DEVICE AND APPARATUS

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a bore selector device (10) comprising a housing (11) defining a bore (20) extending therethrough, the bore having a main longitudinal axis. The bore selector device also comprises at least a first and a second actuator (13) opposite each other. Each of the first and second actuators being moveable between respective retracted and extended positions in a direction perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis. Each actuator is connected to a respective ram (12) such that the rams are each moveable between respective retracted positions and extended positions in a direction perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis. Each actuator and attached ram is moveable in the same linear direction.

Claims

1. A bore selector device comprising: a housing defining a bore extending therethrough the bore having a main longitudinal axis; at least a first and a second actuator opposite each other, each moveable between respective retracted and extended positions in a direction perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis; each actuator connected to a respective ram such that the rams are each moveable between respective retracted positions and extended positions in a direction perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis; wherein each actuator and attached ram is moveable in the same linear direction.

2. A bore selector device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each ram comprises a primary ram portion and a secondary ram portion connected to the primary ram portion, the secondary portions extending from the respective primary portions towards the opposite actuator.

3. A bore selector device as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one secondary portion is a tongue.

4. A bore selector device as claimed claim 3, wherein a groove is provided in at least one of the primary portions, into which the tongue of the opposite ram engages when in the extended position.

5. A bore selector device as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one primary ram portion comprises a portion sloping in a first downwards direction.

6. A bore selector device as claimed in claim 2, wherein in the extended position, the primary ram portions abut.

7. A bore selector device as claimed in claim 2, wherein in the extended position, the primary ram portions together form a funnel.

8. A bore selector device as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one secondary ram portion can comprise a portion sloping in a second downwards direction.

9. A bore selector device as claimed in claim 2, wherein in the retracted position, at least one secondary portion is positioned in the bore.

10. A bore selector device as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one primary portion defines a through-passage towards the first downwards direction.

11. A bore selector device as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one secondary portion defines a through-passage towards the first downwards direction.

12. A bore selector device as claimed in claim 11, wherein in the extended position, the through-passage of the primary and secondary portions align and wherein at least one primary portion defines a through-passage towards the first downwards direction.

13. A bore selector device as claimed in claim 1, wherein actuators and associated rams are independently moveable such that one actuator and associated ram is moveable to the extended position whilst the other actuator and ram is positioned in the retracted position.

14. A bore selector device as claimed in claim 1, wherein opposite ends of each actuator are exposed to bore pressure, thus pressure balancing the actuators.

15. A bore selector device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bore selector device is less than 2 m in height, or less than 1.5 m or less than 1 m in height.

16. A bore selector device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outside diameter of the bore selector is less than 2 m, preferably less than 1.3 m.

17. A bore selector device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one downwardly sloping channel is provided in the housing below the ram in the retracted position and leading to the bore therebelow.

18. A bore selector device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bore selector device comprises a connector at each end, such as a flange connector.

19. A bore selector device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rams include a shearing blade or are shaped with an integrated shearing edge.

20. A bore selector device as claimed in claim 1, which defines a maximum of a single bore between the rams and a lower flange connector, the single bore normally being at least 7″ (17.8 cm) in diameter, optionally at least 9 inches (22.9 cm).

21. A bore selector apparatus comprising the bore selector device as claimed in claim 1, connected to at least one of an attachment and a bore spacer sub.

22. A bore selector apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein, the single bore of the bore selector device is the same diameter, or greater than the diameter of the attachment, and which defines a maximum of a single bore between the rams and a lower flange connector, the single bore normally being at least 7″ (17.8 cm) in diameter, optionally at least 9 inches (22.9 cm)..

23. A bore selector apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the bore-spacer sub has at least two discrete bores.

24. A bore selector apparatus as claimed in claim 21, the bore-spacer sub includes a projection which extends into the bore of the bore selector device when connected thereto.

25. A bore selector apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the bore-spacer sub has at least two discrete bores, and wherein the projection defines the at least two discrete bores.

26. A bore selector apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the attachment is a tool-string cross-over.

27. A bore selector apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the apparatus comprises a circulating attachment connected to the bore-spacer sub.

28. A shearing device comprising a housing defining a bore extending therethrough the bore having a main longitudinal axis; a first and second actuator each moveable between respective retracted and extended positions in a direction perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis; each actuator connected to a respective ram such that the rams are moveable between a retracted position and an extended position in a direction perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis; the rams being shear rams; wherein each actuator and attached ram is moveable in the same linear direction.

29. Use of a bore selector apparatus as claimed in claim 21 to connect a mono bore riser to a multi-bore subsea equipment.

30. Use of a bore selector apparatus and the shearing device as claimed in claim 28 to connect a mono bore riser to a multi-bore subsea equipment.

