Subsea connector system

Abstract

A subsea connector with a connection point between the Lower Workout Riser Package and the Upper Workout Riser Package which would facilitate access to the well under full wellbore pressure. There is provided a primary collet to connect the two halves of well subsea connector together. The connector further comprises 32 hydraulic couplers that allow control of the LWRP, Subsea tree and downhole functions. The connector of the present invention can be configured for electrical interface for tree and downhole function control if required. In the present invention, the connector allows for a controlled disconnect for emergency situations that will shut in all LWRP isolations valves, blow out preventor (BOP) rams and subsea tree valves, leaving the well secure. The subsea connector also allows for easy reconnection to the LWRP and control of the tree once the situation necessitating the disconnection is resolved.

1 . A subsea connector system, positionable between a lower workover riser package (LWRP) and an upper workover riser package (UWRP) of a well, the system comprising:
 a) an upper portion of the connector;   b) a lower portion of the connector;   c) a plurality of hydraulic couplers for securely engaging the upper portion of the connector to the lower portion;   d) means for allowing the subsea connector to perform a controlled disconnect for emergency situations that will shut off all isolation valves, BOP rams and tree valves to secure the well; and   e) means for allowing for easy reconnection to the lower workover riser package and gain control of the tree once the emergency situation is resolved.   
     
     
         2 . The system in claim I, wherein there are provided  32  hydraulic couplers engaging the upper and lower portion of the connector together. 
     
     
         3 . The system in  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the connector provides a guide funnel. 
     
     
         4 . The system in claim I, wherein once the upper portion is fully landed onto the lower portion, the unlock function is vented and the lock function is pressured up via a control umbilical. 
     
     
         5 . The system in  claim 4 , wherein there are collet dogs and wherein in following that step, a collet release piston moves down to all the collet dogs to engage the lower half hub and locked down. 
     
     
         6 . The system in  claim 1 , wherein during the emergency disconnect mode, the LWRP and tree valves are closed, before the subsea connector disconnects, to prevent undesirable environmental impact. 
     
     
         7 . A subsea connector system, positionable between a lower workover riser package (LWRP) and an upper workover riser package (UWRP) of a well, the system comprising:
 a) an upper portion of the connector;   b) a lower portion of the connector;   c) a plurality of thirty two hydraulic couplers for securely engaging the upper portion of the connector to the lower portion;   d) means for allowing the subsea connector to perform a controlled disconnect for emergency situations that will shut off all isolation valves, BOP rams and tree valves to secure the well;   e) means for allowing for easy reconnection to the lower workover riser package and gain control of the tree once the emergency situation is resolved; and   f) wherein during the emergency disconnect mode, the LWRP and tree valves are closed, before the subsea connector disconnects, to prevent undesirable environmental impact.   
     
     
         8 . The system in  claim 7 , wherein there are collet dogs and wherein once the upper portion is fully landed onto the lower portion, the unlock function is vented and the lock function is pressured up via a control umbilical, and a collet release piston moves down to all the collet dogs to engage the lower half hub and locked down. 
     
     
         9 . The system in  claim 7 , wherein the lower portion of the connector provides a guide funnel to guide the upper portion to be engaged to the lower portion of the subsea connector. 
     
     
         10 . A method using the subsea connector system of  claim 1 , for positioning between a lower workover riser package (LWRP) and an upper workover riser package (UWRP) of a well, the method comprising the following steps:
 a) securely engaging the upper portion of the connector to the lower portion with the plurality of hydraulic couplers;   b) performing a controlled disconnect that shuts off all isolation valves, BOP rams and tree valves to secure a well; and   c) reconnecting the lower workover riser package.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein once the upper connector is fully landed onto the lower connector, an unlock function is vented and the lock function is pressured up via a control umbilical. 
     
     
         12 . The method in  claim 10 , wherein there are collet dogs and wherein a collet release piston moves down to all the collet dogs to engage the lower connector and lock down in step (a). 
     
     
         13 . The method in  claim 10 , wherein during the controlled disconnect of step (b), the LWRP and tree valves are closed, before the subsea connector disconnects, to prevent undesirable environmental impact.