Apparatus and a Method For Deployment of a Well Intervention Tool String Into a Subsea Well

Abstract

The present invention regards an apparatus and a method for subsea deployment and/or intervention through a wellhead ( 102 ) of a petroleum well ( 112 ). The apparatus comprises a first module ( 101 ) integrated in a portion of a subsea well intervention system assembly ( 102, 103 ) and/or a subsea production system assembly, the first module ( 101 ) comprising an intervention tool bore ( 201 ); a second module ( 301 ) comprising a tubular element ( 302 ) initially housing an intervention tool ( 314 ), wherein the second module ( 301 ) being arranged for sliding into releasable engagement with the intervention tool bore ( 201 ) of the first module ( 101 ), whereupon the intervention tool ( 314 ) is arranged for disengagement from the tubular element ( 302 ) for deployment of the intervention tool ( 314 ) into the wellbore ( 112 ).

1 . An apparatus for subsea deployment and/or intervention through a wellhead ( 102 ) of a petroleum well ( 112 ), characterized in that the apparatus comprises:
 a first module ( 101 ) integrated in a portion of a sub-sea well intervention system assembly ( 102 ,  103 ) and/or a subsea production system assembly, the first module ( 101 ) comprising an intervention tool bore ( 201 );   a second module ( 301 ) comprising a tubular element ( 302 ) initially housing an intervention tool ( 314 ),   
     the second module ( 301 ) being arranged for sliding into releasable engagement with the intervention tool bore ( 201 ) of the first module ( 101 ), whereupon the intervention tool ( 314 ) is arranged for disengagement from the tubular element ( 302 ) for deployment of the intervention tool ( 314 ) into the wellbore ( 112 ). 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one portion of the tool bore ( 201 ) is provided with at least one seal element ( 202 ) arranged for sealing an annulus defined by the tool bore ( 201 ) and the second module ( 301 ). 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the at least one seal element is a dynamic seal ( 202 ). 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the second module ( 301 ) is provided with a seal arrangement ( 305 ,  309 ) for sealing off an annular space defined by the tubular element ( 302 ) and the intervention tool ( 314 ). 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a portion of the tool bore ( 201 ) of first module ( 101 ) comprises a valve assembly ( 203 ) which in a closed position provides a barrier between the well ( 112 ) and a downstream portion of said first module ( 101 ). 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the second module ( 301 ) is provided with at least one latch device ( 306 ,  310 ) arranged for selectively disengaging the intervention tool ( 314 ) from the tubular element ( 302 ). 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the first module ( 101 ) is provided with a bore ( 111 ′) for connection of a kill line ( 111 ). 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the apparatus is provided with an anti-blowout device ( 206 ). 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the anti-blowout device ( 206 ) comprises an anti-blowout sub ( 207 ) and an anti-blowout profile ( 208 ), said profile ( 208 ) being provided within or being an integrated part of a portion of the bore ( 201 ) of the first module ( 101 ), said profile ( 208 ) being arranged downstream of said sub ( 207 ), wherein an outside diameter of said sub is larger than the internal diameter of said profile ( 208 ). 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the sub ( 207 ) is hollow and is arranged to engage with a portion of the tubular element ( 302 ). 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the anti-blowout device ( 206 ) comprises means arranged for gripping and locking the movement of the second module ( 301 ) in the first module ( 101 ). 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the anti-blowout device ( 206 ) comprises a slips module comprising slips arranged to glide along the outside of the second module ( 301 ) during deployment into the well ( 112 ) and, if the second module ( 301 ) is instantly moved in an upward direction out of the well ( 112 ), is arranged to grip around a portion of the second module ( 301 ). 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first module ( 101 ) is provided with at least one flushing system ( 209 ,  210 ) for removing unwanted fluids from contained spaces before providing access to the well. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first module ( 101 ) is provided with a stop arrangement ( 213 ) for engaging a substantially corresponding stop arrangement ( 313 ) in the second module ( 301 ), thereby preventing further insertion of the second module ( 301 ) beyond an ultimate insertion position of the second module ( 301 ) in the bore ( 201 ) of the first module ( 101 ). 
   
   
       15 . A method for subsea deployment and/or intervention of a petroleum well ( 112 ) through a wellhead ( 102 ), characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:
 integrating a first module ( 101 ) that comprises an intervention tool bore ( 201 ), in a portion of a subsea well intervention system assembly ( 102 ,  103 ) and/or a subsea production system assembly;   lowering a second module ( 301 ) comprising a tubular element ( 302 ) sealingly housing an intervention tool ( 314 ) engaged with the tubular element ( 302 ) into engagement with the tool bore ( 201 ) of the first module, at least a portion of the annulus defined between the tool bore ( 201 ) and the tubular element ( 302 ) being sealed;   disengaging the intervention tool ( 314 ) from the tubular element ( 302 ), and   running the intervention tool ( 314 ) into the wellbore ( 112 ).   
   
   
       16 . A method for retrieval and/or deploying out of an intervention tool ( 314 ) through a wellhead ( 102 ) of a subsea petroleum well ( 112 ), characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:
 pulling the intervention tool ( 314 ) into engaging connection inside a tubular element ( 302 ) of a second module ( 301 ), the annulus defined by the tubular element ( 302 ) and the intervention tool ( 314 ) being sealed at a top portion and a bottom portion of the second module ( 301 ), a portion of which being in engagement with and sealingly housed in a tool bore ( 201 ) of a first module ( 101 );   disengaging the second module ( 301 ) sealingly housing the intervention tool ( 314 ), and   retrieving the second module ( 301 ) out of the first module ( 101 ) through open water and to a surface.   
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 14 , characterized in that flushing operations are executed during the retrieval of the second module ( 301 ) from the first module ( 101 ) in order to avoid any well fluid to communicate into the environment outside the well.