Handling Heavy Subsea Structures

Abstract

A method transports and installs a heavy subsea structure such as a subsea processing center for produced crude oil or natural gas. The method includes controlledly flooding at least one ballast tank attached to or incorporated into the structure to the extent that the structure becomes negatively buoyant at a pre-determined towing depth. The method also includes towing the negatively-buoyant structure at the towing depth by the Controlled Depth Towing Method (CDTM). After towing to the installation location, the method includes further flooding the ballast tank to lower the structure onto the seabed. At the seabed, a fluid transportation pipe of a subsea production installation may be coupled to pipework of the structure.

Claims

1. A method for transporting and installing a subsea structure, which subsea structure is a subsea processing centre comprising: a frame; production fluid processing equipment supported by the frame; and pipework in fluid communication with the production fluid processing equipment; wherein the method comprises: with the subsea structure in water at a pre-towing location, ballasting to make the subsea structure neutrally buoyant at or near to the water surface; for towing to an installation location, controlledly flooding at least one ballast tank attached to the frame or incorporated into the frame, to an extent that the subsea structure becomes negatively buoyant at a pre-determined towing depth; towing the negatively-buoyant subsea structure at the towing depth by the Controlled Depth Towing Method whilst controlling the buoyancy and/or trim of the frame; and after towing to the installation location: further flooding the or each ballast tank to lower the subsea structure onto the seabed; and coupling at least one fluid transportation pipe to the pipework of the subsea structure when the subsea structure is on the seabed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising stabilising the subsea structure when on the seabed by at least partially flooding hollow structural members of the frame.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising testing the production fluid processing equipment when the subsea structure is in the water at the pre-towing location, or is onshore before being supported in the water.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising detaching at least one ballast tank from the subsea structure when the subsea structure is on the seabed and recovering that ballast tank to the surface.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising leveling the production fluid processing equipment supported by the frame by leveling adjustment of the production fluid processing equipment relative to the frame after the subsea structure is landed on an inclined or irregular seabed.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising recovering the subsea structure from the seabed by: controlledly de-ballasting the or each ballast tank to the extent that the subsea structure is slightly negatively buoyant at a pre-determined towing depth; towing the negatively-buoyant subsea structure at the towing depth by the Controlled Depth Towing Method; and after towing, raising the subsea structure to the surface.

7. A method of recovering a subsea structure from the seabed to the surface, which subsea structure is a subsea processing centre comprising: a frame; production fluid processing equipment supported by the frame; and pipework in fluid communication with the production fluid processing equipment; wherein the method comprises: controlledly de-ballasting at least one ballast tank attached to the frame of the subsea structure or incorporated into the frame, to an extent that the subsea structure is negatively buoyant at a pre-determined towing depth; lifting the subsea structure from the seabed to the towing depth; towing the negatively-buoyant subsea structure at the towing depth by the Controlled Depth Towing Method whilst controlling the buoyancy and/or trim of the frame; and after towing, raising the subsea structure to the surface.

8. The method of claim 6, preceded by attaching at least one ballast tank to the subsea structure on the seabed.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising controlling buoyancy and/or trim of the frame before towing.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising controlling buoyancy and/or trim of the frame by adjusting buoyancy of the or each ballast tank.

11. The method of claim 9, comprising controlling buoyancy and/or trim of the frame by controlling flooding of hollow structural members of the frame.

12. The method of claim 10, comprising injecting gas under pressure to displace water from the or each ballast tank or from one or more hollow structural members of the frame.

13. The method of claim 9, comprising adjusting trim by individually controlling buoyancy of ballast tanks distributed longitudinally and/or laterally with respect to the frame.

14. The method of claim 9, comprising controlling buoyancy and/or trim of the frame in response to signals from a depth sensor, an accelerometer, an inclinometer and/or a transponder carried by the subsea structure.

15. The method of claim 1, comprising controlling yaw, roll or pitch of the subsea structure during towing by moving hydrodynamic control surfaces acting on the subsea structure.

