Drilling Riser Fluid Conduit for Pressure Relief

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Solution Overview

Problem

Deepwater drilling operations face challenges due to gas hydrate formation in the drilling riser, wellhead, subsea BOP, and riser annulus, leading to plugging and overpressure issues, which can cause hazardous events such as riser bursts and gas releases.

Innovation Solution

A fluid conduit system is implemented for rapid pressure relief and fluid bypass in the drilling riser to prevent uncontrolled pressure build-up, utilizing a High Integrity Pressure Protection System (HIPPS) with a hydrate inhibitor and programmable logic controller to manage pressure and prevent hydrate formation, allowing for automatic shutdown and pressure relief.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If drilling operations are conducted in deep water, then exploration and production capabilities are improved, but gas hydrate formation risk increases leading to plugging and overpressure issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeep water drilling capabilityVSAvoidgas hydrate formation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system proactively monitors temperature and pressure conditions in the drilling riser to detect hydrate formation risks before they occur. By identifying critical conditions in advance, the system can trigger preventive measures such as injecting hydrate inhibitors or adjusting operational parameters to avoid plugging and overpressure events entirely

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Hydrate inhibitor chemicals serve as intermediary substances that prevent gas and water from forming hydrates in the first place. The inhibitor acts as a mediator between the drilling fluid and gas, disrupting the hydrate formation process and allowing deep water operations to proceed without the harmful plugging effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If hydrate formation is prevented using inhibitors, then plugging risk is reduced, but system complexity and operational procedures increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveriser plugging preventionVSAvoidpressure protection system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure monitoring and hydrate prevention functions are merged into a single integrated protection system. The same monitoring infrastructure detects both overpressure conditions and hydrate formation risks, coordinating responses through unified control logic that simplifies operations while maintaining comprehensive protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates automatic shutdown and pressure relief capabilities that activate without continuous human intervention. When sensors detect critical conditions, the system automatically triggers pressure relief valves or shutdown sequences, reducing the operational burden on personnel while ensuring reliable protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If rapid pressure relief is implemented, then overpressure protection is improved, but risk of uncontrolled pressure build-up increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverpressure protectionVSAvoidpressure control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Pressure sensors continuously monitor the drilling riser and provide real-time feedback to the control system. This feedback loop allows the system to detect pressure build-up trends and activate relief mechanisms at optimal moments, ensuring rapid protection while maintaining controlled pressure management through continuous monitoring and adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively prevents riser overpressure and hydrate-related plugging, ensuring safe operation by automatically managing pressure and preventing hydrate formation, adaptable to both new and existing installations with minimal modifications.

Implementation Method 1

The fluid conduit is configured to provide at least one of a rapid pressure relief and a fluid bypass for the main drilling riser bore to prevent the drilling riser from an uncontrolled pressure build-up

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure-driven flow: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

any gases that may enter the wellhead, subsea BOP, riser annulus and K&C (kill and choke) lines may form hydrates. Hydrates can form if gas and water are both present and the pressure is relative high and temperature relative low

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrate formation prevention: Hydrates

Data Source

PatentUS10648281B2Drilling riser protection system

Publication Date: 2020.05.12 FUTURE WELL CONTROL AS

AI summary

A protection system for a drilling riser. The drilling riser includes a main drilling riser bore and a drilling riser annulus and extends from a floating installation to a location on a seafloor and is fluidly connected to a subsea BOP. The system includes a fluid conduit which extends from the floating installation to a lower region of the drilling riser. The fluid conduit is fluidly connected with the drilling riser annulus in the drilling riser. The fluid conduit provides at least one of a rapid pressure relief and a fluid bypass for the main drilling riser bore to prevent the drilling riser from an uncontrolled pressure build-up due to an inadvertent plugging or a restriction resulting in a maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) of the drilling riser being exceeded, if a restriction, a plug or a blockage exists in the drilling riser annulus or in riser outlets.