Modular Subsea Chemical Injection With Pressure-Boosting Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for delivering chemicals to subsea oil and gas production wells require high-pressure conduits in umbilicals, leading to increased manufacturing costs and overcapacity designs due to varying flow requirements and unique chemical needs of each reservoir, often resulting in undue economic challenges.
Innovation Solution
A modular subsea chemical injection system that segregates low and high flow chemical delivery systems using subsea storage and pressure boosting, eliminating chemical conduits from umbilicals and utilizing electrical power and data delivery, with subsea fluid storage reservoirs and pumps for pressure boosting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If high-pressure conduits are used in umbilicals to deliver chemicals to subsea wells, then chemical delivery pressure requirements are met, but manufacturing costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the chemical delivery function from the umbilical system by providing chemicals through a separate flowline connection. This eliminates the need for high-pressure chemical conduits within the umbilical, allowing the umbilical to use lower-pressure, less complex conduits while still achieving the required chemical delivery pressure through the dedicated flowline connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the chemical delivery function into a separate flowline connection independent of the umbilical system. This allows the umbilical and flowline to be designed and manufactured separately with appropriate pressure ratings for their specific functions, reducing overall system complexity and manufacturing costs.
2Productivity
If umbilical is designed for worst-case high flow scenarios, then peak chemical delivery requirements are met, but system capacity and weight exceed normal operating needs
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts to varying flow requirements by using the flowline for high-volume startup/shutdown chemical delivery and the umbilical for normal operation. This allows the umbilical to be sized for typical operating conditions rather than peak scenarios, reducing its weight and capacity while the flowline handles the intermittent high-demand situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The flowline provides excessive capacity for chemical delivery during startup and shutdown phases, allowing the umbilical to be designed for partial (normal operating) capacity. This partial design approach for the umbilical reduces its weight and manufacturing costs while the flowline compensates during peak demand periods.
3Quantity of substance
If large diameter umbilical is used to accommodate high volume chemical flow, then chemical delivery volume requirements are met, but installation cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the high-volume chemical delivery function from the umbilical to a separate flowline system. This allows the umbilical to be designed with smaller diameter and lower specification for normal operation, while the flowline handles the high-volume requirements during startup and shutdown, reducing overall device complexity.
4Reliability
If corrosion resistant steel specification umbilical is used, then chemical delivery reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different material qualities to different components based on their specific requirements. The flowline, which handles high-volume chemical flow during critical startup and shutdown phases, uses corrosion resistant steel for reliability. The umbilical, handling normal operation with lower demands, can use less expensive materials, optimizing the overall system cost while maintaining necessary reliability.
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
Reduces manufacturing and installation costs by minimizing the need for high-pressure conduits, allowing for scalable and cost-effective chemical delivery systems adaptable to varying well conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A subsea pump is in fluid communication with the subsea storage reservoir and configured to boost the chemical fluid pressure from ambient to that required for injection into the wellbore
Implementation Method 2
A flowline is in fluid communication with the subsea pump and configured to deliver the pressurized chemical fluid to a host facility
Data Source
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AI summary
A modular subsea chemical injection system, comprising a power and communications module, a power and communications umbilical terminator, a power and communications module, a fluid storage module comprising a plurality of fluid storage bays adapted to selectively receive a corresponding plurality of high and/or low flow fluid storage units, a pump module comprising a plurality of pump bays adapted to selectively receive a corresponding plurality of high fluid flow and/or low fluid flow pumps, and a fluid distribution unit in fluid communication with a pump module fluid port can be disposed on a seafloor adjacent to a well site and used to selectively provide low and/or high flow fluid delivery by use of subsea storage and pressure boosting for low flow fluid needs and low flow fluid needs.