Compliant Guide Subsea Lubricator Height Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Subsea intervention operations face challenges in controlling pressure and managing pressurized borehole fluids during operations, particularly in deep water environments, where existing methods are costly and limited by the need for expensive heavy drilling units and complex equipment setups.

Innovation Solution

A compliant guide, such as a spoolable compliant guide, is used to facilitate the deployment of tool strings into subsea wells, serving as a subsea lubricator to reduce the height of conventional lubricators or eliminate their need, and can be combined with a tool entry guide to accommodate various tool string diameters and lengths, improving pressure deployment efficiency and reducing environmental risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional subsea lubricators are used for pressure deployment of tool strings, then pressure control is achieved, but the height of the lubricator increases and equipment complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure controlVSAvoidheight of subsea lubricator

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible riser with an collapsible configuration that can be compressed to a small size for storage and deployment. The flexible riser includes a collapsible body that can be compacted to reduce its height significantly, while still maintaining the ability to provide pressure control functions when deployed. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the lubricator to have small height when needed while maintaining pressure control capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a dynamically configurable system where the flexible riser can transition between collapsed and deployed states. The system includes deployment mechanisms that allow the riser to expand to functional height during operations and collapse back to minimal height for storage or emergency situations. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt its height based on operational requirements while maintaining pressure control reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If heavy drilling units are used for subsea intervention operations, then intervention capability is improved, but equipment cost increases and availability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintervention capabilityVSAvoidequipment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a multi-functional system where the flexible riser serves multiple purposes: it acts as a conduit for tool string deployment, provides pressure control, enables fluid containment, and can be used for both installation and intervention operations. This universal design allows a single system to replace multiple specialized pieces of equipment, reducing overall complexity while maintaining intervention capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible riser acts as an intermediary element between the surface vessel and the subsea wellhead. It provides a flexible connection that allows tool strings to be deployed while maintaining pressure control and fluid containment. This intermediary approach enables intervention operations without requiring direct mechanical connection or complex heavy drilling equipment, simplifying the overall system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If subsea lubricators are used for tool string deployment, then pressure deployment is achieved, but the equipment cost and environmental risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment efficiencyVSAvoidenvironmental damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent addresses environmental risks by designing a system with controlled containment capabilities. The flexible riser includes sealing mechanisms and pressure control systems that prevent fluid leakage into the environment. Additionally, the system is designed to maintain pressure control throughout deployment operations, converting the potential harm of uncontrolled fluid release into a benefit of controlled, contained deployment that protects the environment while maintaining deployment efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS8973665B2System and method for performing intervention operations with a compliant guide

Publication Date: 2015.03.10 ONESUBSEA IP UK LTD

AI summary

A technique for subsea intervention operations incorporates use of a compliant guide that extends between a surface location and a subsea installation. The technique facilitates deployment of tool strings into a subsea well. For example, a portion of the compliant guide can be used as a subsea lubricator during pressure deployment of tool strings. In some applications, a tool entry guide can be connected into the subsea installation to facilitate deployment of tool strings into the subsea well.