Subsea Wellbore Installation Suction Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for installing subsea wellbores on a seabed are costly and time-intensive, requiring dedicated drilling vessels and involving significant drill cuttings and fluid deposition, as well as vulnerability to shallow gas encounters.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a suction means with a housing and wellhead, allowing for the installation of a wellbore and conduit without prior drilling, using a suction mechanism to embed the apparatus in the seabed and provide a barrier for well pressure isolation, enabling simultaneous installation of the wellhead and conduit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated drilling vessels and drilling rigs are used to install subsea wellbores, then wellbore installation can be achieved with full well control package available, but the cost and time required become very high
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the wellbore installation process into discrete modular components: a conduit containing wellhead equipment, a separate suction means for seabed engagement, and a barrier means for pressure control. These modules can be independently prepared and deployed, eliminating the need for sequential operations required by traditional drilling vessels.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus combines multiple functions into a single integrated system: the conduit serves as both the wellbore pathway and the containment structure, the suction means provides both positioning and sealing functions, and the barrier means integrates pressure control directly at the wellhead. This multi-functional design replaces the specialized equipment suite of traditional drilling rigs.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional drilling methods are used with rotary tables and top drives, then wellbores can be drilled and conductors installed, but large quantities of drill cuttings and drilling fluids are deposited into the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the drilling operation entirely from the wellbore installation process. Instead of drilling through the seabed with rotary tables that generate cuttings and require drilling fluids, the system uses a suction means to create a sealed chamber and a conduit to establish the wellbore pathway without mechanical drilling, thereby removing the source of harmful emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction means, which creates negative pressure to seal the chamber against the seabed, transforms what would be a harmful vacuum effect into a beneficial sealing mechanism. This allows the system to establish well control and pressure containment without the harmful byproducts of traditional drilling.
3Ease of operation
If conductor casing is installed by piling using suction substructure, then conductor casing can be set in the seabed, but the apparatus requires complex suction substructure and prior drilling or jetting operations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the conduit containing the wellhead with the suction means into a single integrated apparatus. The conduit is positioned within the suction means such that when the suction means engages the seabed, the conduit is simultaneously positioned to establish the wellbore. This combination eliminates the need for separate prior drilling or jetting operations and simplifies the overall apparatus compared to traditional suction substructures.
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 method reduces the need for drilling and jetting operations, minimizes environmental impact, and allows for efficient wellbore pressure control and safety in shallow gas formations, using smaller vessels and reducing the need for dedicated rigs.
Implementation Method 1
creating a pressure differential between an interior and exterior of the apparatus to force or drive the apparatus into the seabed
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for installing a wellbore (12) on a seabed (14). The apparatus includes a suction member (16) including a housing (17) defining a chamber (18). The housing (17) has an open end (20). The open end (20) defines a leading edge (22) for engagement with the seabed (14). The apparatus (10) includes a wellhead located (24) at an end opposite the open end (20) for engagement with a conduit (28). The conduit (28) is coupled to the housing (17). The conduit (28) extends from the wellhead means (24) through the chamber (18). When the wellbore (12) is installed on the seabed, the apparatus (10) provides a barrier or well barrier, which is capable of isolating and/or maintaining a wellbore pressure. The apparatus (10) allows for the installation of a wellhead (24) and/or a conduit (28) without the need of prior drilling and/or jetting operations at a wellbore site.