Subsea wellhead assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020173244-A1
Application number	US-202016783532-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 6, 2020
Priority date	Mar 8, 2016
Publication date	Jun 4, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A subsea wellhead assembly and a method of installing a subsea well head assembly. The subsea wellhead assembly includes: a conductor; a subsea wellhead; and subsea riser system equipment mounted on the subsea wellhead. The subsea riser system equipment is connected to the conductor such that forces can be transmitted from the subsea riser equipment to the conductor in both tension and compression.

First claim

1 . A subsea wellhead assembly, the assembly comprising:
a conductor; a subsea wellhead; and subsea riser system equipment mounted on the subsea wellhead; wherein the subsea riser system equipment is connected to the conductor such that forces can be transmitted from the subsea riser equipment to the conductor in both tension and compression.

2 . A subsea wellhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the assembly comprises a connection device that connects the subsea riser system equipment to the conductor.

3 . A subsea wellhead assembly as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the connection device comprises a connection bracket mounted on the conductor that permits the subsea riser system equipment to be connected to the conductor.

4 . A subsea well assembly as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the connection bracket is designed to retrofit to a standard and/or preinstalled conductor.

5 . A subsea well assembly as claimed in claim 3 , wherein when the connection bracket is located around the conductor it is in contact with a wellhead support such that loads from the subsea riser equipment can be spread into the wellhead support.

6 . A subsea wellhead assembly as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the connection bracket is a guidebase.

7 . A subsea wellhead assembly as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the connection device comprises a connection member, wherein the connection member is connected between the connection bracket and the subsea riser system equipment so that forces can be transmitted from the subsea riser equipment to the conductor.

8 . A subsea wellhead assembly as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the connection member is a guidepost.

9 . A subsea wellhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection between the subsea riser system equipment and the conductor is in compression, and/or the connection between the subsea riser system equipment and the conductor is in tension.

10 . A subsea wellhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the assembly comprises a preload device for allowing a preload to be exerted on the connection between the subsea riser system equipment and the conductor.

11 . A subsea wellhead assembly as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the preload device is a tensioner for putting the connection between the subsea riser system equipment and the conductor into tension, and/or the preload device is a jack for putting the connection between the subsea riser system equipment and the conductor into compression.

12 . A subsea wellhead assembly as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the preload device is operable using an ROV.

13 . A subsea wellhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the assembly is a free-standing subsea wellhead assembly.

14 . A subsea wellhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the assembly comprises a support structure, wherein the support structure is clamped onto the conductor to increase the effective area of the conductor immersed in the soil.

15 . A method of installing a subsea wellhead assembly, the method comprising:
providing a conductor, a subsea wellhead, and subsea riser system equipment mounted to the wellhead; and connecting the subsea riser system equipment to the conductor such that forces can be transmitted from the subsea riser equipment to the conductor in both tension and compression.

16 . A method of installing a subsea wellhead assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the method comprises connecting the subsea riser system equipment to the conductor such that forces can be transmitted from the subsea riser equipment to the conductor using a connection device.

17 . A method of installing a subsea wellhead assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the connection device comprises a connection bracket mounted on the conductor which permits the subsea riser system equipment to be connected to the conductor.

18 . A method of installing a subsea wellhead assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the method comprises retrofitting the connection bracket to an installed conductor, and wherein the method comprises connecting the conductor to the subsea riser system equipment via the retrofit connection bracket.

19 . A method of installing a subsea wellhead assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the connection bracket is a guidebase, the guidebase is used to guide the subsea riser system equipment onto the wellhead and then, once the subsea riser system equipment is mounted on the wellhead, and the guidebase is used to connect the subsea riser system equipment to the conductor such that forces can be transmitted from the subsea riser system equipment to the conductor.

20 . A method of installing a subsea wellhead assembly according to claim 19 , wherein the connection device comprises a preload device,
the method further comprising preloading the connection between the subsea riser system equipment and the conductor.

Assignees

• Equinor Energy As

Inventors

• Osen Per
• Saether Morten
• Reinås Lorents
• Nesse Harald Sigurd

Classifications

• E21B33/043

  specially adapted for underwater well heads ({E21B33/0407,} E21B33/047 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B33/076

  specially adapted for underwater installations · CPC title

• E21B33/038 Primary

  Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser · CPC title

• E21B33/064 Primary

  specially adapted for underwater well heads · CPC title

• E21B33/0355

  Control systems, e.g. hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, acoustic, for submerged well heads · CPC title