Subsea wellhead protective enclosure
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.
- Assignee:
- FMC Corp
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4220421
- OSTI ID:
- 6717014
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 27 Nov 1978
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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