Integrated well system asset and high integrity pressure protection

Abstract

A technique facilitates integration of a well system asset, e.g. a subsea asset, with a pressure protection system (PPS) to prevent over-pressurization on a downstream side of the well system asset. The PPS comprises a barrier structure which may be automatically actuated upon sensing the over-pressurization to block further flow through the well system asset. By combining the PPS and the asset into an integrated structure, certain internal components and functionality may be shared. The integrated structure provides a substantially smaller footprint on, for example, the seabed while also providing a more cost efficient structure to construct and deploy.

1 . A system for use in a well operation, comprising:
 a subsea asset configured to be positioned at a seabed to control flow of a well fluid, the subsea asset having a plurality of valves;   a pressure protection system (PPS) to prevent over-pressurization on a downstream side of the subsea asset, the PPS being combined within the subsea asset as an integrated structure, the integrated structure comprising:
 a fluid inlet, 
 a fluid exit, 
 a flow path from the fluid inlet to the fluid exit, 
 a fluid barrier structure located along the flow path between the fluid inlet and the fluid exit, the fluid barrier structure including the plurality of valves which are actuatable for flow control with respect to both the subsea asset and the PPS, and 
 at least one pressure sensor located along the flow path between the fluid inlet and the fluid exit; and 
   wherein the PPS control system is able to automatically close off flow at the fluid barrier structure within the integrated structure upon occurrence of an over-pressurization.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the subsea asset comprises a Christmas tree. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the subsea asset comprises a vertical or horizontal Christmas tree. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the PPS comprises a high-integrity pressure protections system (HIPPS). 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the subsea asset comprises a manifold. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the subsea asset comprises a pipeline end termination. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pressure sensor comprises an upstream pressure sensor located upstream of the barrier structure, a downstream pressure sensor located downstream of the barrier structure, and an intermediate pressure sensor located between the upstream pressure sensor and the downstream pressure sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the barrier structure comprises at least two valves which may be actuated in response to a signal from the PPS control system to close off flow between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the PPS control system is integrated with a subsea asset control system. 
     
     
         10 . A system for use in a well operation, comprising:
 a Christmas tree mountable on a wellhead to control flow of fluid through the wellhead, the Christmas tree having a wing with a plurality of valves;   a pressure protection system (PPS) to prevent over-pressurization on a downstream side of the Christmas tree, the PPS being combined within the Christmas tree as an integrated structure, the integrated structure comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid exit, a fluid barrier structure including the plurality of valves, an upstream pressure sensor located upstream of the fluid barrier structure, and a plurality of sensors, the fluid barrier structure, the upstream pressure sensor, and the plurality of sensors being located along a flow path between the fluid inlet and the fluid exit, the fluid barrier structure being automatically actuatable to a closed position via the PPS upon detection of a pressure via at least one of the upstream pressure sensor and the plurality of sensors to prevent overpressurization on the downstream side of the Christmas tree.   
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a surface control system coupled to the PPS. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the PPS controls a plurality of valves of the fluid barrier structure. 
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the Christmas tree is a subsea or a surface Christmas tree. 
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the PPS comprises a high-integrity pressure protections system (HIPPS). 
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises pressure sensors deployed along the flow path. 
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the barrier fluid structure comprises at least two valves which may be actuated in response to a signal from the PPS control system to close off flow between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising:
 integrating a pressure protection system (PPS) within a subsea asset to form an integrated structure having common valves utilized by both the subsea asset and the PPS;   using the PPS to prevent over-pressurization on a downstream side of the subsea asset, the PPS being combined within the subsea asset as the integrated structure, the integrated structure comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid exit, a fluid barrier structure, and a plurality of pressure sensors, the fluid barrier structure and the plurality of pressure sensors being located along a flow path between the fluid inlet and the fluid exit; and   automatically actuating the fluid barrier structure to a closed position via the PPS upon detection of a pressure via at least one pressure sensor of the plurality of pressure sensors to prevent pressurization above a predetermined pressure threshold on the downstream side of the subsea asset.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein integrating comprises integrating the PPS into a subsea Christmas tree. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein using comprises using at least two valves of the Christmas tree to form the fluid barrier structure, the at least two valves being actuatable via the PPS control system. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising monitoring pressure via a plurality of pressure sensors located at positions upstream of the fluid barrier structure and downstream of the fluid barrier structure.