Subsea Well Control Packages for Pressure Integrity and Disconnect
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current subsea intervention systems lack a comprehensive solution for providing pressure integrity and safe control of subsea wells, especially during adverse weather conditions or routine operations, while allowing for the deployment and retrieval of wireline tools in both riser and riserless configurations.
Innovation Solution
A well control system is deployed and connected to a subsea tree, providing pressure integrity from the well to the surface, with a Lower Riser Package (LRP) and Emergency Disconnect Package (EDP) for safe well control, along with a redundant safety system for emergency shutdown and quick disconnection, ensuring fluid containment and operational safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a subsea intervention system is deployed to allow wireline tool deployment and retrieval, then well intervention operations can be performed, but pressure integrity and safe control during adverse weather conditions cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into distinct functional modules: a Lower Riser Package (LRP) for well control and pressure containment, an Emergency Disconnect Package (EDP) for rapid separation, and a wireline deployment system. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function while maintaining overall pressure integrity through standardized pressure-containing interfaces between modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The LRP and EDP are pre-configured with pressure-containing seals and emergency disconnect mechanisms before deployment. The system establishes pressure containment barriers in advance, and the emergency disconnect system is pre-positioned to enable rapid separation if pressure integrity is compromised during adverse weather or operations.
2Reliability
If an emergency disconnect system is added for safe well control, then operational safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency disconnect functionality is merged into the EDP module, which integrates the disconnect mechanism, pressure-containing seals, and emergency control systems into a single compact unit. This merging reduces overall system complexity by eliminating the need for separate emergency disconnect components distributed throughout the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The EDP acts as an intermediary package between the LRP and the wireline deployment system. It provides the emergency disconnect function while maintaining pressure containment, serving as a buffer that simplifies the interaction between the well control system and the intervention equipment.
3Reliability
If a comprehensive pressure containment system is implemented, then fluid containment is ensured, but ease of operation for routine interventions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The LRP and EDP are designed with self-sealing pressure-containing interfaces that automatically maintain pressure integrity without requiring constant operator intervention. The system maintains its pressure barrier automatically, allowing operators to focus on wireline tool deployment rather than pressure management during routine operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions between different operational states: during routine operations, the pressure containment system remains closed and automatic; during emergency conditions, the EDP enables rapid transition to an open state for disconnect. This dynamic capability allows the system to maintain ease of operation for routine interventions while ensuring fluid containment when needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
A subsea intervention system including at least one control station, at least one programmable logic controller system in each control station, at least one supervisory control and data acquisition system, at least one safety system capable of interacting with each control station, wherein the safety system is capable of controlling a process shutdown process, an emergency shutdown process, and an emergency quick-disconnect process. The system may also include subsea distribution units, safety manifold subsea control modules, system hydraulic power units, client hydraulic power units, grease skids, flushing and chemical injection units, or umbilical reelers.