초록 ▼

The present invention relates to a subsea system for the production of hydrocarbon reserves. More specifically, the present invention relates to a control wellhead bouy that is used in deepwater operations for offshore hydrocarbon production. In a preferred embodiment, a bouy for supporting equipmen

The present invention relates to a subsea system for the production of hydrocarbon reserves. More specifically, the present invention relates to a control wellhead bouy that is used in deepwater operations for offshore hydrocarbon production. In a preferred embodiment, a bouy for supporting equipment for use in a remote offshore well or pipeline includes a hull having a diameter:height ratio of at least 3:1, a mooring system for maintaining the hull in a desired location, and an umbilical providing fluid communication between the hull and the well or pipeline.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A buoy for supporting equipment for use in a remote offshore well or pipeline, comprising:a hull having a diameter:height ratio of at least 3:1;a mooring system for maintaining the hull in a desired location;an umbilical providing fluid communication between said hull and the well or pipeline;a t

1. A buoy for supporting equipment for use in a remote offshore well or pipeline, comprising:a hull having a diameter:height ratio of at least 3:1;a mooring system for maintaining the hull in a desired location;an umbilical providing fluid communication between said hull and the well or pipeline;a telemetry communication system for communication to a host facility; andsaid umbilical comprising at least production control communication lines and coiled tubing. 2. The buoy according to claim 1 wherein the mooring system is a catenary mooring system. 3. The buoy according to claim 1 wherein the mooring system is a taut mooring system. 4. The buoy according to claim 1 wherein the hull has a diameter:height ratio of at least 4:1. 5. The buoy according to claim 1, further including a pig launcher supported on said hull. 6. The buoy according to claim 5 wherein the pig launcher is a gel pig launcher. 7. The buoy according to claim 1, further including a chemical injection system in fluid communication with the well via said umbilical. 8. The buoy according to claim 1, further including equipment for inserting coiled tubing or wireline equipment into the well. 9. A system for producing hydrocarbons from a subsea well, comprising:a floating buoy positioned over the well, said buoy having a hull with a diameter:height ratio of at least 3:1;a mooring system maintaining said buoy in position over the well;a control umbilical connecting said buoy to the well said umbilical comprising at least production control communication lines and coiled tubing;a host facility adapted to receive hydrocarbons produced in the well; anda production pipeline connecting the well to said host facility. 10. The system according to claim 9 wherein said buoy includes equipment for inserting coiled tubing wireline equipment into the well. 11. The system according to claim 9 wherein said buoy includes storage for chemicals. 12. The system according to claim 9 wherein said buoy includes chemical injection equipment. 13. The system according to claim 9 wherein said buoy includes blowout prevention equipment in conjunction with a lower riser package. 14. The system according to claim 9 wherein said buoy is unmanned. 15. The system according to claim 9 wherein said production pipeline includes at least one access port between the well and said host facility. 16. The system according to claim 9 wherein said production pipeline includes at least one access port between the well and said host facility and said access port is adapted to allow insertion of a pig into said production pipeline. 17. The system according to claim 9 wherein said production pipeline includes at least one access port between the well and said host facility and said access port is adapted to allow injection of chemicals into said production pipeline. 18. The system according to claim 9 wherein said control umbilical includes equipment for control of at least one of: subsea equipment, hydraulic and electric power units. 19. The system of claim 9 wherein said control umbilical contains electrical, fiber optic, and/or fluid lines on its exterior. 20. The system of claim 9 wherein said control riser umbilical contains a high pressure bore in its center. 21. The system of claim 20 wherein the riser bore transports gel pigs to the flowline. 22. The system of claim 9, further including a power system. 23. The system of claim 22 wherein the power system comprises diesel power generators. 24. A system for producing hydrocarbons from a subsea well, comprising:a floating buoy positioned over the well, said buoy having a hull with a diameter:height ratio of at least 3:1;a mooring system maintaining said buoy in position over the well;a control umbilical connecting said buoy to the well;a host facility adapted to receive the hydrocarbons produced in the well;a production pipeline connecting the well to said host facility; anda power system comprising methanol fuel cell power generators. 25. A method for prod ucing hydrocarbons from a subsea well to a host facility; comprising:positioning a floating buoy with a hull having a diameter:height ratio of at least 3:1 over the well;connecting the well to the buoy with a control umbilical;connecting the well to said host facility with a production pipeline;producing the hydrocarbons from the well through the production pipeline to the host facility; andcontrolling the production of hydrocarbons through the control umbilical; andinserting coiled tubing into the well through the control umbilical. 26. The method according to claim 25, further including the step of pigging the well from the buoy. 27. The method according to claim 25, further including the step of performing a well stimulation in the well from the buoy. 28. The method according to claim 25, further including the step of providing sand control in the well from the buoy. 29. The method according to claim 25, further including the step of providing zone isolation, re-completions and reservoir/selective completions in the well from the buoy. 30. The method according to claim 25, further including the step of injecting chemicals into the well through the control umbilical. 31. The method according to claim 25 wherein said production pipeline includes at least one access port between the well and said host facility, further including the step of injecting chemicals through the access port. 32. The method according to claim 25 wherein said production pipeline includes at least one access port between the well and said host facility, further including the step of inserting a pig into said production pipeline through the access port. 33. The system of claim 25 wherein production test are performed on the well via the riser bore.