Subsea Pressure Protection System Using Coiled Pipe Bundle
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation and retrofitting of subsea High Integrity Pressure Protection Systems (HIPPS) are challenging due to the need for long high-pressure flowlines, which complicate equipment placement and are not feasible in existing facilities without layout modifications, especially in subsea hydrocarbon production environments where high-pressure containment is critical.
Innovation Solution
A subsea pressure protection system comprising a high integrity pressure protection system with a pressure sensor, logic controller, and coiled pipe bundle, which can be removably mounted on skids and includes valves that close upon sensing excessive pressure, dissipating surges and maintaining high-pressure containment without the need for extensive welding, facilitating compact and efficient installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional HIPPS with long high-pressure flowline is used, then pressure containment safety is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the high-pressure containment function into two parts: the HIPPS valve assembly and the separate coiled flowline. This segmentation allows the flowline to be stored in a compact coiled state during installation while maintaining the required length for pressure containment when deployed, thereby reducing installation complexity while preserving safety
Solution Approach 2:
The flowline is coiled within a compact housing structure, nesting the long high-pressure flowline into a small footprint volume. This nesting approach enables the system to maintain the required flowline length for safety while significantly reducing the space required for installation and retrofitting
2Reliability
If a long high-pressure flowline is installed, then pressure surge containment is improved, but the area and layout requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The flowline is configured in a coiled or spiral shape rather than a straight line, allowing the long flowline required for pressure surge containment to be packed into a compact circular or spiral footprint. This curvature approach maintains the functional length while minimizing the area occupied on the sea floor
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a linear, space-consuming flowline layout to a three-dimensional coiled configuration. By utilizing vertical stacking and radial arrangement in the coiled design, the flowline achieves its required length without proportionally increasing the horizontal area occupied, enabling retrofitting in constrained subsea environments
3Strength
If extensive welding is used for installation, then structural integrity is improved, but manufacturing complexity and installation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces traditional welding connections with mechanical coupling mechanisms for connecting the flowline to the HIPPS assembly and manifold. This substitution maintains structural integrity through robust mechanical fastening while dramatically reducing installation complexity and time, as mechanical couplings can be assembled without the extensive welding procedures previously required
Data Source
AI summary
A subsea production field has a subsea fortified zone that includes equipment designed to contain high pressure. The subsea production field also has a zone rated at lower pressure that includes equipment that is not capable of containing high pressure. A subsea pressure protection system is provided in the subsea fortified zone. The subsea pressure protection system includes a high integrity pressure protection system (HIPPS), and a pipe bundle. By selecting an appropriate length of the pipe bundle, the location of the separation between the subsea fortified zone and the zone rated at lower pressure may be kept fixed at the outlet of the pipe bundle.