Method for offshore production of hydrocarbons concurrently with the installation of a structure therefor

Patent · Tue Jan 06 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6909078

LeBouf, H P; Verret, A J; Broussard, P D

A method is described for producing hydrocarbon fluids from at least one hydrocarbon producing well formed in a subterranean hydrocarbon containing formation beneath an offshore body of water, which method includes the steps of; installing a drilling template at the floor of the offshore body of water, the drilling template including at least one upstanding drill conductor which extends from the ocean floor to an elevation beyond the ocean's surface, installing a second structure at the floor of the offshore body of water adjacent to the installed drilling template, the second structure including hydrocarbon fluid processing equipment, and communicating at least one hydrocarbon producing well with the processing equipment, removably positioning a drilling vessel having an outboard drilling platform adjacent to the drilling template, such that the outboard drilling platform overlies the drilling template and is in vertical alignment with the at least one upstanding drill conductor, completing at least one well into the formation from the overlying drilling platform through the at least one drill conductor, producing hydrocarbon fluid flow from the at least one completed well, displacing the drilling vessel from its position adjacent to the drilling template, guidably positioning a protective jacket having an operating deck about the drilling template, while maintaining production of the hydrocarbon fluid flow from the at least one completed well, and drilling further wells into the formation from drilling equipment of the operating deck, through other drill conductors in the drilling template.

• Assignee: Texaco, Inc., White Plains, NY
• Patent Number(s): US 4633953
• OSTI ID: 6909078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
42 ENGINEERING
420206 -- Engineering-- Mining & Drilling Equipment & Facilities-- (1980-1989)
423000 -- Engineering-- Marine Engineering-- (1980-)
ALIGNMENT
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FLUID FLOW
HYDROCARBONS
INSTALLATION
OFFSHORE PLATFORMS
OIL WELLS
OIL YIELDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POSITIONING
PRODUCTION
SEA BED
WELL COMPLETION
WELLS
YIELDS