16. A subsea processing centre, comprising: a towable frame; production fluid processing equipment supported by the frame; pipework in fluid communication with the production fluid processing equipment; at least one ballast tank attached to the frame or incorporated into the frame; flooding and filling valves for, respectively, flooding the or each ballast tank for ballasting or injecting gas into the or each ballast tank for de-ballasting; and a buoyancy control system that acts on the flooding and filling valves and is configured to control buoyancy and/or trim of the frame during towing.

17. The subsea processing centre of claim 16, wherein the or each ballast tank is incorporated into a recoverable module that is separably attachable to the frame.

18. The subsea processing centre of claim 16, comprising a tilt-compensating mounting acting between the production fluid processing equipment and the frame for the production fluid processing equipment relative to the frame.

19. The subsea processing centre of claim 16, further comprising at least one pressurised gas vessel pneumatically connected to the or each ballast tank via the filling valve.

20. The subsea processing centre of claim 16, wherein ballast tanks are distributed longitudinally and/or laterally with respect to the frame and the buoyancy control system is configured to adjust the buoyancy of each ballast tank individually.

21. The subsea processing centre of claim 16, wherein the frame comprises hollow structural members that are floodable under control of the buoyancy control system to control the buoyancy and/or trim of the frame.

22. The subsea processing centre of claim 16, wherein the buoyancy control system is responsive to an onboard depth sensor, accelerometer, inclinometer and/or transponder.

23. The subsea processing centre of claim 16, further comprising hydrodynamic control surfaces that are movable to control yaw, roll or pitch during towing.

24. The subsea processing centre of claim 16, wherein production fluid processing equipment supported by the frame comprises any of: a pump, a valve, a flowmeter, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor a liquid/gas separator or a water separator.

25. (canceled)

26. The method of claim 7, preceded by attaching at least one ballast tank to the subsea structure on the seabed.

27. The method of claim 7, comprising controlling buoyancy and/or trim of the frame before towing.

28. The method of claim 27, comprising controlling buoyancy and/or trim of the frame by adjusting buoyancy of the or each ballast tank.

29. The method of claim 27, comprising controlling buoyancy and/or trim of the frame by controlling flooding of hollow structural members of the frame.

30. The method of claim 28, comprising injecting gas under pressure to displace water from the or each ballast tank or from one or more hollow structural members of the frame.

31. The method of claim 27, comprising adjusting trim by individually controlling buoyancy of ballast tanks distributed longitudinally and/or laterally with respect to the frame.

32. The method of claim 27, comprising controlling buoyancy and/or trim of the frame in response to signals from a depth sensor, an accelerometer, an inclinometer and/or a transponder carried by the subsea structure.

33. The method of claim 7, comprising controlling yaw, roll or pitch of the subsea structure during towing by moving hydrodynamic control surfaces acting on the subsea structure.

Description

[0064] In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0065] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a subsea processing centre that may be transported and installed in accordance with the invention;

[0066] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the subsea processing centre of FIG. 1;

[0067] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the subsea processing centre of FIG. 1;

[0068] FIG. 4 is a schematic view in lateral cross-section of a detail of the subsea processing centre of FIG. 1, fitted with a buoyancy module 48 in accordance with the invention;

[0069] FIG. 5 is a schematic exploded side view of the subsea processing centre of FIG. 1 and the buoyancy module 48 of FIG. 4;

[0070] FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 5 but shows the buoyancy module 48 attached to the subsea processing centre;

[0071] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing the subsea processing centre of FIG. 1 being loaded with items of equipment while being assembled onshore;

[0072] FIG. 8 is a schematic side view following on from FIG. 7 and showing the now-assembled subsea processing centre having been fitted with the buoyancy module 48 of FIG. 4 and then lowered into an adjacent body of water;

[0073] FIG. 9 is a schematic side view showing the subsea processing centre of FIG. 1 fitted with the buoyancy module 48 of FIG. 4 and floating beside a shore facility, the subsea processing centre being loaded with items of equipment while assembly continues;

[0074] FIGS. 10a, 10b and 10c are a sequence of schematic side views in which FIG. 10a shows the use of the Controlled Depth Towing Method to tow the subsea processing centre of FIG. 1 fitted with the buoyancy module 48 of FIG. 4, followed by a lowering and installing step in FIG. 10b and a flooding and stabilising step in FIG. 10c;

