Patent AU-2013200428-B2 (AU)
Title: Redeployable subsea manifold-riser system
Inventor: MACMILLAN ADRIAN ARMSTRONG
IPC: E21B43/00
Filed: 2012-09-14
Granted: 2014-09-04
Abstract: (12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (19) World Intellectual Property Organization International Bureau (10) International Publication Number (43) International Publication Date W O 2013/037002 Al 21 March 2013 (21.03.2013) W I PO I P CT (51) International Patent Classification: (74) Agent: MCCARTHY PORT PATENT AND TRADE E21B 43/017(2006.01) E21B 17/01 (2006.01) MARK ATTORNEYS; Suite 404 Ground Floor, 50 St E21B 43/01 (2006.01) Georges Terrace, Perth, Western Australia 6000 (AU). (21) International Application Number: (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every PCT/AU2012/001 101 kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM, .) . AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BN, BR, BW, BY, (22) International Filng Date: BZ, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, 14 September 2012 (14.09.2012) DO, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, Fl, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, (25) Filing Language: English HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KM, KN, KP, KR, KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD, (26) Publication Language: English ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, (30) Priority Data: NO, NZ, OM, PA, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU, 2011903801 16 September 2011 (16.09.2011) AU RW, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ, 2011904090 4 October 2011 (04.10.2011) AU TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW. (71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): WOOD SIDE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every [AU/AU]; 240 St Georges Terrace, Perth, Western Aus- kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH, tralia 6000 (AU). GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, RW, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, RU, TJ, (72) Inventors; and TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, (75) Inventors/Applicants (for US only): MACMILLAN, Ad- EE, ES, Fl, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV, rian Armstrong [AU/AU]; 35 Kenmore Cr, Floreat, West- MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, ern Australia 6104 (AU). PALMER, Nigel James TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW, [AU/AU]; 10 Devenish Street, East Victoria Park, Western ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG). Australia 6101 (AU). [Continued on next page] (54) Title: REDEPLOYABLE SUBSEA MANIFOLD-RISER SYSTEM t 58 - 40 5 6 0 40 24 32 44 20 36 18 46 44L 18 11 11 (57) Abstract: A method for redeployment of a subsea manifold-riser system from a first production location to a second production location is disclosed. The system comprises: a production flow control device for regulating the flow of formation fluids from a sub O sea well at a first production location; a subsea manifold module including connection terminals, the subsea manifold module being positioned in use on the ocean floor adjacent to but spaced apart from the production flow control device; a releasable connection means installed between the production flow control device and the connection terminal for delivering formation fluids from the pro duction flow control device to the manifold module; and, a marine riser comprising a plurality of threaded pipe sections for deliver ing formation fluids from the manifold module to a floating production facility, the marine riser having an upper end and a lower end; and, a coupling means for coupling the subsea manifold module to the lower end of the marine riser in a sealing manner. The N method comprises the steps of a) lowering the manifold module to the ocean floor at the first production location using the marine riser as a running tool by adding threaded pipe sections to the upper end of the marine riser; and, b) raising the manifold module from the ocean floor at the first production location for redeployment at a second production location using the marine riser as a re trieval tool by removing threaded pipe sections from the upper end of the marine riser. W O 2013/037002 A1lII|III||VlIIlllI||I|||||||||||1||||||lID|II|||||||||||I|I|||||||||||I| Published: - with international search report (Art. 21(3)) WO 2013/037002 PCT/AU2012/001101 REDEPLOYABLE SUBSEA MANIFOLD-RISER SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a subsea manifold-riser system for use in producing formation fluids from a hydrocarbon reservoir located offshore. The present invention relates particularly but not exclusively to methods of redeploying a subsea manifold module from one producing location to another. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Subsea wells are drilled at water depths ranging from fifty to several thousand feet and a variety of techniques are employed to effect first the drilling of each well and then the installation of completion and production equipment to remove formation fluids from a reservoir. Offshore production of natural gas traditionally requires a large investment in expensive drilling and production equipment to be made. Where there are insufficient reserves in a given reservoir or the reserves are small but dispersed, the unit cost of development at that production location becomes prohibitively high. This problem is particularly acute for complex reserves in deepwater locations. There remains a need to reduce the costs associated with production to reduce cost exposure in the event of a poor reservoir production outcome. All of the patents cited in this specification, are herein incorporated by reference. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or in any other country. In the summary of the invention, the description and claims which follow, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. WO 2013/037002 PCT/AU2012/001101 -2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for redeployment of a subsea manifold-riser system from a first production location to a second production location, the system comprising: a production flow control device for regulating the flow of formation fluids from a subsea well at a first production location; a subsea manifold module including connection terminals the subsea manifold module being positioned in use on the ocean floor adjacent to but spaced apart from the production flow control device; a releasable connection means installed between the production flow control device and the connection terminal for delivering formation fluids from the production flow control device to the manifold module; and, a marine riser comprising a plurality of threaded pipe sections for delivering formation fluids from the manifold module to a floating production facility, the marine riser having an upper end and a lower end; and, a coupling means for coupling the subsea manifold module to the lower end of the marine riser in a sealing manner; the method comprising the steps of: a) lowering the manifold module to the ocean floor at the first production location using the marine riser as a running tool by adding threaded pipe sections to the upper end of the marine riser; and, b) raising the manifold module from the ocean floor at the first production location for redeployment at a second production location using the marine riser as a retrieval tool by removing threaded pipe sections from the upper end of the marine riser. In one form, the upper end of the marine riser includes a tensioning means positioned at the upper end of the marine riser for maintaining tension on the marine riser in use. In one form, the tensioning means is a buoyancy module. In one form, the buoyancy module is positioned below the surface of the water. In one form, the buoyancy module is positioned between 30 and 100 meters below the surface of the water. In one form, the tensioning means is retrieved from the first production location for re-deployment at the second WO 2013/037002 PCT/AU2012/001101 -3 production location. In one form of the method, the system further comprises a flexible fluid connector for directing the flow of formation fluids from the marine riser or tension means to a floating production unit. The floating production unit may be a floating production vessel, a floating production and storage vessel, a semisubmersible, a spar, a compressed natural gas carrier or a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facility. In one form, the floating production unit is fluidly coupled to the fluid connector using a mooring system comprising one or more disconnectable submersible mooring buoys, each mooring buoy kept in place by a plurality of mooring lines. In one form, the production flow control device remains at the first production location while the manifold module and marine riser are moved from the first production location to the second production location. In one form, the method further comprises the step of suspending or abandoning the subsea well and retrieving the production flow control device from the first production location for re-use at the second production location after retrieval of the manifold module and marine riser. In one form, the marine riser and manifold module are raised and then towed as an assembly from the first production location to the second production location, and wherein the manifold module remains sealingly coupled to the lower end of the marine riser whilst the assembly is being towed from the first production location to the second production location. In one form, the assembly includes the tensioning means. In one form, the assembly includes the mooring system. In one form, the tension