Patent EA-003966-B1 (EA)
Title: Intervention system for servicing subsea wells
Inventor: MOSS JEFF H
IPC: E21B23/12
Filed: 2001-07-26
Abstract: 1. An intervention system for servicing subsea wells or pipelines from a subsea location comprising: (a) a tool delivery device; (b) a reel to hold the tool delivery device; (c) an injector head, (d) a carousel tool caddy; (e) a blow-out-preventer assembly; (f) a power pack; (g) a control pod; (h) a test pump; and i) an open space frame. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the tool delivery device is selected from the group consisting of wire line, stiff wire, coiled tubing, and reeled pipe. 3. The system of claim 2 wherein the intervention system includes as an additional component a control umbilical cord. 4. The system of claim 3 wherein the tool delivery device is wire line. 5. The system of claim 3 wherein the tool delivery device is stiff wire. 6. The system of claim 3 wherein the tool delivery device is coiled tubing. 7. The system of claim 2 wherein the tool caddy comprises an index plate and three or more tool canisters holding three or more tools. 8. The system of claim 7 wherein tile intervention system comprises at least two tool caddies. 9. The system of claim 8 wherein the tools in the tool caddy are held in place with tool catchers. 10. The system of claim 8 wherein one or more tool canisters are enclosed to prevent the intrusion, of seawater and contain wellbore pressure. 11. The system of claim 3 wherein the intervention system allows replacement of a tool in a tool caddy by a remotely operated vehicle. 12. The system of claim 3 wherein the space frame can be disconnected into two sections, a first section comprising a carousel tool caddy, and a second section comprising a blow-out-preventer assembly, wherein the first section may be removed from the second section, to allow replacement of tools in the tool caddy. 13. The system of claim 3 wherein the reel holding the tool delivery device is pressurized. 14. The system of claim 3 wherein the tool delivery device is pressurized. 15. A method for introducing a tool into a subsea well from a subsea location using the system of claim 3. 16. A method for introducing a tool into a subsea well from a subsea location comprising: (a) connecting a well intervention system to a subsea tree, wherein the well intervention system includes a reeled tool delivery device and a carousel tool caddy capable of holding one or more tools; (b) rotating the carousel tool caddy so that a selected tool is located over the well; (c) connecting a tool delivery device to the selected tool; and (d) introducing the selected tool into me well. 17. The method of claim 16 wherein, the tool delivery device is selected from the group consisting of wire line, stiff wire, coiled tubing, and reeled pipe. 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the tool delivery device is wire line. 19. The method of claim 17 wherein the tool delivery device is stiff wire. 20. The method of claim 17 wherein the tool delivery device is coiled tubing. 21. The method of claim 17 wherein the tool caddy comprises an index plate and three or more tool canisters holding three or more tools. 22. The method of claim 17 including the additional step of replacing a tool in the tool caddy with another tool using a remotely operated vehicle. 23. The method of claim 17 including the additional steps of: securing the well using a blow-out-preventer assembly included in the well intervention system, disconnecting the space frame into two sections, and removing the section containing the carousel tool caddy, to allow replacement of tools in the tool caddy. 24. The method of claim 14 wherein the tool caddy is located in close proximity to the well. 25. The method of claim 14 wherein one or more tool canisters are enclosed to prevent the intrusion of seawater and contain wellbore pressure. 26. An intervention system for servicing a subsea well from a subsea location without a riser composing: (a) a tool delivery device, wherein the tool delivery device is selected from the group consisting of wire line, stiff wire, coiled tubing, and reeled pipe; (b) a reel to hold the tool delivery device; (c) a carousel tool caddy to hold well intervention tools; (d) a blow-out-preventer assembly to connect to a subsea wellhead assembly on the subsea well; (e) an injector head to direct the tool delivery device from the reel into the tool caddy, through the blow-out-preventer assembly, and into the well, (f) a control umbilical for establishing remote power transmission end control communications; (g) a power pack to supply power to the intervention system; (h) a control pod to enable remote operation of the intervention system; and (i) an open space frame to provide structural support for components of the intervention system. 27. The system of claim 26 wherein the intervention system includes as an additional component a subsea pump for testing pressure integrity of a connection between die intervention system and the well. 28. The system of claim 28 wherein -the tool caddy comprises an index plate and three or more tool canisters. 29. The system of claim 28 wherein one or more tool canisters are enclosed to prevent the intrusion of seawater and contain wellbore pressure. 30. The system of claim 26 wherein the intervention system comprises at least two tool caddies. 31. The system of claim 26 wherein the reel holding the tool delivery device is pressurized. 32. The system of claim 26 wherein the tool delivery device is pressurized. 33. The system of claim 26 wherein the tool caddy is located in close proximity to the well. 34. The system of claim 26 wherein the intervention system allows replacement of a tool in a tool caddy by a remotely operated vehicle. 35. The system of claim 26 wherein the space frame can be disconnected into two sections, a first section comprising a tool caddy, and a second section comprising a blow-out-preventer assembly, wherein the first section may be removed from the second section, to allow replacement of tools in the tool caddy. 36. A method for introducing a tool into a subsea well from a subsea location without a riser using the system of claim 26. 37. A method for introducing a tool into a subsea pipeline from a subsea location comprising: (a) connecting an intervention system to a subsea pipeline manifold, wherein the intervention system includes a reeled tool delivery device and a carousel tool caddy capable of holding one or more tools; (b) rotating the carousel tool caddy so that a selected tool is located over the manifold; (c) connecting a tool delivery device to the selected tool; and (d) introducing the selected tool into the manifold, and thereby into the pipeline. 38. The method of claim 37 wherein the tool caddy is located in close proximity to the pipeline. 39. The method of claim 37 wherein the tool delivery device is selected from the group consisting of wire line, stiff wire, coiled tubing, and reeled pipe. 40. The method of claim 37 wherein the tool caddy comprises an index plate and three or more tool canisters. 41. The method of claim 37 including the additional step of replacing a tool in the tool caddy with another tool using a remotely operated vehicle.