[0075] FIG. 11 is a schematic side view following on from FIG. 10b and showing the buoyancy module 48 now detached from the subsea processing centre and being recovered to the surface;

[0076] FIG. 12 is a schematic side view showing an item of equipment being lifted from the subsea processing centre for recovery to the surface for maintenance or replacement;

[0077] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of a variant in which buoyancy modules 48 are attached to the top of the subsea processing centre of FIG. 1;

[0078] FIG. 14 is a schematic side view of another variant in which buoyancy modules 48 are integrated with the subsea processing centre of FIG. 1;

[0079] FIG. 15 is a schematic side view of showing how two or more subsea processing centres like that shown in FIG. 1 may be coupled to each other on the seabed to make a subsea factory;

[0080] FIGS. 16a and 16b are a sequence of schematic side views showing a subsea processing centre settled on the seabed at a substantial angle to the horizontal, these figures showing an item of equipment carried by the subsea processing centre before and after levelling respectively; and

[0081] FIG. 17 is a schematic side view corresponding to FIG. 10a but showing the subsea processing centre and the buoyancy module 48 fitted with a rudder and fins that are controllable to stabilise and control the path of the subsea processing centre during towing.

[0082] Referring firstly to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, a subsea processing centre 10 comprises a box-section lattice frame 12 or hull fabricated from hollow structural members of welded steel construction. The discrete rigid frame 12 has a generally flat base 14 and a generally flat top 16 that lie spaced apart in parallel planes. The top 16 and the base 14 of the frame 12 have the same width, whereas the top 16 is shorter than the base 14 and is centred longitudinally with respect to the base 14. Thus, the frame 12 is shaped as a regular trapezium in longitudinal section or in side view. Downwardly-tapering wedge-shaped ends 18 extend from the ends of the top 16 to the ends of the base 14.

[0083] As best seen from underneath as in FIG. 2, the base 14 of the frame 12 is an oblong ladder platform comprising a parallel pair of lower longitudinal beams 20 joined by an array of spaced parallel lower cross-members 22 that extend orthogonally with respect to the lower longitudinal beams 20. The lower cross-members 22 support perforated load-bearing panels that define a deck 24 within the frame 12. The deck 24 lies in a horizontal plane when the base 14 lies on a horizontal seabed in use.

[0084] FIG. 3 shows that the top 16 of the frame 12 comprises relatively short upper longitudinal beams 26 that lie parallel to the relatively long lower longitudinal beams 20. The upper longitudinal beams 26 are spaced from the lower longitudinal beams 20 by inclined buttresses 28 at each end and by an array of spaced parallel upright columns 30. The inclination of the buttresses 28 defines the inclination of the wedge-shaped ends 18.

[0085] The upper longitudinal beams 26 are joined by an array of spaced parallel upper cross-members 32 that extend orthogonally with respect to the upper longitudinal beams 26. Each of the upper cross-members 32 is aligned with a buttress 28 and/or with a column 30 and is supported by inclined braces 34 that splay downwardly to join the lower longitudinal beams 20. A central longitudinal spine member 36 joins the upper cross-members 32 and extends down the wedge-shaped ends 18 to join the outermost lower cross-members 22 at the ends of the frame 12.

[0086] Oblong grille panels 38 close the spaces between the upper longitudinal beams 26, the upper cross-members 32 and the central spine member 36 on the top of the frame 12. Additional oblong grille panels 38 close the spaces between the outermost upper cross-members 32, the outermost lower cross-members 22 and the central spine member 36 at the ends of the frame 12.

[0087] The frame 12 is arranged to give protection against trawling when installed on the seabed. In particular, the subsea processing centre 10 is overtrawlable by virtue of the wedge-shaped ends 18 and the grille panels 38 that fit substantially flush to the frame 12.

[0088] The subsea processing centre 10 is designed to house and support equipment generally indicated at 40 on the deck 24 and within the frame 12. The equipment 40 comprises various items of processing apparatus for processing production fluid flowing from a subsea oil or gas well, or for processing other fluids used in production.

[0089] In general, the equipment that can be anything that interacts with the fluid flowing through pipework of the subsea processing centre 10, including production fluid processing apparatus.

