A blowout preventer arrangement design method

Abstract

This invention proposes a blowout preventer (BOP) arrangement design method. The lower BOP and lower riser assembly are vertically arranged on the same sidewall of the moonpool, perpendicular to the ship's length direction, using a fixing device. A lower BOP base and a lower riser assembly base are respectively connected below the lower BOP and lower riser assembly. Pressure testing pipelines and corresponding interfaces are provided around the lower BOP and lower riser assembly for BOP pressure testing operations. This invention can be disassembled and arranged separately or assembled as a whole for interchangeable arrangements; it can perform pressure testing and maintenance operations at a single storage location or simultaneously at two storage locations.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of blowout preventers for drilling platforms and drilling ships, and specifically relates to a blowout preventer arrangement design method. Background Technology

[0002] The storage location for the lower blowout preventer is generally equipped with non-load-bearing test piles and binding devices (such as steel wire ropes or fixing devices). It can also be used to store the entire blowout preventer assembly. As for the storage location for the lower riser assembly, it is generally only equipped with binding devices (such as steel wire ropes or fixing devices).

[0003] This traditional layout design allows for the storage, pressure testing, and maintenance of the lower blowout preventer (BOP) assembly or the lower BOP itself, while the lower riser assembly storage location only allows for storage and not pressure testing or related maintenance. Furthermore, this traditional BOP storage layout is outdated; the lower BOP and lower riser assembly cannot be interchanged, nor can pressure testing and maintenance be performed simultaneously at both locations, increasing the number of drilling days and the costs incurred before and after the operation. With the continuous upgrading of drilling platforms and vessels, the above-mentioned BOP layout design needs to be optimized. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the problems existing in the prior art, this application proposes a blowout preventer (BOP) arrangement design method, including:

[0005] The lower blowout preventer is arranged vertically on the side wall of the moon pool via a first side fixing device. A first test pile is provided at the bottom of the lower blowout preventer. The location of the lower blowout preventer is the first work position.

[0006] The lower riser assembly is arranged vertically on the side wall of the moon pool via a second side fixing device. A second test pile is provided at the bottom of the lower blowout preventer. The lower riser assembly is located at the second work station.

[0007] The first and second workstations are surrounded by pressure testing pipelines and corresponding interfaces for blowout preventer pressure testing operations.

[0008] Furthermore, a second side fixing device is installed on the side wall of the moon pool below the position corresponding to the first workstation, and a first side fixing device is installed on the side wall of the moon pool below the position corresponding to the second workstation.

[0009] Furthermore, the arrangement of the lower blowout preventer and the lower baffle assembly within the same pool includes the following combinations:

[0010] The lower blowout preventer is arranged at the first station, and the lower water-proof pipe assembly is arranged at the second station;

[0011] The lower water-proof pipe assembly is arranged at the first station, and the lower blowout preventer is arranged at the second station;

[0012] The lower blowout preventer and the lower baffle assembly are stacked vertically at the first work station;

[0013] The lower blowout preventer and the lower baffle assembly are stacked vertically at the second work station.

[0014] Furthermore, the lower end of the first test pile is connected to a first test pile base, and a lower blowout preventer base is installed centered on the first test pile base; the lower end of the second test pile is connected to a second test pile base, and a lower riser assembly base is installed centered on the second test pile base; both the lower blowout preventer base and the lower riser assembly base are detachable structures.

[0015] Furthermore, both the first fixing device and the second fixing device are fixedly connected to the side wall of the moon pool via fixing device bases. Adjusting shims are provided between the first fixing device and the second fixing device and their corresponding bases, and they are connected with bolts.

[0016] Furthermore, adjusting shims are provided between the first fixing device and the base, and between the second fixing device and the base, with one or two adjusting shims at the same installation position.

[0017] When there are two adjusting shims in the same installation position, the two adjusting shims are a fixed shim with an inclination and an adjusting shim with an inclination, and the inclination surfaces of the two adjusting shims are the mating surfaces.

[0018] The bolt holes of the adjusting shims are designed in an oval shape.

[0019] Furthermore, the number of the fixing device bases is set according to the binding requirements at different heights.

[0020] Furthermore, the specific structural forms of the lower water-proof pipe assembly and the fixing device base of the lower blowout preventer include split type or integral type.

[0021] Furthermore, an eye plate is provided on the deck above the first fixing device and the second fixing device, the eye plate being used to suspend the hand chain hoist.

