Method and system for maintenance and servicing of subsea wells

A system and method for servicing subsea wells with a flexible riser. The flexible riser can be modified for use either with wireline or through the flow line tools. The flexible riser eliminates the requirement for motion or heave compensating equipment associated with rigid marine riser systems. The flexible riser, lower riser package and associated surface support equipment can be used to obtain vertical access to a subsea well without the need to use a drill ship or semisubmersible.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to methods and systems for maintenance and servicing 
of a subsea well with its wellhead located on or near the ocean floor and 
production flow lines extending therefrom, usually along the ocean floor. 
2. Description of Related Art 
A wide variety of designs and equipment are used to complete, produce and 
service offshore oil and gas wells. Some examples include large production 
platforms with a rigid support structure resting on the ocean floor, 
moored tension leg platforms, and through flow line (TFL or pumpdown) well 
completions. These alternative designs and others are motivated by a 
desire to extract oil and gas from offshore hydrocarbon reservoirs in both 
an economical and safe manner. 
This invention is directed towards maintenance and servicing a subsea well 
that has been completed without any type of platform structure on the 
ocean surface above the well. Prior to the present invention, such wells 
were generally serviced either by TFL techniques or conventional wireline 
from a drill ship or semisubmersible type vessel. Wireline servicing from 
such vessels generally requires the use of a fixed riser from the wellhead 
to the vessel and associated large heave compensation equipment. 
Therefore, routine wireline service performed on a subsea well may cost 
several hundreds of thousands of dollars while the same wireline service 
for a land well might be only a few hundred dollars. One object of the 
present invention is to substantially reduce the time and cost required to 
service subsea wells. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,016 invented by Michael J. A. Best discloses a typical 
subsea wellhead and Christmas tree. This patent also teaches equipment and 
methods for removal of the tree cap to gain vertical access to the well 
bore below the wellhead for maintenance and servicing of the well bore. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,036 invented by Kenneth C. Saliger discloses a subsea 
wellhead, Christmas tree, and associated equipment to allow connecting a 
production flow line to the Christmas tree. U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,983 
invented by Nickiforos G. Dadiras et al discloses a fixed or rigid marine 
riser extending from a subsea facility to a floating structure located 
substantially directly thereabove. U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,722 invented by 
Edward W. Gregory discloses a marine production riser for use between a 
subsea facility (production manifold, wellhead, etc.) and a 
semisubmersible production vessel. U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,986 invented by 
Daniel G. Taft et al discloses a rigid marine drilling riser with variable 
buoyancy cans. U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,340 to Arthur W. Morton and U.S. Pat. 
No. 4,570,716 to Maurice Genini et al disclose the use of flexible risers 
or conduits between a subsea facility and a floating production facility. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,716 to Johnce E. Hall discloses a flexible riser to 
allow vertical access to a subsea well to perform wireline maintenance 
therein. The above patents are incorporated by reference for all purposes 
within this application. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention includes a flexible workover riser system and a 
relatively small support vessel to obtain vertical access to a subsea well 
and to perform maintenance thereon. The invention includes alternative 
embodiments to allow either wireline or TFL servicing of the subsea well. 
The subsea well may be one of several wells drilled and completed through 
a common template on the ocean floor or a remote satellite well. The 
present invention is particularly directed towards servicing via vertical 
access any subsea well having a production flow line(s) extending along 
the ocean floor. 
An object of this invention is to provide a flexible riser maintenance and 
servicing system which can be carried out using a small vessel, such as a 
diver support vessel, to permit completion and production from the subsea 
well without requiring a fixed production platform or a permanent 
production riser extending vertically from the subsea wellhead. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a flexible riser maintenance 
system which does not require motion compensating equipment typically 
found on fixed marine riser systems. 
Still another object is to provide a method and system for landing and 
securing a flexible riser to a subsea wellhead to provide vertical access 
thereto without the use of guidelines. 
A further object is to provide a flexible riser maintenance system which 
does not require divers to attach the riser to a subsea wellhead. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible riser with a lower 
riser package attached thereto. The lower riser package includes hydraulic 
controls, blowout preventers, and mating and latching surfaces for 
attachment to a subsea wellhead. 
