Offshore floating utility platform and tie-back system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for producing hydrocarbons from remote subsea wells to a host production facility using a portable floating utility platform and tie-back system. The subject system comprises a floating utility platform positioned near a plurality of subsea wells; a plurality of control umbilicals connecting said platform to a well control system positioned near the wells and a pump and separation control system wherein the produced hydrocarbons flow from the well control system through a HIPPS to the pump and separation control system; and a host production platform equipped to receive the produced hydrocarbons from a reduced pressure export flowline that transports the hydrocarbons the entire tie-back length from the pump and separation control system to the host production platform. Optionally, the system can provide seawater injection capabilities as well as a single-track pigging.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for producing hydrocarbons from a subsea well, comprising:
 a. a floating utility platform;   b. a host production platform operable to receive hydrocarbons;   c. a well control system;   d. a HIPPS;   e. a pump and separation control system;   f. a first umbilical and a second umbilical; and   g. a reduced pressure export flowline;
 wherein the first umbilical connects the utility platform to the well control system and the second umbilical connects the utility platform to the pump and separation control system; 
 wherein hydrocarbons are produced from the subsea wells into the well control system; 
 wherein the produced hydrocarbons are exported from the well control system, through a HIPPS, to the pump and separation control system before being exported to the host production platform via the reduced pressure export flowline. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the well control system connects to a plurality of wells. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the pump and separation control system is positioned up to one mile from the well control system. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the host production platform is position up to one hundred miles away from the pump and separation control system. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a single-track pigging system, wherein one end of the system is connected to the utility platform and the other end is connected to a reduced pressure export flowline. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a seawater treatment and injection system that is connected to the utility platform via a SCR on one end and the other end is connected to an injection well, wherein treated seawater is pumped from the utility platform through the SCR and into the injection well. 
     
     
         7 . A system for producing hydrocarbons from a subsea well, comprising:
 a. a floating utility platform;   b. a host production platform operable to receive hydrocarbons;   c. a well control system;   d. a pump and separation control system; and   e. a first umbilical and a second umbilical;
 wherein the first umbilical connects the utility platform to the well control system and the second umbilical connects the utility platform to the pump and separation control system; 
 wherein hydrocarbons are produced from the subsea wells into the well control system; 
 wherein the produced hydrocarbons are exported from the well control system to the pump and separation control system before being exported to the host production platform via a compliant export flowline. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the well control system connects to a plurality of wells. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the pump and separation control system is positioned up to one mile from the well control system. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the host production platform is position up to one hundred miles away from the pump and separation control system. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7  further comprising a single-track pigging system, wherein one end of the system is connected to the utility platform and the other end is connected to the compliant export flowline. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7  further comprising a seawater treatment and injection system that is connected to the utility platform via a SCR on one end and the other end is connected to an injection well; wherein treated seawater is pumped from the utility platform through the SCR and into the injection well. 
     
     
         13 . A system for producing hydrocarbons from a subsea well, comprising:
 a. a floating utility platform;   b. a host production platform operable to receive hydrocarbons;   c. a pump and separation control system;   d. an umbilical that connects the utility platform to the pump and separation control system;
 wherein the pump and separation control system is operable to export produced hydrocarbons from existing wells to the host production platform via a compliant export flowline. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the host production platform is position up to one hundred miles away from the pump and separation control system. 
     
     
         15 . A system for producing hydrocarbons from a subsea well, comprising:
 a. a floating utility platform;   b. a host production platform operable to receive hydrocarbons;   c. a well control system; and   d. a seawater treatment and injection system;
 wherein an umbilical connects the utility platform to the well control system; 
 wherein the produced hydrocarbons are exported from the well control system to the host production platform via a compliant export flowline; 
 wherein the seawater treatment and injection system is connected to the utility platform via a SCR on one end and the other end is connected to an injection well that is spaced apart from the well control system, wherein treated seawater is pumped from the utility platform through the SCR and into the injection well. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the well control system is connected to a plurality of wells. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising a single-track pigging system, wherein one end of the system is connected to the utility platform and the other end is connected to the reduced pressure export flowline. 
     
     
         18 . A method for producing hydrocarbons from a subsea well, comprising:
 a. providing a floating platform positioned in proximity to a subsea well;   b. providing a well control system;   c. providing a subsea HIPPS;   d. providing a pump and separation control system;   e. providing a plurality of control umbilicals connecting said utility platform to the well control system, HIPPS, and pump and separation control system;   f. providing a host production platform operable to receive the produced hydrocarbons;   g. providing a reduced pressure export flowline;   h. producing the hydrocarbons from the well and transporting the hydrocarbons through a compliant high-pressure flowline connecting the well control system, the HIPPS, and the pump and separation control system, and   i. pumping the hydrocarbons through the reduced pressure export flowline to the host production platform.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising the step of controlling the pressure in the reduced pressure export flowline connecting the pump and separation control system to the host production platform through a plurality of subsea pumps. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of transporting the hydrocarbons a distance of up to one hundred miles from the pump and separation control system to the host production platform. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of injecting treated seawater into the well reservoir by providing a seawater treatment and injection system that is connected to the utility platform via a SCR on one end and the other end is connected to an injection well, wherein treated seawater is pumped from the utility platform through the SCR and into the injection well. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of pigging the reduced pressure export flowline by providing a single-track pigging system that is connected to the utility platform on one end and the other end is connected to the reduced export flowline.