Fluid delivery vessel including a fluid delivery system and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV)

A fluid delivery vessel for containing and introducing a fluid into a wellbore includes a hull including a deck and a fluid storage area, and a fluid delivery system including a conduit having a first end fluidically connected to the fluid storage area and a second end. The conduit selectively delivers a fluid from the fluid storage area into the wellbore. A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) system support platform is mounted to the deck, and a ROV deployment system supported by the ROV system support platform. The ROV deployment system is operable to selectively deploy and retrieve an ROV.

BACKGROUND

Downhole operations often involve the pumping of fluids into a wellbore. For example, a fracturing operation will often involve pumping a stimulation fluid into a wellbore to enhance production. For a subsea well, a stimulation operations involving pumping fluids is a complex process. A stimulation vessel carrying stimulation fluid is positioned over a subsea wellhead. A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) vessel is also positioned over the subsea wellhead. Additional support vessels may also be needed to execute these operations.\

A conduit is passed from the stimulation vessel, supply vessel or other diving support vessel toward the subsea wellhead. An ROV is deployed from the ROV vessel and guided toward the conduit. An operator controls the ROV to guide the conduit towards, and connect the conduit with the subsea wellhead. Coordinating efforts from multiple vessels to stimulate a wellbore, as executed today, is a complex process. It is important to maintain separation between vessels, conduits connecting to the ROV, and the conduit being connected to the well head. In addition to the complexity of operations, health, safety and environment (HSE) implications, the cost of operations, maintenance, and the logistics of employing multiple vessels is high.

SUMMARY

A fluid delivery vessel for containing and introducing a fluid into a wellbore includes a hull including a deck and a fluid storage area, and a fluid delivery system including a conduit having a first end fluidically connected to the fluid storage area and a second end. The conduit selectively delivers a fluid from the fluid storage area into the wellbore. A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) system support platform is mounted to the deck, and a ROV deployment system supported by the ROV system support platform. The ROV deployment system is operable to selectively deploy and retrieve an ROV.

A method of treating a wellbore from a fluid delivery vessel includes deploying a fluid delivery conduit from the fluid delivery vessel towards the wellbore, deploying a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) from the fluid delivery vessel, connecting the ROV to the fluid delivery conduit, transporting by the ROV the fluid delivery conduit to a well head of the wellbore, and connecting the fluid delivery conduit to the well head with the ROV.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An integrated subsea well production enhancement system, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, is illustrated generally at10inFIG. 1. Integrated subsea well production enhancement system10includes a subsea element14that may take the form of a subsea wellhead16that extends from a sea floor17towards a surface18of a body of water20. Integrated subsea well production enhancement system10also includes a downhole portion23that may include a wellbore25having a plurality of tubulars (not separately labeled) that extends into a formation27from wellhead16.

In accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, an integrated subsea well production enhancement system10also includes a surface portion30that may take the form of a fluid delivery ship or vessel32stationed on surface18above wellhead16. Fluid delivery vessel32includes a vessel body or hull34that supports a deck36and a fluid storage area38. Deck36may exist on multiple levels and supports a fluid delivery system40. A conduit43extends from fluid delivery vessel32toward wellhead16. Conduit43includes a first end45that is fluidically connected to fluid storage area38and a second end48that includes a connector50. Connector50may be selectively connected to wellhead16. Fluid delivery vessel32may selectively deliver a treatment or stimulation fluid through conduit43into formation27as will be detailed below.

In accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, fluid delivery vessel32also supports a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) system59which, as will be detailed more fully below, is operated to connected second end48of conduit43to wellhead16. As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, fluid delivery vessel32includes a ROV system support platform62coupled to deck36. ROV system support platform62supports an ROV deployment system64having a first support member68, a second support member69, and a lifting member72pivotally connected to first and second support members68and69. Lifting member72is employed to selectively transition a ROV80from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration.

In further accordance with an exemplary embodiment, ROV system support platform62includes a cantilevered end82extends outwardly of deck36. Cantilevered end82is coupled to vessel hull34through one or more support members84. Support members84distribute loads supported on ROV system support platform62through vessel hull34along a desired path to eliminate tipping of vessel32that may be associated with an unbalanced load, particularly, an unbalanced load that may exist after injecting fluid into formation27. Cantilevered end82also supports a ROV guidance member86that facilitates deployment of ROV80. ROV guidance member86may help control off boarding and/or on boarding of ROV80as well as ROV cable88.

