Method and apparatus for evacuating hydrocarbons from a distressed well

Abstract

A method of evacuating hydrocarbons from a plurality of nested tubulars of a well pipe that extends from an underwater well tree includes an initial step of attaching a fluid transmission line to the underwater well tree, the fluid transmission line having one end portion forming the attachment to the tree and the other end portion attached to a pump that forces fluid under pressure to the tree and attached nested tubulars. Openings are formed through one or more tubulars of the nested tubulars at a selected location. A specially configured fitting is attached to the tubulars. The fitting seals the openings. The fitting has an expandable seal that is expandable responsive to rotation of a rotating member that rotates upon a saddle, pulling a tapered mandrel against the seal. The saddle surrounds the mandrel and bears against an outer tubular of the nested tubulars. The fitting mandrel has a bore. Hydrocarbons escape from the tubulars via the mandrel bore.

1 . A method of evacuating hydrocarbons from a plurality of nested tubulars of an underwater well pipe extending from an underwater well tree, comprising steps of:
 a) attaching a first fluid transmission line to the underwater well tree, the fluid transmission line having one end portion forming an attachment to the tree and the other end portion attached to a pump that enables transmission of fluid under pressure to the tree and nested tubulars attached to the tree;   b) forming multiple aligned openings through the nested tubulars at a selected location;   c) attaching to the tubulars a fitting that seals the multiple aligned openings, the fitting having an expandable seal that is expandable responsive to rotation of a rotating member that rotates upon a saddle, the saddle surrounding a mandrel and bearing against an outer tubular of the nested tubulars;   d) wherein the fitting has a bore and enabling hydrocarbons to escape from the tubulars via the bore; and   e) transmitting the escaping hydrocarbons of step “d” to a collection vessel using a second fluid transmission line.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fitting surrounds the mandrel and in step “c” the mandrel has a tapered section that slides relative to the seal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the mandrel has an externally threaded portion and the rotating member is an internally threaded nut that engages said externally threaded portion of the mandrel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the threaded nut has one or more handles and step “c” includes rotating the nut by rotating one or more handles. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the nested tubulars include a production flow line. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the nested tubulars include one or more casing sections surrounding the production flow line. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in step “c” the fitting has a flow bore and a flow opening through which pressurized fluids can flow and wherein the seal contains pressurized fluid up to about 5,000 p.s.i. (34,474 kPa). 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the seal is of a rubber or rubber like material. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the nested tubulars include a central production flow line, a first casing surrounding the production flow line and a second casing surrounding the first casing and wherein there is a first annulus in between the production flow line and the first casing and a second annulus in between the first casing and the second casing, wherein each annulus is pressurized in steps “d” and “e”. 
     
     
         10 . A method of evacuating hydrocarbons from a damaged assembly of nested tubulars and an underwater well tree of an underwater oil well, comprising steps of:
 a) attaching a fluid transmission line to the underwater well tree, the fluid transmission line having one end portion forming said attachment to the tree and the other end portion attached to a pump that enables a working fluid under pressure to be transmitted to the assembly of tree and nested tubulars;   b) forming multiple aligned openings through the nested tubulars at a selected location;   c) attaching to the tubulars a fitting that seals the openings, said fitting having a flow bore;   d) wherein in steps “a” and “c”, hydrocarbons escape from the tubulars via the bore as the working fluid is pumped to the assembly of tree and nested tubulars.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the fitting includes a tapered mandrel and a seal member, and wherein in step “c” the tapered mandrel expands the seal member to seal said openings. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the mandrel has a bore and in step “d” the hydrocarbons exit via the mandrel bore. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising providing a storage tank and transmitting the hydrocarbons to the storage tank via a flow line that connects between the fitting and the storage tank. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising providing a vessel and in step “a” the pump is on the vessel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising providing a vessel and the storage tank is on the vessel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the fitting surrounds the mandrel and in step “c” the mandrel has a tapered section that moves relative to the seal. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the mandrel has an externally threaded portion and a rotating member is an internally threaded nut that engages said externally threaded portion of the mandrel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the threaded nut has one or more handles and step “c” includes rotating the nut by rotating one or more handles. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the nested tubulars include a production flow line. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the nested tubulars include multiple casing sections surrounding the production flow line. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 10  wherein in step “c” the fitting has a flow bore and a flow opening through which pressurized fluids can flow and wherein the seal contains pressurized fluid up to about 5,000 p.s.i. (34,474 kPa). 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 10  wherein in step “d” a return flow line transmits the escaping hydrocarbons to a collection tank. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the nested tubulars include a central production flow line, a first casing surrounding the production flow line and a second casing surrounding the first casing and wherein there is a first annulus in between the production flow line and the first casing and a second annulus in between the first casing and the second casing, wherein each annulus is pressurized in step “d”.