Subsea well test fluid reinjection

Abstract

A system for well testing enables well test fluids to be injected into an existing well, either to a reservoir or into an existing subsea production stream and onto a processing facility, thus eliminating the requirement for flaring. The system has fluids passed through a well test package for measurement and any necessary treatment before being returned via a second fluid conduit, connection, and ancillaries and into a receiving reservoir or existing subsea production stream. The fluids may be produced to surface via a BOP and marine riser (or alternative fluid conduit and connection) or produced and passed through a subsea well test package for measurement without being produced to the surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a path comprising a conduit coupled to a well test package disposed on an offshore vessel, wherein the path runs from the offshore vessel to a seabed to fluidly conduct well test fluids from the well test package to the seabed.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the path comprises a subsea tree disposed at the seabed, wherein the subsea tree when in operation receives the well test fluids. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the subsea tree when in operation transmits the well test fluids to a well coupled to the subsea tree. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , comprising a second conduit coupled to the subsea tree, wherein the subsea tree when in operation transmits the well test fluids to the second conduit. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the second conduit when in operation transmits the well test fluids to a production facility. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the path comprises a safety device comprising at least one valve, wherein the safety device is coupled to the conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the safety device is disposed on the offshore vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the safety device is disposed on the seabed. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the safety device is coupled to the subsea tree, wherein the safety device in operation transmits the well test fluids to the subsea tree. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the path comprises a choke as an access point to the subsea tree, wherein the choke when in operation receives the well test fluids from the safety device and provides the well test fluids to the subsea tree. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the subsea tree is coupled to the offshore vessel via a second conduit to transmit fluids from a well to the well test package. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the subsea tree, when in operation, transmits the well test fluids from a portion of the well. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , comprising a third conduit coupled to the subsea tree, wherein the subsea tree when in operation transmits the well test fluids to the third conduit. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the path comprises a safety device disposed on the offshore vessel or the seabed and comprising at least one valve, wherein the safety device is coupled to the conduit and the subsea tree, wherein the safety device in operation transmits the well test fluids to the subsea tree. 
     
     
         15 . A system, comprising:
 a path comprising a conduit and a well test package disposed on a seabed and coupled to the conduit, wherein the conduit when in operation transmits fluids from a well to the well test package, wherein the well test package in operation performs a well test on the fluids to generate well test fluids.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the path comprises a subsea tree coupled to the well test package, wherein the subsea tree when in operation receives the well test fluids and transmits the well test fluids to a reservoir or via a second conduit coupled to the subsea tree. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the well comprises the reservoir. 
     
     
         18 . A method for testing a subsea well, the method comprising:
 producing fluids from the subsea well at a first wellhead, a first Christmas tree, or a first alternative access point;   passing the fluids through a subsea safety device;   injecting well test fluids into either a reservoir or an existing subsea production stream at a second wellhead, a second Christmas tree, or a second alternative access point.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising passing the fluids through a jumper or a choke access point. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising generating the well test fluids via the subsea safety device.