The present invention is directed to a method for completing the commissioning of a subsea pipeline by purging with a compressed gas to dewater and dry the line wherein the operation is done on the seabed. More specifically, the method is carried out with a subsea vechicle (hereinafter “SV”) that powers pumps located on the seabed or are carried by the SV to inject/remove chemical, dewater, and dry, the pipeline. The present invention may be part of the commissioning of a new or old pipeline or a new portion of a pipeline in which a purging of the line with a compressed gas and drying of the line is required. After commissioning, product flows through the pipeline.
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0. 10. A method for the hydrostatic testing of a pipeline between two subsea manifolds comprising:
using a submersible vehicle (SV) to deploy and operate one or more pumps on a fill and test package to pump seawater from near the seafloor to pressurize the pipeline sufficiently for high-pressure hydrostatic testing without need for a downline from a surface vessel to provide pressurization.
0. 8. A method for hydrostatic testing of a pipeline on the seafloor comprising:
using a submersible vehicle (SV) to deploy a fill and test package to a subsea location and to operate one or more pumps mounted on the fill and test package, including at least one high pressure pump dimensioned to pressurize the pipeline to a high-pressure hydrostatic test pressure without need for a downline from a surface vessel to provide pressurization.
0. 9. A method for hydrostatic testing of a water filled pipeline on the seafloor comprising:
using a submersible vehicle (SV) to deploy a fill and test package to a subsea location and to operate at least one high pressure pump mounted on the fill and test package to pump water into said water filled pipeline to pressurize the pipeline sufficiently for high-pressure hydrostatic testing without need for a downline from a surface vessel to provide pressurization.
6. A method for the hydrostatic testing of a pipeline before its ends are connected wherein both ends are on the seafloor comprising:
providing a subsea fill and test package comprising one or more pumps including at least one high pressure pump dimensioned to pump sufficient seawater into the pipeline to pressurize the pipeline to a high-pressure hydrostatic test pressure without need for a downline from a surface vessel;
using a submersible vehicle (SV) to deploy the fill and test package to one of the ends; and
using a submersible vehicle (SV) the SV to operate pumps at least one high pressure pump on a the fill and test package to pump seawater into the pipeline to raise the internal pressure of the pipeline sufficiently for a high-pressure hydrostatic testing of the pipeline commissioning test.
4. A method for commissioning cleaning and hydrostatic testing a subsea pipeline while both ends are on the subsea floor between two subsea manifolds, one of said manifolds having a subsea pig launcher/receiver with a pig and the other having a subsea pig receiver comprising:
providing a fill and test package comprising one or more pumps including at least one high pressure pump dimensioned to pressurize the pipeline to a high-pressure hydrostatic test pressure;
using a submersible vehicle (SV) to deploy the fill and test package to one of the manifolds;
using a the SV, operating pumps to operate at least one pump on a the fill and test package to force seawater behind said pig and move the pig from the pig launcher/receiver to the pig receiver; and
pumping operating at least one high pressure pump to pump more water seawater into said pipeline to a pressurize the pipeline to a high-pressure hydrostatic test pressure and maintaining said pressure to assure that there are no leaks in said pipeline;
using a SV, connecting a line from a compressed gas pack to said pig launcher/receiver for flow of compressed gas to force said pig to said pig launcher/receiver; and
pumping using a dewatering pump to suck water from said pipeline and moving said pig and compressed gas through the pipeline to said pig launcher/receiver.
1. A method of cleaning and, dewatering, or hydrostatic testing a pipeline between two subsea manifolds, one of said manifolds having a subsea pig launcher/receiver with a pig and the other having a subsea pig receiver comprising:
providing a fill and test package comprising one or more pumps mounted on the test and fill package wherein the test and fill package mounted pump or pumps are dimensioned for cleaning, dewatering, and pressurizing to a sufficiently high pressure for hydrostatic pipeline testing;
using a submersible vehicle (SV) to deploy the fill and test package to one of the subsea manifolds;
using a submersible vehicle (SV) the SV to operate one or more pumps on a the fill and test package to force seawater behind said pig and move the pig from the pig launcher/receiver to the pig receiver; and
using said SV to pump more water into said pipeline to a test pressure and maintaining said pressure that there are no leaks in said pipeline supply power to at least one of the one or more pumps for cleaning, dewatering, or hydrostatic testing of the pipeline.
2. A method according to
5. A method according to
0. 7. A method according to claim 4, further comprising:
using a SV, connecting a line from a compressed gas pack to said pig launcher/receiver for flow of compressed gas to force said pig to said pig launcher/receiver; and
pumping using a dewatering pump to suck water from said pipeline and moving said pig and compressed gas through the pipeline to said pig launcher/receiver.
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This application is based on provisional application No. 60/275,215, filed Mar. 13, 2001, entitled “Subsea to Subsea Remotely Operated Vehicle Assisted Pipeline Commissioning Method”.
The present invention is directed to commissioning methods for subsea pipelines. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a commissioning method wherein the operation is carried out on the seabed rather than at the surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,883,303 discloses and describes an apparatus and method for pigging, flooding and pressure testing pipelines.
The above patent is directed to the testing required when a new pipeline is placed in operation. However, when commissioning a subsea pipeline, or adding a new segment to an existing offshore pipeline, it is often desired to follow the hydrostatic pressure testing with an inert gas or specified medium to purge/dewater the subsea pipeline, and/or inject specified chemicals, to dry the inside of the line before flow of the oil/gas in the pipeline.
