초록 ▼

The present invention discloses apparatus and methods for a lightweight subsea intervention package that may be installed using vessels with a smaller lifting capacity than semi-submersible platforms so that the subsea intervention package can be transported, installed, and removed from a subsea wel

The present invention discloses apparatus and methods for a lightweight subsea intervention package that may be installed using vessels with a smaller lifting capacity than semi-submersible platforms so that the subsea intervention package can be transported, installed, and removed from a subsea well in less time and with less cost. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a lower riser package for controlling the subsea well which utilizes two hydraulically activated gate valves. An emergency disconnect package is secured to the lower riser package utilizing a disconnect mechanism. The emergency disconnect package is operable to seal the bottom of a riser if the disconnect mechanism is activated to thereby minimize environmental leakage of fluid from the riser.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for making a lightweight subsea intervention package for use in servicing a subsea well, said subsea intervention package being operable for containing said subsea well while using at least one of tubing, coiled tubing, or wireline during said servicing of said subsea wells, said subsea

1. A method for making a lightweight subsea intervention package for use in servicing a subsea well, said subsea intervention package being operable for containing said subsea well while using at least one of tubing, coiled tubing, or wireline during said servicing of said subsea wells, said subsea intervention package comprising: providing a lower package attachable to said subsea well;providing that said lower package comprises at least one hydraulically actuated gate valve operable for both cutting said tubing, coiled tubing, or wireline and then closing to form a seal for sealing said subsea well;providing a cutting blade on a gate of said at least one hydraulically actuated gate valve with an aperture therethrough that defines a flow passageway when said valve is in an open position and wherein said aperture increases in diameter from one side of said gate to an opposite side thereof;providing an emergency disconnect package that is securable to a riser; andproviding that said emergency disconnect package is replaceable with a subsea lubricator to permit subsea wireline operations without use of a riser, while said lower package remains attached to said subsea well. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing a disconnect mechanism comprising a first portion and a second portion;providing that said first portion of said disconnect mechanism is attachable to said lower package;providing that said second portion of said disconnect mechanism is attachable to said emergency disconnect package; andproviding that said first portion and said second portion of said disconnect mechanism are selectively separable. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing at least two hydraulically actuated gate valves for said lower package. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing that said emergency disconnect package is operable to seal a lower end of said riser if said disconnect mechanism is activated to separate said emergency disconnect package from said lower package. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing a valve housing for said at least one hydraulically actuated gate valve;providing a first pair of telescoping seating elements on one side of said gate, said first pair of telescoping seating elements comprising two seating elements in surrounding relationship to fluid flow so that each of said two seating elements of said first pair form a portion of a flow passageway through said valve housing, said two seating elements being concentrically engaged and telescopingly slidable with respect to each other and moveable with respect to said valve housing so that an overall length of said first pair of telescoping seating elements can lengthen and shorten, said two seating elements being moveable with respect to said gate and a second pair of telescoping seating elements on an opposite side of said gate, said second pair of telescoping seating elements comprising two seating elements in surrounding relationship to fluid flow so that each of said two seating elements of said second pair form a portion of said flow passageway, said two seating elements being concentrically engaged and telescopingly slidable with respect to each other and movable with respect to said valve housing so that an overall length of said second pair of seating elements can lengthen and shorten, and said second pair of seating elements being moveable with respect to said gate, said bore extending through said first pair of telescoping seating elements and said second pair of telescoping seating elements. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing that said at least one hydraulically actuated valve comprises a fail-safe actuator mounted on one side of a valve body and a manual override actuator mounted on an opposite side of said valve body. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: mounting an independent supply of hydraulic fluid on said emergency disconnect package; andproviding that said actuator is connected to utilize said independent supply of hydraulic fluid. 8. A method for making a lightweight subsea intervention package for use in servicing a subsea well, said subsea intervention package being operable for containing said subsea well while using at least one of tubing, coiled tubing, or wireline during said servicing of said subsea wells, said subsea intervention package comprising: providing a lower package attachable to said subsea well;providing said lower package within a lower package four post guide frame which is removably connectable underwater to a four post guide frame for said subsea well;providing that said lower package comprises at least one hydraulically actuated gate valve operable for both cutting said tubing, coiled tubing, or wireline and then closing to form a seal for sealing said subsea well;providing an emergency disconnect package that is securable to a riser;providing said emergency disconnect package with an emergency disconnect package four post guide frame comprising four lower post connectors which is removably connectable underwater to said lower package four post guide frame with said four lower posts connectors comprising an identical spacing as said lower package four post guide frame;providing said emergency disconnect package four post guide frame with four upper post connectors extending upwardly from an uppermost end of said emergency disconnect package with said identical spacing of said four lower post connectors;providing a disconnect mechanism comprising a first portion and a second portion;providing that said first portion of said disconnect mechanism is attachable to said lower package;providing that said second portion is mounted to said emergency disconnect package; andproviding that said first portion and said second portion of said disconnect mechanism are selectively separable so that upon separation said lower package four post guide frame separates from said emergency disconnect package four post guide frame. 