Spool module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9169709-B2
Application number	US-201213666813-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2012
Priority date	Nov 1, 2012
Publication date	Oct 27, 2015
Grant date	Oct 27, 2015

Abstract

A spool module for a subsea well production tree and system is presented. The spool module is similar to traditional process modules, except that the spool module includes all its components and their conduits inside one body (or block). This module includes retrievable components used for production and annulus flow lines into one package. The spool module includes the production choke, annulus choke, and conduit bores integral in the block. The spool module includes all of these elements machined into one body having no additional conduits or piping outside of the body. The spool module may also be used in connection with a subsea tree during production of a well, or with several wells on a template or as part of a manifold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A process module for well fluid from a production assembly connected to a well comprising:
a single-piece body;
a choke attached to the single-piece body;
an entering flow path for the well fluid inside the single-piece body;
an exit flow path inside the single-piece body;
a flow meter attached to the single-piece body and in fluid communication with the exit flow path downstream of the choke; and
wherein the choke is in fluid communication with and configured to control flow between the entering flow path and the exit flow path.

2. The module of claim 1 , further including a fluid sensor in fluid communication with the entering flow path.

3. The module of claim 2 , wherein the fluid sensor measures a temperature or a pressure of fluid in the entering flow path.

4. The module of claim 1 , further including a choke actuator connected with the choke for actuating the choke.

5. The module of claim 1 , wherein the entering flow path is in fluid communication with a production flow path from the production assembly.

6. The module of claim 1 , wherein the entering flow path is in fluid communication with an annulus flow path from the production assembly.

7. The module of claim 1 , the single-piece body further including a chemical injection inlet in the single-piece body in fluid communication with the well to introduce chemical fluids into the well.

8. The module of claim 1 , further including:
the entering flow path being in fluid communication with a production bore from the production assembly;
a second choke;
a second entering flow path inside the single-piece body in fluid communication with an annulus bore of the production assembly;
a second exit flow path inside the single-piece body; and
wherein the second choke is in fluid communication with and can control flow between the second entering flow path and the second exit flow path.

9. The module of claim 8 , the single-piece body further including a flow path access inlet in the single-piece body in fluid communication with the well to introduce chemical fluids into the well.

10. The module of claim 4 , wherein the production assembly includes a production or injection tree.

11. The module of claim 4 , wherein the production assembly includes a production or injection manifold.

12. A system for producing fluid from a subsea well including:
a subsea production assembly including an annulus flow path and a production flow path; and
a flow control module that includes:
a single-piece body;
a choke attached to the single-piece body;
an entering flow path for the well fluid inside the single-piece body;
an exit flow path inside the single-piece body;
a flow meter attached to the single-piece body and in fluid communication with the exit flow path downstream of the choke; and
wherein the choke is in fluid communication with and configured to control flow between the entering flow path and the exit flow path.

13. The system of claim 12 , further including a fluid sensor in fluid communication with the entering flow path.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the fluid sensor measures a temperature or a pressure of fluid in the entering flow path.

15. The system of claim 12 , further including a choke actuator connected with the choke for actuating the choke.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the entering flow path is in fluid communication with the production flow path from the production assembly.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the entering flow path is in fluid communication with the annulus flow path from the production assembly.

18. The system of claim 12 , the single-piece body further including a flow path access inlet in the single-piece body in fluid communication with the well to introduce chemical fluids into the well.

19. The system of claim 12 , further including:
a second choke;
a second entering flow path inside the single-piece body in fluid communication with an annulus bore of the production assembly;
and

a second exit flow path inside the single-piece body; and
wherein the second choke is in fluid communication with and can control flow between the second entering flow path and the second exit flow path.

20. The system of claim 19 , further including a flow path access inlet in the single-piece body in fluid communication with the subsea well to introduce chemical fluids into the subsea well.

21. The system of claim 12 , wherein the production assembly includes a production tree.

22. The system of claim 12 , wherein the production assembly includes a production manifold.

Assignees

• Cameron Int Corp
• Onesubsea Ip Uk Ltd

Inventors

• Vincent Jack H
• Stiel Brian
• Bogard John

Classifications

• E21B47/06

  Measuring temperature or pressure · CPC title

• E21B43/12

  Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00) · CPC title

• E21B43/01

  specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations · CPC title

• E21B33/0355 Primary

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

• E21B2200/02

  Down-hole chokes or valves for variably regulating fluid flow · CPC title