The dewatering of a subsea pipeline by the prior art has been at surface level, usually on a surface vessel, boat, structure or platform. This requires that long lines of coiled tubing, hose, or pipe, be used. The prior art method uses large distances of coiled tubing, hose, or pipe, to connect the pipeline to a pump mobilized on the deck of a support vessel to remove the water and dry the line before product is allowed to pass through the line. Also required by the prior art method are large pumps, compressors, compressor boosters and surface support vessel and/or vessels, to support the large volume of compressed gases and fluids pumped through the significant distances to fill the new portion of the pipeline with the gas and fluids.
The method of the present invention eliminates the larger volume of compressed gas and fluids, the higher pressure of the compressed gas and fluids, the large pumps/compressors, compressor boosters, long distances of coiled tubing/hose/pipe, and substantial surface support vessel/vessels, all required by the prior art methods.
The present invention is directed to a method for completing the commissioning of a subsea pipeline by purging with a compressed gas to dewater and dry the line wherein the operation is done on the seabed. More specifically, the method is carried out with a subsea vechicle (hereinafter “SV”) that powers pumps located on the seabed or that are carried by the SV to inject/remove chemical, dewater, and dry, the pipeline. The present invention may be part of the commissioning of a new or old pipeline or a new portion of a pipeline in which a purging of the line with a compressed gas and drying of the line is required. After commissioning, product flows through the pipeline.
Offshore drilling for oil/gas is continuing to expand at further distances from shore and at greater depths. Subsea pipelines are utilized to transport the discovered product to a variety of disposition points. These points include existing or new offshore trees, manifolds, pipelines, platforms, or onshore facilities. As new wells are completed subsea pipelines flowing the product are tied through manifolds to existing pipelines that are already in place to bring the product to shore. As dictated by law, the new sections of pipeline require hydrotesting to make certain that the line has no leaks and in some cases, contains no water. In addition to hydrotesting, other steps in the commissioning of the pipeline may be required, including dewatering, drying, cleaning, and installing chemicals. The present invention relates to any or all the steps as related to the commissioning of these subsea pipelines carried out on the seabed rather than at the surface.
Once a well is completed, a pipeline is connected to the well for moving the product to shore. The pipeline is often not extended all the way to shore but is tied through a manifold or connection to offshore facilities. Manifolds as used herein may have a variety of specific structures; however, the common function for the purpose herein is that sections of pipelines are connected to other facilities, including other pipelines via various connection assemblies referred to herein as manifolds. Also common to a manifold as used herein is that there is structure to provide internal access to the pipeline. The subsea performance or operation of the commissioning method, the present invention, will be described as a method of commissioning a pipeline between two manifolds; however, it is understood that the commissioning is not limited to that portion of a pipeline between two manifolds but includes any subsea pipeline or pipeline segment, most particularly one which has or could have both ends at the seafloor at the time of testing and commissioning.
The present invention is directed to a commissioning method wherein the operation is carried out on the seabed rather than at the surface. It is illustrated by using a subsea vehicle to assist in the operation and assumes that valves require to be mechanically operated from the subsea vehicle. This is only one embodiment of the invention since the degree of assistance necessary by the subsea vehicle may be materially reduced with the use of automated valves not requiring mechanical operation. The subsea vehicle need not carry the pumps are other equipment as shown in the embodiment illustrated by the drawings.
Referring to
The SV 18 returns to the support vessel, (if required), 10 after completing the installation of the pig launcher/receiver 20 and the pig receiver 30 to acquire a fill and test package 40 which includes a number of pumps and lines that are connected to either panel 24 or 34 as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The package 40 is preferably held by the SV 18 during the remainder of the commissioning process; however, landing the package 40 on the sea floor near pig launcher/receiver 20 is also an alternative. The fill and test package 40 may alternatively be more than one package mounted on different skids.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring to
The operation of filling the pipeline 16 with seawater pumped from pig launcher/receiver 20 to pig receiver 30 is illustrated in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Upon successful completion of the hydrostatic testing of the pipeline 16, the SV 18 disconnects line 42, referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
The operation of dewatering and pigging the pipeline 16 by pumping water through the pig launcher/receiver 20 from pipeline 16 is illustrated in
Referring now to
Referring now to
The commissioning operation has been described in detail, but it is understood that this detail is representative, and that variations in the method may be appropriate for specific applications. Significant improvements to the prior art have been set forth. Modifications and additions may be added without changing the commissioning operation as set forth. For example the commissioning method is carried out on a pipeline with both ends on the seafloor or one end on the seafloor and the operation is carried out at that end before the pipeline is connected to manifolds or other structure. Another example, the panel 24 may have a valve 67 that when open provides access to vacuum gauge 69. The robotic arm 19 and pumps on the fill and test package 40 are powered by electric or hydraulic power. The tether connecting the support vessel 10 includes a substantial electrical source that powers the pumps on the fill and test package 40 directly or powers a hydraulic power source which then drives the pumps. There may be three separate pumps on the fill and test package 40 or two pumps, the low volume high pressure pump being able to operate both to add water to the pipeline 16 or as a dewatering pump to suck water from the pipeline 16, or just one pump. There are many changes in details that may be made such that water treating may be added, filters may be added, more than one pig may be used, methanol or other chemicals may be added between pigs, the pig may include tracking means to name some; however, changes in detail do not change the method as set forth and described.
Tucker, David M., Yemington, Charles R.
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