A further object is to provide a flexible riser with variations in buoyancy 
along its length. The flexible riser does not require heavy duty motion 
compensating equipment found on drill ships or semisubmersibles. 
A still further object is to provide modular surface handling equipment to 
raise, lower, and operate the flexible riser and attached lower riser 
package. The surface equipment provides for either TFL or wireline 
servicing of the subsea well via the flexible riser. 
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent 
to those skilled in the art from studying the attached written 
specification, drawings and claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to FIG. 1, subsea well 20 is shown having wellhead 30 and well 
bore 21 extending downwardly therefrom to one or more hydrocarbon 
producing formations (not shown). Tubing, casing, production packers, 
subsurface safety valves and other downhole equipment (not shown) would be 
disposed within well bore 21 as required for specific well conditions. 
Production flow line 22 extends from wellhead 30 along the ocean floor 23 
to a production facility (not shown). During normal operation, formation 
fluids flow into well bore 21 and are sent to the production facility via 
wellhead 30 and production flow line 22. 
Support vessel 60 on the ocean surface is shown with flexible riser means 
40 extending therefrom. Flexible riser means 40 is attached to wellhead 30 
to allow maintenance and servicing of wellbore 21 from support vessel 60. 
Flexible riser means 40 and support vessel 60 are arranged in FIG. 1 for 
wireline servicing. Flexible riser means 40 and support vessel 60 are 
arranged in FIG. 2 for through flow line (TFL) or pumpdown servicing. The 
difference between wireline and TFL servicing will be explained later. 
Support vessel 60 has several thrust motors and propellers 62 which 
maintain its position on the ocean surface relative to wellhead 30. 
Flexible riser means 40 can accommodate a substantial variation or offset 
between the actual position of vessel 60 and the point directly above 
wellhead 30. Also, well fluids are not produced through flexible riser 
means 40 since flow line 22 is available. Therefore, the present invention 
can be used on a much wider variety of support vessels and is not limited 
to support vessels having highly accurate, expensive position keeping or 
fluid handling capabilities. 
Support vessel 60 has a large opening or moonpool 61 extending from its 
main deck through its bottom. Moonpool 61 provides a protected area for 
handling and working with objects in the water below vessel 60. 
Conventional cranes 63 and 64 are provided on support vessel 60 to 
position flexible riser means 40 and other components of the maintenance 
system relative to moonpool 61. 
Powered reel 65 is provided on vessel 60 to pay out, take in and store 
flexible riser means 40. In FIG. 1, conventional wireline lubricator 66 is 
attached to the terminal end of flexible riser means 40 on vessel 60. Buoy 
67, carried on the side of vessel 60, is attached by cable 68 near the 
upper end of flexible riser means 40. During an emergency such as a storm, 
riser means 40 and buoy 67 could be released from support vessel 60. After 
the emergency has past or been corrected, support vessel 60 can locate 
buoy 67 and reconnect to riser means 60. Alternative disconnect procedures 
will be described later. 
Subsea wellhead systems such as wellhead 30 have several distinct 
subsystems. The design of each wellhead and its subsystems varies between 
each major wellhead manufacturer. The principal subsystems include surface 
conductor pipe (not shown), suspension system (hangers) (not shown) for 
casing and tubing strings, guide base 50 and guide post 51, Christmas tree 
31, and flow line connector 24. The present invention can be used with any 
subsea wellhead. The written specification will describe the present 
invention in relationship to a typical subsea wellhead 30 and subsea 
Christmas tree 31. 
FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of the fluid flow path and major control 
valves typically associated with wellhead 30 for a single tubing string, 
wireline completion. Tubing string 25, disposed within well bore 21, would 
extend from wellhead 30 to a hydrocarbon producing formation (not shown). 
Subsurface safety valve 26 is generally installed in tubing string 25 
below wellhead 30 to provide emergency shutoff of fluid flow in the event 
of damage to wellhead 30, Christmas tree 31, or flow lines 22. Christmas 
tree 31 is attached to wellhead 30 by tree connector 32. Tree 31 has two 
fluid flow passageways 33 and 34 extending longitudinally therethrough. 
