Process For Subsea Deployment of Drilling Equipment

Abstract

An apparatus, system and process for deployment of subsea drilling equipment through a moon pool of a drilling vessel is disclosed. The drilling equipment may include a subsea mudlift pump (MLP) that is configured to be deployed below the surface of the ocean and is adapted for conducting dual gradient drilling (DGD) operations. In the apparatus and process, the MLP may be suspended temporarily aboard the vessel by a holding mechanism. The MLP may be combined first with a lower marine riser package (LMRP) prior to suspension of the MLP and/or MLP/LMRP aboard the drilling vessel. An equipment combination, comprising at least a MLP and a LMRP, may be with a BOP, the mating occurring at a position below the surface of the ocean. In one aspect, the BOP may be separately deployed into the ocean, and then subsequently mated subsea with the LMRP and/or a MLP/LMRP combined equipment package.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A process for deployment of drilling equipment through a moon pool of a drilling vessel, the process comprising:
 (a) suspending a MLP, the MLP having an upper side and a lower side having a first connection mechanism;   (b) positioning a LMRP below the MLP, the LMRP having a lower side and an upper side having a second connection mechanism, the second connection mechanism of the LMRP being adapted for mating with the first connection mechanism of the MLP;   (c) mating the first connection mechanism with the second connection mechanism to form an inline MLP/LMRP; and   (d) suspending the inline MLP/LMRP by a holding mechanism that is fixed to the drilling vessel, the holding mechanism being reversibly attached to the MLP, the inline MLP/LMRP being suspended above the moon pool of the drilling vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 (e) providing an SPU with a top flange and a bottom flange; 
 (f) connecting the bottom flange of the SPU to the upper side of the MLP to form an inline SPU/MLP/LMRP; and 
 (g) suspending the inline SPU/MLP/LMRP in position for deployment through the moon pool. 
 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 (e) providing an SPU with a top flange and a bottom flange; 
 (f) providing an SRD with a bottom flange; and 
 (g) connecting the bottom flange of the SRD with the top flange of the SPU to form a SRD/SPU component that comprises at least both an SRD and SPU. 
 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:
 (h) connecting the bottom flange of the SRD/SPU to the inline MLP/LMRP to form an inline SRD/SPU/MLP/LMRP; and   (i) suspending the inline SRD/SPU/MLP/LMRP upon the drilling vessel in position for deployment through the moon pool.   
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4  further comprising the step of:
 (j) positioning a BOP adjacent the floor of the ocean; 
 (k) lowering the inline SRD/SPU/MLP/LMRP to a position above the BOP; and 
 (l) mating the lower side of the LMRP of the inline SRD/SPU/MLP/LMRP with the BOP to form an inline SRD/SPU/MLP/LMRP/BOP. 
 
     
     
         6 . A process for deploying drilling equipment through a moon pool of a drilling vessel into the ocean, the process comprising:
 (a) suspending a BOP above the moon pool;   (b) lowering the BOP through the moon pool into the ocean;   (c) subsequently or simultaneously with step (b), suspending a MLP, the MLP having an upper side and a lower side with a first connection mechanism;   (d) positioning a LMRP below the MLP, the LMRP having a lower side and an upper side having a second connection mechanism, the second connection mechanism of the LMRP being adapted for mating with the first connection mechanism of the MLP;   (e) mating the first connection mechanism with the second connection mechanism to form an equipment combination comprising at least a MLP and a LMRP; and   (f) suspending the equipment combination comprising at least a MLP and a LMRP aboard the drilling vessel by engaging the MLP with a holding mechanism that is fixed to the drilling vessel above or adjacent to the moon pool.   
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6  further comprising the steps of:
 (g) providing an SPU with a top flange and a bottom flange; 
 (h) providing a SRD with a bottom flange; 
 (i) connecting the bottom flange of the SRD to the top flange of the SPU to form an integrated inline SRD/SPU; and 
 (j) connecting the: 
 (k) bottom flange of the SRD/SPU to the equipment combination comprising at least a MLP and a LMRP to 
 (l) form an inline SRD/SPU/MLP/LMRP; and 
 (m) suspending the inline SRD/SPU/MLP/LMRP in position for deployment through the moon pool. 
 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 7  further comprising the step of:
 (l) lowering the inline SRD/SPU/MLP/LMRP through the moon pool into the ocean. 
 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8  further comprising the step of:
 (m) mating the lower side of the LMRP of the inline SRD/SPU/MLP/LMRP with the BOP to form a SRD/SPU/MLP/LMRP/BOP. 
 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 8  further comprising the step of:
 (n) activating an H4 subsea connection to secure the BOP to the inline SRD/SPU/MLP/LMRP. 
 
     
     
         11 . A process for deploying drilling equipment through a moon pool of a drilling vessel into the ocean, the process comprising:
 (g) suspending a BOP above the moon pool;   (h) lowering the BOP through the moon pool into the ocean;   (i) suspending a MLP, the MLP having an upper side and a lower side with a first connection mechanism;   (j) positioning a LMRP below the MLP, the LMRP having a lower side and an upper side having a second connection mechanism, the second connection mechanism of the LMRP being adapted for mating with the first connection mechanism of the MLP;   (k) mating the first connection mechanism with the second connection mechanism to form an equipment combination comprising at least a MLP and a LMRP;   (l) suspending the equipment combination comprising at least a MLP and a LMRP aboard the drilling vessel by engaging the MLP with a holding mechanism that is fixed to the drilling vessel above or adjacent to the moon pool;   (m) providing an SPU;   (n) providing a SRD;   (o) forming an inline SRD/SPU/MLP/LMRP combination; and   (p) suspending the inline SRD/SPU/MLP/LMRP combination in position for deployment through the moon pool;   (q) lowering the inline SRD/SPU/MLP/LMRP through the moon pool into the ocean; and   (r) mating the lower side of the LMRP of the inline SRD/SPU/MLP/LMRP with the BOP to form in the ocean a SRD/SPU/MLP/LMRP/BOP.   
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11  wherein step (f) further comprises suspending the equipment combination comprising at least a MLP and a LMRP aboard the drilling vessel by engaging the MLP with a holding mechanism that is fixed to a carriage upon the drilling vessel, wherein the carriage is mounted upon rails, the carriage being adapted for movement along the rails to multiple predetermined positions above the moon pool of the drilling vessel. 
     
     
         13 . A process for deployment of drilling equipment through a moon pool of a drilling vessel, the process comprising:
 suspending a first device above a moon pool;   suspending a second device below the first device;   connecting the first device to the second device to form a connected pair; and   suspending the connected pair with a holding mechanism attached to the first device.