Frank Close

US Patent:

20110232912, Sep 29, 2011

Filed:

Mar 25, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/731252

Inventors:

FRANK CLOSE - Houston TX, US

International Classification:

E21B 43/01
E21B 43/34

US Classification:

166335, 166357

Abstract:

A system and method for hydraulically powering a seafloor pump and thereby delivering produced fluid from a subsea well are provided. The system includes a power fluid source, such as a seawater source, which is located at a seasurface location of a sea, and a hydraulically-driven pump, which is located at a seafloor location. The pump is configured to receive a flow of produced fluid from a subsea well and deliver the produced fluid through a riser to a receiver at a seasurface location. One or more conduits that define a feed passage connect the source and the pump, and the source is configured to receive power fluid and provide a flow of the power fluid via the feed passage of the conduit to the pump. The pump is hydraulically operated by the flow of power fluid and delivers the produced fluid from the pump to the receiver.