[0090] The equipment 40 also comprises other items of apparatus for powering and controlling the processing apparatus, and optionally also for controlling the buoyancy and stability of the subsea processing centre 10 when it is being towed underwater. Other equipment 40 may be included for subsea power generation, transmission or distribution.

[0091] Typically, apparatus for processing production fluid will comprise at least a water separator for removing water from the production fluid. More generally, processing apparatus housed by the subsea processing centre 10 may perform a variety of tasks including any of: gas/liquid separation; subsea boosting; subsea gas compression; gas treatment including dewpoint control; pipeline heating; seawater treatment and injection; and/or injection of chemicals. Chemicals may also be stored in the subsea processing centre 10, ready for injection.

[0092] The grille panels 38 may be moved or removed for access from above to install or remove individual items of equipment 40 supported by the deck 24 within the frame 12. The sides of the frame 12 may be left open as shown, providing access to the equipment 40 for routine maintenance and other operations by subsea intervention, for example using an ROV.

[0093] As a non-limiting example, the frame 12 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is approximately 10 m high and 80 m long and weighs approximately 1500 to 3000 tons when fitted with typical equipment. Workers 42 are shown on the frame 12 in FIGS. 1 and 3 to illustrate its very large scale.

[0094] Turning now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, this shows a detail of the frame 12 of the subsea processing centre 10. This detail view is a lateral or transverse cross-section showing a junction between a lower longitudinal beam 20, a lower cross-member 22 intersecting the lower longitudinal beam 20, a panel of the deck 24 supported by the lower cross-member 22 and a column 30 upstanding from the lower longitudinal beam 20 outboard of the deck 24.

[0095] A pipeline 44 for production fluid extends through the lower cross-member 22 generally parallel to the lower longitudinal beam 20. Production fluid in the pipeline 40 may be processed or otherwise modified by one or more items of processing apparatus shown here schematically as a box 46 supported by the deck 24.

[0096] A buoyancy module 48 is attached to a side of the subsea processing centre 10 outboard of the frame 12. Rigid attachment of the buoyancy module 48 to the frame 12 is effected by fastenings 50 defining attachment points. Preferably the fastenings 50 are latches that are releasable remotely or by subsea intervention, for example using an ROV, to allow the buoyancy module 48 to be separated from the frame 12. A similar buoyancy module 48 is similarly attached to the other side of the subsea processing centre 10 but is not shown in FIG. 4.

[0097] Each buoyancy module 48 comprises one or more ballast tanks 52. The ballast tanks 52 are suitably of a rigid polymer material such as fibre-reinforced plastics. Each ballast tank 52 has a flooding valve 54 for admitting water as air or other gas is expelled from the tank 52 through a suitable vent or outlet port. Each ballast tank 52 also has a filling valve 56 for admitting high-pressure air or other gas into the tank from a suitable source 58, either to displace water for increasing buoyancy or to resist collapse of the tank 52 under hydrostatic pressure.

[0098] The flooding valve 54 and a valve controlling ingress of air or other gas into the filling valve 56 may be operable remotely or by subsea intervention, for example using an ROV. Preferably, those valves are controlled by a buoyancy control system provided onboard the subsea processing centre 10 or on a surface vessel that tows the subsea processing centre 10 to an installation site, as will be explained. The buoyancy control system suitably comprises a stability module that takes input from a depth sensor, an accelerometer, an inclinometer and/or a transponder, to adjust the buoyancy of the ballast tank preferably automatically.

[0099] The buoyancy module 48 comprises a hollow free-flooding structure 60 that surrounds and supports the ballast tanks 52. The structure 60 of the buoyancy module 48 is suitably skinned with glass-reinforced plastics. The lower outer wall 62 of that structure 60 flares downwardly and outwardly to the seabed 64 as shown in FIG. 4 to improve the overtrawling qualities of the subsea processing centre 10 when the buoyancy module 48 is attached to it.

