Process For Subsea Deployment of Drilling Equipment

摘要

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.

主权项

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.