Subsea Well Intervention Lubricator Pumping System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional subsea well intervention lubricators face inefficiencies and operational challenges due to the use of surface-based pumping systems and hydraulic down-lines, which result in significant frictional losses and are not suitable for deepwater operations, where longer lines exacerbate these issues and require more power and larger diameters.
Innovation Solution
A subsea well service system with underwater pumps and fluid reservoirs, eliminating the need for surface equipment and hydraulic down-lines, utilizing variable displacement and pressure pumps to efficiently manage fluid and chemical injection, and incorporating an underwater returns storage reservoir to reduce line requirements and enhance operational efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If surface-based pumps and hydraulic down-lines are used for lubricator servicing, then pumping capability is provided, but frictional losses increase significantly with water depth and line length
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pumping equipment from the surface and relocates it to the subsea environment. Surface pumps and hydraulic down-lines are replaced by subsea pumps that operate directly at the lubricator location, eliminating the long hydraulic down-lines that cause frictional losses. This extraction of the pumping function from the surface to subsea level directly reduces energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system of subsea pumps and local fluid reservoirs between the surface and the lubricator. Instead of using long hydraulic down-lines as intermediaries, the system uses locally deployed subsea pumps that receive fluid from nearby reservoirs, acting as intermediaries that reduce the effective line length and frictional losses.
2Productivity
If hydraulic down-lines are made larger to reduce frictional losses, then pumping efficiency improves, but device complexity and handling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the hydraulic down-line component entirely from the system by placing pumps at the subsea location. This extraction eliminates the complexity of managing large-diameter hydraulic lines while maintaining pumping efficiency through locally deployed subsea pumps that do not require extensive external piping.
3Ease of manufacture
If surface equipment is used for deepwater operations, then existing infrastructure can be utilized, but power requirements and line diameter requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power consumption issue from surface-based systems by implementing subsea pumps that operate independently at the lubricator location. This eliminates the need for high-power surface equipment and extensive power transmission infrastructure, as the subsea pumps draw power locally without requiring large-diameter power cables or high-power surface generators.
4Ease of operation
If conventional surface-based pumping systems are used, then lubricator servicing can be performed, but operational time and complexity increase due to line handling and setup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the time-consuming line handling requirements by eliminating hydraulic down-lines entirely. Subsea pumps are pre-installed at the lubricator location, allowing pumping operations to begin immediately without time-consuming line setup, spooling, or connection procedures. This extraction of the pumping function from surface equipment directly reduces operational setup time.
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
This solution significantly reduces frictional losses, increases fluid flow rates, and improves economic efficiency, particularly in deeper water depths, by integrating subsea pumps and reservoirs, allowing for efficient pressure and flow regulation and chemical injection without the need for extensive surface-based infrastructure.
Implementation Method 1
the length of these hydraulic lines in conjunction with the desire to retain an economically small diameter thereof results in relatively large frictional losses in the lines during pumping
Implementation Method 2
utilizing variable displacement and pressure pumps to efficiently manage fluid and chemical injection
Implementation Method 3
hydraulic down-lines, connecting the surface to the subsea lubricator
Data Source
AI summary
A subsea well service system and method are presented for use with an subsea pump capable of flushing the well intervention lubricator of an underwater hydrocarbons production facility. The system essentially includes at least one pump placed at a subsea location in proximity to the well intervention lubricator, and at least one fluid reservoir connected to the pump.