Exxon Production Research Company

Wynn P Rickey

Roger W Huffaker

Deborah H Dobson

Paul Nelson Stanton

Aaron E Pierce

David A Hibbs

Methods of gravel packing a subterranean well located subsea utilizing through-the-flowline techniques are disclosed in which a sand slurry is pumped downwardly through one pipe of a dual pipe string and outwardly through an H-type crossover member (14, 15) into a perforated casing area (20) until the area is fully packed. In one method, the H-type crossover member (14) is provided with a flangible plug (14h) to allow bypass of the sand slurry once the perforated casing area is filled with aggregate. In another method, the gravel packing of the perforated casing area is accomplished utilizing a special TFL tool (25) which provides for injection of the sand slurry through an H-type crossover member (15) into the perforated casing area (20).

Method and apparatus for through-the-flowline gravel packing

A method and apparatus for cleaning debris from the interior surfaces of two flowlines, particularly dissimilar sized flowlines, utilizes a crossover flowline, crossover valve, and two bypass flowlines and bypass valves, wherein the bypass flowlines communicate between a respective flowline and the crossover flowline.

Apparatus for pigging hydrocarbon product flowlines

A fluid control system 10 and selector valve 24 for use therein, for controlling a plurality of fluid actuated elements 12, such as valve operators. The fluid actuated elements are controlled from an operating station 52, which is located remotely from the fluid actuated elements 12. Instructions regarding which of the fluid actuated elements 12 it is desired to operate are transmitted by coded signal from the operating station 52 to the selector valve 24, which is positioned proximate the fluid actuated elements 12. The coded signal is transmitted in binary form through a plurality of code input lines 30, each code input line carrying one binary digit of the code. Each of the fluid actuated elements 12 is represented by a corresponding binary code. In response to receiving the binary code corresponding to a given one of the fluid actuated elements 12, the selector valve 24 establishes a fluid circuit serving to introduce fluid pressure to or release pressure from that one of the fluid actuated elements 12, causing it to alter its condition. The present invention is especially well suited for use in the hydraulic control of a satellite well subsea production system.

Coded fluid control system

Method for pigging hydrocarbon product flowlines

A method and system for separating and sealing sections of a pipeline are disclosed. A spherical member is advanced by pressure along the interior of a pipeline to seat against a restraining member forming a pressure-tight seal. The advancing pressure may then be increased within the pipeline to monitor for leaks in the upstream section of the pipeline.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Wynn P Rickey