Dynamically Positioned Vessel Hybrid Riser Temporary Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The offshore Oil & Gas industry faces high costs and inefficiencies in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) projects due to the need for expensive mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) and rigid riser systems, which are limited by uncertainty in reservoir models and require costly temporary injection tests.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus using a dynamically positioned vessel (DPV) with a hybrid riser system, including a flexible and rigid riser portion, to facilitate temporary or short-term fluid injection into subsea wells, allowing for adjustable injection parameters and updating of reservoir models without the need for MODUs, utilizing a hoist, lower riser package, emergency disconnect package, and tapered stress joint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) with rigid riser systems are used for temporary injection tests, then injection capability is achieved, but operational costs increase and vessel availability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible riser system that can be quickly deployed and removed for temporary injection tests, replacing the need for expensive, complex MODUs with simpler, more economical vessel equipment that suffices for short-term operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes a flexible riser instead of a rigid riser system, allowing the injection equipment to adapt to vessel movement and reducing the need for complex stabilization structures like derricks or tower systems
2Reliability
If rigid riser systems with derrick or specialized handling systems are used, then well protection is improved, but the fleet of available vessels is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible riser system naturally accommodates vessel movement and environmental conditions without requiring specialized handling systems or derricks, making standard vessels suitable for injection operations
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible riser system is self-accommodating to vessel motion and environmental conditions, eliminating the need for additional specialized equipment or complex handling systems that would limit vessel availability
3Productivity
If reservoir models are used to plan injection well locations, then project planning is enabled, but model uncertainty leads to incorrect well locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs temporary injection tests before full-scale EOR project implementation to validate reservoir models and confirm optimal well locations, correcting planning errors before significant investment is made
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses results from temporary injection tests to update and refine reservoir models, creating a feedback loop that improves the accuracy of well location planning for the full-scale project
4Measurement precision
If temporary injection tests are performed from MODUs, then reservoir validation is achieved, but test duration is limited by cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses cost-effective temporary injection equipment on standard vessels for validation tests, enabling longer test durations without the prohibitive costs associated with MODU deployment
Data Source
AI summary
A dynamically positioned vessel (DPV) is located above an injection well, inject water or other fluids temporarily or for a short period of time, adjust the injection parameters, and either continue operating for the life of the system or as long as required to add permanent facilities on another platform. The DPV is connected to the potential injection well via a hybrid riser system. The hybrid riser system includes a rigid portion and a flexible portion. Injection using the DPV and the hybrid rise system can be more economical than injection using a conventional mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) and a rigid riser.