Cleaning Interiors of Subsea Structures

Abstract

A cleaning system is for cleaning an interior of a subsea structure by use of fluid. The cleaning system has a subsea unit, the subsea unit typically including: a fluids inlet; a hydraulics inlet; a hose, the hose having a nozzle; a feeder for feeding the hose into the interior and for retracting the hose from the subsea structure; and a entry connector for connecting to the subsea structure to be cleaned, through which entry connector the hose may be fed to enter the subsea structure, and a hose reel configured to rotate around a first and a second axis. The rotation around the first axis is for feeding and retracting the water hose and the rotation around the second axis is for rotating the water hose around the its longitudinal axis. A method is for using the cleaning system.

Claims

1. A system for cleaning an interior of a subsea structure, the system comprising a subsea unit, the subsea unit comprising: a fluids inlet; a hydraulics inlet; a hose for delivering fluid from the fluids inlet into an interior of the subsea structure for cleaning the interior; and a hose reel configured to be rotatable around a first axis and a second axis, wherein the rotation of the hose reel around the first axis is for feeding or retracting the hose and rotation of the hose reel around the second axis is for rotating the hose around its longitudinal axis.

2. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the subsea unit further comprises an entry connector for connecting to the subsea structure to be cleaned, through which entry connector the hose may be fed to enter the interior of the subsea structure.

3. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the hose comprises a nozzle.

4. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is or comprises water.

5. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the subsea structure comprises a pipe.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second axes are perpendicular to each other.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the subsea structure comprises a subsea manifold.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the subsea unit includes a hydraulic power unit mounted on a frame of the subsea unit.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the hose reel is driven to rotate about either or both the first and second axes by hydraulic power from a hydraulic power unit operable using hydraulic fluid from the hydraulics inlet.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the subsea unit further comprises at least one guide funnel for mounting the subsea unit securely on a subsea wellhead.

11. (canceled)

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the subsea unit further comprises an entry connector and a stiff hose guide, configured to guide the hose at least a part of the way from the hose reel to the entry connector.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the subsea unit further comprises a subsea dredge socket for connecting to a subsea dredge.

14. The cleaning system according to claim 1, further comprising a fluids supply.

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. A method comprising using the system according to claim 1 for cleaning the interior of the subsea structure.

18. The method according to claim 17 which further comprises: moving the subsea unit toward the seabed to bring the unit into proximity to the subsea structure to be cleaned; landing the subsea unit on or adjacent to the subsea structure to be cleaned; guiding the hose into the interior of the subsea structure; and cleaning the interior mechanically by flushing with fluid delivered into the interior from the hose.

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. The method according to claim 14, which further comprises deploying the subsea unit into a sea through a moon pool.

23. The method according to claim 14, wherein the subsea unit while being lowered into proximity to the structure is guided by template guide lines.

24. The method according to claim 14, wherein the subsea unit comprises at least one guide funnel, and wherein the landing of the subsea unit onto or adjacent to the subsea structure comprises landing the guide funnel on a designated guide post on or nearby the subsea structure.

25. (canceled)

26. The method according to claim 14, which further comprises rotating the hose around its longitudinal axis while flushing the interior of the subsea structure.

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. A subsea unit for cleaning an interior of a subsea structure, the subsea unit comprising: a hose for delivering fluid from an inlet into an interior of the subsea structure to be cleaned for cleaning the interior; and a hose reel configured to be rotatable around a first axis and a second axis, wherein the rotation of the hose reel around the first axis is for feeding or retracting the hose and rotation of the hose reel around the second axis is for rotating the hose around its longitudinal axis.

Description

[0054] There will now be described, by way of example only, embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0055] FIG. 1 is a representation showing a subsea unit obliquely from above according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0056] FIG. 2 is a representation showing the subsea unit of FIG. 1 from above;

[0057] FIG. 3 is a representation depicting a cross section of the subsea unit of FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0058] FIG. 4 is a representation illustrating the hose reel with a water hose and a set of guide wheels of the subsea unit of FIGS. 1 to 3 in enlarged scale; and

[0059] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a system including the subsea unit of FIGS. 1 to 4 in smaller scale.

[0060] In FIGS. 1 to 4, there is shown a subsea unit 1 for use in a cleaning system for cleaning an interior of a subsea structure. The subsea unit 1 in this example has a hydraulics inlet 12, a water inlet 13, a hose reel 14, two guide funnels 15, a lifting lug 17, and a water hose 19. The hose reel 14 is configured to rotate around a first axis 5 and a second axis 6. The rotation around the first axis 5 is for feeding and retracting the water hose 19 and the rotation around the second axis 6 is for rotating the water hose 19 around its longitudinal axis 7, which in this example is coincident with the second axis 6. The hose 19 is wound on the reel 14 in multiple single-width layers.

