Embedded-Valve Monolithic Manifold to Cut Subsea Weight and Welding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional subsea manifolds are large, heavy, and complex, requiring numerous components and extensive welding, which complicates fabrication, transportation, and installation, and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A subsea manifold with a unique block architecture that integrates all isolation valves within a single block, featuring drilled or machined holes and intersections to route fluid flow, reducing the need for piping and structural members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional subsea manifolds use numerous separate components (piping, valves, hubs, fittings) joined by welding, then the manifold can control fluid flow from multiple wells, but the device becomes large, heavy, and complex with extensive welding requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate components (piping, valves, hubs, fittings) into a single integrated manifold body. The manifold body contains multiple boreouts that form flow paths, with valve assemblies integrated directly into the body structure. This consolidation eliminates the need for numerous separate components and extensive welding, directly resolving the technical contradiction by maintaining fluid flow control versatility while dramatically reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifold body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a structural support, contains flow paths for multiple wells, houses integrated valve assemblies, and provides mounting points for instruments. This multi-functionality allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate components, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional subsea manifolds use numerous separate components requiring extensive welding, then the manifold can be assembled from standardized parts, but fabrication and installation become time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating multiple components into a single manufactured manifold body with pre-formed flow paths and integrated valve assemblies, the patent eliminates the need for time-consuming welding operations during fabrication. The manifold can be manufactured as a single piece or pre-assembled unit, dramatically improving fabrication productivity while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized production processes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional subsea manifolds use numerous separate components, then the design can be flexible and adaptable to different configurations, but the weight and size increase significantly complicating transportation and installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components into a single integrated manifold body, eliminating the weight of redundant fittings, connections, and structural elements required to join separate components. The integrated design maintains design flexibility through configurable flow paths and valve arrangements while significantly reducing overall manifold weight, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and weight.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5A
AI summary
In one illustrative embodiment, the manifold (10) comprises a block (1) with at least one drilled header hole (3) formed within the block, a plurality of drilled flow inlet holes (2) formed within the block, wherein the number of drilled flow inlet holes corresponds to the number of the plurality external flow lines that supply fluid (e.g., oil/gas) to the manifold and a plurality of isolation valves (5), (6) coupled to the block wherein the valve element for each of the isolation valves is positioned within the block.