Subsea oil leak stabilization system and method

Abstract

A method for controlling a subsea leak is provided using a manifold and an enclosing member extending above the manifold. The manifold includes a plurality of outlets directed toward a subsea bottom surface. The manifold and the enclosing member define an interior volume and are positioned so that the subsea leak is situated in the interior volume. The method includes jetting fluid out of the plurality of outlets of the manifold to remove subsea bottom material, and injecting fluidized concrete into the interior volume above the subsea bottom surface after the jetting fluid operation. The method also includes sealing the interior volume at a top of the enclosing member above the subsea leak. A device and system for controlling a subsea leak are provided.

1 . A method for controlling a subsea leak from an opening in a pipe which extends from a subsea bottom surface using an assembly comprising a manifold and an enclosing member extending above the manifold, the manifold comprising a plurality of fluid outlets, the manifold and the enclosing member at least partially defining an interior volume, a bottom having an opening adapted to accommodate the pipe, and a top outlet, the method comprising:
 opening the top outlet to allow a free flow of a fluid leaking from the pipe opening;   positioning the manifold to circumferentially enclose the pipe opening;   jetting fluid out of the plurality of outlets of the manifold toward the subsea bottom surface to remove subsea bottom material proximate the pipe after positioning the manifold, seat the bottom of the manifold into the subsea surface, and cause the manifold to move downwardly relative to the pipe opening;   injecting fluidized concrete into the interior volume above the subsea bottom surface to a level below the pipe opening to seal the bottom opening; and   closing the top outlet above the subsea leak to seal the assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, after the injecting of the fluidized concrete operation, waiting for the fluidized concrete to set prior to the closing of the top outlet operation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the subsea leak originates from a riser pipe, the riser pipe being a vertical extension of a lateral pipe extending along the subsea bottom surface;   the manifold and the enclosing member have aligned cut-outs having a width greater than a diameter of the lateral pipe; and   the positioning of the manifold operation further comprises positioning the cut-out of the manifold over the lateral pipe.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising, before the injecting of the fluidized concrete into the interior volume, closing the aligned cut-outs of the manifold and the enclosing member 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, after the jetting fluid operation, waiting to allow subsea bottom material to backfill around an exterior of the enclosing member before the injecting fluidized concrete operation. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising, after the jetting fluid operation, actively backfilling subsea bottom material around an exterior of the enclosing member before the injecting fluidized concrete operation. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, before the injecting fluidized concrete operation, weighting at least one of the manifold and the enclosing member to stabilize at least one of the manifold and the enclosing member. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 before the closing operation, closing a valve above the subsea leak;   wherein the closing operation comprises capping the enclosing member above the valve.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after the closing operation, capping the enclosing member above a valve;   wherein the closing operation comprises closing the valve above the subsea leak.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, before the injecting fluidized concrete operation, removing at least some of the subsea bottom material from the interior of the enclosing member via outlets arranged on the enclosing member. 
     
     
         11 . A device for controlling a subsea leak, comprising:
 a manifold having a plurality of outlets, the manifold adapted to jet water out of the plurality of outlets toward a subsea bottom surface to displace subsea bottom material to uncover a subsurface below the subsea bottom surface and lower the manifold;   an enclosing member extending above the manifold and circumferentially enclosing the subsea leak, the enclosing member adapted to receive fluidized concrete into an interior volume defined by the enclosing member and the subsurface after removal of the subsea bottom material; and   a valve arranged in the interior volume above the subsea leak and adapted to open and allow fluid to flow through freely and to close and seal the enclosing member.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the manifold is positioned by at least one of a lift cable and a remotely operated vehicle to circumferentially enclose the subsea leak. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the subsea leak originates from a riser pipe, the riser pipe being a vertical extension of a lateral pipe extending along the subsea bottom surface;   the manifold and the enclosing member have aligned cut-outs having a width greater than a diameter of the lateral pipe;   the positioning of the manifold further comprises positioning the cut-out of the manifold over the lateral pipe; and   the aligned cut-outs of the manifold and the enclosing member include closing doors.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising stabilizing flanges arranged on an exterior of the enclosing member and adapted to stabilize the device in cooperation with subsea bottom material that backfills around an exterior of the enclosing member. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising weights arranged to removably attach to at least one of the manifold and the enclosing member. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising a cap situated above the valve and adapted to further seal the enclosing member, the cap including remotely operated locking pins for securing the cap to the enclosing member. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising outlets arranged on the enclosing member adapted to remove at least some of the subsea bottom material from the interior of the enclosing member before injecting fluidized concrete. 
     
     
         18 . A system for controlling a subsea leak using a manifold and an enclosing member extending above the manifold, the manifold comprising a plurality of outlets directed toward a subsea bottom surface, the manifold and the enclosing member defining an interior volume and being positioned so that the subsea leak is situated in the interior volume, the system comprising:
 means for jetting fluid out of the plurality of outlets of the manifold to remove subsea bottom material;   means for injecting fluidized concrete into the interior volume above the subsea bottom surface after the jetting fluid operation; and   means for capping the interior volume at a top of the enclosing member above the subsea leak.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 means for actively backfilling subsea bottom material around an exterior of the enclosing member after jetting fluid and before injecting fluidized concrete;   means for weighting at least one of the manifold and the enclosing member to stabilize at least one of the manifold and the enclosing member before injecting fluidized concrete;   means for closing a valve above the subsea leak and below the top of the enclosing member before capping.   
     
     
         20 . A method for controlling a subsea leak comprising:
 jetting fluid out of a plurality of outlets of a manifold circumferentially surrounding the subsea leak, the plurality of outlets being directed toward the subsea bottom surface to remove subsea bottom material;   injecting fluidized concrete into an interior volume defined by the manifold and an enclosing member extending above the manifold; and   sealing a top outlet of the interior volume, the top outlet being above the subsea leak.