[0061] The present example is given with reference to cleaning by way of water. In other variants however, other fluids are employed instead of water. Such other fluids may comprise liquid or gas or combinations thereof, and may comprise solvents or other substances to facilitate cleaning. The other fluid may comprise a liquid or gas or combination thereof which is provided with a cleaning additive for facilitating cleaning. The choice of fluid could in general depend upon the type of subsea structure that is to be cleaned. Subsea structures may include pipes or internal bores or conduits, e.g. a pipe manifold where flow lines from different areas of the seabed are tied in to the pipe manifold. However, the subsea unit 1 and cleaning system may likewise be employed to clean the interior cavities in any other kind of subsea equipment. By spooling out the hose from the hose reel 14, the end of the hose may be pushed far into the interior space of the subsea equipment, into difficult to reach regions, and advantageously around tight corners or bends. This may be facilitated particularly by the ability of the hose to be rotated about its own long axis.

[0062] Surfaces of the interior to be cleaned may have deposits of particles, films, or scale or other material which may need to be removed. The cleaning fluid delivered from the hose 19 into the space may work mechanically on such deposits, films, scale or the like, which may be sought to be removed.

[0063] Referring again to FIG. 1, the portion of the hose 9 which is to be spooled out from the hose reel 14 is provided with a nozzle 25, typically at or near the spooled out end of the hose 19. In order to clean the interior of the subsea structure, water passes through the hose 19 and is directed out of the nozzle 25 into the interior of the pipe. Water is supplied under pressure from a water source through the water inlet 13 and into the hose 19 stored on the reel 14. In other variants, the hose can have other kinds of opening from the spooled out end for letting out water from the hose 19 into the interior of the structure to be cleaned.

[0064] The pressure of the water is typically supplied from above sea surface such that it counters and exceeds the subsea pressure to deliver successfully into the interior of the subsea structure. The water in such a case may be supplied through a connecting water line (not shown), e.g. a fluid line in an umbilical connecting the subsea unit 1 with sea surface facility.

[0065] The subsea unit 1 has a rigid support frame 3 for supporting the various components of the unit 1 upon a seabed. The rigid frame 3 may be formed of steel uprights and cross members joined together as required, so that it sinks and comes to rest on the seabed when lowering under gravity.

[0066] The hose reel 14 is mounted on an axle 31 by way of which the hose reel rotates about the axis 5 to spool the hose 19 out or in, as indicated by arrows A, B. The water from the water inlet 13 is supplied through an inside of the axle 31 to connect with an end of an innermost section of the hose on the base of reel 14. For this purpose, an appropriate connecting line (not shown) between the water inlet 13 and the hose 19 can be used.

[0067] The hose reel 14 and axle 31 is further mounted on a rotatable cradle 40 so as to be supported by the frame 3. The cradle 40 can rotate relative to the frame 3 about the axis 6. The axes 5 and 6 are perpendicular to one another. The cradle 40 is coupled to the frame 3 through interconnecting planetary gears 41 which are driven by a motor 42 to rotate the cradle 40, and hence the hose reel 14 about the second axis 6. The motor 42 is operated by hydraulics, i.e. via hydraulic power fluid e.g. oil, supplied to the subsea unit 1 through the hydraulics inlet 12. In this way, the rotation of hose reel 14 about the axis 6 can be carried out so as to turn and rotate the hose 19 that is being fed into the subsea structure from the subsea unit about its longitudinal axis 7.

[0068] The rotation of the hose reel 14 is driven by a motor 43 which is also hydraulically powered by the hydraulics supplied through the hydraulics inlet to the motor 43. The motor 43 can then be controlled to spool the hose 19 in or out as required.

[0069] The hydraulics, e.g. hydraulic fluid e.g. oil, is supplied typically from a hydraulics power unit (HPU) through a connecting hydraulics line to the hydraulics inlet.

[0070] The HPU may be located above sea surface or on an ROV which may be employed to facilitate operating the subsea unit 1. Alternatively, the subsea unit 1 includes a hydraulic power unit mounted on the frame 3. Electrical power for operating the HPU may then be supplied from surface via an electrical umbilical (not shown).

[0071] It can be appreciated that the unit 1 is further arranged so that the direction in which the hose 19 is fed out of the subsea unit 1 into the interior of the subsea structure is controlled. More particularly, the unit 1 is arranged to provide a track along which the hose 19 is moved and guided. It can be noted that the subsea unit 1 includes a feeder 18 and a set of guide wheels 16 for the water hose 19. In the example shown, the hose 19 passes through the guide wheels 16 and through the feeder 18 so as to determine the direction and orientation of the hose 19. The portion of the hose 19 leaving the feeder 18 is supported with its longitudinal axis 7 horizontal, and moves axially away from the subsea unit 1 for insertion into the interior of the structure to be cleaned.

