Subsea pressure relief devices and methods

Abstract

A device for relieving pressure in a subsea component comprises a housing including an inner cavity, an open end in fluid communication with the inner cavity, and a through bore extending from the inner cavity to an outer surface of the housing. In addition, the device comprises a connector coupled to the open end. The connector is configured to releasably engage a mating connector coupled to the subsea component. Further, the device comprises a burst disc assembly mounted to the housing within the through bore. The burst disc assembly is configured to rupture at a predetermined differential pressure between the inner cavity and the environment outside the housing.

1 . A device for relieving pressure in a subsea component, the device comprising:
 a housing including an inner cavity, an open end in fluid communication with the inner cavity, and a through bore extending from the inner cavity to an outer surface of the housing;   a connector coupled to the open end, wherein the connector is configured to releasably engage a mating connector coupled to the subsea component; and   a burst disc assembly mounted to the housing within the through bore, wherein the burst disc assembly is configured to rupture at a predetermined differential pressure between the inner cavity and the environment outside the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is a hydraulically actuated collet connector. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is a hot stab configured to releasably engage a mating receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of burst disc assemblies;
 wherein the housing includes a plurality of through bores, each through bore extending from the inner cavity to the outer surface of the housing;   wherein one burst disc assembly is disposed in each through bore in the housing;   wherein each burst disc assembly is configured to rupture at a predetermined differential pressure between the inner cavity and the environment outside the housing.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein each burst disc assembly is configured to rupture at the same predetermined differential pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle coupled to the housing, wherein the handle is configured to be grasped by a subsea ROV. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is a tubular and has the open end and a closed end opposite the open end. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a conduit having a first end coupled to the housing and a second end coupled to a receptacle in an ROV panel, wherein the conduit is in fluid communication with the inner cavity;   a valve configured to control fluid communication between the inner cavity and the receptacle.   
     
     
         9 . A method for relieving pressure within a subsea conduit, the method comprising:
 (a) deploying a pressure relief device subsea, wherein the pressure relief device includes a housing having an inner cavity and a through bore extending from the inner cavity to an outer surface of the housing, and a burst disc assembly mounted to the housing within the through bore;   (b) coupling the pressure relief device to the subsea conduit; and   (c) transferring fluid pressure from the subsea conduit to the inner cavity.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 (d) closing a valve in the subsea component to restrict fluid communication between the subsea conduit and the inner cavity.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 (e) decoupling the pressure relief device from the subsea conduit.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the pressure relief device includes a hydraulically actuated collet connector coupled to the housing;
 wherein (b) comprises hydraulically actuating the collet connector to releasably couple the pressure relief device to a mating hub coupled to the subsea conduit.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the pressure relief device includes a hot stab coupled to the housing;
 wherein (b) comprises inserting the hot stab into a mating receptacle coupled to the subsea conduit.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 (f) venting fluid from the subsea conduit through the through bore in the housing after (b) and before (e).   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 (g) deploying a second pressure relief device subsea, wherein the second pressure relief device includes a housing having an inner cavity and a through bore extending from the inner cavity to an outer surface of the housing, and a burst disc assembly mounted to the housing within the through bore;   (h) coupling the second pressure relief device to the subsea conduit; and   (i) providing fluid communication between the inner cavity of the second pressure relief device and the subsea conduit.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein (i) comprises opening a valve in the subsea conduit. 
     
     
         17 . A device for relieving pressure in a subsea fluid conduit, the device comprising:
 a manifold including an inlet end and a plurality of outlet ends;   a connector coupled to the inlet end of the manifold, wherein the connector is configured to releasably engage a mating connector coupled to the fluid conduit;   a plurality of valve spools, wherein each valve spool is coupled to one of the outlet ends of the manifold, and wherein each valve spool includes a valve configure to control a flow of fluids through the corresponding valve spool;   a plurality of burst disc assemblies, wherein one burst disc assembly is disposed in a through bore in each valve spool, wherein each burst disc assembly is configured to rupture at a predetermined differential pressure between the inner cavity and the environment outside the housing.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the valve of each valve spool is positioned between the corresponding burst disc assembly and the corresponding manifold outlet end. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein each valve spool includes a plurality of through bores, wherein one burst disc assembly is disposed in each through bore. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein, a first burst disc assembly coupled to a first valve spool is configured to rupture at a first predetermined pressure differential and a second burst disc assembly coupled to a second valve spool is configured to rupture at a second predetermined pressure differential that is different than the first predetermined pressure differential.