Offset installation systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9725138-B2
Application number	US-201414912528-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 19, 2014
Priority date	Aug 19, 2013
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

A subsea buoy comprising: a frame comprising one or more winches and a subsea equipment attachment point and one or more buoyancy modules attached to the frame and associated systems and methods.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A subsea buoy comprising:
a frame comprising one or more winches and a subsea equipment attachment point;
a capping stack attached to the subsea equipment attachment point; and
one or more buoyancy modules attached to the frame.

2. The subsea buoy of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a docking point.

3. The subsea buoy of claim 1 , wherein the subsea equipment attachment point comprises a cardan joint.

4. The subsea buoy of claim 1 , wherein the one or more buoyancy modules each comprises an air tank and one or more buoyancy elements.

5. The subsea buoy of claim 1 , further comprising a drag chain attached to the frame.

6. The subsea buoy of claim 1 , further comprising an integral control system capable of controlling the one or more winches.

7. The subsea buoy of claim 2 , further comprising an ROV attached to the docking point.

8. An offset installation system comprising:
a subsea buoy, wherein the subsea buoy comprises:
a frame comprising one or more winches and a subsea equipment attachment point and
one or more buoyancy modules attached to the frame and

one or more anchors, wherein the one or more anchors are connected to the one or more winches by one or more mooring lines and wherein the one or more anchors are anchored to a sea floor surrounding a well head.

9. The offset installation system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more anchors are anchored to a subsea structure.

10. The offset installation system of claim 8 , wherein the well head is experiencing an uncontrolled release of hydrocarbons.

11. A method comprising:
providing a subsea buoy, wherein the subsea buoy comprises:
a frame comprising one or more winches and a subsea equipment attachment point and one or more buoyancy modules attached to the frame;
connecting a capping stack to the subsea equipment attachment point; and

transporting the capping stack to a location near the sea floor.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the subsea buoy comprises towing the subsea buoy into a position near the location at a controlled depth.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the subsea buoy comprises attaching the subsea buoy to one or more mooring lines.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more mooring lines are attached to a structure on the sea floor.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more mooing lines are anchored to the sea floor around a structure on the sea floor.

16. The method of any one of claim 13 , wherein transporting the capping stack to a location near the sea floor comprises winching in the one or more mooring lines until the subsea buoy and the capping stack are equipment is brought to the structure on the sea floor.

Assignees

• Shell Oil Co

Inventors

• Baylot Michel Pierre
• Hallot Raymond Albert Louis
• Hajeri Yann
• Gueydane Stephane Franck
• Scarpa Matteo

Classifications

• B63B22/18 Primary

  having means to control attitude or position, e.g. reaction surfaces or tether · CPC title

• E21B19/002

  specially adapted for underwater drilling (E21B19/09, E21B19/143 take precedence) · CPC title

• B63B22/02

  specially adapted for mooring a vessel · CPC title

• B63B2021/007

  Remotely controlled subsea assistance tools, or related methods for handling of anchors or mooring lines, e.g. using remotely operated underwater vehicles for connecting mooring lines to anchors · CPC title

• B63B22/04

  {Fixations or other} anchoring arrangements · CPC title