Description

[0051] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0052] FIG.1 is a schematic drawing showing a bore selector apparatus comprising a bore selector device, a crossover tool and two interchangeable circulating subs; [0053] FIG. 2a is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 bore selector device; [0054] FIG. 2b is a front sectional view of the FIG. 1 bore selector device; [0055] FIG. 3a is a perspective view of rams of the FIG. 2a/2b bore selector device in an extended position; [0056] FIG. 3b is a perspective view of rams of the FIG. 2a/2b bore selector device in a retracted position; [0057] FIGS. 4a-4d are plan sectional views of the FIG. 2a/2b bore selector device showing rams in various positions in order to select different bores; [0058] FIG. 5a is a front sectional view of the FIG. 1 bore selector device with rams in an extended position of FIG. 4b; [0059] FIG. 5b is a front sectional view of the FIG. 1 bore selector device with rams in configuration of FIG. 4c; [0060] FIG. 5c is a front sectional view of the FIG. 1 bore selector device with rams in configuration of FIG. 4d; [0061] FIG. 6 is a close front sectional view of a piston of the FIG. 1 bore selector device; [0062] FIG. 7 is a front sectional view of the FIG. 2a/2b bore selector device showing a debris flow path; [0063] FIGS. 8a-8c are a series of sequential sectional views of the assembled bore selector apparatus of FIG. 2a/2b, showing tooling lowered and manoeuvred into an annulus bore; [0064] FIGS. 9a-9c are a series of sequential sectional views of the assembled bore selector apparatus of FIG. 2a/ 2b, showing tooling lowered and manoeuvred into a production bore; [0065] FIG. 10a is a front perspective view of the FIG. 2a/2b bore selector attached to a dual-bore circulation sub; [0066] FIG. 10b is a front sectional view of the FIG. 2a/2b bore selector attached to a dual-bore circulation sub; [0067] FIG. 11a is a front sectional view of the FIG. 2a/2b bore selector attached to a triple-bore circulation sub; [0068] FIG. 11b is a front perspective view of the FIG. 2a/2b bore selector attached to a triple-bore circulation sub; [0069] FIG. 12a is s front sectional view of the rams of the FIG. 1 bore selector device, in a retracted position, according to a further embodiment; [0070] FIG. 12b is a rear sectional view of the FIG. 12a rams in an extended position; [0071] FIG. 13a is a front perspective view of the rams of the FIG. 1 bore selector, in a retracted position, according to a further embodiment; and, [0072] FIG. 13b is a front perspective view of the FIG. 13a rams in an extended position.

[0073] FIG. 1 shows a bore selector apparatus 100 comprising a universal bore selector 10, a toolstring crossover 70 and a choice of a triple bore spacer sub 80 and a dual-bore sub 90.

[0074] The bore selector apparatus 100 is provided at the top of a well and connects a monobore riser system (not shown) above, with a multi-bore well (not shown) below. As described in more detail below, the bore selector device 10 can direct rams, arranged perpendicularly to the main bore of the apparatus 100, in order to direct a toolstring lowered through the riser into a selected bore of the well.

[0075] An advantage of certain embodiments is that they have a ram valve style configuration where ram blocks are displaced by a set of linear pistons, aligned coaxially, and mounted opposite from each other to operate in a direction perpendicular and towards the well bore. This style of mechanism offers a reduction in dynamic components and improves the robustness over alternative mechanisms due to the nature of the simplified and reduced component load paths. The linear pistons, perpendicular to the well bore, offer the ability for the operator to exert control of ram positions in tandem or independently, offering multiple configurations in which to position the rams for running tools. This provides the operational variety to support selecting of the multiple bore sizes and spacings of subsea systems.

[0076] A further advantage of certain embodiments is that the bore selector device 10 is more adaptable for different wells, indeed it can be universal. Project-specific adapters can be attached, such as a bespoke crossover 70 and one of the bore spacer subs 80, 90 shown in FIG. 1 (optionally including a circulation attachment 81, 91). This can offer significant cost and inventory reduction.

[0077] The bore selector device 10 is shown in more details in FIGS. 2a and 2b comprising a housing 11 with a bore 20 extending therethrough. Piston actuators 13 are mounted opposite each other and drive respective rams 12 linearly in the direction perpendicular to that of the bore 20. The bore 20 beneath the rams is a single bore only.

[0078] Thus, in use, the movement of the pistons 13 actuates movement of the ram blocks 12 in the same direction, between retracted and extended positions, details of which are described later. The pistons 13 may be moved independently from one another and, consequently, each of the rams 12 may be actuated to move independently of the other.