[0022] Furthermore, the fixing device base adopts a "well"-shaped structure, specifically including:

[0023] The fixing device base panel and the fixing device base horizontal stiffening plate, the fixing device base vertical stiffening plate, and the fixing device base vertical intermediate stiffening plate are vertically connected to the fixing device base panel.

[0024] The fixing device base has two horizontal stiffening plates arranged in parallel, and the fixing device base vertical stiffening plate and the fixing device base vertical intermediate stiffening plate are parallel and arranged perpendicular to the fixing device base horizontal stiffening plates.

[0025] The outer sides of the two horizontal stiffeners of the fixing device base are provided with vertical elbow plates of the fixing device base near the panel of the fixing device base. The outer sides of the vertical stiffeners of the fixing device base and the vertical intermediate stiffeners of the fixing device base are provided with horizontal elbow plates of the fixing device base near the panel of the fixing device base.

[0026] The blowout preventer arrangement design method proposed in this invention has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0027] This invention provides a blowout preventer (BOP) assembly that can be disassembled and arranged separately or assembled into an interchangeable whole. It allows for pressure testing and maintenance at a single storage location, or simultaneously at two storage locations. The fixing devices and pressure testing piles can be bolted to the base, facilitating disassembly and relocation, shortening recovery time, eliminating the need for hot work, increasing utilization frequency, and reducing equipment costs. It improves the flexibility, convenience, efficiency, and reliability of operations related to the BOP assembly, lower BOP, and lower riser, effectively reducing the number of drilling days and overall costs. The storage location can occupy tens of square meters of deck space, and corresponding equipment can be installed according to different operating modes, effectively improving deck utilization. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a side view of the overall layout of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a top view of the overall layout of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a side view of the base of the fixing device of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the base of the fixing device of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the adjusting shim of the present invention.

[0033] Attached Figures and Their Names: 1. Fixing Device Base Panel; 2. Fixing Device Base Horizontal Elbow Plate; 3. Fixing Device Base Vertical Rib Plate; 4. Fixing Device Base Horizontal Rib Plate; 5. Fixing Device Base Vertical Elbow Plate; 6. Fixing Device Base Vertical Intermediate Rib Plate; 7. Adjusting Shim; 101. Lower Blowout Preventer or Blowout Preventer Assembly; 102. Lower Riser Assembly; 103. Fixing Device; 104. Fixing Device Base; 105. Hand-operated Hoist; 106. Lifting Lug; 107. Test Pit; 108. Test Pit Base; 109. Lower Blowout Preventer Base / Lower Riser Assembly Base; 1000. Binding Point. Detailed Implementation

[0034] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solution of the present invention, the present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0035] This invention proposes a blowout preventer (BOP) arrangement design method, specifically involving structures including a lower BOP 101, a lower riser assembly 102, a fixing device 103, a chain hoist 105, and a test pile 107. The lower BOP 101 is arranged on one side of the moon pool, with a test pile 107 at its bottom and a fixing device 103 on its side. The lower riser assembly 102 is arranged on the other side of the moon pool, with a test pile 107 at its bottom and a fixing device 103 on its side. The lower BOP base / lower riser assembly base 109 is detachable.

[0036] Test pipelines and corresponding interfaces are installed around the storage area of ​​the lower blowout preventer 101 and the storage area of ​​the lower riser assembly 102 for blowout preventer pressure testing.

[0037] The storage location of the lower blowout preventer 101 or the lower riser assembly 102 can be arranged for the blowout preventer assembly 101. The corresponding lower blowout preventer base / lower riser assembly base 109 and deck structure load meet the relevant calculation requirements, and the design of the blowout preventer crane or related transportation device can meet the transportation space requirements.

[0038] The fixing device 103 is generally arranged on the side of the lower blowout preventer 101 or the lower riser assembly 102. The kinetic loads of the lower blowout preventer 101 or the lower riser assembly 102 in the X / Y / Z directions are transferred to the fixing device base 104 through the fixing device 103, and further transmitted to the hull. Adjusting shims 7 are provided between the fixing device 103 and its base 104 and are connected by bolts.

[0039] The number of bases 104 for the fixing device can be set according to the binding requirements at different heights. Generally, the binding position of the lower blowout preventer can be used to meet the binding requirements of the entire blowout preventer assembly, and a dedicated fixing device base 104 is set according to the binding height requirements of the lower riser assembly. The aforementioned base 104 can be made as a separate unit or an integral unit.

[0040] An eyeplate 106 is installed at the top deck of the fixed device for suspending a chain hoist 105. In addition, the eyeplate 106 and the chain hoist 105 can also be used for hoisting, transferring and dismantling heavy components such as the gate valve core of the lower blowout preventer 101.

