Systems and methods for subsea fluid handling
A method of establishing a fluid connection in a subsea petroleum production system, the method comprising: positioning a first subsea fluid handling component ( 4,11 - 17,28 ) having a first connector ( 4 a, 11 a, 12 a, 12 b, 29 ) adjacent a second subsea fluid handling component ( 4,11 - 17,28 ) having a second connector ( 4 a, 11 a, 12 a, 12 b, 29 ), the first and/or second connectors ( 4 a, 11 a, 12 a, 12 b, 29 ) having a breakable plug ( 20 ) sealingly arranged therein; operating an actuator to make up a connection between the first and second connectors ( 4 a, 11 a, 12 a, 12 b, 29 ) while the breakable plug ( 20 ) is intact; shattering the plug ( 20 ) such as to open for fluid connection between the first and second subsea fluid handling components ( 4,11 - 17,28 ). There is also provided a subsea pipe ( 11,12,13 ) for arrangement on a sea floor ( 2 ) or on a subsea structure ( 4,14 - 17 ), having a breakable plug ( 20 ) sealingly arranged in an end connector ( 11 a, 12 a, 12 b ) forming strengthened end parts of the pipe ( 11,12,13 ).
1 . A method of establishing a fluid connection in a subsea petroleum production system, the method comprising:
positioning a first subsea fluid handling component having a first connector adjacent a second subsea fluid handling component having a second connector, the first and/or second connectors having a breakable plug sealingly arranged therein, wherein the first subsea fluid handling component is a pipe;
operating an actuator to make up a connection between the first and second connectors while the breakable plug is intact;
bringing a loading member, which is movably arranged in the pipe into engagement with the breakable plug and effecting a load onto the breakable plug such as to damage the breakable plug, wherein the load is effected onto the breakable plug by the loading member as part of a locking operation which locks the first connector to the second connector; and
shattering the breakable plug such as to open for fluid connection between the first and second subsea fluid handling components, wherein the step of shattering the breakable plug comprises increasing a pressure at a pipe side of the breakable plug so as to cause a shattering of the breakable plug.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising laying down the pipe at a sea floor or arranging the pipe between two subsea structures.
3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
subsequent to laying down the pipe at the sea floor or arranging the pipe between two subsea structures and prior to shattering the breakable plug, pressure testing the pipe by increasing an internal pressure in the pipe with the breakable plug intact therein.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of pressure testing the pipe is carried out prior to operating the actuator to make up the connection between the first and second connectors, wherein the step of laying down the pipe comprises laying down the pipe on the sea floor from a ship and the pipe is a flexible pipe.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of operating the actuator to make up the connection between the first and second connectors comprises operating the actuator to pull the first and second connectors into engagement.
6 . The method of claim 1 , whereby a fluid channel is provided into an interior volume in the breakable plug, and the step of shattering the breakable plug comprises pressurising the interior volume in the breakable plug through the fluid channel.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the fluid channel:
(a) is provided through a holder part which holds the breakable plug; or
(b) comprises a one-way valve or a rupture member arranged therein.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the breakable plug comprises first and second parts and the interior volume is a volume between the first and second parts.