Subsea Wellhead Template Lateral Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Subsea wellhead assemblies face structural failure risks due to high static or variable loads, leading to uncontrolled release of well fluids, as existing technologies lack effective lateral support for subsea riser system equipment.

Innovation Solution

A subsea wellhead assembly with a template providing lateral support to the riser system equipment through connection members, such as steel ropes or beams, which reduce bending moments and cyclic fatigue loads, thereby minimizing loads transferred to the wellhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the subsea riser system equipment is connected only to the wellhead, then the assembly structure is simple, but the wellhead承受s high static and variable loads causing structural failure risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewellhead assembly integrityVSAvoidassembly structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a template as an intermediary structure between the wellhead and the riser system equipment. The template provides lateral support to the riser system equipment, thereby reducing the loads transferred to the wellhead. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by protecting the wellhead from high loads while maintaining a relatively simple overall assembly configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Force

If lateral support is provided to the riser system equipment through connection members, then the loads on the wellhead are reduced by up to 75%, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloads on wellheadVSAvoidconnection member structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the support function into separate connection members that are individually connected to both the template and the riser system equipment. Each connection member acts as an independent element, allowing the system to distribute loads effectively while keeping each individual component relatively simple. This segmentation approach reduces the overall force on the wellhead without requiring a single complex support structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the template is connected to the wellhead, then lateral support is provided to reduce cyclic fatigue loads, but the installation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresistance to cyclic fatigueVSAvoidinstallation process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs preliminary action by pre-assembling the template and connection members in a controlled environment before deployment to the subsea wellhead. The template is prepared with pre-installed connection points and the connection members are pre-positioned, allowing for a more straightforward installation process at the wellhead. This preliminary preparation reduces the complexity of on-site installation while maintaining the reliability benefits of the lateral support structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10724349B2Subsea wellhead assembly

Publication Date: 2020.07.28 EQUINOR ENERGY AS

AI summary

A subsea wellhead assembly 1 comprises: a subsea wellhead 2; a template 6 associated with the wellhead; subsea riser system equipment 4 connected to the wellhead and one or more connection members. The subsea riser system equipment 4 is also connected to the template 6 by the one or more connection members so that lateral support is provided to the subsea riser system equipment 4 from the template. A method of installing the subsea wellhead assembly 1 is also provided.