Air-freightable subsea well containent tooling package

Abstract

A system for supplying a chemical dispersant to a subsea hydrocarbon discharge site comprises a surface vessel including a dispersant storage tank and a dispersant pump configured to pump dispersant from the storage tank. In addition, the system comprises a first flow line coupled to the pump and extending subsea from the vessel. Further, the system comprises a subsea dispersant distribution system coupled to the first flow line. Still further, the system comprises a dispersant injection device coupled to the distribution system and configured to inject dispersant from the tank into a subsea hydrocarbon stream.

1 . A system for supplying a chemical dispersant to a subsea hydrocarbon discharge site, comprising:
 a surface vessel including a dispersant storage tank and a dispersant pump configured to pump dispersant from the storage tank;   a first flow line coupled to the pump and extending subsea from the vessel;   a subsea dispersant distribution system coupled to the first flow line;   a dispersant injection device coupled to the distribution system and configured to inject dispersant from the tank into a subsea hydrocarbon stream.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the subsea dispersant distribution system comprises:
 a subsea manifold assembly positioned at the sea floor, wherein the manifold assembly includes a base, a frame coupled to the base, and a chemical dispersant manifold coupled to the frame;   wherein the chemical dispersant manifold includes a plurality of dispersant inlets and a plurality of dispersant outlets, wherein the first flow line is connected to one of the dispersant inlets; and   a second flow line extending from one of the outlets of the chemical dispersant manifold to the injection device.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each outlet of the chemical dispersant manifold includes a valve configured to control the flow of dispersant through the outlet; and
 wherein each inlet of the chemical dispersant manifold includes a valve configured to control the flow of dispersant through the inlet.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein at least a first of the inlets of the chemical dispersant manifold is configured to releasably connect with coiled tubing;
 wherein at least a second of the inlets of the chemical dispersant manifold is configured to releasably connect with an umbilical line.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein each outlet of the chemical dispersant manifold is configured to releasably connect with hot stab connector. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the dispersant injection device includes a base and an elongate wand extending from the base;
 wherein the wand includes at least one nozzle configured to inject dispersant into the subsea hydrocarbon stream.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the subsea manifold assembly comprises a plurality of arms connected to the frame, wherein a third flow line is wrapped around at least some of the plurality of arms. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the subsea manifold assembly further comprises a hydraulic fluid manifold coupled to the frame;
 wherein the hydraulic fluid manifold includes a plurality of inlets and a plurality of outlets, each inlet of the hydraulic manifold coupled to one outlet of the hydraulic manifold with a hydraulic flow line;   wherein each hydraulic flow line includes a valve configured to control the flow of hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic flow line.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the base has a first weight and the frame has a second weight, wherein the sum of the first weight and the second weight is less than 120 tons. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the base and the frame are each configured to be air freightable. 
     
     
         11 . A method for responding to a subsea hydrocarbon discharge at an offshore location, comprising:
 (a) storing a subsea manifold assembly, a flying lead, and a dispersant application device together at a common location;   (b) transporting the manifold assembly, the flying lead, and the application device to the offshore location;   (c) lowering the manifold assembly subsea after (b).   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 (d) connecting a first end of the flying lead to an outlet of the dispersant manifold after (c); and   (e) connecting a second end of the flying lead to an inlet of the application device after (c).   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 (f) connecting a lower end of a dispersant flow line to an inlet of the dispersant manifold after (c).   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein (d), (e, and (f) are performed with one or more subsea ROVs. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 (g) flowing a chemical dispersant from a surface vessel through the dispersant flow line to the dispersant manifold;   (h) flowing the chemical dispersant from the dispersant manifold through the flying lead to the application device.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 (i) injecting the chemical dispersant into a stream of hydrocarbons emitted at a source of the hydrocarbon discharge.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein (b) comprises transporting the manifold assembly, the flying lead, and the application device by air. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein (a) further comprises storing a plurality of flying leads, a plurality of dispersant application devices, and a plurality of tools together at the common location. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of tools comprise ROV operated tools for clearing debris subsea selected from the group consisting of saws, grinders, and diamond wires. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 storing a chemical dispersant in a storage tank at the sea surface;   pumping the chemical dispersant from the storage tank through a dispersant flow line to the dispersant manifold.