Modular Exploration and Production System Including an Extended Well Testing Service Vessel

Abstract

A modular exploration and production system combined with an oil well testing and service vessel is provided, the vessel comprising equipment for separating hydrocarbons and/or associated fluids and solids by means of a processing plant. The vessel is equipped with suitable equipment packages for all required functionality, so fluid received from wells, piping and installations at sea or inland waters is processed for the separation, control and ecological handling of the mixture (crude oil, gas, solids, chemicals and oily or production water) in a plurality of phases such as exploration, drilling, finishing, repair, stimulation, production, and production measurement. In an extended combination of such technologies, a single well test service vessel is used in conjunction with a field of neighboring self-standing riser systems to serially test well and production processes, resulting in project-scaled synergies between drilling and testing assets that lead to cleaner, more cost-effective recovery of higher quality yields.

1 . An offshore exploration and production system including an extended well test service vessel, said system comprising:
 a modular exploration and production system disposed in communication with an offshore well, said modular exploration and production system further comprising one or more adjustable buoyancy chambers and a lower connecting member disposed between said offshore well and said one or more adjustable buoyancy chambers; and   an extended well test service vessel comprising means for positioning said vessel into proximate communication with said modular exploration and production system; interconnecting said vessel and said modular exploration and production system with means for loading and discharging hydrocarbons obtained from said well; separating said hydrocarbons into a plurality of constituent products; and discharging the products separated from the hydrocarbons into a storage means.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said means for positioning said vessel further comprises a propulsion system that allows 360° movement in any direction upon the surface of a body of water. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said propulsion system further comprises transverse, longitudinal and directional azimuth thrusters located at one or more of a stern, a bow, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising means for interconnecting said vessel and said offshore well via a moon pool disposed on said vessel. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising means for interconnecting said vessel and said offshore well to a wet head disposed in communication with said modular exploration and production system. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising means for interconnecting said vessel and said offshore well to a dry head disposed in communication with said modular exploration and production system. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said means for separating said hydrocarbons into a plurality of constituent products further comprises means for separating crude oil from said hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said means for separating said hydrocarbons into a plurality of constituent products further comprises means for separating gas from said hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said means for separating said hydrocarbons into a plurality of constituent products further comprises means for separating oily water from said hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said means for separating said hydrocarbons into a plurality of constituent products further comprises means for separating solid matter from said hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said means for separating said hydrocarbons into a plurality of constituent products further comprises means for separating contaminating liquids from said hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said means for discharging products separated from said hydrocarbons further comprises means for discharging said products into an associated support vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said associated support vessel further comprises a barge. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said means for discharging products separated from said hydrocarbons further comprises discharge lines for discharging products into a discharge facility. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said means for discharging products separated from said hydrocarbons further comprises means for discharging products into a pre-existing well. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said means for discharging further comprises an injection pump. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said injection pump is capable of producing a pressure greater than that of the mantle portion of the subsoil into which the crude oil of the will be injected. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said storage means further comprises an associated support vessel. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said storage means further comprises a discharge facility. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said storage means further comprises a pre-existing well. 
     
     
         21 . A method of using an extended well test service vessel in coordination with a modular exploration and production system, said method comprising:
 positioning said vessel into proximate communication with said modular exploration and production system; interconnecting said vessel and said modular exploration and production system with means for loading and discharging hydrocarbons obtained from an associated offshore well; separating said hydrocarbons into a plurality of constituent products; and discharging said products separated from the hydrocarbons into a storage means.