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Title: Subsea wellhead protective enclosure

Abstract

Method and apparatus for protecting subsea wellheads and christmas trees from damage by anchors, fishing nets, trawl boards, and other towed devices. The apparatus includes an annular, rigid protective enclosure with inner and outer walls that define a hollow annular chamber, and a plurality of bag-like containers spaced around and attached to the enclosure's outer wall. The annular chamber is in communication with the interiors of the containers by means of ports through the enclosure's outer wall, whereby when cement is pumped into the chamber it also flows into and fills the containers to form a smoothly contoured shield around the enclosure. Should an anchor or other device become fouled on this shield, the container or containers involved will break away and let the anchor continue on its way up and over the enclosure without damage to the wellhead or other well equipment.

Inventors:
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6717014
Patent Number(s):
US 4220421
Assignee:
FMC Corp
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: Filed date 27 Nov 1978
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
02 PETROLEUM; 03 NATURAL GAS; NATURAL GAS WELLS; WELLHEADS; OIL WELLS; UNDERWATER FACILITIES; COVERINGS; ANCHORS; CEMENTS; OFFSHORE OPERATIONS; BUILDING MATERIALS; MATERIALS; WELLS; 020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production; 030300 - Natural Gas- Drilling, Production, & Processing

Citation Formats

Thorne, P M. Subsea wellhead protective enclosure. United States: N. p., 1980. Web.
Thorne, P M. Subsea wellhead protective enclosure. United States.
Thorne, P M. 1980. "Subsea wellhead protective enclosure". United States.
@article{osti_6717014,
title = {Subsea wellhead protective enclosure},
author = {Thorne, P M},
abstractNote = {Method and apparatus for protecting subsea wellheads and christmas trees from damage by anchors, fishing nets, trawl boards, and other towed devices. The apparatus includes an annular, rigid protective enclosure with inner and outer walls that define a hollow annular chamber, and a plurality of bag-like containers spaced around and attached to the enclosure's outer wall. The annular chamber is in communication with the interiors of the containers by means of ports through the enclosure's outer wall, whereby when cement is pumped into the chamber it also flows into and fills the containers to form a smoothly contoured shield around the enclosure. Should an anchor or other device become fouled on this shield, the container or containers involved will break away and let the anchor continue on its way up and over the enclosure without damage to the wellhead or other well equipment.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6717014}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 02 00:00:00 EDT 1980},
month = {Tue Sep 02 00:00:00 EDT 1980}
}