[0079] The rams 12 each comprise a downwardly tapered portion 14 such as, when both rams are in the extended position, a guide portion is formed having the shape of a funnel, as shown in FIG. 2b. In use, when a tool is run through the bore selector device 10, it is guided down the funnel towards a desired bore of the well.

[0080] The end sections of the bore selector device 10 each feature a generic flange connection 18, 19 to interface with multiple system crossovers which are then interfaced to the system specific tree running tool or an emergency disconnect package (EDP).

[0081] In this example, the height H of the bore selector is 37.5 inches (95.3 cm).

[0082] FIGS. 3a and 3b show the rams 12 in more detail, in extended and retracted position, respectively. Each ram 12 of the bore selector device 10 comprises a primary ram element 12a and a secondary ram element 12b.

[0083] The primary ram elements 12a each comprise the tapered portion 14 which form the funnel when in extended position, as shown in FIG. 3a. The secondary rams 12b in the form of tongues each protrude from the primary rams 12a, towards the bottom of the tapered portion 14. One of the rams 12 defines a groove 15 therein shaped to receive the secondary ram element 12b of the other ram 12 when in the extended position. One secondary ram 12b defines an opening therein which aligns with an opening in one primary ram 12a, forming a passage 16 through the rams 12 when in extended position. Thus, the bore 20 of the bore selector 10 is not fully blocked when in the extended position. In use, when in the extended position, access to a production bore of the well is prevented by the barrier formed by the primary ram elements 12a, while access to an annulus bore of the well is permitted by the passage 16.

[0084] When the rams 12 are in the retracted position, the primary ram elements 12a are retracted as shown in FIG. 3b, forming a passage 17 through the bore selector 10. The secondary ram elements 12b partially overlap, thereby blocking part of the bore 20 of the bore selector 10 and closing the passage 16 (formed in the extended position).

[0085] Thus, the bore 20 of the bore selector 10 is still partially blocked when in the retracted position. In use, when in the retracted position, access to a production bore is allowed through the passage 17, while access to an annulus bore is prevented by the barrier formed by the secondary ram elements 12b.

[0086] An advantage of certain embodiments is that the independent movement of the rams 12 allows for multiple ram configurations. This allows for multiple paths for running tools through the bore selector device 10.

[0087] The ram positions for each configuration are shown in FIGS. 4a-4d displaying how access is obtained for different modes in dual and triple bore systems. The figures show cross-sectional views through the bore 20 of the bore selector device 10, which in turn is connected to a dual or triple bore system such as the bore spacer subs 80, 90, shown in FIG. 1. The same bore selector device may be used for access of either of the dual and triple systems.

[0088] Ram positions suitable for obtaining access in a dual bore system are shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. The well comprises a production bore 31 and an annulus bore 34. In FIG. 4a both rams 12 are in an retracted position, with the production bore 31 open and the annulus bore 34 blocked by secondary ram elements 12b. FIG. 4b shows the extended position of rams 12 with the primary ram elements 12a blocking the production bore 31, and with the annulus bore 34 open.

[0089] Ram positions suitable for obtaining access to a triple bore system are shown in FIGS. 4b & 4d where the well comprises a primary production bore 32, a secondary production bore 33 and an annulus bore 34. The configuration in FIG. 4b is common to the dual and triple systems, both rams 12 in an extended position, thereby allowing access to the annulus bore 34 only. While in the dual bore system, rams in the extended configuration block the sole production bore 31, in the triple bore system both production bores 32 and 33 are blocked.

[0090] In FIG. 4c only one of the rams 12 is in the extended position, thereby blocking the first production bore 32 only, and the secondary ram element 12b of the ram 12 in the retracted position blocks the annulus bore 34. FIG. 4d shows an opposite configuration to that of FIG. 4c, with the secondary production bore 33 open and the first production bore 31 and the annulus bore 34 blocked.

[0091] FIGS. 5a-5c show the bore selector device 10 with rams 12 in different configurations. In FIG. 5a both rams 12 are in the extended position of FIG. 4b. FIGS. 5b and 5c show the bore selector 10 with rams 12 in configurations of FIGS. 4c and 4d, respectively.

[0092] FIG. 6 shows a piston 13 of the bore selector device 10. The piston is pressure balanced by allowing bore pressure to also enter a chamber 52 at the back of the pistons 13 through porting 54. Seals 56, 58 on either side of the piston 13 have equal seal diameters therefore pressure-balancing the piston 13 ensuring the actuator is not influenced by applied bore pressure.

[0093] FIG. 7 shows the bore selector 10 in an retracted position with channels 21 beneath the rams 12 leading to the bore. A further advantage of certain embodiments is that debris flow paths 50 ensure that when the rams 12 are retracted there cannot be packing off behind the rams 12 as they drag debris into the channels 21.

