Rotatable Bore Selector for Dual Bore Subsea Well Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current subsea monobore riser or lubricator systems can only access one bore of a dual bore subsea well at a time, requiring time-consuming and costly redeployment for maintenance or abandonment work, which is inefficient and expensive.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a bore selector housing and a rotatable bore selector, actuated by a suitable means, allows selective communication between the monobore riser or lubricator and either the main bore or the annulus of a dual bore subsea well, enabling access to both bores without redeployment, with a flushing port for efficient fluid management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a subsea monobore riser or lubricator system is used to access one bore at a time, then the equipment complexity is reduced, but the operational time and cost increase due to repeated deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The bore selector is designed as a rotatable component that can dynamically switch between different bore connections. The selector rotates to align the monobore riser with either the main bore or the annulus, enabling dynamic reconfiguration without system redeployment. This dynamic mechanism resolves the contradiction by maintaining simple equipment while reducing operational time through rapid bore switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling apparatus is segmented into distinct functional components: the bore selector housing, the rotatable bore selector, and the actuating means. This segmentation allows the bore selector to be independently operated to switch between bores, eliminating the need to redeploy the entire riser system. The segmented design maintains equipment simplicity while significantly reducing operational time.
2Ease of operation
If the monobore riser is redeployed to access the second bore, then access to both bores is achieved, but the cost and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bore selector is designed as a universal interface that can connect the monobore riser to either the main bore or the annulus. This multi-functional component eliminates the need for different adapters for different bores, improving ease of operation while maintaining high productivity through single-system versatility.
3Loss of time
If a dual bore riser system is used to access both bores simultaneously, then operational time is reduced, but the capital and operating costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a complex dual-bore riser system, the invention employs a dynamic bore selector that switches between bores. This dynamic switching mechanism achieves rapid access to both bores without requiring expensive dual-bore equipment, thereby reducing operational time while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
4Ease of operation
If repeated deployment and retrieval of the monobore riser is performed, then access to different bores is achieved, but the reliability decreases due to increased possibility of complications
Solution Approach 1:
The bore selector is pre-configured with connection pathways to both the main bore and the annulus. This preliminary configuration allows operators to switch between bores without repeated deployment and retrieval of the riser system, thereby improving ease of operation while significantly enhancing reliability by eliminating repeated connection/disconnection cycles.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus (10) for coupling a monobore riser or lubricator system (11) to a dual bore (12) subsea well, the apparatus has a rotatable bore selector (30) within a housing (20). The bore selector has at least one conduit (35) to provide through bore communication between the riser bore or lubricator (11) and selectively at least one or other of main (60) and annulus (70) bores in the dual bore (12) well. The bore selector in a first position connects the conduit between the riser or lubricator bore and the main bore, and in a second position connects the conduit between the riser or lubricator bore and the annulus bore. The rotatable selector can be offset or set at a tilt angle of up to ±5° with respect to the length of the apparatus.