[0100] The ballast tanks 52 are preferably non-structural in relation to the frame 12 as shown. However, any or all of the longitudinal beams 20, 26, the cross-members 22, 32, the buttresses 28, the braces 34 and the columns 30 of the frame 12 may define closed chambers. Air trapped in those chambers adds buoyancy to the frame 12 when required, as upon launching the subsea processing centre 10. When less buoyancy is required, as upon lowering or landing the frame 12 on the seabed 64 for example, the trapped air may be allowed to escape as water floods in. For this purpose, a flooding valve 66 is shown in FIG. 4 on the lower longitudinal beam 20, by way of example. The flooding valve 66 may be operable remotely or by subsea intervention, for example using an ROV.

[0101] In general, any of the hollow members of the frame 12 may have similar flooding valves or may be interconnected for fluid communication to fill or to flood together. It is also possible for any of the hollow frame members to have similar filling valves for admitting high-pressure air or other gas to increase buoyancy or to resist collapse under hydrostatic pressure.

[0102] In practice, the source 58 of the high-pressure air or other gas used internally to pressurise a ballast tank 52 or a hollow frame 12 member may be a downline from the surface or an onboard gas supply carried by the subsea processing centre 10. Gas may be supplied by compressors or by quads.

[0103] The box 46 identified in FIG. 4 as an item of processing apparatus could instead represent apparatus for powering and controlling processing of production fluid, for storing chemicals or for generating, transmitting or distributing power. That box 46 could also represent the aforementioned buoyancy control system for controlling the buoyancy and stability of the subsea processing centre 10 when under tow, thus being connected to the various flooding valves and filling valves of the ballast tanks 52 and of the hollow frame members.

[0104] FIGS. 5, 6, 8, 9, 10a, 10b, 10c and 11 are schematic side views that show the subsea processing centre 10 in combination with a simplified example of the buoyancy module 48 shown in FIG. 4. In this example, the buoyancy module 48 is arranged to extend along most of the open side of the frame 12 of the subsea processing centre 10. In each case, a single ballast tank 52 is shown in the buoyancy module 48 for ease of illustration.

[0105] Cross-hatch shading is used to show where the ballast tank 52 contains mainly air to impart strongly positive buoyancy to the subsea processing centre 10 to which the buoyancy module 48 is attached (no shading); mainly water to impart strongly negative buoyancy to the subsea processing centre 10 (full shading); or is partially filled with water and with air to impart near-neutral or slightly negative buoyancy to the subsea processing centre 10 (half shading).

[0106] FIG. 5 is an exploded side view showing the relationship between the buoyancy module 48 and the subsea processing centre 10. Fastenings 68 defining attachment points for attaching the buoyancy module 48 to the subsea processing centre 10 are spaced around the side of the frame 12. Complementary fastenings 68 defining corresponding attachment points are spaced around the other side of the buoyancy module 48 and are seen here in dotted lines. FIG. 6 shows the buoyancy module 48 attached to the subsea processing centre 10 via the fastenings 68.

[0107] FIG. 5 shows boxes 70 representing items of equipment such as processing apparatus, control apparatus and power apparatus distributed on the deck 24 of the subsea processing centre 10. Those items of equipment 70 are connected by pipework 72, which may include a connector hub or other provision for the connection and disconnection of additional production fluid service modules. The pipework 72 extends to the ends of the subsea processing centre 10 for connection, in use, to a flowline on the seabed that carries production fluids. Other fluid connections may be made between the subsea processing centre 10 and other subsea pipes such as water injection pipes, as well as power and data connections between the subsea processing centre 10 and other subsea systems. Connections could also be made at the open sides of the subsea processing centre 10.

[0108] FIGS. 7 and 8 shows a shore installation comprising a dry dock 74 beside a body of water 76. In FIG. 7, the subsea processing centre 10 is being assembled onshore in the dry dock 74 before being fitted with buoyancy modules 48. When the buoyancy modules 48 have been fitted, the subsea processing centre 10 is ready to be floated into the water 76 after the dry dock 74 has been flooded and opened to the sea as shown in FIG. 8.

[0109] Specifically, FIG. 7 shows the subsea processing centre 10 in the dry dock 74 in the final stages of assembly by a quayside crane 78. The crane 78 is shown here placing items of equipment 70 onto the deck 24 of the subsea processing centre 10, in bays beneath spaces in the top 16 of the frame 12 before the grille panels 38 are fixed to the frame 12. A known vertical sliding system may be employed to guide the equipment 70 into the correct location during lowering.