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: providing that said emergency disconnect package is operable to seal a lower end of said riser if said disconnect mechanism is activated to separate said emergency disconnect package from said lower package. 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising: providing that said emergency disconnect package and said lower package are lowered simultaneously for connection with said subsea well. 11. The method of claim 8, further comprising: providing a cutting blade on a gate of said valve with an aperture therethrough that defines a flow passageway when said valve is in an open position and wherein said aperture increases in diameter from one side of said gate to an opposite side thereof bore; andproviding a first pair of telescoping seating elements on one side of said gate, said first pair of telescoping seating elements comprising two seating elements in surrounding relationship to fluid flow through said flow passageway, said two seating elements being concentrically engaged and slidable with respect to each other and moveable with respect to a valve housing so that an overall length of said first pair of telescoping seating elements can lengthen and shorten, said two seating elements being moveable with respect to said gate and a second pair of telescoping seating elements on an opposite side of said gate, said second pair of telescoping seating elements comprising two seating elements in surrounding relationship to fluid flow through said flow passageway, said two seating elements being concentrically engaged and slidable with respect to each other and moveable with respect to said gate, said bore extending through said first pair of telescoping seating elements and said second pair of telescoping seating elements. 12. The method of claim 8, further comprising: providing that said at least one hydraulically actuated gate valve comprises a fail-safe actuator on one side of a valve body and a manual override mounted to an opposite side of said valve body. 13. A method for making a lightweight subsea intervention package for use in servicing a subsea well, said subsea intervention package being operable for containing said subsea well while using at least one of tubing, coiled tubing, or wireline during said servicing of said subsea wells, said subsea intervention package comprising: providing a lower package which is attachable to both vertical Christmas trees and horizontal Christmas trees;providing that said lower package comprises at least one hydraulically actuated gate valve operable for both cutting said tubing, coiled tubing, or wireline and then closing to form a seal for sealing said subsea well;providing a valve housing for said at least one hydraulically actuated gate valve;providing a first seat that comprises a first pair of telescoping seating elements on one side of a slidable gate, said first pair of telescoping seating elements comprising two seating elements in surrounding relationship to fluid flow so that each of said two seating elements of said first pair form a portion of a flow passageway through said valve housing, said two seating elements being concentrically engaged and telescopingly slidable with respect to each other and moveable with respect to said valve housing so that an overall length of said first pair of telescoping seating elements can lengthen and shorten, said two seating elements being moveable with respect to said slidable gate and a second seat that comprises a second pair of telescoping seating elements on an opposite side of said slidable gate, said second pair of telescoping seating elements comprising two seating elements in surrounding relationship to fluid flow so that each of said two seating elements of said second pair form a portion of said flow passageway, said two seating elements being concentrically engaged and telescopingly slidable with respect to each other and movable with respect to said valve housing so that an overall length of said second pair of seating elements can lengthen and shorten, and moveable with respect to said slidable gate;providing that said first pair of telescoping seating elements comprises a first internal diameter and said second pair of telescoping seating elements comprises a second internal diameter, wherein said first internal diameter is different than said second internal diameter;providing that said lower package defines a bore through said at least one hydraulically actuated gate valve and through said first seat and said second seat which is greater than six and five-eighths inches; andproviding that said lightweight subsea intervention package is less than forty tons. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: providing that said at least one hydraulically actuated gate valve comprises a fail-safe actuator on one side of a valve body and a manual override mounted to an opposite side of said valve body. 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising: providing a cutting blade on said slidable gate of said valve with an aperture therethrough that defines a said flow passageway when said valve is in an open position and wherein said aperture increases in diameter from one side of said slidable gate to an opposite side thereof. 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising: providing a disconnect mechanism comprising a first portion and a second portion;providing that said first portion of said disconnect mechanism is attachable to said lower package;providing that said second portion is mounted to an emergency disconnect package; andproviding that said first portion and said second portion of said disconnect mechanism are selectively separable. 17. The method of claim 13, further comprising: providing an emergency disconnect package connectable to said lower package and connectable to a riser; andproviding that said emergency disconnect package is replaceable with a subsea lubricator to permit subsea wireline operations without use of said riser.