Diverter system for a subsea well

Abstract

A diverter system for a subsea well has a blowout preventer and a diverter affixed to an outlet of the blowout preventer. The blowout preventer will have an interior passageway with an inlet at a bottom thereof and an outlet at a top thereof. The diverter has a flow passageway extending therethrough and communication with the interior passageway of the blowout preventer. The diverter has a valve therein for changing a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the flow passageway. The diverter has at least one channel opening in valved relation to the flow passageway so as to allow the fluid from the flow passageway to pass outwardly of the diverter. At least one flow line is in valved communication with the flow passageway so as to allow fluids or materials to be introduced into the flow passageway.

1 . A diverter system for a subsea well comprising:
 a blowout preventer having an interior passageway with an inlet at a bottom thereof and an outlet at a top thereof; and   a diverter affixed to an outlet of said blowout preventer, said diverter having a flow passageway extending therethrough and communicating with said interior passageway of said blowout preventer, said diverter having a valve means therein for changing a flow rate of a fluid flowing through said flow passageway, said diverter having at least one channel opening in valved relation to said flow passageway so as to allow the fluid from said flow passageway to pass outwardly of said diverter.   
     
     
         2 . The diverter system of  claim 1 , said valve means comprising:
 a ram extending in transverse relationship to said flow passageway, said ram being actuatable so as to change the flow rate.   
     
     
         3 . The diverter system of  claim 2 , said ram positioned above said at least one channel. 
     
     
         4 . The diverter system of  claim 1 , said at least one channel comprising:
 a first channel in valved communication with said flow passageway; and   a second channel in valved communication with said flow passageway, each of said first and second channels suitable for passing a fluid from said flow passageway to a location away from said diverter.   
     
     
         5 . The diverter system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one flow line in valved communication with said flow passageway, the flow line suitable for passing a fluid into the fluid within said flow passageway.   
     
     
         6 . The diverter system of  claim 1 , said diverter having an inlet affixed to said outlet of said blowout preventer, said diverter having an outlet at an opposite end of said flow passageway from said inlet, the diverter system further comprising:
 a containment cap affixed to said diverter and over said outlet thereof so as to block a flow of the fluid through said outlet.   
     
     
         7 . The diverter system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a manifold connected by a line to the channel of said diverter, said manifold suitable for collecting the fluid passing through the channel.   
     
     
         8 . The diverter system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a choke-and-kill manifold connected by a line to said flow line of said diverter, said choke-and-kill manifold suitable for passing a material into said flow passageway of said diverter.   
     
     
         9 . The diverter system of  claim 1 , said diverter having an inlet affixed to said outlet of said blowout preventer, said diverter having an outlet at an opposite end of said flow passageway from said inlet thereof, the diverter system further comprising:
 a lower riser package affixed to said outlet of said diverter.   
     
     
         10 . A diverter for application to a blowout preventer of a subsea well, the diverter comprising:
 a body having a flow passageway extending therethrough, said body having an inlet end and an outlet end, said inlet end suitable for application to an outlet of the blowout preventer;   a ram affixed to said body and extending in transverse relationship to said flow passageway, said ram being actuatable so as to change a flow rate of a fluid passing through said flow passageway;   at least one channel in valved fluid communication with said flow passageway so as to allow a fluid in said flow passageway to pass outwardly of said body; and   at least one flow line in valved fluid communication with said flow passageway of said body so as to selectively allow a fluid to be introduced into said flow passageway.   
     
     
         11 . The diverter of  claim 10 , said at least one channel comprising:
 a first channel in valved communication with said flow passageway; and   a second channel in valved communication with said flow passageway, each of said first and second channels suitable for passing a fluid from said flow passageway to a location away from said diverter.   
     
     
         12 . The diverter of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a containment cap affixed to said body and over said outlet thereof so as to block a flow of the fluid through said outlet.   
     
     
         13 . The diverter of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a manifold connected by a line to the channel of said body, said manifold suitable for collecting the fluid passing through the channel.   
     
     
         14 . A method of passing fluid through an outlet of a blowout preventer, the method comprising:
 forming a body having an inlet and an outlet, said body having a flow passageway extending between said inlet and said outlet, said body having a valve cooperative with said flow passageway, said body having a channel in communication with said flow passageway and a flow line in communication with said flow passageway;   affixing said body to the outlet of the blowout preventer while said valve is opened such that fluid from the outlet of the blowout preventer passes through said flow passageway;   closing said valve such that the fluid passes through said channel; and   discharging the fluid away from said body.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , the step of closing comprising:
 closing said valve such that the fluid is prevented from passing outwardly of said outlet of said body; and   affixing a containment cap over said outlet of body.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 connecting said channel to a manifold;   passing the fluid from said flow passageway through said channel and into said manifold; and   collecting the fluid in said manifold.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , said body having a flow line in fluid communication with said flow passageway, the method further comprising:
 injecting a fluid into said flow passageway through said flow line.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , the step of closing comprising:
 maneuvering an ROV into proximity to said valve; and   manipulating said valve by said ROV so as to close said valve.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 affixing a lower riser package to an outlet of said flow passageway of said body.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , said body having a pair of channels in fluid communication with said flow passageway and a pair of flow lines in fluid communication with said fluid passageway.