Apparatus for Accessing Subsea Production Flow Systems

Abstract

The invention provides an access apparatus for accessing a flow system in a subsea oil and gas production installation, a method of installation and a subsea horizontal connection installation. In one aspect, the access apparatus comprises a body, a plurality of connectors configured to connect the apparatus to the flow system and an access interface providing an access point to the flow system. The body defines at least one bore which fluidly connects at least one of the plurality of connectors to the access interface to provide a path between the access interface and the flow system. A first connector of the plurality of connectors is oriented with a longitudinal axis in a substantially horizontal plane, such that the at least one connector is configured to connect to a respective horizontally oriented connector of the flow system and a second connector of the plurality of connectors forms part of a connection interface for a jumper flowline, the connection interface replicating a flow system connection interface. The access apparatus is configured to be connected between the, flow system connection interface and the jumper flowline.

1 . An access apparatus for accessing a flow system in a subsea oil and gas production installation, the access apparatus comprising:
 a body;   a plurality of connectors configured to connect the apparatus to the flow system; and   an access interface providing an access point to the flow system;   wherein the body defines at least one bore which fluidly connects at least one of the plurality of connectors to the access interface to provide a flow path between the access interface and the flow system;   wherein a first connector of the plurality of connectors is oriented with a longitudinal axis in a substantially horizontal plane and is configured to connect to a horizontally oriented connector of an outward flow system connection interface;   wherein a second connector of the plurality of connectors forms part of a connection interface for a jumper flowline, the connection interface replicating the outward flow system connection interface;   and wherein the access apparatus is configured to be connected between the flow system connection interface and the jumper flowline.   
     
     
         2 . The access apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow system connection interface is a part of a subsea horizontal pull-in connection system. 
     
     
         3 . The access apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the access apparatus is a termination head for a jumper flowline. 
     
     
         4 . The access apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the access apparatus is a jumper pulling head for a jumper flowline. 
     
     
         5 . The access apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one bore is a first bore which defined between the first connector and the access interface, and wherein the body further defines a second bore between the second connector and the access interface. 
     
     
         6 . The access apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the access interface provides an interface for processing equipment, intervention apparatus and/or additional flow lines or connectors to be landed on and connected to the apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The access apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the access interface enables a variety of wellbore and/or flow system intervention operations to be performed. 
     
     
         8 . The access apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the horizontally oriented connector of the flow system is a horizontal connector of a subsea manifold, a subsea tree and/or a subsea end termination. 
     
     
         9 . The access apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the horizontally oriented connector of the flow system is a horizontal connection porch of a subsea manifold and/or a subsea Christmas tree. 
     
     
         10 . The access apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the connection interface for a jumper flowline formed, or formed in part, by the second connector replicates the horizontally oriented connector of the flow system. 
     
     
         11 . The access apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the connection interface for a jumper flowline formed, or formed in part, by the second connector replicates the outward interface of a horizontal connector of a subsea manifold and/or a subsea Christmas tree. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The access apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one bore of the access apparatus is configured to permit the passage of mechanical intervention equipment therethrough. 
     
     
         14 . The access apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one bore of the access apparatus comprises a 5 D bend. 
     
     
         15 . The access apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising elongate guide members which correspond to the position of receptacles on the horizontally oriented connector of the flow system, which are configured to extend into the receptacles on the horizontally oriented connector of the flow system when the components are connected. 
     
     
         16 . The access apparatus according to  claim 1  comprising recesses which correspond to the position of elongate guide probes of a pull in tool and of receptacles on the horizontally oriented connector of the flow system. 
     
     
         17 . A method of installing an access apparatus between the components of a subsea horizontal connection system, the method comprising:
 providing an access apparatus comprising a plurality of connectors configured to connect the apparatus to the flow system and an access interface for providing an access point to the flow system;   disconnecting a jumper flowline from a horizontally oriented connector of an outward flow system connection interface of the flow system;   providing the flow access apparatus at a subsea location proximate the location of the horizontally oriented connector of the outward flow system connection interface;   bringing the access apparatus into contact with the horizontally oriented connector of the outward flow system connection interface such that a first connector of the plurality of connectors of the flow access apparatus is brought into contact with a flow opening in the horizontally oriented connector; and   re-connecting the jumper flowline to the subsea horizontal connection system, by bringing it into contact with the access apparatus such that a second connector of the plurality of connectors of the access apparatus is brought into contact with a flow opening in the jumper flowline, wherein the second connector forms a connection interface which replicates the outward flow system connection interface.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the subsea horizontal connection system is a pull-in horizontal connection system. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the steps of disconnecting the jumper flowline, providing the access apparatus at a subsea location, bringing the access apparatus into contact with the horizontally oriented connector of the flow system and/or re-connecting the jumper flowline may be carried out at least by Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), winches, hydraulic cylinder tools, Pull in Tools (PITs) and/or any other necessary installation tools and/or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the access apparatus comprises elongate guide members which correspond to the position of receptacles on the horizontally oriented connector of the flow system, and wherein the method comprises bringing the access apparatus into contact with the horizontally oriented connector of the flow system such that the elongate guide members of the access apparatus extend into the corresponding receptacles of the horizontally oriented connector of the flow system. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the access apparatus comprises recesses which correspond to the position of elongate guide probes of a pull in tool and of receptacles on the horizontally oriented connector of the flow system, and wherein the method comprises docking the access apparatus on the pull in tool such that the elongate guide probes enter and extend through the recesses of the access apparatus. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising bringing the access apparatus into contact with the horizontally oriented connector of the flow system such that the elongate guide probes of the pull in tool extend into the corresponding receptacles of the horizontally oriented connector of the flow system. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising un-docking and removing the pull in tool from the access apparatus and the horizontally oriented connector of the flow system. 
     
     
         24 . A subsea horizontal connection installation comprising:
 a flow system comprising a horizontally oriented connector of an outward flow system connection interface forming part of the flow system and a jumper flowline; and   an access apparatus comprising a body, a plurality of connectors for connecting the apparatus to the flow system and an access interface for providing an access point to the flow system;   wherein the body defines at least one bore which fluidly connects at least one of the plurality of connectors to the access interface to provide a flow path between the access interface and the flow system;   wherein a first connector of the plurality of connectors of the access apparatus is connected to the horizontally oriented connector of the outward flow system connection interface of the flow system; and   wherein a second connector of the plurality of connectors of the access apparatus forms a connection interface which replicates the outward flow system connection interface of the flow system and is connected to the jumper flowline.   
     
     
         25 . The installation according to  24 , wherein the installation further comprises processing equipment, intervention apparatus and/or additional flow lines or connectors connected to the access interface.