[0041] When the lower riser assembly 102 needs to be installed at the location where the lower blowout preventer is stored, a hand chain hoist 105 can be suspended on the eyeplate 106 on the opposite side of the deck, and the fixing device 103 can be pulled to the required lateral binding position of the lower riser assembly 102, and bolts can be used to connect it to the corresponding fixing device base 104.

[0042] When the location where the lower riser assembly is stored needs to be used to install the blowout preventer assembly 101, a hand chain hoist 105 can be suspended on the eyeplate 106 on the opposite side of the deck, and the fixing device 103 can be pulled to the required lateral binding position of the blowout preventer assembly 101, and bolts can be used to connect it to the corresponding fixing device base 104.

[0043] The fixing device base 104 adopts a "well" shaped design, such as Figure 3-4 As shown, the horizontal stiffening plate 4 of the fixing device base is assembled and welded with the vertical stiffening plate 3 and the vertical intermediate stiffening plate 6 of the fixing device base. It is then welded to the fixing device base panel 1, and the horizontal elbow plate 2 and the vertical elbow plate 5 of the fixing device base are welded into the aforementioned components. This fixing device base 104 is designed to reduce overall weight while meeting load-bearing requirements. The arrangement of the stiffening plates should be such that they do not interfere with the installation bolts.

[0044] An adjusting shim 7 is provided between the fixing device 103 and the base 104 (e.g., Figure 5 As shown, adjusting shims 7 in different positions are generally not interchangeable. Markings should be made on the adjusting shims 7 for accurate and quick identification during future installations. The number of adjusting shims 7 in the same installation position can be one, or two depending on the project's specific requirements. When using a two-shim design, it is generally combined into a beveled fixing shim + a beveled adjusting shim, with the beveled surface being the mating surface. This design reduces on-site finishing work. Furthermore, the bolt holes of the adjusting shims 7 feature an oval design, reducing on-site installation difficulty.

[0045] Depending on the project requirements, a fixing device 104 for the lower baffle assembly 102 is added at the storage location of the lower baffle assembly 101. This additional fixing device 104 for the lower baffle assembly 101 further reduces the hoisting process while still meeting the functional requirements.

[0046] The binding method for fixing device 103 can be changed to wire rope binding. The stress, length, and other information of the corresponding wire rope need to be calculated based on the actual layout. The wire rope is fixed to the deck using grounding bolts or similar methods.

[0047] The test piles 107 in the storage area of ​​the lower blowout preventer 101 or the storage area of ​​the lower riser assembly 102 can be selected from horizontally movable, liftable, non-load-bearing or fixed load-bearing types, depending on project requirements. If a fixed load-bearing test pile design is adopted, when the blowout preventer assembly 101 / lower blowout preventer 101 / lower riser assembly 102 is subjected to pressure testing / inspection and maintenance operations, it is necessary to consider installing a lifting section or a liftable hydraulic cylinder under the fixed load-bearing test pile 107, or installing a lifting device at the base 109 of the lower blowout preventer / lower riser assembly, so as to ensure that the fixed test pile 107 is properly matched with the wellhead on the blowout preventer 101 or the connector on the lower riser assembly 102.

[0048] The actual working scenario for this application is as follows:

[0049] In non-operating conditions, the lower blowout preventer and lower riser assembly are stored and fixed to the side wall of the moon pool by a fixing device. Taking a moon pool containing two workstations as an example, the storage methods include the following: workstation I fixes the lower blowout preventer and workstation II fixes the lower riser assembly; workstation I fixes the lower riser assembly and workstation II fixes the lower blowout preventer; workstation I fixes both the lower blowout preventer and the lower riser assembly; workstation II fixes both the lower riser assembly and the lower blowout preventer; in extreme cases, a maximum of two sets of lower blowout preventers and two sets of lower riser assemblies can be placed in the two workstations.

[0050] Under pressure testing conditions, the blowout preventer or riser assembly is pressure tested using the pressure testing pipeline and corresponding interfaces. This allows for pressure testing and maintenance at a single workstation or at two workstations simultaneously.

[0051] In operation, use hoisting equipment to adjust the position of the equipment or remove excess equipment to ensure that each of the two workstations is equipped with a lower blowout preventer and a lower riser assembly for blowout prevention operations at the subsea wellhead.

[0052] In extreme environmental conditions, the vessel can evacuate with the lower riser assembly; once the environmental conditions improve, the vessel will return to continue lowering the lower riser assembly to the lower blowout preventer (BOP) for operation or to retrieve the lower BOP according to relevant operating procedures.