[0110] A dry dock is not the only assembly and launching option. In principle, it would be possible instead to assemble and then to lift or to launch the assembled subsea processing centre 10 from the quayside or a slipway into the water 76.

[0111] Subsequently, the crane 78 will lift buoyancy modules 48 onto the frame 12. FIG. 8 shows the subsea processing centre 10 fitted with buoyancy modules 48 whose ballast tanks 52 are filled with air for positive buoyancy. The subsea processing centre 10 floats on the surface 80 of the water 76, largely submerged but with a shallow draft allowing it to be towed through shallow water away from the shore.

[0112] FIG. 9 shows that at least some assembly or fit-out operations may be performed on the subsea processing centre 10 after it has been floated in the water 76. The quayside crane 78 is shown here placing items of equipment 70 through the open top 16 of the frame 12 of the subsea processing centre 10 when moored beside a quay 82.

[0113] Advantageously, testing the equipment and systems of the subsea processing centre 10 may be performed on-shore as in FIG. 7 or when moored beside the quay 82 as in FIG. 9. The subsea processing centre 10 is then ready for towing to an installation site by the Controlled Depth Towing Method or ‘CDTM’ as described in EP 0069446 and in a technical paper OTC 6430 (OTC Conference, 1990). In this respect, reference is now made to FIGS. 10a, 10b and 10c of the accompanying drawings.

[0114] The CDTM principle involves transportation of the prefabricated and fully-tested subsea processing centre 10 suspended on towing lines 84 between surface vessels 86 fore and aft as shown in FIG. 10a. Unlike a huge installation barge, these may be relatively small and inexpensive vessels 86 equipped with winches, such as tugs.

[0115] As described in EP 0069446 and OTC 6430, CDTM is applied to the installation of very long pipeline bundles. Drag chains are used for ballasting and depth control. Such chains are unnecessary or, at most, optional in the CDTM proposed by the present invention, which instead prefers fine control of ballasting tanks to control the depth and trim of the subsea processing unit 10 during towing.

[0116] As the shading in FIG. 10a shows, the ballast tanks 52 of the buoyancy modules 48 are partially flooded under the control of control systems on the subsea processing centre 10 or on a surface vessel 86. This makes the subsea processing centre 10 slightly negatively buoyant at a pre-determined mid-water towing depth, which is preferably at least fifty metres. Modest tension in the towing lines 84 under the drag forces of towing balances the slight negative buoyancy of the subsea processing centre 10 to maintain the desired depth, assisted by ongoing control of the buoyancy of the ballast tanks 52. In practice, separate ballast tanks will be distributed along the length of the subsea processing centre 10 to enable adjustment of its trim.

[0117] At the desired towing depth, the subsea processing centre 10 is held safely clear of the seabed 64 but also beneath the influence of wave action near the surface 80. Even if the sea state deteriorates dramatically during the tow, the subsea processing centre 10 can be lowered to the seabed 64 to await better weather conditions.

[0118] FIG. 10a shows the subsea processing centre 10 having just arrived at the installation location, directly above a predetermined gap 88 between pre-laid elements of a subsea production system. Those elements comprise fluid transportation pipes 90 that end in terminal connectors 92 facing each other across the gap 88.

[0119] When the subsea processing centre 10 reaches the installation site, it is lowered toward the seabed 64 by more fully flooding the ballast tanks 52 of the buoyancy modules 48 to increase its negative buoyancy. Meanwhile, the towing lines 84 are paid out from the surface vessels 86. The subsea processing centre 10 then settles on the seabed 64 in the predetermined gap 88 as shown in FIG. 10b, with its position relative to the gap 88 being monitored by an ROV 94. At least one of the surface vessels 86 is then free to leave the site to be available for other tasks.

[0120] By dark shading, FIG. 10c shows hollow members of the frame 12 of the subsea processing centre 10 having been flooded after landing on the seabed 64 to stabilise the subsea processing centre 10. In this example, the remaining surface vessel 86 provides assistance via the ROV 94 for flooding the hollow frame members and/or for making tie-in connections between on-board pipework of the subsea processing centre 10 and the pre-laid elements 90, 92 of the subsea production system. The static weight of the frame 12 after flooding provides sufficient inertia, friction and stability for the subsea processing centre 10 to be anchored to the seabed 64 without the need for a template to be pre-installed on the seabed 64.

