Deployment System

Abstract

A downhole deployment system comprises a spoolable tubular member ( 76 ) adapted to be coupled to a subsea assembly and to extend to surface level. The deployment system also comprises a spoolable support member ( 96 ) adapted to extend through the spoolable tubular member ( 76 ) and into a wellbore. The spoolable tubular member ( 76 ) may define a conduit between the subsea assembly and the surface and the spoolable support member ( 96 ) may be utilised to extend through this defined conduit and into a wellbore, for example to deploy a tool into a wellbore, to engage a downhole tool or other object, for example for activation, retrieval or the like.

1 . A downhole deployment system comprising:
 a spoolable tubular member adapted to be coupled to a subsea assembly and to extend to surface level to define a marine riser; and   a spoolable support member adapted to extend through the spoolable tubular member and into a wellbore, wherein the spoolable support member is adapted to selectively engage a tool stored within the subsea assembly and to deploy said tool into the wellbore.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the spoolable tubular member defines a marine riser. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the spoolable tubular member comprises coiled tubing. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tubing connector adapted to couple multiple tubular members together. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the subsea assembly comprises at least one of a wellhead, a Christmas tree, a tool storage chamber adapted to contain at least one downhole tool, a well control apparatus and a manifold. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the spoolable tubular member is adapted to deploy at least a portion of a subsea assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a support assembly adapted to support the spoolable tubular member at an upper end thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 8 , wherein the support assembly comprises a tubing hanger. 
     
     
         10 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a movement compensation system. 
     
     
         11 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 10 , wherein the movement compensation system is indirectly coupled to the spoolable tubular member. 
     
     
         12 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 10 , wherein the support assembly comprises a suspended structure adapted to be suspended from a lifting member wherein the movement compensation system is coupled to the lifting member. 
     
     
         13 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 12 , wherein the movement compensation system is comprised in a compensator winch which supports the lifting member. 
     
     
         14 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tubing injector adapted to assist displacement of the spoolable tubular member relative to a reel. 
     
     
         15 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 14 , wherein the tubing injector is adapted to be releasably coupled to a support assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 15 , wherein the support assembly is adapted to support the tubing injector in a storage position. 
     
     
         17 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 14 , wherein the tubing injector comprises an access window adapted to provide access to a tubular member being deployed or retrieved through the tubing injector. 
     
     
         18 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a spoolable support member injector adapted to displace the spoolable support member relative to a reel. 
     
     
         19 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 18 , wherein the spoolable support member injector is adapted to be releasably coupled to an upper end region of the spoolable tubular member. 
     
     
         20 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 18 , wherein the spoolable support member injector is adapted to be mounted on a support assembly. 
     
     
         21 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 20 , wherein the support assembly is adapted to support the spoolable support member injector in a storage position. 
     
     
         22 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lubricator adapted to permit the sealed passage of the spoolable support member into the spoolable tubular member. 
     
     
         23 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an umbilical winder adapted to wind at least one umbilical around the outer surface of the spoolable tubular member while said member is being deployed. 
     
     
         24 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 23 , wherein the umbilical winder is adapted to be removable. 
     
     
         25 . The downhole deployment system according to  claim 23 , wherein the umbilical winder is adapted to be split and separated. 
     
     
         26 . A method of deploying a tool into a wellbore, said method comprising the steps of:
 spooling a tubular member from a first reel mounted on a vessel and securing a lower end of said tubular member to a subsea assembly connected to a wellbore, wherein the subsea assembly comprises a tool;   spooling a support member from a second reel mounted on the vessel through the tubular member; and   coupling the tool to the support member at the location of the subsea assembly and running the tool into the wellbore on the support member.   
     
     
         27 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising the step of coupling at least a portion of the subsea assembly to a lower end of the tubular member at surface level, and then lower said portion to a subsea location. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising the step of spooling the tubular member to a required length, and then cutting the tubular member. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising the step of joining separate sections of the tubular member together. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising providing movement compensation to at least one of the tubular member and the support member. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising the step of suspending a structure from a lifting member, and securing at least one of the tubular and support members relative to the suspended structure. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the lifting member is spooled from a third reel. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , comprising the step of providing movement compensation to the third reel such that movement compensation is indirectly provided via the lifting member and the suspended structure. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising the step of retrieving at least one of the support member and tubular member back to surface. 
     
     
         37 . An offshore support system comprising a suspended structure adapted to support an assembly extending therefrom to a subsea location, and further adapted to be suspended by a winch assembly comprising a movement compensator. 
     
     
         38 . A method of supporting an assembly to extend to a subsea location from a vessel, said method comprising the steps of:
 securing an assembly to be supported to a suspended structure; and   mounted said suspended structure from a winch assembly comprising a movement compensator.   
     
     
         39 . An injector assembly comprising:
 a support structure;   at least one injector mounted on the support structure and adapted to be moved between a storage position and a spooling position.   
     
     
         40 . The injector assembly according to  claim 39 , comprising two or more injectors mounted on the support structure. 
     
     
         41 . The injector assembly according to  claim 39 , wherein the support structure is suspended from a movement compensated winch and winch line. 
     
     
         42 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A well bore tool deployment system comprising:
 a subsea assembly adapted to be coupled to a wellhead and comprising a tool storage chamber containing at least one downhole tool;   a tubular member adapted to be coupled to the subsea assembly and to extend to surface level; and   a spoolable member adapted to extend through the tubular member and into the tool storage chamber of the subsea assembly to selectively engage the at least one downhole tool.   
     
     
         45 . A method of deploying a tool into a wellbore, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a subsea assembly comprising a tool storage chamber containing at least one downhole tool and mounting said subsea assembly on a wellhead;   extending a tubular member from surface level and coupling said tubular member to the subsea assembly;   running a spoolable member through the tubular member and into the tool storage chamber of the subsea assembly;   coupling the at least one downhole tool to the spoolable member; and   running the at least one downhole tool into a wellbore on the spoolable member.   
     
     
         46 . A tool deployment installation comprising:
 a subsea assembly coupled to a wellhead and comprising a tool storage chamber containing at least one downhole tool;   a tubular member coupled to the subsea assembly and extending to surface level; and   a spoolable member extending through the tubular member and adapted to extend into the tool storage chamber of the subsea assembly to selectively engage the at least one downhole tool.