[0072] In other embodiments, the subsea unit 1 may be arranged to leave the subsea unit 1 with the long axis 7 of the hose 19 in a different orientation, e.g. to align appropriately with an opening to an interior of the structure to be cleaned.

[0073] The feeder 18 assists with the directional positioning of the hose 19 as it leaves the subsea unit 1 and is fed into the structure to be cleaned. In addition, it is arranged to help control the tension in the hose 19 when spooling out or in from the hose reel 14. For instance, if the spool in is too aggressive such that a predetermined tension limit is exceeded, this may be detected in the feeder such that an adjustment force can be applied to the hose 19 accordingly.

[0074] The subsea unit 1 exemplified in FIGS. 1 to 4 has two guide funnels 15. The guide funnels 15 are arranged to fit around corresponding guide posts to facilitate locating the subsea unit 1 in correct, predetermined location on the seabed. A subsea template, e.g. at the location of a manifold to be cleaned, may have upright guide posts, and by lowering the unit 1 so that the top of the guide posts enter and received through the guide funnels 15, the subsea unit 1 is brought into correct position.

[0075] The subsea unit includes a lifting lug 17, for lifting and lowering e.g. suspended on a hook from a wire. In addition, the subsea unit 1 includes two levers 20 for controlling the directions of rotation for the hose reel 14. The levers 20 may for example be switched by an ROV manipulator to change the rotation direction.

[0076] The subsea unit 1 also typically includes a controller for controlling the motors 42, 43 and delivery of hydraulics for rotating hose reel 14 appropriately for feeding the hose 19 in or out from the structure to be cleaned. The system provides communication with the controller to operate the hose according to instructions. Control signals or instructions for the controller for controlling the motors 42, 43 and/or the HPU and/or other data may be communicated between the subsea unit 1 and above surface control computer through a communication line, for instance an electrical or optical line in an umbilical extending from the subsea unit 1 to above sea surface.

[0077] Turning now to FIG. 5, a system 100 includes the subsea unit 1 in use for cleaning the interior 125 of a subsea structure 120. The hose 19 is spooled out from the hose reel 14 and fed from the subsea unit 1 into the interior 125 of the structure 120. The unit 1 includes the HPU 50, a controller 51, and an umbilical 60 connecting to the surface with the subsea end of the umbilical 60 connected at the subsea unit 1 for providing electrical power and signals for the HPU for driving the motors 42, 43. The controller 51 receives data from the feeder 18.

[0078] In order to position the subsea unit 1 in place, the unit is lowered from a vessel onto the seabed 4. An entry connector 33 of the subsea unit 1 is connected to an entrance 126 to the interior 125 of the subsea structure 120. The entry connector 33 is in the form of tubing which extends between the frame 3 of the subsea unit 1 and the structure 120, and the hose 19 is fed through the tubing of the entry connector 33 into the interior 125 of the structure 120 by spooling out the hose reel 14 by operating the motors 42, 43 appropriately. The entry connector 33 may thus provide protection around the hose 19 as it passes into the structure 120 to be cleaned such as from effects of currents or the like. It also helps to guide the hose 19 to the entrance of the structure 120 from the feeder 18. An ROV may be utilised to make the connection of the entry connector 33 to the entrance to the interior of the subsea structure 120.

[0079] When inserted, in order to clean the interior 125, water is supplied and allowed to exit the hose from the nozzle 125 into the interior 125. The water may jet out of the nozzle to clean and wash away deposits on the inside walls of the interior of the structure 120. As cleaning progresses, the hose 19 is fed further into the interior 125 by spooling out the reel 14 by operating the motors 42, 43 appropriately. The hose 19 is rotated about its own axis to facilitate negotiation of bends or corners in the interior 125. The inserted end of the hose 19 may therefore be controlled to facilitate positioning the end, e.g. into difficult to reach corners or bends in the interior structure. When the cleaning operation is concluded, the hose 19 is reeled in by reversing the direction of the motor 43. The hose 19 is brought back out of the structure 120 through the entry connector 33 and onto the subsea unit 1. The dashed lines in FIG. 5 signify data communication lines.

[0080] The term subsea is used herein to refer to seas which include for example open oceans, inland seas, lakes, rivers and other waterways, which may comprise freshwater or salt water.

[0081] It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb comprise and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article a or an preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

[0082] The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.