[0121] FIG. 11 shows an optional subsequent operation, namely disconnecting the buoyancy modules 48 from the subsea processing centre 10 and recovering those modules 48 to the surface 80 for possible re-use. Here, optionally, air has been pumped into the ballast tanks 52 to establish slightly negative buoyancy. The air de-ballasts the ballast tanks 52 by displacing water in a controlled manner. De-ballasting in this way reduces the apparent weight of the buoyancy module 48 to ease lifting by a crane or winch of a surface vessel 86. The buoyancy modules 48 may be detached from the subsea processing centre 10 automatically or with subsea intervention, in this example provided by an ROV 94.

[0122] FIG. 12 shows how the subsea processing centre 10 may be serviced while remaining on the seabed 64. Here, an ROV 94 has opened grille panels 38 that normally close the top 16 of the subsea processing centre 10 to provide access to equipment in bays on the deck 24 beneath. A surface vessel 86 is using a crane to lift an item of equipment 70 to the surface. In this way, individual items of equipment 70 such as pumps may be isolated and swapped out using well-known techniques. The aforementioned vertical sliding system suitably guides the replacement equipment 70 into the correct location on the deck 24 during lowering.

[0123] Notably, the structural integrity of the subsea processing centre 10 relies upon the frame 12 and so is unaffected by removing items of equipment 70 supported by that frame 12, unlike modular systems of the prior art that divide not just their equipment but also their structure between modules.

[0124] FIGS. 13 and 14 show other possible locations for buoyancy modules or ballast tanks. FIG. 13 shows a ballast tank 96 attached to the top of the frame 12 of the subsea processing centre 10 by fastenings 98. Those fastenings 98 may be releasable latches if it is desired to detach the ballast tank 96 for recovery to the surface after the subsea processing centre 10 has been installed. Otherwise, the ballast tank 96 may be left permanently attached to the frame 12 like the ballast tanks 100A to 100D shown in FIG. 14, which are housed within the frame 12.

[0125] Longitudinally-distributed ballast tanks 100A to 100D like those shown in FIG. 14 may be incorporated into the subsea processing centre 10 as shown in FIG. 14 or removably attached to the subsea processing centre 10, either directly or as part of buoyancy modules 48 as described previously. FIG. 14 is used to show a further benefit of distributed ballast tanks 100A to 100D under individual selective control, namely to adjust the trim of the subsea processing centre 10 to suit different configurations of equipment 70 on the deck 24.

[0126] To illustrate this principle, the subsea processing centre 10 of FIG. 14 carries three types of equipment 70 from one end to the other—namely, from left to right as illustrated: relatively small and light equipment 70A; medium-sized equipment 70B of medium weight; and relatively large and heavy equipment 70C. To balance the subsea processing centre 10 against these different weights acting on the respective ends, the buoyancy of the ballast tanks 100A to 100D is adjusted individually. Thus, the ballast tank 100A adjacent to the light equipment 70A contains more water than air whereas the ballast tank 100D adjacent to the heavy equipment 70C contains more air than water. The intermediate ballast tanks 100B and 100C contain roughly equal amounts of air and water.

[0127] It will be apparent to the skilled reader that ballast tanks may similarly be distributed laterally across the width of the subsea processing centre 10 to compensate for weight imbalances of equipment in the widthwise direction. It would also be possible to adjust buoyancy of individual ballast tanks continuously and dynamically during towing to respond to dynamic forces acting on the subsea processing centre 10, particularly such forces as may induce oscillation in pitch or roll. Similarly, different hollow members of the frame 12 may also be flooded with water or emptied of water individually or selectively to adjust trim or to respond to dynamic forces acting on the subsea processing centre 10.

[0128] Another option with distributed ballast tanks is to choose differently-sized ballast tanks for different locations, to suit the expected weight distribution arising from a particular configuration of the equipment on the deck.

[0129] It is possible to combine two or more subsea processing centres 10 of the invention to make a larger or more capable subsea factory with additional processing or production functionality. In this respect, FIG. 15 shows two subsea processing centres 10 coupled to each other end-to-end on the seabed 64 via an intermediate connector 102, filling a predetermined gap between pre-laid fluid transportation pipes 90 and terminal connectors 92 of a subsea production system.

