Capping stack for use with a subsea well

Abstract

A capping stack for use with a subsea well has a body with a flow passageway extending therethrough, a first bore having one end opening to an outlet end of the flow passageway, a second bore opening to the outlet end of the flow passageway, a first flowline affixed to the first bore and extending upwardly therefrom, a second flowline affixed to the second bore and extending upwardly therefrom, a first valve cooperative with the first flowline so as to be movable between an open position and a closed position, and a second valve cooperative the second flowline so as to be movable between an open position and a closed position. The inlet end of the flow passageway is suitable for connection to a blowout preventer or to a wellhead of a subsea well. Each of the bores extends upwardly at an acute angle to vertical from the flow passageway.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A capping stack for use with a subsea well, the capping stack comprising:
 a body having a flow passageway extending therethrough, said flow passageway of said body having an inlet end and an outlet end, said inlet end suitable for connection to a fluid passageway of a blowout preventer or to a wellhead of the subsea well, said body having a first bore having one end opening to said outlet of said flow passageway, said first bore extending upwardly from said flow passageway, said body having a second bore having one end opening to said outlet end of said flow passageway, said second bore extending upwardly from said flow passageway;   a first flowline affixed to said first bore and extending upwardly therefrom;   a second flowline affixed to said second bore and extending upwardly therefrom;   a first valve cooperative with said first flowline so as to be movable between an open position and a closed position, said open position allowing fluids from the subsea well to flow through said first flowline, said closed position suitable for blocking fluids from passing outwardly of said first flowline; and   a second valve cooperative said second flowline so as to be movable between an open position and a closed position, said open position of said second valve suitable allowing fluids from the subsea well to flow through said second flowline, said closed position of said second valve suitable for blocking fluids from passing outwardly of said second flowline.   
     
     
         2 . The capping stack of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a connector affixed to a lower end of said body, said connector suitable for connecting said body to either the blowout preventer or the wellhead.   
     
     
         3 . The capping stack of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a frame connected to said body and extending upwardly therefrom, said frame supporting said first and second flowlines thereon.   
     
     
         4 . The capping stack of  claim 1 , said first bore diverging away from said second bore in a direction away from said outlet end of said flow passageway. 
     
     
         5 . The capping stack of  claim 4 , said first bore extending an angle of 60° or less to vertical, said second bore extending at an angle of 60° or less to vertical. 
     
     
         6 . The capping stack of  claim 1 , said one end of said first bore being in spaced relation to said one end of said second bore at said outlet end of said flow passageway. 
     
     
         7 . The capping stack of  claim 1 , each of said first and second bores having a cross-sectional area less than a cross-sectional area of said flow passageway. 
     
     
         8 . The capping stack of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third bore having one end opening to said outlet end of said flow passageway, said third bore extending upwardly from said flow passageway;   a third flowline affixed to said third bore and extending upwardly therefrom; and   a third valve cooperative with said third flowline so as to be movable between an open position and a closed position, said open position of said third valve allowing fluids from the subsea well to flow through said third flowline, said closed position of said third valve blocking fluids from passing outwardly of said third flowline.   
     
     
         9 . The capping stack of  claim 8 , said third bore diverging away from said first and second bores in a direction away from said outlet end of said flow passageway. 
     
     
         10 . The capping stack of  claim 1 , said first valve comprising a pair of valves cooperative with said first flowline, said pair of valves being in spaced relationship to each other, said second valve another pair of valves cooperative with said second flowline, said another pair of valves being in spaced relationship to each other. 
     
     
         11 . The capping stack of  claim 1 , each of said first and second flowlines comprising:
 a first portion having a first end and a second end, said first end connected to the respective bore, said first portion extending at an acute angle to vertical away from the respective bores; and   a second portion extending from said second end of said first portion and extending vertically upwardly therefrom.   
     
     
         12 . The capping stack of  claim 1 , each of said first and second flowlines having a connecting portion at an upper end thereof, said connecting portion suitable for connection to a conduit so as to allow fluids from the subsea well to flow therethrough. 
     
     
         13 . The capping stack of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a lifting mechanism affixed to an upper portion of said frame in a location generally centrally of said frame.   
     
     
         14 . A flow diverting system for use with a subsea well, the flow diverting system comprising:
 a blowout preventer;   a body connected to an upper end of said blowout preventer, said body having a flow passageway extending therethrough, said flow passageway of said body having an inlet end and an outlet end, said inlet end suitable for connection to a fluid passageway of said blowout preventer, said body having a first bore having one end opening to said outlet end of said flow passageway, said first bore extending upwardly from said flow passageway, said body having a second bore having one end opening to said outlet end of said flow passageway, said second bore extending upwardly from said flow passageway;   a first flowline affixed to said first bore and extending upwardly therefrom;   a second flowline affixed to said second bore and extending upwardly therefrom;   a first valve cooperative with said first flowline so as to be movable between an open position and a closed position, said open position allowing fluids from the subsea well to flow through said first flowline, said closed position blocking fluids from passing outwardly of said first flowline; and   a second valve cooperative said second flowline so as to be movable between an open position and a closed position, said open position of said second valve allowing fluids from the subsea well to flow through said second flowline, said closed position of said second valve blocking fluids from passing outwardly of said second flowline.   
     
     
         15 . The flow diverting system of  claim 14 , said first bore diverging away from said second bore in a direction away from said outlet end of said flow passageway. 
     
     
         16 . The flow diverting system of  claim 15 , said first bore extending an angle of 60° or less to vertical, said second bore extending at an angle of 60° or less to vertical. 
     
     
         17 . The flow diverting system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a third bore having one end opening to said outlet end of said flow passageway, said third bore extending upwardly from said flow passageway;   a third flowline affixed to said third bore and extending upwardly therefrom; and   a third valve cooperative with said third flowline so as to be movable between an open position and a closed position, said open position of said third valve allowing fluids from the subsea well to flow through said third flowline, said closed position of said third valve blocking fluids from passing outwardly of said third flowline.   
     
     
         18 . The flow diverting system of  claim 14 , each of said first and second flowlines comprising:
 a first portion having a first end second end, said first end connected to the respective bore, said first portion extending at an acute angle to vertical away from the respective bore; and   a second portion extending from said second end of said first portion and extending vertically upwardly therefrom.   
     
     
         19 . The flow diverting system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a frame connected to said body and extending upwardly therefrom, said frame supporting said first and second flowlines thereon.   
     
     
         20 . The flow diverting system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a lifting mechanism affixed to an upper portion of said frame in a location generally centrally of said frame.