Pump system, method and uses for transporting injection water to an underwater injection well

Abstract

Pump system ( 2 ), method and use for transporting injection water ( 10 ) to an underwater injection well ( 12 ), wherein the pump system ( 2 ) comprises a pressure-tight enclosure ( 14 ) located underwater and containing: —a pump arrangement ( 18 ) for pumping the injection water ( 10 ); —a drive arrangement ( 20 ) connected to the pump arrangement ( 18 ) for operation of the latter; —a cooling arrangement ( 46 ) for removing heat from the interior of the enclosure ( 14 ); and —at least one control unit ( 48 ) for operating control of at least said drive arrangement ( 20 ); wherein the enclosure ( 14 ) also comprises: —an inlet ( 24 ), which is flow-connected to an upstream side of the pump arrangement ( 18 ); and —an outlet ( 28 ), which is flow-connected to a downstream side of the pump arrangement ( 18 ). The characteristic of the pump system ( 2 ) is that the inlet ( 24 ) of the enclosure ( 14 ) is flow-connected to a body of water ( 4 ) in which the enclosure ( 14 ) is located, water from this body of water ( 4 ) being used as injection water ( 10 ) to said underwater injection well ( 12 ); and —the outlet ( 28 ) of the enclosure ( 14 ) is flow-connected to the injection well ( 12 ).

1 . A pump system ( 2 ) for transporting injection water ( 10 ) to an underwater injection well ( 12 ), where the pump system ( 2 ) comprises a pressure-tight enclosure ( 14 ) located underwater and containing:
 a pump arrangement ( 18 ) for pumping the injection water ( 10 );   a drive arrangement ( 20 ) connected to the pump arrangement ( 18 ) for operation of the latter;   a cooling arrangement ( 46 ) for removing heat from the interior of the enclosure ( 14 ); and   at least one control unit ( 48 ) for operating control of at least said drive arrangement ( 20 );   
       where the enclosure ( 14 ) also comprises:
 an inlet ( 24 ) which is flow-connected to an upstream side of the pump arrangement ( 18 ); and 
 an outlet ( 28 ) which is flow-connected to a downstream side of the pump arrangement ( 18 ), 
 
       characterized in that the inlet ( 24 ) of the enclosure ( 14 ) is flow-connected to a body of water ( 4 ), in which the enclosure ( 14 ) is located, water from this body of water ( 4 ) being used as injection water ( 10 ) to said underwater injection well ( 12 ); and
 the outlet ( 28 ) of the enclosure ( 14 ) is flow-connected to the injection well ( 12 ). 
 
     
     
         2 . The pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the pressure-tight enclosure ( 14 ) contains a lubrication arrangement ( 44 ) for lubricating at least one moving part in the pump arrangement ( 18 ) and the drive arrangement ( 20 ). 
     
     
         3 . The pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the pump arrangement ( 18 ) and the drive arrangement ( 20 ) are provided with magnetic bearings for the operating support of at least one rotating part in the pump arrangement ( 18 ) and the drive arrangement ( 20 );
 the magnetic bearings are connected to at least one control unit ( 48 ) for operating control of the bearings; and   the magnetic bearings are connected to at least one source for supplying drive power to the bearings.   
     
     
         4 . The pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the pressure-tight enclosure ( 14 ) contains monitoring equipment for operational monitoring of at least said pump arrangement ( 18 ), drive arrangement ( 20 ) and cooling arrangement ( 46 );
 the monitoring equipment is connected to at least one said control unit ( 48 ) for operating control of the monitoring equipment and the transmission of monitoring data to a remote host device ( 72 ); and   the monitoring equipment is also connected to at least one source for supplying drive power to the monitoring equipment.   
     
     
         5 . The pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the pressure-tight enclosure ( 14 ) contains a gas ( 17 ) at atmospheric or virtually atmospheric pressure, preferably at a pressure between about 1 bar and about 2 bar. 
     
     
         6 . The pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 5 , characterized in that the enclosure ( 14 ) is connected via a cabled connection ( 66 ) to a remote host device ( 72 ) for transferring contaminated gas ( 17 ) from the enclosure ( 14 ) and for returning uncontaminated gas ( 17 ) to the enclosure ( 14 ). 
     
     
         7 . The pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the pump arrangement ( 18 ) and drive arrangement ( 20 ) are vertically aligned in relation to one another. 
     
     
         8 . The pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the drive arrangement ( 20 ) is mounted vertically above the pump arrangement ( 18 ). 
     
     
         9 . The pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the enclosure ( 14 ) is designed with an outer perimeter that fits inside a working aperture in a deck of a floating vessel, the vessel being designed to be capable of lowering the enclosure ( 14 ) down into the water via said working aperture in the deck of the vessel. 
     
     
         10 . The pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the enclosure ( 14 ) has a height that is greater than the largest horizontal transverse dimension of the enclosure ( 14 ). 
     
     
         11 . The pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the enclosure ( 14 ) is connected via a cabled connection ( 66 ) to a remote host device ( 72 ) for transmitting both control signals to the control unit ( 48 ) and drive power to powered equipment in the pump system ( 2 ). 
     
