NZ788687B2

NZ788687B2 - Disruptive coupling systems and methods for subsea systems

Info

Publication number: NZ788687B2
Application number: NZ788687A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Mathieu Boisne; Julie Ingram
Original assignee: J Ray Mcdermott Sa
Filing date: 2020-11-06
Publication date: 2025-05-01

Abstract

subsea system, comprising a subsea component 103, 105, 106, 115, 118 for disposal in seawater, and a disruptive coupling device 120 coupled to the subsea component 103, 105, 106, 115, 118 and comprising a bladder enclosing at least partially a fluid, a housing, and an opening formed in the housing to allow the seawater to flow into the housing from outside of the housing. The disruptive coupling device 120 is configured to move at least a portion of the fluid in response to a load applied by the seawater to increase or decrease a mass of the disruptive coupling device, and a volume of the disruptive coupling device varies in response to the load applied by the seawater. The subsea systems may be subsea oil and gas systems. The device enhances the resilience and stability of subsea components by actively managing loads and stresses in the underwater environment. This could lead to improved performance, durability, and safety of subsea equipment and structures.

Claims

We claim:

1. A subsea system, comprising: a subsea component for disposal in seawater; and a disruptive coupling device coupled to the subsea component and comprising: a bladder enclosing at least partially a fluid, a housing, and an opening formed in the housing to allow the seawater to flow into the housing from outside of the housing, wherein the disruptive coupling device is configured to move at least a portion of the fluid in response to a load applied by the seawater to increase or decrease a mass of the disruptive coupling device, and a volume of the disruptive coupling device varies in response to the load applied by the seawater.

2. The subsea system of claim 1, wherein the subsea system is disposed adjacent to or under a fixed or floating offshore structure.

3. The subsea system of claim 1, wherein the subsea system is disposed as a stand-alone system on a seafloor.

4. The subsea system of claim 1, wherein the disruptive coupling device is mounted to the subsea component, formed in the subsea component, or connected to the subsea component.

5. The subsea system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is a portion of the seawater.

6. The subsea system of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises one or more of water, air, nitrogen, oil, or a subsea production fluid separated from the seawater.

7. The subsea system of claim 1, wherein the subsea component comprises at least one of: a riser in any configuration, an umbilical, a flowline, a manifold, an in- line structure, a jumper, a pipeline end termination (PLET), a pipeline end manifold (PLEM), subsea storage equipment, subsea processing equipment, a midwater buoy, a midwater arch, or a midwater structure.

8. The subsea system of claim 1, wherein the disruptive coupling device further comprises at least one of: a valve, a pump, a variable orifice, a damper, a protrusion that protrudes from the subsea component, an opening formed in the subsea component, or an enclosed volume enclosing the fluid.

9. The subsea system of claim 1, wherein a mitigation frequency of the disruptive coupling device is independent of a loading frequency of the seawater.

10. The subsea system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is compressible such that a volume of the fluid reduces upon application of pressure to the fluid.

11. The subsea system of claim 1, further, comprising: an installation vessel comprising one or more lifting devices, wherein the subsea component is supported at least partially on the installation vessel.

12. The subsea system of claim 1, further comprising: a chamber housing, wherein the bladder is disposed within the chamber housing; and a check valve disposed in a wall of the chamber housing.