[0094] FIGS. 8a-8c & 9a-9c show tooling 60 being passed through the bore selector device 10. In FIGS. 8a-8c an open spang jar is manoeuvred into an annulus bore through the bore selector 10. In FIGS. 9a-9c, a nest tool is manoeuvred into a production bore through the same bore selector device 10.

[0095] FIGS. 10a-10b & 11a-11b show the bore selector device 10 mounted onto bore spacer subs 80, 90 (tree running tool adapter) in triple and dual configuration, respectively. The bore spacer subs 80, 90 each define discrete bores in order to align with the different bores of the well below and help maintain alignment of the tools to the directed bore, beneath the rams 12. The bore spacer subs 80, 90 each include a projection 93 which extends into the bore 20 of the bore selector device 10. An insert 92 is fitted on top of the projection 93 of the bore spacer sub 80, 90. The insert 92 allows for a smoother transition between the bore selector device 10 and the bore spacer sub 80, 90.

[0096] Thus, the dual bore spacer sub 90 provides two discrete bores towards the production bore 931 and annulus bore 934 of the well, as shown in FIG. 10b. Other configurations of three or more multiple bores is possible. For example, the triple bore spacer sub 80 provides discrete bores for two production bores (not shown in section of FIG. 11a) and the annulus bore 834.

[0097] The optional circulation attachments 91, 81 provide circulation return lines back to surface. The subs 80, 90 and circulation attachments 81, 91 can be configured with plug profiles or valves to enable isolation of either bore, to suit operational requirements (e.g. well circulation, cementing, etc).

[0098] A further embodiment of the invention is to be reconfigured for shearing. This could be achieved through changeout of the bore selector ram bodies 12 for shear rams whilst maintaining the common housing block and pistons 13. Bore selection and shearing functionality may be combined.

[0099] FIGS. 12a-12b and 13a-13b show rams 112 of an embodiment of the bore selector device 10 with similar features to the above embodiments, and also including blades for shearing cables or the like.

[0100] Primary ram elements 112a of the bore selector device 110 comprises a shear blade 140 with a cutting edge 141. The shear blades 140, are positioned in off-set locations with respect to one another, defining an upper blade 140a and a lower blade 140b, and respective upper and lower blade cutting edges 141a, 141b. When the rams 112 are in the extended position, the upper and lower blade cutting edges 141a, 141b overlap, thus ensuring complete alignment of the rams 112, as shown in FIG. 12b. Thus, with both rams 112 in the extended position, the cable is sheared by the action of the cutting edges 141 of the shearing blades 140.

[0101] The shearing blades 140 may be formed as part of rams 112 or as separate components, attached to the rams 112 and fastened into place, for example via screws. In isolation, the upper and lower blades 140a, 140b are designed as identical parts. When attached to/formed as part of the rams 112, the upper and lower blades 140a 140b are orientated upside down with respect to one another, such that the cutting edges 141a, 141b align when the rams 112 are in the extended position.

[0102] As shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 12a-12b, the shear blades 140 are centred around a production bore. Some embodiments of the bore selector device 110 may incorporate shearing inserts centred on an annulus bore, instead of or as well as the shear blades centred around a production bore.

[0103] FIGS. 13a-13b illustrate rams 112 of an embodiment of the bore selector device 110 comprising shearing blades 140 as part of the primary ram elements 112b, thus centred around a production bore, as well as shearing inserts with cutting edges 142 fitted to the secondary ram elements 112b, thus centred around an annulus bore. In the embodiment of FIGS. 13a-13b, the cutting edges 142 are between the guiding seat and the secondary ram element 112b.

[0104] Thus, some embodiments of the present invention may have the advantage of allowing for sheering of, for example, a cable run therethrough

[0105] The bore selector 10 could be positioned above a dual bore EDP or landed directly onto a dual (or triple) bore tree with the necessary well barriers above. In the latter application, through use of the circulation loop below the bore selector 10 and by adding in the required well barriers above, coupled with a system disconnect mechanism (e.g. a latch or break-away joint type arrangement) a lighter weight system can be configured for, for example, P&A work.

[0106] Thus, a further advantage of certain embodiments is that the height and weight of the bore selector 10 can be kept to a minimum, for example by integrating the circulation system beneath the bore selector 10 and with the adaptor designed to suit the required bore spacings. This is particularly advantageous for applications where a system needs to land on an older, potentially fatigued, wellhead; where use of a traditional EDP/LRP arrangement may be an issue.

[0107] Improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the particular wellbore selected in the extended and retracted positions respectively may swapped around compared to the illustrated embodiment.