Subsea assembly modularisation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020385949-A1
Application number	US-201716472315-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 22, 2017
Priority date	Dec 23, 2016
Publication date	Dec 10, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A foundation for a subsea assembly is provided. The foundation comprises connection points. The connection points permit other components to be connected to the suction anchor and permit loads to transfer from the component connected to the connection points into the foundation. The foundation may be a suction anchor. A method of converting an exploration well using such a foundation to a production well is provided.

First claim

1 . A foundation for a subsea assembly, wherein the foundation comprises connection points, wherein the connection points permit other components to be connected to the foundation and permit loads to transfer from the component connected to the connection points into the foundation.

2 . A foundation according to claim 1 , wherein the foundation is a suction anchor.

3 . A foundation according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the connection points are additional parts that protrude from the foundation to provide an attachment point for components to be mounted on the foundation.

4 . A foundation according to claim 1 , 2 or 3 , wherein one or more of the connection points has an adjustable height.

5 . A foundation according to any preceding claim, wherein each connection point comprises or is arranged to be connected to a guide device.

6 . A foundation according to any preceding claim, wherein the connection points are stronger than the adjacent parts of the foundation.

7 . A foundation according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the connection points is provided at the outer perimeter of the foundation.

8 . A foundation according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the connection points extends beyond the top of the foundation.

9 . A foundation according to any preceding claim, wherein the connection points are provided at approximately equally spaced locations around the outer perimeter of the foundation.

10 . A foundation according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the connection points is integral with the foundation.

11 . A foundation according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the connection points has a profile that permits load transfer and/or locking of the component that is connected to the connection point.

12 . A foundation according to any preceding claim, wherein each connection point comprises a base portion integral with the foundation and a connection portion to which a component can be attached.

13 . A foundation according to any preceding claim, wherein the foundation is for providing a foundation for a subsea well assembly.

14 . A subsea assembly comprising the foundation of any preceding claim.

15 . A subsea assembly according to claim 14 , wherein one or more connection point is connected to a guide device.

16 . A subsea assembly according to claim 15 , wherein one or more of the guide devices provides a means to which the components can be attached, a means for transferring loads to the foundation, a means for guiding the components into the correct position and orientation on the foundation, and/or a means to which guide wires can be attached during an installation procedure.

17 . A subsea assembly according to claim 15 or 16 , wherein there are a plurality of guide devices, and one guide device protrudes further from the foundation than the other guide devices.

18 . A subsea assembly according to claim 15 , 16 or 17 , wherein the subsea foundation comprises a fine alignment device, wherein the guide device is used to guide a component into approximately the correct location and orientation on the foundation and the fine alignment device is used to more precisely locate the component and/or lock it to the subsea assembly.

19 . A subsea assembly according to any of claims 14 to 18 , wherein the subsea assembly is a subsea well assembly.

20 . A system comprising a plurality of foundations of different designs, wherein each foundation comprises connection points, wherein the connection points permit other components to be connected to the foundation and permit loads to transfer from the component connected to the connection points into the foundation, wherein the connection points are located in the same position relative to each other and/or the connection points are the same size on each foundation.

21 . A system according to claim 20 , wherein each foundation is a foundation according to any of claims 1 to 13 .

22 . A method, wherein the method comprises providing the foundation or subsea assembly of any of claims 1 to 19 .

23 . A method according to claim 22 , wherein the method comprises providing a plurality of suction anchors of different designs wherein the connection points on each suction anchor are located in the same position relative to the other connection points and/or the connection points are the same size between each of the suction anchors.

24 . A method of converting an exploration well into a production well, the method comprising:
providing a subsea well assembly, the well assembly comprising a foundation, wherein the foundation comprises one or more connection points, using the subsea well assembly as an exploration well assembly; and converting the exploration well assembly to a production well assembly, wherein converting the exploration well assembly to a production well assembly comprises connecting one or more components to the foundation via the one or more connection points.

25 . A method according to claim 24 , wherein no components are connected to the connection points when the well assembly is being used as an exploration well.

26 . A method according to claim 24 or 25 , wherein the one or more components comprises a support device and/or a subsea equipment adapter frame and wherein converting the exploration well assembly to a production well assembly comprises installing the support device and/or the subsea equipment adapter frame on the foundation.

27 . A method according to claim 24 , 25 or 26 , wherein the foundation is a foundation according to any of claims 1 to 13 ,

Assignees

• Equinor Energy As

Inventors

• Eide Asle
• Saether Morten
• Nesse Harald Sigurd
• Reinås Lorents
• Ellingsen Kjell Einar
• Eidesen Bjørgulf Haukelidsæter

Classifications

• E02B17/02

  placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto · CPC title

• E21B33/038

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

• E21B41/10

  Guide posts, e.g. releasable; Attaching guide lines to underwater guide bases · CPC title

• E21B41/08 Primary

  Underwater guide bases, e.g. drilling templates; Levelling thereof · CPC title

• E21B41/0007

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