Method of intervention in a failed deep-set subsurface safety valve in a deepwater or ultra-deepwater subsea well using a light intervention vessel

Abstract

A method of intervention in a failed deep-set tubing-retrievable subsurface safety valve disposed in a deepwater or ultra-deepwater subsea well uses a deep-set wireline-retrievable subsurface safety valve that may be deployed via wireline into the failed deep-set tubing-retrievable subsurface safety valve. The deep-set wireline-retrievable subsurface safety valve has a closure actuation mechanism that is disposed below the closure device. In addition, the closure actuation mechanism includes a pressure-balanced piston that is exposed to wellbore fluids on both distal ends of the piston, thereby allowing the piston to actuate the closure device in deepwater and ultra-deepwater wells with significant hydrostatic head in the control line. Advantageously, the method does not require re-completion of the well and a light intervention vessel may be used as the platform for performing the intervention, rather than a conventional drilling rig or platform, substantially reducing non-productive down-time, lost profits, and costs associated with resuming production.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 378,740, filed on Apr. 9, 2019, which claims the benefit of, or priority to, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 779,121, filed on Dec. 13, 2018, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.[0002]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 386,624, filed on Apr. 17, 2019, which claims the benefit of, or priority to, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 718,737, filed on Aug. 14, 2018, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]While the oil and gas industry has drilled more than 14,000 deepwater subsea wells, in the aftermath of the Macondo incident in the Gulf of Mexico off the southeastern coast of Louisiana and the Montara incident in the Timor Sea off the northern coast of Australia, the International Associatio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a way to fix a failed valve in a deepwater well. The method involves using a special tool to communicate with the valve and run a new valve into it. This new valve has a mechanism that can be activated to close it. The technical effect of this invention is that it provides a way to fix failures in deepwater wells, which would be expensive and time-consuming to fix through other methods.

Problems solved by technology

As tubing-retrievable subsurface safety valves were being set deeper in the well due to their use in deeper water, the valves had difficulty operating due to the hydrostatic head in the control line, which eviscerated the failsafe protection they were intended to provide.

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