Subsea Pump Module Cable Installation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current subsea petroleum production systems with centrifugal pumps require high maintenance costs and production interruptions due to the need for rig-based interventions, which are costly and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A subsea petroleum production system featuring a submersible centrifugal pump module coupled with a flow base, allowing for installation and recovery by cable, enabling quick testing, replacement, and reducing shutdown times, with the option for multiphase flow boosting and water injection to maintain reservoir pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If centrifugal pumps are used in wet completion well installations to increase production flow, then production flow is improved, but maintenance cost and production interruption increase due to rig-based intervention requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction flowVSAvoidproduction interruption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The pump assembly is extracted from the production column and installed in a separate auxiliary well. This allows the pump to be maintained or replaced independently without removing the production column from the main well, thereby eliminating production interruptions while maintaining increased production flow through the pump's continuous operation in the auxiliary well.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is segmented into two independent components: the production column in the main well and the pump assembly in the auxiliary well. This segmentation allows independent maintenance of the pump without affecting production operations, resolving the contradiction between maintaining production flow and avoiding production interruption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of repair

If an auxiliary or dummy well is constructed to install the pumping unit for easier maintenance, then ease of repair is improved, but construction cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepump maintenance accessibilityVSAvoidconstruction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary well serves multiple functions: it houses the pump assembly for easy maintenance access, and simultaneously provides a pathway for installing and removing pumps without requiring complete production column retrieval. This multi-functionality justifies the construction cost by providing both maintenance accessibility and operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary well acts as an intermediary structure that facilitates pump maintenance and replacement. By providing a separate access pathway and housing for the pump assembly, it mediates between the need for easy pump maintenance and the constraint of avoiding expensive production column retrieval operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the production column is bifurcated with multiple fluid pumps to enable selective operation, then productivity is improved through continuous production, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous production capabilityVSAvoidproduction column structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pump assembly is extracted from the complex bifurcated production column structure and placed in a simpler auxiliary well configuration. This maintains the continuous production capability through selective pump operation while significantly reducing the structural complexity of the production column itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of complicating the production column with multiple pumps and switching mechanisms, the invention inverts the approach by placing the pump assembly in a separate auxiliary well. This allows selective operation and continuous production capability while keeping the main production column structure simple and straightforward.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 system reduces production shutdown time and costs, allows for efficient installation and maintenance, and enhances production continuity with the ability to test and replace components quickly, while maintaining reservoir pressure and enabling long-distance multiphase fluid transport.

Implementation Method 1

The use of centrifugal pumps in petroleum wells increases the production flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentUS7516795B2Subsea petroleum production system method of installation and use of the same

Publication Date: 2009.04.14 PETROLEO BRASILEIRO SA PETROBRAS

AI summary

A subsea petroleum production system for artificial lift, including a pumping module coupled to a flow base, the system being installed downstream of a Wet Christmas Tree (WCT) on the seabed. The pumping module includes at least one submersible centrifugal pump (SCP) inclined with respect to the vertical direction at an inclination of up to 85 degrees from the vertical direction, wherein a flow in said at least one pump is ascending.