Support systems for subsea wellbores

1 . A subsea support system comprising:

a foundation comprising:

a frame; and

an elongate connection pile; and

a template that is configured to be lowered to a sea floor separately from the foundation, wherein the template comprises:

one or more slots, each of the one or more slots being configured to position a subsea wellbore on the sea floor; and

a connection sleeve that is arranged so that when the template is landed on the foundation on the sea floor, the connection pile is received in the connection sleeve, wherein the connection sleeve comprises:

a cylindrical portion;

an upper frustoconical portion extending axially from the cylindrical portion toward an upper end of the connection sleeve, wherein the upper frustoconical portion diverges radially outward from a central axis of the connection sleeve along an axial direction from the cylindrical portion toward the upper end; and

an upper cylindrical portion extending axially from the upper frustoconical portion to the upper end of the connection sleeve;

wherein the upper frustoconical portion and the upper cylindrical portion are configured to interface with a tool for lifting the template relative to the foundation.

2 . The subsea support system of claim 1 , wherein the foundation comprises one or more suction anchors that are coupled to the frame.

3 . The subsea support system of claim 2 , wherein the connection pile is coupled to an upper end of one of the one or more suction anchors.

4 . The subsea support system of claim 2 , further comprising a mechanical lock between the connection pile and the connection sleeve that is configured to rigidly secure the template to the foundation.

5 . The subsea support system of claim 4 , wherein the connection pile comprises a tubular member having an inner bore, and wherein the connection sleeve includes a groove, and wherein the connection pile is configured to be swaged into the groove to define the mechanical lock.

6 . The subsea support system of claim 5 , wherein the connection sleeve includes a funnel defined at a lower end that is configured to guide the connection pile into the connection sleeve as the template is landed on the foundation on the sea floor.

7 . The subsea support system of claim 5 , wherein the groove is formed in the cylindrical portion.

8 . A method of installing a subsea support system, the method comprising:

(a) lowering a foundation to a sea floor, wherein the foundation includes a frame;

(b) securing the foundation on the sea floor so that the foundation is configured to resist loads in a vertical direction and a lateral direction;

(c) lowering a template to the sea floor after (a), wherein the template includes one or more slots and one or more connection sleeves, each of the one or more slots being configured to position a subsea wellbore on the sea floor, each of the one or more connection sleeves comprising:

a cylindrical portion;

an upper frustoconical portion extending axially from the cylindrical portion toward an upper end of the connection sleeve, wherein the upper frustoconical portion diverges radially outward from a central axis of the connection sleeve along an axial direction from the cylindrical portion toward the upper end; and

an upper cylindrical portion extending axially from the upper frustoconical portion to the upper end of the connection sleeve, wherein the upper frustoconical portion and the upper cylindrical portion are configured to interface with a tool for lowering the template;

(d) landing the template on the frame of the foundation; and

(e) forming a mechanical lock between the template and the foundation after (d) to rigidly secure the template to the foundation.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein (b) further comprises sinking one or more suction anchors, coupled to the frame of the foundation, into the sea floor.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein (d) further comprises inserting one or more connection piles that are coupled to the foundation into the one or more connection sleeves that are coupled to the template.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein (d) further comprises guiding an upper end of the one or more connection piles into the one or more connection sleeves by use of a funnel on a lower end of each of the one or more connection sleeves.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein (e) further comprises forming the mechanical lock between the one or more connection piles and the one or more connection sleeves.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein (e) further comprises swaging the one or more connection piles into the one or more connection sleeves.

14 . A subsea support system comprising:

a foundation comprising:

a frame; and

a plurality of vertically extending connection piles;

a template landed on the frame of the foundation, wherein the template comprises:

a plurality of slots that are each configured to position a subsea wellbore on a sea floor; and

a plurality of connection sleeves, wherein the plurality of vertically extending connection piles are inserted into the plurality of connection sleeves to align the template on the foundation, each of the plurality of connection sleeves comprising:

a cylindrical portion;

an upper frustoconical portion extending axially from the cylindrical portion toward an upper end of the connection sleeve, wherein the upper frustoconical portion diverges radially outward from a central axis of the connection sleeve along an axial direction from the cylindrical portion toward the upper end; and

an upper cylindrical portion extending axially from the upper frustoconical portion to the upper end of the connection sleeve, wherein the upper frustoconical portion and the upper cylindrical portion are configured to interface with a tool for lifting the template relative to the foundation; and

a plurality of mechanical locks formed between the plurality of connection piles and the plurality of connection sleeves to rigidly secure the template to the foundation.

15 . The subsea support system of claim 14 , wherein the foundation comprises a plurality of suction anchors that are coupled to the frame, and wherein each of the plurality of connection piles is coupled to an upper end of a corresponding one of the plurality of suction anchors.

16 . The subsea support system of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of connection piles comprises a tubular member having an inner bore.

17 . The subsea support system of claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of connection sleeves includes a groove, and wherein each of the plurality of mechanical locks comprises a swaged connection between a corresponding one of the plurality of connection piles and the groove of a corresponding one of the plurality of connection sleeves.

18 . The subsea support system of claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of connection sleeves includes a funnel defined at a lower end that is configured to guide the corresponding connection pile into the connection sleeve as the template is landed on the foundation on the sea floor.

19 . The subsea support system of claim 18 , wherein the groove is formed in the cylindrical portion.