Securing a Sub-Sea Well Where Oil/Gas/Water is Flowing

Abstract

A system and method for securing a flowing sub-sea well using a securing apparatus. The securing apparatus has a gripping assembly to secure the securing apparatus to an outlet the sub-sea well. A bladder assembly seals the securing apparatus to the sub-sea well and fluidly connects the sub-sea well to a riser assembly for collection.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for securing a sub-sea well, comprising:
 a gripping assembly used to secure a riser to a well and to resist fluid pressure emerging from an outlet disposed in fluid communication with the well; and   a bladder sealing assembly fixably engaged sealed over said outlet,   wherein the combined gripping assembly and ladder sealing assembly system are disposed in fluid communication with an associated riser.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet is one of an outlet stub, a throat of a blow-out preventer, a throat of a well head, and a throat of a production tree. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the gripping assembly comprises:
 a gripping assembly pipe; and   a plurality of gripping elements.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of gripping elements are configured to fold inward toward the gripping assembly pipe as the gripping assembly pipe is pushed into the outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of gripping elements are configured to be forced outward away from the gripping assembly pipe via at least one of a hydraulic force and a mechanical force. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the gripping elements are configured to press against sides of the outlet when the at least one of the hydraulic force and the mechanical force is applied. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one of chains, wire rope, and clamps;
 wherein, the at least one of chains, wire rope, and clamps are configured to further secure the gripping assembly to the outlet.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the bladder sealing assembly comprises:
 a sealing element;   at least one pressure chamber; and   at least one pressure line;   wherein the sealing member is configured to seal around the outlet;   wherein the at least one pressure chamber is configured to provide pressure against the sealing element such that it forces the sealing element against the outlet; and   wherein the at least one pressure line provides pressure to the pressure chamber.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein a pressure of the pressure chamber is greater than a pressure of the well and greater than a hydrostatic pressure surrounding the well. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one injection port configured to inject fluids into an internal portion of the bladder sealing apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a riser assembly extending away from the bladder sealing apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the riser assembly comprises:
 at least one riser pipe; and   a buoyancy chamber.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the riser assembly further comprises a processing line fluidly connecting the at least one riser pipe to a processing vessel. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the buoyancy chamber is adjustable. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for securing a sub-sea well, comprising:
 a gripping assembly, comprising:
 a gripping assembly pipe; and 
 a plurality of gripping members; 
   a bladder sealing assembly, comprising:
 a sealing element; 
 at least one pressure chamber; and 
 at least one pressure line; and 
   a riser assembly, comprising:
 at least one riser pipe; and 
 a buoyancy chamber; 
   wherein the plurality of griping members are configured to fold inward toward the gripping assembly pipe as the gripping assembly pipe is pushed into an outlet of the sub-sea well and are further configured to be forced outward away from the gripping assembly pipe via at least one of hydraulic and mechanical force;   wherein the sealing element is configured to seal around the outlet;   wherein the at least one pressure chamber is configured to provide pressure against the sealing element such that it presses the sealing element against the outlet; and   wherein the at least one pressure line provides pressure to the pressure chamber.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one injection port configured to inject fluids into the bladder sealing assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a processing line fluidly connecting the riser assembly to a processing vessel. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the buoyancy chamber is adjustable. 
     
     
         19 . A method to secure a flowing sub-sea well, comprising:
 placing a gripping assembly of a securing apparatus into an outlet of the sub-sea well, said gripping assembly having a plurality of gripping members;   forcing the gripping members against sides of the outlet;   securing a bladder sealing assembly to the flowing sub-sea well, said bladder sealing assembly having at least one sealing member configured to seal against at least a portion of the outlet;   providing pressure against the sealing member to press the sealing member against at least a portion of the outlet; and   fluidly connecting the bladder assembly to a riser assembly.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the riser assembly is fluidly connected to a processing vessel.