Flow passageway 33 provides fluid communication and vertical access to 
tubing string 25. Flow passageway 34 provides fluid communication with the 
annulus between tubing 25 and well bore 21. Master valves 35 and 36 
control fluid flow through passageways 33 and 34 respectively. The extreme 
upper end of both passageways 33 and 34 is sealed by removable tree cap 
39. Swab valves 37 and 38 are provided below tree cap 39 to control access 
(fluid flow and/or service tools) into passageway 33 and 34 respectively. 
Removal of tree cap 39 is the first step in performing maintenance on well 
bore 21. Wing valves 27 and 28 are provided to control fluid flow from 
passageway 33 and 34 respectively into flow lines 22a and 22b. Flow line 
connector 24 provides a means for releasably attaching flow lines 22a and 
22b to Christmas tree 31. An example of a Christmas tree, tree cap and 
tree cap running tool is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,016. An example of a 
flow line connector is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,036. 
FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of the fluid flow path and major control 
valves typically associated with wellhead 30a for a TFL type well 
completion. Tubing string 25, disposed within well bore 21, would extend 
from wellhead 30a to a hydrocarbon producing formation (not shown). For 
TFL servicing, second tubing string 25a is also disposed in well bore 21 
to provide fluid communication from wellhead 30a to crossover 145. Second 
tubing string 25a and crossover 145 are used to provide a fluid flow path 
to pump TFL tool strings into and out of tubing string 25. Subsurface 
safety valves 26 are generally installed in tubing strings 25 and 25a for 
the same reasons as described for FIG. 3. A major difference between 
Christmas trees 31a and 31 is the addition of TFL loops 143 and 144 which 
facilitate movement of TFL tools from flow lines 22a and 22b into 
longitudinal flow passageway 33a and 34a respectively. Another difference 
is that Christmas tree 31a has fluid flow passageways 33a, 34a, and 149 
extending longitudinally therethrough. Flow passageways 33a, 34a, and 149 
communicate with tubing strings 25, 25a and the annulus in well bore 21 
respectively. Master valves 35, 36, and 146 and swab valves 37, 38, and 
148 perform the same function as previously described for wellhead 30 
(FIG. 3). Tree cap 39a can be removed to allow vertical access to flow 
passageways 33a, 34a and 149. 
FIG. 5 shows lower riser package 100 attached to tieback tool 101 by 
flanged connection 102. Lower riser package 100 functions as an interface 
between flexible riser means 40 and subsea tree 31 to provide both well 
control (subsurface safety valve 26) and tree control (valves 35, 36, 37, 
38, etc.). Tieback tool 101 is preferably a tree running tool or wellhead 
connector means designed to releasably engage the specific Christmas tree 
used on wellhead 30. Using the appropriate tree running tool, available 
from the wellhead manufacturer, allows lower riser package 100 to service 
a wide variety of subsea wells. Flanged connection 102 can be readily 
adapted to accommodate any tree running tool as part of lower riser 
package 100. Tieback tool 101 has fluid flow passageways 103 extending 
longitudinally therethrough. Guide surface 104 and recess 105 are provided 
in passageway 103 to attach tieback tool 101 to a Christmas tree such as 
tree 31 or 31a. Guide surface 104 and recess 105 function as mating and 
sealing surfaces to releasably engage lower riser package 100 to wellhead 
30 and to establish communication with wellhead 30 via Christmas tree 31. 
Guide arms 106 and funnels 107 may also be provided as part of tieback 
tool 101 to aid in aligning lower riser package 100 with the Christmas 
tree. The use of guide arm 106 and the design of funnel 107 is a function 
of the specific Christmas tree and wellhead design. Funnels 107 are 
designed for use with guide posts 51. A plurality of hydraulic/electric 
control lines 108 are attached to tieback tool 101 to allow control of 
master valves 35 and 36, swab valves 37 and 38 and the other components of 
tree 31. These control functions are part of the design of a tree running 
tool. One or more flow passageways 103 can be provided depending upon the 
Christmas tree design. 
A more detailed drawing of lower riser package 100 is shown in FIG. 6. 
