Subsea Work Chamber for Vessel-Independent Well Intervention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional subsea well intervention is limited by the availability of vessels and weather conditions, leading to unserviced wells and delayed maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A robotic subsea intervention system that operates independently of vessel availability and weather windows, using a tool insertion system and subsea work chamber for wireline intervention, with robotic assembly and tool canisters delivered by ROVs or external wireline systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional drill ships are used for subsea well intervention, then intervention work can be performed, but vessel availability and weather conditions limit timely service
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the well intervention capability from the conventional drill ship platform and relocates it to the seabed. A subsea work chamber is installed on the seabed near the wellhead, containing all necessary intervention equipment. This allows intervention operations to be performed directly at the well location without requiring surface vessel deployment, eliminating weather dependencies and vessel availability constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a subsea work chamber as an intermediary platform between the wellhead and the surface environment. This chamber serves as a protected workspace that can be accessed by remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and contains the intervention equipment needed for well maintenance. The intermediary chamber enables operations to proceed independently of surface conditions.
2Productivity
If drill ships are contracted for well intervention, then intervention procedures can be executed, but high costs and limited availability result in unserviced wells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service model where the subsea work chamber is permanently installed and equipped with all necessary intervention tools and equipment. The chamber can be autonomously accessed and operated by ROVs without requiring external drill ship support. This enables continuous, on-demand intervention services that are not constrained by vessel scheduling or contractual availability.
3Ease of operation
If wireline intervention is performed through conventional methods, then well maintenance can be achieved, but human operators and surface vessels increase stress on the wellhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of human operators working from surface vessels with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) that operate entirely subsea. The ROVs are controlled from the surface but perform all physical intervention operations underwater, eliminating the need for heavy equipment and personnel to be positioned on or near the wellhead, thereby reducing mechanical stress and safety risks.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments relate to systems for providing well intervention for a subsea wellhead. For example, the system can comprise a tool insertion system and a subsea work chamber, with the tool insertion system operatively coupled to the subsea work chamber and to the wellhead. In embodiments, both the work chamber and the tool insertion system can be disposed subsea, for example in proximity to the wellhead. In some embodiments, the work chamber may be maintained at atmospheric pressure. In some embodiments, the tool insertion system can have a retracted position which provides access to a wireline within the work chamber, and an extended position which isolates the work chamber from the tool insertion system, the distal end of the wireline, an isolation valve, and/or the wellhead.