Well Abandonment Module for Offshore Platform Decommissioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing method for removing hydrocarbon production platforms from the sea is time-consuming and costly due to the need for an assisting vessel to remain near the platform for extended periods during well abandonment operations, which can last several months to years, incurring significant daily costs.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves temporarily closing the well, positioning a well abandonment module on the support structure, performing abandonment operations from this module, and then removing it, allowing for the completion of well abandonment operations without the need for an assisting vessel, thereby reducing costs and time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an assisting vessel is positioned near the production platform for the duration of well abandonment operations, then the operations can be performed safely and effectively, but the costs become considerable (several hundreds of thousands of dollars per day)
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the well abandonment operations from the production platform and performs them on the seabed near the wellhead. This eliminates the need for an assisting vessel to remain positioned near the platform for months or years, thereby removing the source of high daily costs while maintaining operational safety through direct seabed-based equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the spatial dimension of well abandonment operations from being conducted at the platform level (requiring vessel assistance) to being conducted at the seabed level (near the wellhead). This dimensional shift allows operations to be performed independently without requiring an assisting vessel to maintain position near the platform, thus eliminating the cost burden
2Reliability
If an assisting vessel is positioned near the production platform for extended periods, then well abandonment operations can be completed, but the duration of operations becomes very long (several months to years)
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary actions by positioning equipment directly on the seabed near the wellhead before the actual abandonment operations begin. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for prolonged vessel positioning and enables operations to be completed more efficiently, thereby reducing the overall duration from months or years to a shorter timeframe
3Ease of manufacture
If the upper part is removed from the support structure before well abandonment operations, then the support structure can be accessed for module positioning, but the well remains 'hot' requiring an assisting vessel
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional sequence by positioning the well abandonment module on the support structure while the well is still 'hot' (before complete abandonment). This reversal allows the module to be installed and operations to begin without waiting for the well to cool down, eliminating the need for an assisting vessel to remain positioned near the platform
Data Source
AI summary
A method for removing a hydrocarbon production platform at sea, the production platform being connected to a hydrocarbon well, and including a support structure and an upper part being supported by the support structure, where the method includes the steps of; temporarily closing the well, removing at least part of the upper part from the support structure, positioning a well abandonment module on the support structure, which well abandonment module is constructed and arranged to perform well abandonment operations, performing abandonment operations from the well abandonment module to abandon the well, removing the well abandonment module from the support structure after the well abandonment operations are completed.