the second chamber.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the shock-absorbing and controlled-lowering circuits each comprise:
a valve which is able to be piloted by a remote operated vehicle from a surface; and
a check valve in parallel with the valve to allow increasing the incoming fluid flow rate upon deployment of the cylinders.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the shock-absorbing and controlled-lowering circuits each comprise at least one pressure relief valve downstream of the hydraulic cylinders.

11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the shock-absorbing and controlled-lowering circuits are supplied with seawater.

12. A method for installing and handling a module of a subsea processing station, wherein the frame of a device according to claim 1 is attached to a module, the method comprising, during the phases of lowering and landing the module on a base of the subsea processing station, the steps of:
deploying the respective pistons of the hydraulic cylinders of the device, opening the shock-absorbing circuit and closing the controlled-lowering circuit to absorb the impacts of the module on the base of the station; and
once the module has landed on the base of the station, opening the controlled-lowering circuit by keeping the shock-absorbing circuit open to allow the final lowering of the module at controlled speed on the base of the station.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising, during a phase of lifting the module, a step of pumping the fluid to inject it into the shock-absorbing and controlled-lowering circuits to deploy the respective pistons of the hydraulic cylinders of the device.

14. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising, during a phase of retrieving the device on a surface after installation of the module on the base of the subsea processing station, the closing of the controlled-lowering circuit and the opening of mechanical connections between the device and the module in order to lift the device on the surface using a winch from an installation and maintenance boat.

15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising a phase of retrieving the module on the surface with the device retrieved on the surface, the retrieval phase comprising the steps of:
lowering the device under water from the surface by the installation and maintenance boat, to the module;
mechanically fixing the device to the module;
closing a valve of the controlled-lowering circuit;
pumping the fluid to inject it into the shock-absorbing and controlled-lowering circuits to deploy the respective pistons of the hydraulic cylinders of the device and raise the module in the intermediate position, on the hydraulic abutment; and
retrieving the module and the device using the winch of the installation and maintenance boat.

Assignees

• Saipem Sa

Inventors

• Hallot Raymond
• Bacati Fabrice
• Delaplace Thomas

Classifications

• E21B41/0007

  for underwater installations (E21B41/005, E21B41/04, E21B41/06, E21B41/08, E21B41/10 take precedence) · CPC title

• B66C1/663 Primary

  for containers (fastening of containers on vehicles B60P7/13, B60P7/132) · CPC title

• B66C1/101 Primary

  for containers (B66C1/223 and B66C1/663 take precedence) · CPC title

• B63B27/36

  Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment} for floating cargo {(deployment or recovery of underwater vehicles using lifts of hoists B63B27/16) · CPC title