ROV system support platform62may also support a ROV cable88that is coupled to ROV80. ROV cable88may be wound around a ROV cable reel89that is operatively associated with or which forms part of winch90. Winch90is selectively operated to lower ROV80towards sea floor17and/or retrieve ROV80to fluid delivery vessel32. ROV cable88may also include one or more control cables (not separately labeled) that provide a communications pathway from fluid delivery vessel32to ROV80. Fluid delivery vessel32may also include a power unit87coupled to winch90. Power unit87may provide motive power to shift ROV80utilizing winch90. Fluid delivery vessel32may also include additional support equipment such as rigging containers92, workshop containers94, and deck carts96.

Reference will now follow toFIG. 4in describing a method200of treating wellbore25. Conduit43is deployed from fluid delivery vessel32in block204. In block206, ROV80is deployed from ROV system support platform62. Lifting member72raises and swings ROV80over cantilevered end82. Winch90is activated to lower ROV80from fluid delivery vessel32. ROV80and subsequently ROV cable88may be guided by ROV guidance member86. ROV80is guided toward second end48of conduit43. Once in position, ROV80may connect with second end48in block208. ROV80is then guided, with conduit43, toward wellhead16in block210. ROV80may then be manipulated to couple connector50to wellhead16in block212. ROV80may also be manipulated to provide auxiliary controls at subsea wellhead16as indicated in block214.

Once coupled, pumps (not shown) may be activated to deliver fluid from fluid storage area38into formation27to perform, for example, a stimulation operation in block216. It is to be understood that fluid delivery vessel may be employed to conduct a wide array of operations. Fluid delivery system40is not limited to performing stimulation operations.

It is to be understood that the exemplary embodiments describe a fluid delivery vessel that not only includes fluid delivery systems but also supports a ROV system for coupling a fluid delivery conduit to a subsea well head. The design of the ROV system support platform ensures that the fluid delivery vessel remains stable even after off-loading all stored fluid. By incorporating both fluid delivery and ROV operation into a single vessel, the need to coordinate multiple vessels at a well bore location is eliminated. Further, incorporated both systems into a single vessel reduces health, safety and environmental (HSE) implications, operational costs and streamlines treatment, stimulation, and other fluid operations at a subsea wellbore.

A fluid delivery vessel for containing and introducing a fluid into a wellbore comprising: a hull including a deck and a fluid storage area; a fluid delivery system including a conduit having a first end fluidically connected to the fluid storage area and a second end, the conduit selectively delivering a fluid from the fluid storage area into the wellbore; a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) system support platform mounted to the deck; and a ROV deployment system supported by the ROV system support platform, the ROV deployment system being operable to selectively deploy and retrieve an ROV.

The fluid delivery vessel according to any prior embodiment, wherein the ROV system support platform extends outwardly of the deck.

The fluid delivery vessel according to any prior embodiment, wherein the ROV deployment system includes a first support member, a second support member, and a lifting member shiftably connected between the first support member and the second support member.

The fluid delivery vessel according to any prior embodiment, further comprising: an ROV selectively supported on the ROV system support platform.

The fluid delivery vessel according to any prior embodiment, further comprising: an ROV cable supported by a ROV cable reel operatively coupled to the fluid delivery vessel and the ROV. The fluid delivery vessel according to any prior embodiment, further comprising a winch mounted to the ROV system support platform, the winch being operatively connected to the ROV cable reel.

The fluid delivery vessel according to any prior embodiment, further comprising a power unit mounted to the ROV system support platform and operatively connected to the winch.

The fluid delivery vessel according to any prior embodiment, wherein the ROV system support platform includes a cantilevered end that extends outwardly from the deck.

The fluid delivery vessel according to any prior embodiment, further comprising a plurality of support members that extend from the cantilevered end to the hull.

The fluid delivery vessel according to any prior embodiment, further comprising an ROV guidance member mounted to the cantilevered end of the ROV system support platform.

A method of treating a wellbore from a fluid delivery vessel comprising deploying a fluid delivery conduit from the fluid delivery vessel towards the wellbore, deploying a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) from the fluid delivery vessel, connecting the ROV to the fluid delivery conduit, transporting by the ROV the fluid delivery conduit to a well head of the wellbore, and connecting the fluid delivery conduit to the well head with the ROV.