Adapter spool 109 is used to attach blowout preventer 110 and 111 to 
flanged connection 102. Preferably blowout preventer 110 would have shear 
rams and preventer 111 blind rams. However, any combination of 
commercially available blowout preventers could be used with lower riser 
package 100. Monitor valve 114 is provided to communicate with the annulus 
(not shown) between well bore 21 and tubing string 25. Flexible riser 
means 40 is attached to lower riser package 100 by connector 41. Frame 112 
is secured to adapter spool 109 and surrounds blowout preventers 110 and 
111 to provide support and protection. Buoyant material 113 can be 
attached to frame 112 as desired to adjust the buoyance of lower riser 
package 100. During most installations, lower riser package 100 should 
preferably have slightly negative buoyancy to minimize the forces required 
to position lower riser package 100. Tag line winch 120 is also carried on 
lower riser package 100. Winch 120 is an important feature of the present 
invention to allow safe mating of lower riser package 100 with a Christmas 
tree. 
FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the fluid flow path and major 
control valves for lower riser package 100a which is designed for use with 
Christmas tree 31a. Lower riser package 100a has three longitudinal flow 
passageways 115, 116, and 117 arranged to communicate with longitudinal 
flow passageways 33a, 34a, and 149, respectively, of tree 31a. Connector 
means or unions 118 and 119 are provided on lower riser package 100a to 
allow flexible riser means 40 to communicate with flow passageways 115 and 
116. Tieback tool 101 assures proper mating and sealing with the 
respective flow passageways in tree 31a. Cross connect valve 306 may be 
hydraulically controlled for selected fluid communication between 
longitudinal flow passageways 115 and 116. Such fluid communication may be 
required for TFL work string movement or to flush riser means 40 for 
pollution control. 
Flexible riser means 40 preferably has variations in buoyancy along its 
length as shown in FIG. 8. Wireline servicing can best be performed in a 
vertical riser having no bends. However, maintaining a truly vertical 
riser over a fixed subsea wellhead requires expensive, sophisticated 
positioning equipment typically associated with a drilling vessel or 
semisubmersible. Varying the buoyancy of flexible riser means 40 results 
in a shallow S configuration which can accommodate a greater offset 
between support vessel 60 and the point directly above wellhead 30. The 
shallow S configuration which may cause some increased friction as the 
wireline rubs against the inside diameter of flexible riser means 40 still 
provides acceptable wireline characteristics. Also the shallow S 
configuration can accommodate movement of support vessel 60 from wave 
action without the need for attaching heavy motion compensators to 
flexible riser means 40 at the surface. Some motion compensation may be 
required while mating lower riser package 100 with tree 31. 
The variation in buoyancy will depend upon many factors including water 
depth, anticipated sea state, position keeping ability of support vessel 
60, inside diameter of flexible riser means 40, and associated friction 
factors for wireline. Flexible riser means 40 shown in FIG. 8 has a 
positive buoyancy portion 40a over approximately one-sixth of its length 
adjacent to lower riser package 100. A neutrally buoyant portion 40b has 
approximately the same length and is located adjacent to portion 40a. The 
remaining portion 40c would have standard (generally negative) buoyancy 
for the selected flexible riser. The ratio of 1/6:1/6:2/3 is preferred for 
wireline servicing of many existing subsea wells. 
One method to obtain the desired buoyancy characteristics for riser portion 
40a is to attach a plurality of buoyancy cans 42 manufactured from a 
suitable material such as closed cell foam. Each buoyancy can 42 has two 
separate halves 42a and 42b which fit snugly around standard riser 40c. 
Banding straps 43 are secured around the two halves 42a and 42b. To assist 
with handling, two or more wire cables 44 are attached to lower riser 
package 100 and the exterior of buoyancy cans 42. The upper end of each 
can 42 has a concave surface 45 to receive a matching convex surface 46 on 
the lower end of the adjacent can 42. Surfaces 45 and 46 cooperate to 
allow limited flexing of riser portion 40a without damaging buoyancy cans 
42. 
