Flexible subsea production arrangement

Abstract

Various subsea production arrangements may utilize a base module and a pump module including one or more subsea pumps, such as ESPs or subsea centrifugal pumps, the base module and pump module being fluidly coupled together. An adjustable foot may be utilized to at least partially support the pump module at a horizontal distance from the base module. A horizontally oriented pump module may be equipped with a truss arrangement designed to reduce bending loads on the pump module. The base module and pump module may be delivered to a subsea location separately or in a single trip. A modular subsea production arrangement may enable low cost installation and/or operation and high adaptability of various combinations of well production equipment. Certain subsea production arrangements may include one or more retrievable FCU/LCU modules for use with subsea apparatus, such as pumps and compressors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A subsea pump arrangement, comprising:
 a base module comprising a foundation, particularly a mud mat, suction anchor, or pile, an inlet connector, an outlet connector fluidicly coupled to the inlet connector, and at least one pump module connector disposed between the inlet connector and the outlet connector;   a pump module separated in a horizontal direction from the base module, wherein the pump module comprises a fluid inlet fluidicly coupled to the inlet connector and a fluid outlet fluidicly coupled to the outlet connector, and wherein both the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are disposed at only one horizontal end of the pump module for coupling both the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet to the base module; and   a foot at least partially supporting the pump module, particularly supporting at least 50% of the weight of the pump module, particularly including at least 80% of the weight of the pump module, wherein the foot is separated from the base module by a distance, particularly by a distance greater than three meters, particularly including a distance greater than six meters.   
     
     
         2 . The subsea pump arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the base module further comprises a fluid conditioner unit (FCU) disposed between the inlet connector and the at least one pump module connector, a liquid collection unit (LCU) disposed between the at least one pump module connector and the outlet connector, and a recirculation line, particularly comprising a choke, arranged between the LCU and the FCU. 
     
     
         3 . The subsea pump arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the pump module further comprises:
 a U-shaped conduit or pipe with the fluid inlet and fluid outlet in only one end, the U-shaped conduit or pipe comprising two horizontally oriented legs; and   at least one electric submersible pump (ESP) disposed in one or both of the horizontally oriented legs of the U-shaped conduit or pipe.   
     
     
         4 . The subsea pump arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the pump module comprises a first dual bore connector part oriented vertically downwards when the pump module is installed on the base module, and wherein the base module comprises a complementary dual bore connector part oriented vertically upwards to interface with the dual bore connector part of the pump module. 
     
     
         5 . The subsea pump arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the pump module comprises a stiffening structure comprising one or more of a truss structure, stiffening ribs, stiffening beams or pipes, and additional U-shaped conduits or pipes. 
     
     
         6 . The subsea pump arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the pump module comprises load limiting elements comprising one or more of buoyancy elements, gas filled tanks, or gas filled pipe elements, particularly located at at least one of:
 an opposite end with respect to fluid inlet and fluid outlet; and   a midpoint between the foot and the base module.   
     
     
         7 . The subsea pump arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the foot comprises a base configured to stabilize a position of the pump module on a seabed and a platform coupled to the base and adjustable to position the pump module to different heights, orientations, or lateral positions relative to the base of the foot. 
     
     
         8 . A modular subsea production system for producing hydrocarbons, comprising:
 a base module having a plurality of connection interfaces, particularly wet-mated interfaces configured to connect subsea; and   a satellite module having one or more production equipment components, wherein the satellite module is removably connected to the base module at one or more of the connection interfaces.   
     
     
         9 . The modular production system of  claim 8 , wherein the satellite module includes a top-mounted satellite module removably connected to the base module at one or more of the connection interfaces, wherein a full weight of the top-mounted satellite module is supported by the base module; 
     
     
         10 . The modular production system of  claim 8 , wherein the satellite module includes a side-mounted satellite module removably connected to the base module at one of the connection interfaces, wherein the side-mounted satellite module extends horizontally from the base module and is at least partially supported, particularly at least 50% supported, particularly including at least 80% supported, via a foot disposed a distance from the base module. 
     
     
         11 . The modular production system of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the connection interfaces comprises a production flow inlet and outlet, an electric power connection, a control connection, a hydraulic connection, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The modular production system of  claim 8 , wherein at least one satellite module comprises at least one of:
 a subsea centrifugal pump;   an ESP;   a compressor;   a multiphase pump;   a cyclone;   a liquid/gas separator;   a fluid control unit; and   a liquid collection unit.   
     
     
         13 . The modular production system of  claim 8 , wherein the satellite module comprises an ESP comprising a stiffening structure having one or more truss elements. 
     
     
         14 . The modular production system of  claim 13 , wherein the ESP comprises an inlet and outlet located on a first end of the satellite module. 
     
     
         15 . The modular production system of  claim 8 , further comprising a wellhead support configured to couple the base module to a wellhead. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A pump module for producing a petroleum wellstream, comprising:
 an upper longitudinal truss member;   a lower longitudinal truss member substantially parallel to the upper longitudinal truss member, wherein at least one of the upper longitudinal truss member and the lower longitudinal truss member comprises:
 a tubular casing having an inlet and an outlet; and 
 at least one machine disposed within the tubular casing between the inlet and outlet, particularly an ESP; 
   two or more support points configured to couple to a vertical support of the pump module, the support points coupled to at least one of the upper and lower longitudinal truss members;   a sag point identifying an expected maximum deformation of the upper and lower longitudinal truss members due to gravity;   a transverse truss member connecting the upper and lower longitudinal truss members proximate the sag point; and   a diagonal truss member connecting the upper and lower longitudinal truss members, wherein the diagonal truss member is designed for tensile loading and connecting the lower longitudinal truss member at a lower connection point to the upper longitudinal truss element at an upper connection point, wherein the lower connection point is closer to the sag point, and wherein the upper connection point is closer to the nearest support point.   
     
     
         20 . The pump module of  claim 19 , wherein:
 one of the upper and lower longitudinal truss members comprises the tubular casing and the machine;   the other of the upper and lower longitudinal truss members comprises a return tube;   the outlet of the tubular casing is coupled to an inlet of the return tube via a coupling; and   an outlet of the return tube is located on the same end of the pump module as the inlet of the tubular casing.   
     
     
         21 . The pump module of  claim 19 , further comprising at least one foot configured to support the first and second longitudinal truss members at the support point, wherein the one at least one foot comprises an adjustable base or platform. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled)