Well intervention tool and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9574420-B2
Application number	US-201414519550-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2014
Priority date	Oct 21, 2013
Publication date	Feb 21, 2017
Grant date	Feb 21, 2017

Abstract

A system to control fluid flow through a fluid passage includes a valve that is fail-safe closed to selectively control fluid flow through the fluid passage, and a hydraulic actuator operatively coupled to the valve to open the valve when hydraulic pressure above a predetermined amount is received. The system further includes an inlet to provide hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic actuator and open the valve and an outlet to vent hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic actuator and close the valve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A subsea system to control fluid flow through a fluid passage, comprising:
a valve configured to selectively control fluid flow through the fluid passage;
a hydraulic actuator operatively coupled to the valve to open the valve when hydraulic pressure above a predetermined amount is received;
an inlet to provide the hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic actuator to open the valve;
an outlet to vent hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic actuator to close the valve;
a coupling comprising a male member and a female member that are disconnectable to prevent flow through the fluid passage; and
wherein the hydraulic pressure is vented from the hydraulic actuator through the outlet to close the valve upon disconnection of the male member and the female member.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the fluid passage extending through the coupling;
wherein the male member and the female member are configured to disconnect to prevent flow through the fluid passage if force above a predetermined amount is received by the coupling;
and
wherein the valve is fail-safe closed.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
a hydraulic fuse operatively coupled to the coupling and in fluid communication with the outlet to vent hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic actuator and to close the valve upon disconnection of the male member and the female member of the coupling; and
a second valve operatively coupled to the coupling and in fluid communication with the outlet to vent hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic actuator and to close the valve upon disconnection of the male member and the female member of the coupling.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the hydraulic fuse comprises a hydraulic coupling to vent hydraulic pressure through the hydraulic coupling when the coupling is disconnected, and wherein the second valve comprises a directional control valve.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an accumulator in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuator to provide hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic actuator.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the valve, the hydraulic actuator, and the accumulator are positioned on a subsea skid.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the subsea skid is operatively coupled between a surface vessel and a subsea tree to inject fluid from the surface vessel through the fluid passage and into the subsea tree.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the valve is independently controllable without any communication from a surface.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible joint positioned and coupled between the coupling and a subsea skid, wherein the fluid passage extends through the flexible joint between the coupling and the valve.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the fluid passage comprises coiled tubing;
the fluid comprises a chemical treatment to be injected within a well;
the coupling comprises a pressure balanced weak link coupling; and
the outlet vents hydraulic pressure subsea.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuator to relieve hydraulic pressure above a second predetermined amount.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inlet comprises a hot stab to connect with a remotely operated vehicle, and wherein the valve is operable to open and close with the remotely operated vehicle.

13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second valve to selectively control fluid flow through the fluid passage, wherein the second valve is operable to open and close with a remotely operated vehicle.

14. A subsea skid to service a well, comprising:
a valve configured to selectively control fluid flow through a fluid passage;
a hydraulic actuator operatively coupled to the valve to open the valve when hydraulic pressure above a predetermined amount is received;
a coupling comprising a male member and a female member with the fluid passage extending therethrough;
wherein the male member and the female member of the coupling are configured to disconnect to prevent flow through the fluid passage if force above a predetermined amount is received by the coupling; and
wherein hydraulic pressure is configured to be vented from the hydraulic actuator to close the valve upon disconnection of the male member and the female member of the coupling.

15. The subsea skid of claim 14 , further comprising:
an inlet to provide hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic actuator and open the valve; and
an outlet to vent hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic actuator and close the valve.

16. The subsea skid of claim 15 , further comprising at least one of:
a hydraulic fuse operatively coupled to the coupling and in fluid communication with the outlet to vent hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic actuator and to close the valve upon disconnection of the male member and the female member of the coupling; and
a second operatively coupled to the coupling and in fluid communication with the outlet to vent hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic actuator and to close the valve upon disconnection of the male member and the female member of the coupling.

17. The subsea skid of claim 14 , further comprising an accumulator in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuator and configured to provide hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic actuator, and wherein the valve is fail-safe closed.

18. The subsea skid of claim 14 , further comprising a flexible joint with the coupling connected to the flexible joint and the fluid passage extended through the flexible joint between the coupling and the valve.

19. A method of operating a subsea system, comprising:
providing fluid from a surface vessel through a coupling comprising a fluid passage and into a subsea tree;
disconnecting a male member from a female member of the coupling upon receiving force above a predetermined amount by the coupling; and
venting hydraulic pressure from a hydraulic actuator upon disconnection of the male member and the female member of the coupling, thereby closing a valve operatively coupled to the hydraulic actuator to prevent fluid flow through the fluid passage with the valve.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
injecting hydraulic pressure into an accumulator in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuator to provide hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic actuator, thereby opening the valve to enable fluid flow through the fluid passage with the valve;
wherein at least one of a hydraulic fuse and a second valve is in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuator to vent hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic actuator; and
wherein the valve is fail-safe closed.

Assignees

• Onesubsea Ip Uk Ltd

Inventors

• Hall Graham
• Large Robert
• Trinder James Duncan

Classifications

• E21B17/20

  Flexible or articulated drilling pipes {, e.g. flexible or articulated rods, pipes or cables} · CPC title

• E21B43/16

  Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons · CPC title

• E21B41/04

  Manipulators for underwater operations, e.g. temporarily connected to well heads · CPC title

• E21B43/017

  Production satellite stations, i.e. underwater installations comprising a plurality of satellite well heads connected to a central station · CPC title

• E21B33/0355

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