     
         12 . The pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said cooling arrangement ( 46 ) comprises:
 at least one closed flow circuit ( 58 ) containing a coolant, where the closed flow circuit ( 58 ) is connected to the internal atmosphere of the enclosure ( 14 ) for absorbing heat therefrom, and where the closed flow circuit ( 58 ) comprises a heat exchanger ( 60 ), which is connected to said body of water ( 4 ) on the outside of the enclosure ( 14 ) for removing heat transmitted from the internal atmosphere of the enclosure ( 14 ) via the coolant of the flow circuit ( 58 ); and   a means of delivery for the coolant.   
     
     
         13 . The pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said cooling arrangement ( 46 ) comprises an open flow circuit containing a coolant, where the open flow circuit is connected to the internal atmosphere of the enclosure ( 14 ) for absorbing heat therefrom, and wherein the open flow circuit is connected to a remote host device ( 72 ) for at least the circulation of the coolant, and for removing heat transmitted from the internal atmosphere of the enclosure ( 14 ) by means of the coolant of the flow circuit. 
     
     
         14 . The pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that said lubrication arrangement ( 44 ) comprises:
 at least one closed flow circuit ( 52 ,  54 ) containing a fluid lubricant, where the closed flow circuit ( 52 ,  54 ) is connected to lubricated equipment in the pump system ( 2 ); and   a means of delivery for the fluid lubricant.   
     
     
         15 . The pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that said lubrication arrangement ( 44 ) comprises an open flow circuit containing a fluid lubricant, where the open flow circuit is connected to lubricated equipment in the pump system ( 2 ), and where the open flow circuit is connected to a remote host device ( 72 ) for at least the circulation of the fluid lubricant, and for lubricating the lubricated equipment in the pump system ( 2 ). 
     
     
         16 . The pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the wall of the enclosure ( 14 ) is provided with at least one wet-mateable plug connection ( 64 ) designed for coupling to a separate, cabled connection ( 66 ) for transmitting both control signals to the control unit ( 48 ) and drive power to powered equipment in the pump system ( 2 ). 
     
     
         17 . The pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 4 , characterized in that said remote host device ( 72 ) is a surface installation on land or offshore. 
     
     
         18 . The pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the enclosure ( 14 ) is flow-connected to at least one underwater installation ( 38 ) for treatment of the injection water ( 10 ); and
 said underwater installation ( 38 ) is located underwater in said body of water ( 4 ).   
     
     
         19 . The pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 18 , characterized in that said underwater installation ( 38 ) comprises at least one arrangement for removing solid particles from the injection water ( 10 ) without filtering. 
     
     
         20 . The pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 17 , characterized in that said underwater installation ( 38 ) comprises at least one arrangement for chemical treatment of the injection water ( 10 ). 
     
     
         21 . The pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 18 , characterized in that said underwater installation ( 38 ) comprises at least one arrangement for the destruction of organic material in the injection water ( 10 ). 
     
     
         22 . A method for transporting injection water ( 10 ) to an underwater injection well ( 12 ), where the method uses a pump system ( 2 ) comprising a pressure-tight enclosure ( 14 ), which includes:
 a pump arrangement ( 18 ) for pumping the injection water ( 10 );   a drive arrangement ( 20 ) connected to the pump arrangement ( 18 ) for operation of the latter;   a cooling arrangement ( 46 ) for removing heat from the interior of the enclosure ( 14 ); and   at least one control unit ( 48 ) for operating control of at least said drive arrangement ( 20 );   
       wherein the enclosure ( 14 ) also comprises:
 an inlet ( 24 ), which is flow-connected to an upstream side of the pump arrangement ( 18 ); and 
 an outlet ( 28 ), which is flow-connected to a downstream side of the pump arrangement ( 18 ); 
 
       wherein the method comprises the following steps: 
       (A) lowering the pressure-tight enclosure ( 14 ) down into the water and locating the enclosure ( 14 ) underwater, 
       characterized in that the method also comprises the following steps: 
       (B) flow-connecting the inlet ( 24 ) of enclosure ( 14 ) to a body of water ( 4 ) in which the enclosure ( 14 ) is located, water from this body of water ( 4 ) being used as injection water ( 10 ) to said underwater injection well ( 12 ); 
       (C) flow-connecting the outlet ( 28 ) of the enclosure ( 14 ) to the injection well ( 12 ); and 
       (D) starting said drive arrangement ( 20 ) and thereby the pump arrangement ( 18 ) in order thus to pump the injection water ( 10 ) onwards to the injection well ( 12 ). 
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 , characterized in that the method also comprises the following steps:
 aligning the pump arrangement ( 18 ) and the drive arrangement ( 20 ) vertically in relation to one another;   designing the enclosure ( 14 ) with an outer perimeter that fits inside a working aperture in a deck of a floating vessel; and   lowering the enclosure ( 14 ) down into the water via the working aperture in the deck of the vessel.   
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 , characterized in that the method also comprises the following steps:
 locating at least one underwater installation ( 38 ) for treatment of the injection water ( 10 ) underwater in said body of water ( 4 ); and   flow-connecting the enclosure ( 14 ) to said underwater installation ( 38 ) for treatment of the injection water ( 10 ).   
     
     
         25 . The use of a pump system ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 21  for transporting injection water ( 10 ) to an underwater injection well ( 12 ). 
     
     
         26 . The use of a method as claimed in  claim 22  for transporting injection water ( 10 ) to an underwater injection well ( 12 ).