Neutrally buoyant portion 40b may be formed in a manner similar to riser 
portion 40a by using smaller diameter cans 42. Alternatively, a buoyant 
sheath or covering 47 could be placed on the exterior of riser means 40 as 
shown in FIG. 15. Standard riser 40c is available from several 
manufacturers including Coflexip S.A., 23, avenue de Neuilly, 75116 Paris, 
France. Three inches would be a typical inside diameter for standard riser 
40c. 
Modular equipment packages 70, 71, and 72, shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, can be 
easily transferred from one support vessel to another. Equipment packages 
70, 71, and 72 include means for raising, lowering, and attaching flexible 
riser means 40 to wellhead 30. Modular equipment packages 70, 71 and 72 
also include means for performing maintenance on subsea well 20 via 
flexible riser means 40. Equipment package 70 includes handling boom or 
davit 90 and enclosed control station 73. Equipment package 71 has first 
powered reel 75 to pay out, take up, and store flexible riser means 40 
along with second powered reel 76 to pay out, take up, and store umbilical 
cable 77. Umbilical cable 77 provides electro/hydraulic power and 
monitoring/control lines to lower riser package 100. Enclosed control 
station 73 has the necessary panels, gauges, meters, monitoring equipment, 
etc., to allow operation of lower riser package 100, Christmas tree 31 and 
other components associated with wellhead 30 via umbilical cable 77. 
For wireline servicing of well bore 21, only equipment packages 70 and 71 
are required. For TFL servicing of a subsea well, an additional equipment 
package 72 is required. Package 72 includes second powered reel 78 with a 
second flexible riser means 40, TFL lubricators 79, TFL loading tray 80, 
and other TFL surface components 81-84. 
Handling boom 90 is used to move lower riser package 100 between its stored 
positions as shown in FIG. 15 and its launch position over the water (not 
shown). Winch 91 is attached to the top of boom 90 to lift lower riser 
package 100 by cables 92. Boom 90 is preferably a modified (parallel legs) 
davit. Each leg 93 of boom 90 is attached to equipment package 70 by pivot 
pins 94. Hydraulic cylinders and rams 95 are provided to rotate boom 90 
between three positions--stored, lifting, and operating. In its operating 
position, boom 90 can launch and recover lower riser package 100. 
Fairlead tray 95 is carried by boom 90 to receive flexible riser means 40 
therein. Fairlead tray 95 has a radius of curvature selected to 
accommodate riser means 40. A plurality of roller 96 are carried by 
fairlead tray 95 to allow flexible riser means 40 to freely move 
therethrough. Boom 90 includes level wind means 97 to reciprocate fairlead 
tray 95 between legs 93 as riser means 40 is paid out or taken up. Level 
wind means 97 prevents fouling of riser means 40 on powered reels 75 and 
78. 
Operating Sequence 
A system for servicing subsea well 20 via flexible riser means 40 must 
accomplish four functions: guidance during landing and release from 
wellhead 30, structural connection to subsea tree 31, vertical access to 
well bore 21, and control of both well bore 21 and tree 31. The operating 
procedures for servicing subsea well 20 can be divided into four stages: 
preparation, establishing the flexible riser maintenance system, normal 
operations, and emergency disconnect. Typical operating limits or criteria 
are attached as Exhibit A at the end of this written specification. 
Preparation 
This stage involves selecting a support vessel 60 with adequate position 
keeping capability and deck space for modular support equipment 70, 71, 
and 72 (if required). The desired length of flexible riser means 40 is 
spooled onto powered reel 75 (and 76 if required). The specific tree 
running tool and adapter which matches subsea tree 31 is attached to lower 
riser package 100 as tieback tool 101. An analysis of the docking steps 
and normal operation is conducted to determine the optimum configuration 
for flexible riser means 40 and the offset of vessel 60 from wellhead 30. 
Water depth and weather conditions are two of the most important variables 
that affect the preparation stage. 