[0130] FIGS. 16a and 16b show that once a subsea processing centre 10 is settled on the seabed, the orientation of an item or module of equipment with respect to the inclination of the frame 12 may be modified. For example, a vertical separator vessel needs to be substantially vertical, even if the subsea processing centre 10 that supports it is not substantially horizontal when settled on the seabed.

[0131] In FIGS. 16a and 16b, a subsea processing centre 104 is shown landed on a substantially inclined seabed 106. The frame 12 of the subsea processing centre 104 contains three items of equipment in these simplified schematic views.

[0132] Two of the items of equipment 108 shown in FIGS. 16a and 16b can tolerate being off vertical or off horizontal. Consequently, those items 108 are fixed immovably to the deck 24 of the subsea processing centre 104.

[0133] Conversely, the third item of equipment 110 shown in FIGS. 16a and 16b must be kept substantially vertical or horizontal during operation. To allow this even if the subsea processing centre 10 ends up resting at an angle to the horizontal, that equipment 110 can pivot or float relative to the deck 24. More specifically, a tilt-compensating mounting is provided between the deck 24 and the equipment 110. The equipment 110 may be connected to the pipework of the subsea processing centre 104 by flexible or pivotably-jointed piping.

[0134] Those skilled in the art will know of various active or passive tilt-compensating or levelling mountings such as gimbals. As a simple example of such a mounting, FIGS. 16a and 16b show the equipment 110 supported by longitudinally-spaced upright actuators 112 whose extensions can be adjusted individually to level the equipment 110 about a transverse axis as shown in FIG. 16b. Whilst not shown, laterally-spaced actuators could be provided similarly to level the equipment 110 about a longitudinal axis.

[0135] Finally, FIG. 17 shows a subsea processing centre 114 fitted with a buoyancy module 116 and being transported during a CDTM operation like that shown in FIG. 10a. Here, the subsea processing centre 114 is fitted with an upright rudder 118 and the buoyancy module 116 is fitted with laterally-extending fins, wings or planes 120. These various hydrodynamic control surfaces 118, 120 are pivotable under computer control to stabilise, trim and control the path of the subsea processing centre 114 during towing.

[0136] Many other variations are possible within the inventive concept. For example, whilst FIG. 12 shows how the subsea processing centre can remain on the seabed for several years while being serviced from the surface, it may eventually need to be recovered from the seabed to the surface. For this purpose, once the subsea processing centre has been disconnected from the subsea production system and buoyancy modules have been reattached to the subsea processing centre if necessary, the or each ballast tank of the buoyancy modules is de-ballasted by displacing water with pressurised gas in a controlled manner. If flooded, hollow frame members of the subsea processing centre may similarly be de-ballasted. De-ballasting in this way reduces the apparent weight of the subsea processing centre for lifting by a crane or winch of a surface vessel.

[0137] If a subsea processing centre is to be scrapped and recycled after use, it may simply be raised to the surface and towed from there to a shore facility. Some damage or fatigue of the subsea processing centre caused by wave action will not then be a concern. However if the subsea processing centre is to be refurbished and reused, a reverse CDTM process may be employed. In that case, injection of de-ballasting gas is controlled to achieve slightly neutral buoyancy at a desired towing depth, whereupon CDTM towing takes place in the water column with controlled depth and buoyancy. Finally, the subsea processing centre is raised to the surface in shallower, sheltered water near shore to be refurbished for reuse. In essence, this is the reverse of the process shown in FIGS. 9 to 10c.

[0138] Yet more variations are possible within the inventive concept. For example, ballast tanks or any of the hollow members of the frame could be pre-pressurised at the surface to above-ambient pressure. This reduces gas consumption when increasing buoyancy in deeper water and increases the resistance of the ballast tanks or hollow members to collapse under hydrostatic pressure.

[0139] It would, of course, be possible to lay other elements of a subsea production system after landing the subsea processing centre, hence avoiding the requirement to aim the subsea processing centre into a predetermined gap between pre-laid elements of the subsea production system.