Bp Corporation North America Inc.

Bp Exploration Operating Company Limited

Paul W Gulgowski, Jr

Kevin Kennelley

Chau Nguyen

Vicki Deck Corso

Graeme Steele

Adam L Ballard

Walter Greene

Ricky Thethi

Philip D Maule

Robert W Franklin

Steve Hatton

Tony Oldfield

Roy Shilling

David A Wilkinson

David E Wilkinson

A free-standing riser system connects a subsea source to a surface structure. The system includes a concentric free-standing riser comprising inner and outer risers defining an annulus there between. A lower end of the riser is fluidly coupled to the subsea source through a lower riser assembly (LRA) and one or more subsea flexible conduits. An upper end of the riser is connected to a buoyancy assembly and the surface structure through an upper riser assembly (URA) and one or more upper flexible conduits, the riser also mechanically connected to a buoyancy assembly that applies upward tension to the riser. The riser may be insulated for flow assurance, either by a flow assurance fluid in the annulus, insulation of the outside of the outer riser, or both. The system may include a hydrate inhibition system and/or a subsea dispersant system. The surface structure may be dynamically positioned.

Marine subsea free-standing riser systems and methods

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Paul W Gulgowski, Jr