Establising the System 
Diver assistance could be used to attach flexible riser means 40 to subsea 
tree 31. However, the present invention is particularly adapted to allow 
all underwater connections to be made by the use of remotely operated 
vehicle (ROV) 160. Various types of miniature, unmanned submarines are 
commercially available for use as ROV 160. Examples of some remotely 
operated vehicles are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,060,670 to H. Hartman; 
3,626,703 to N. F. Richburg; and 4,034,568 to B. H. Mason. The use of ROV 
160 also eliminates the need for guidelines between support vessel 60 and 
wellhead 30. 
FIG. 13 shows ROV 160 removing tree cap 39 from subsea tree 31. Preferably, 
ROV 160 and its transport frame 161 would be a self-contained unit that 
could be lowered as a package by power cable 162 from support vessel 60. 
ROV 160 includes manipulator arm 163 and thrusters 164. Commands to and 
information from ROV 160 are communicated with support vessel 60 via power 
cable 162 and control cable 165. Thrusters 164 are used to move ROV 160 
vertically and horizontally. 
After support vessel 60 has arrived in the general location of wellhead 30, 
ROV 160 is launched to attach an acoustic beacon (not shown) to wellhead 
30. The beacon provides a fixed reference point for all further work. ROV 
160 will next attach cable 166 from support vessel 60 to tree cap 39 and 
release tree cap 39 from subsea tree 31. ROV 160 cooperates with cable 166 
to remove tree cap 39 without causing any damage to subsea tree 31. 
One of the most critical steps is connecting lower riser package 100 to 
subsea tree 31. If lower riser package 100 is not properly controlled, 
tree 31 may be damaged with possible loss of well control. Lower riser 
package 100 is designed to remain in a vertical position throughout the 
docking step. This design is accomplished by varying the amount of buoyant 
material 113 such that lower riser package 200 has a negative buoyant 
force of at least 2000 pounds greater than the positive buoyant force of 
flexible riser means portion 40a attached thereto. 
Vertical positioning of lower riser package 100 relative to subsea tree 31 
is accomplished primarily by powered reel 75 on vessel 60. Horizontal 
positioning of lower riser package 100 relative to subsea tree 31 is 
accomplished by ROV 160. Motion compensation is particularly important 
during the final twenty feet of descent of lower riser package 100 onto 
tree 31. FIG. 14 shows one system 170 to provide motion compensation for 
flexible riser means 40 during the docking phase. 
Movement of support vessel 60 relative to ocean floor 23 is sensed by 
constant tension winch 171 and line 172 extending from winch 171 to weight 
173 on ocean floor 23. Winch 171 provides two inputs to electronic analog 
controller 175. They are water depth input 190 (length of line 172 paid 
out) and vertical velocity input 191 from shaft encoder 176 associated 
with winch 171. Normal operation of powered reel 75 is accomplished by 
manual operator 177 sending a signal to controller 175 which in turn 
positions hydraulic servo controls 178 as desired. Servo controls 178 
direct power fluid to hydraulic motor 179 to rotate power reel 75 to 
either pay out or take up flexible riser means 40. 
As previously noted, lower riser package 100 includes tag line (constant 
tension) winch 120. ROV 160 can be used to attach tag line 121 to subsea 
tree 31 to measure the vertical distance (length of line 121 paid out) 
between lower riser package 100 and tree 31. This vertical distance is the 
third input 192 to electronic analog controller 175. By comparison of 
inputs 190, 191, and 192, controller 175 can automatically adjust the rate 
of descent of lower riser package 100 to a preselected value. This 
adjustment can be made as an override or modification of the signal from 
manual operator 177. An all electric system could be substituted for the 
electro/hydraulic system shown in FIG. 14. 
Flexible riser means 40 is structurally secured to wellhead 30 via lower 
riser package 100 and the releasable connection between tieback tool 101 
and tree 31. Control of tree 31 and downhole safety valves 26 via 
umbilical cable 77 is transferred to vessel 60 after docking lower riser 
package 100. 
Normal Operation 
With lower riser package 100 releasably secured to tree 31, vessel 60 is 
positioned at the desired offset from wellhead 30. The terminal end of 
riser means 40 on vessel 60 is attached either to wireline lubricator 66 
or TFL lubricators 79 by appropriate quick unions (not shown). The valves 
in tree 31 are opened and closed as required to perform the desired 
downhole maintenance via flexible riser means 40. Cross connect valve 306 
may be opened to flush undesired well fluids out of flexible riser means 
40. After the well maintenance has been completed, the tree valves are 
closed and lower riser package 100 released from tree 31. ROV 160 can 
assist with release as required by the specific tree design. Power reel 75 
is used to retrieve flexible riser means 40 and lower riser package 100. 
