Pipeline integrated manifold

Abstract

A subsea manifold 150 is integrated into a pipeline 22 so as to be deployable to the seabed together with the pipeline, from a pipe-laying vessel. The subsea manifold comprises a hub 106 a, 106 b for receiving production fluid from at least one subsea christmas tree 54 a, 54 b , and further comprises a connection 112 for at least one service line 116 connected to a surface supply or control or monitoring facility.

1 . A method of installing a subsea manifold having a hub fluidically connectable with a subsea christmas tree; the subsea manifold further comprising a connection for at least one service line; the method comprising:
 structurally integrating the subsea manifold into a pipeline on board a pipe laying vessel and without provision for independent retrieval of the subsea manifold when it is deployed subsea;   deploying the pipeline and the subsea manifold from the vessel to a seabed; connecting at least one service line from a surface supply or control or monitoring facility to the subsea manifold, and   fluidically connecting the hub to a subsea christmas tree.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of structurally integrating the subsea manifold into the pipeline comprises welding or flanged connection. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subsea manifold has an overall tensile and bending strength at least equal to that of the pipeline. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the service line connection is made when the subsea manifold is on board the pipe laying vessel. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the service line connection is made when the subsea manifold is at the sea bed. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising deploying a first part of the pipeline from the vessel towards the sea bed; connecting the subsea manifold to an end of the first part of the pipeline on board the vessel; connecting an end of a second part of the pipeline to the manifold on board the vessel, and deploying the connected first pipeline part, manifold and second pipeline part towards the sea bed. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of structurally integrating the subsea manifold into the pipeline comprises structurally integrating a base module of the subsea manifold into the pipeline and the method further comprises releasably connecting a retrievable module to the subsea manifold. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the connection comprises an umbilical termination assembly or umbilical termination head and the at least one service line comprises an umbilical. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subsea manifold comprises an integrated foundation or mud mat. 
     
     
         10 . A subsea pipeline further comprising a subsea manifold, wherein at least a portion of the subsea manifold is permanently incorporated into the pipeline without provision for independent retrieval of said permanently incorporated portion whereby the pipeline and said permanently incorporated portion form a single integral and continuous structure; and wherein the subsea manifold comprises:
 a hub fluidically connectable with a subsea christmas tree; and   a connection for at least one service line.   
     
     
         11 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 10 , wherein the permanently incorporated portion of the subsea manifold is integrated into the subsea pipeline by welding or flanged connection. 
     
     
         12 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 10 , wherein the subsea manifold further comprises one or more production fluid flow control or isolation valves and one or more connections for one or more electrical, optical or hydraulic lines used to operate the valve(s). 
     
     
         13 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 10 , wherein said permanently incorporated portion of the subsea manifold is constructed and arranged for structural integration between a first part of the pipeline and a second part of the pipeline. 
     
     
         14 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 10 , wherein said permanently incorporated portion of the subsea manifold comprises a conduit having ends which form a pair of structurally and fluidically interconnected ports by which the subsea manifold is structurally and fluidically integrated into the pipeline. 
     
     
         15 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 14 , wherein the pair of ports are coaxially aligned. 
     
     
         16 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 14 , wherein at least part of the mechanical load imposed upon said permanently incorporated portion of the subsea manifold by the pipeline is carried by a structure of the manifold which is not the conduit. 
     
     
         17 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 10 , wherein the subsea manifold is provided with an attachment point for a lifting or tensioning chain or a lifting or tensioning cable. 
     
     
         18 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 17 , wherein the subsea manifold comprises a conduit having a first end fluidically connected to the pipeline and a second openable end closable by a valve. 
     
     
         19 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 18 , further comprising a pig launcher or receiver connectable or connected to the second openable end of the conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 10 , wherein the subsea manifold comprises an integrated foundation or mud mat. 
     
     
         21 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 10 , wherein the subsea manifold further comprises one or more retrievable components. 
     
     
         22 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 10 , wherein the subsea manifold comprises a base module which remains permanently connected to the subsea pipeline in use, and one or more retrievable modules, subassemblies or components releasably connectable to the base module. 
     
     
         23 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 22 , wherein the base module comprises a main pipe integrated into the pipeline and provided with a hub; and a foundation attached to the main pipe or hub; the one or more retrievable modules subassemblies or components being connected to said hub or corresponding said hubs. 
     
     
         24 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 22 , wherein the base module comprises a pair of pipe stubs structurally connected to respective parts of the pipeline and fixed to a structural frame of the base module; each pipe stub being provided with a hub connector releasably engageable with a corresponding hub connector on the retrievable component. 
     
     
         25 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 23 , wherein the main pipe integrated into the pipeline is connected to a pair of said hubs and an isolating valve is provided in the main pipe between the pair of said hubs; the retrievable module comprising a corresponding pair of hubs releasably connectable with the pair of said hubs to which the main pipe is connected. 
     
     
         26 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one service line comprises an external signal line. 
     
     
         27 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 26 , wherein the connection interconnects one or more external signal lines with one or more sensors or instrumentation on or in the subsea manifold. 
     
     
         28 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 27 , wherein the sensors or instrumentation comprise one or more of: a pressure sensor, a sand or erosion detector, a viscosity sensor, a pH meter, a pig detector, a position sensor, a flow meter, a multiphase flowmeter. 
     
     
         29 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 10 , wherein the connection comprises one or more of an umbilical termination head and an umbilical termination assembly. 
     
     
         30 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 10 , wherein the connection interconnects with at least one further connection for an associated further service line. 
     
     
         31 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 30 , arranged to distribute the service provided via the service line and its connection, to other subsea equipment, via the further connection(s). 
     
     
         32 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one further connection comprises a subsea distribution unit. 
     
     
         33 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one further connection comprises a multi-bore hub connector. 
     
     
         34 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one further connection is connected to an associated multi-bore spool arranged to convey production fluid and/or one or more service fluids between the subsea manifold and a subsea tree. 
     
     
         35 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 10 , wherein the subsea manifold comprises a subsea control module. 
     
     
         36 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 10 , wherein the service provided via the connection comprises:
 i. hydraulic power and/or electric power, the subsea manifold being arranged to distribute the hydraulic and/or electric power to other subsea equipment;   ii. hydraulic, electrical or optical data signals, for control of equipment integral to or external to the subsea manifold or for monitoring the condition of such integral or external equipment, or for monitoring process or environmental conditions in such integral or external equipment; and/or   iii. service fluids for use in a well to which the subsea manifold is connected or to be connected.   
     
     
         37 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 10 , wherein the subsea manifold comprises a plurality of such connections. 
     
     
         38 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 37 , wherein the plurality of connections provide a plurality of different services. 
     
     
         39 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 37 , wherein a plurality of the connections provide the same service. 
     
     
         40 . The subsea pipeline and subsea manifold of  claim 10 , wherein the subsea manifold comprises subsea processing equipment.