[0053] If the project does not require both storage locations to simultaneously meet the pressure testing requirements, a detachable pressure testing pile 107 can be selected as appropriate. In this case, the base 108 of the pressure testing pile 107 and the deck structure reinforcement are constructed at the intended placement locations of the pressure testing piles in both storage locations. When the pressure testing pile 107 needs to be used at a certain location, it is hoisted to that location and connected to the pressure testing pile base 108 with bolts.

[0054] The storage base 109 for the lower blowout preventer / lower riser assembly is optimized to be a detachable structure, with a pad at the bottom. When the drilling vessel needs to change the well control system's operating mode to another mode during a voyage, the blowout preventer assembly 101 and the related base 109 can be hoisted to the dock, leaving the corresponding space empty. The bottom of the storage location can be leveled by using wooden planks or other means to accommodate equipment for other operating modes.

[0055] In summary, these are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. All equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the present invention and the contents of the specification are within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for designing the arrangement of blowout preventers, characterized in that, include: The lower blowout preventer is arranged vertically on the side wall of the moon pool via a first side fixing device. The bottom of the lower blowout preventer is provided with a first test pile. The location of the lower blowout preventer is the first work position. The lower riser assembly is arranged vertically on the side wall of the moon pool via a second side fixing device. A second test pile is provided at the bottom of the lower riser assembly. The location of the lower riser assembly is the second work station. The first and second workstations are surrounded by pressure testing pipelines and corresponding interfaces for blowout preventer pressure testing operations; The lower end of the first test pile is connected to a first test pile base, and a lower blowout preventer base is installed centered on the first test pile base; the lower end of the second test pile is connected to a second test pile base, and a lower riser assembly base is installed centered on the second test pile base; both the lower blowout preventer base and the lower riser assembly base are detachable structures; Both the first side fixing device and the second side fixing device are fixedly connected to the side wall of the moon pool through fixing device bases. Adjusting shims are provided between the first side fixing device and the second side fixing device and their corresponding fixing device bases, and they are connected with bolts. Adjusting shims are provided between the first side fixing device and the fixing device base, and between the second side fixing device and the fixing device base. The number of adjusting shims at the same installation position is one or two. When there are two adjusting shims in the same installation position, the two adjusting shims are a fixed shim with an inclination and an adjusting shim with an inclination, and the inclination surfaces of the two adjusting shims are the mating surfaces. The bolt holes of the adjusting shims are designed in an oval shape; The fixing device base adopts a "well" shaped structure, specifically including: The fixing device base panel and the fixing device base horizontal stiffening plate, the fixing device base vertical stiffening plate, and the fixing device base vertical intermediate stiffening plate are vertically connected to the fixing device base panel. The fixing device base has two horizontal stiffening plates arranged in parallel, and the fixing device base vertical stiffening plate and the fixing device base vertical intermediate stiffening plate are parallel and arranged perpendicular to the fixing device base horizontal stiffening plates. The outer sides of the two horizontal stiffeners of the fixing device base are provided with vertical elbow plates of the fixing device base near the panel of the fixing device base. The outer sides of the vertical stiffeners of the fixing device base and the vertical intermediate stiffeners of the fixing device base are provided with horizontal elbow plates of the fixing device base near the panel of the fixing device base.

2. The blowout preventer arrangement design method according to claim 1, characterized in that: A second side fixing device is provided on the side wall of the moon pool below the position corresponding to the first work station, and a first side fixing device is provided on the side wall of the moon pool below the position corresponding to the second work station.

3. The blowout preventer arrangement design method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The arrangement of the lower blowout preventer and the lower baffle assembly within the same moon pool includes the following combinations: The lower blowout preventer is arranged at the first station, and the lower water-proof pipe assembly is arranged at the second station; The lower water-proof pipe assembly is arranged at the first station, and the lower blowout preventer is arranged at the second station; The lower blowout preventer and the lower baffle assembly are stacked vertically at the first work station; The lower blowout preventer and the lower baffle assembly are stacked vertically at the second work station.

4. The blowout preventer arrangement design method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of fixing device bases is set according to the binding requirements at different heights.

5. The blowout preventer arrangement design method according to claim 4, characterized in that: The specific structural forms of the lower water-proof pipe assembly and the fixing device base of the lower blowout preventer include split type or integral type.

6. The blowout preventer arrangement design method according to claim 1, characterized in that: An eye plate is provided on the deck above the first side fixing device and the second side fixing device, and the eye plate is used to suspend the hand chain hoist.

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