Handling boom 90 is attached to lower riser package 100 when it nears the 
surface to lift lower riser package 100 out of the water and to return it 
in its stored position on modular equipment package 70. Tree cap 39 is 
installed on tree 31 by ROV 160 and the sonic beacon recovered. Well 20 is 
then ready to resume normal production via flow lines 22. 
Emergency Disconnect 
Emergency disconnect of flexible riser means 40 should be a very infrequent 
event because normal disconnect is not a very lengthy or complicated 
procedure. Lower riser package 100 includes blowout preventers 110 and 111 
which should be selected to shear off any tool used in the service tool 
string and form a fluid barrier in flow passageways 33 and 34. Blowout 
preventers 110 and 111 provide primary closure against well pressure 
during emergency disconnect. The valves in tree 31 and subsurface safety 
valve 26 may also close if they have not been disabled as part of the well 
servicing. 
Preferably, a quick disconnect is located between lower riser package 100 
and portion 40a of flexible riser means 40. Various types of quick 
disconnects are commercially available that will release flexible riser 
means 40 when a preselected amount of tension is applied. Alternatively, 
the upper end of flexible riser means 40 could be attached to buoy 67 and 
released from support vessel 60. 
Alternative Embodiments 
Modular equipment package 70 and handling boom 90 can be positioned to 
allow deployment of flexible riser means 40 and lower riser package 100 
from the stern or over the side of a support vessel. The present invention 
is not limited to only support vessels having moonpool 61 or a similar 
configuration. 
The present invention is not limited to servicing single, isolated subsea 
wells. For example, flexible riser means 40 and lower riser package 100 
can be used to service a subsea well which is part of a "subsea template" 
or group of subsea wells. The principal requirement is that sufficient 
room (offset) be available to accommodate support vessel 60 relative to 
the subsea wellhead that will receive lower riser package 100. Production 
flow line 22 could extend upwardly to any type of production facility (not 
shown) as long as neither flow line 22 nor the production facility blocked 
access to the subsea wellhead by lower riser package 100. 
The present invention could be used on injection wells that maintain 
formation pressure and is not limited to only producing wells. 
Another alternative is to combine remotely operated vehicle (ROV) 160 and 
lower riser package 100 into a single unit. Umbilical cable 77 could be 
used to provide power and control for the ROV portion of the modified 
lower riser package (not shown). The modified lower riser package would 
include thrusters, power pack, position sensors, and control system 
similar to ROV 160. Lower riser package 100 could also contain one or more 
thrusters to provide additional vertical thrust to assist ROV 160 in 
landing lower riser package 100 on tree 31. 
Those skilled in the art will readily see additional modifications and 
embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined 
in the claims. 
EXHIBIT A 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
FLEXIBLE RISER OPERATIONAL LIMITS AND CRITERIA 
ALLOWABLE LIMIT WIRELINE PUMPDOWN 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
RADIUS OF CURVATURE FOR 
FOR 3" ID TOOLS 
TOOL PASSAGE 
RISER ID UNMODIFIED TOOLS 
MODIFIED TOOLS 
3" 64' 20' 5' 
4" 20' 5' 5' (Must have 
parking tool. 
HORIZONTAL MID-SPAN ANGLE 
POSSIBLE LOW POINT 30.degree.-45.degree. 
WIRE/RISER FRICTION 
20.degree.-30.degree. NOT APPLICABLE 
LOADS 
ON TREE 
##STR1## 
##STR2## 
ON RISER TENSION 150 KIPS(3" ID - 150 KIPS(3" ID - 
5000 psi) 5000 psi) 
BENDING MIN. 2.6 FT. (3" ID) MIN. 2.6 FT. (3" ID) 
MIN. 3.8 FT. (4" ID) MIN. 3.8 FT. 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
(4" ID)