IP Library Granted Patent US 11,021,924
Granted Patent B2
US 11,021,924 · App. 16/305,697 · Granted Jun 1, 2021

Flow control module

Inventors: Paul L. Riley (Houston, TX); Ramu Valliappan Manickam (Singapore, SG); Wei Soung Tan (Singapore, SG); May-Ling Rachel Ho (Singapore, SG); Guoxiang Calvin Wu (Singapore, SG)
Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
E21B33/035E21B34/04E21B33/043E21B33/064E21B33/076E21B43/013E21B2200/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,021,924
App. No.
16/305,697
Granted
Jun 1, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An assembly includes an inlet hub ( 112 ) coupled to a first flow passage ( 124 ) located within a flow control module, the first flow passage having a first flow bore, a flow meter ( 144 ) associated with the first flow bore and positioned for top-down fluid flow, a choke ( 109 ) disposed in a second flow passage ( 136 ) having a second flow bore, and an outlet hub ( 119 ) coupled to a distal end of the second flow passage. A system includes a flow control module assembly ( 902 ) having an inlet ( 912 ) and at least two outlets ( 914, 916 ), a main line ( 920 ) in fluid communication with the inlet, a first branch line ( 922 ) coupled to the main line and to a first outlet ( 916 ) of the at least two outlets, and a second branch line ( 924 ) coupled to the main line and to a second outlet ( 914 ) of the at least two outlets, and a tie-in connector ( 918 ) coupled to the inlet of the flow control module assembly.

Claims (21)

1. An assembly comprising:

a flow control module, comprising:

a vertical first flow passage having a first flow bore extending axially from a top axial end to a bottom axial end of the vertical first flow passage;

an inlet hub coupled at a first end to the top axial end of the vertical first flow passage and directly coupled at an opposite end to a production wing outlet of a subsea tree or to a spool that is connected to the production wing outlet of the subsea tree;

a flow meter associated with the first flow bore and positioned for top-down fluid flow;

a horizontal second flow passage having a second flow bore extending axially from a first axial end to a distal axial end, wherein the first axial end is coupled to the bottom axial end of the vertical first flow passage, opposite the top axial end of the vertical first flow passage;

a choke disposed in the horizontal second flow passage;

an outlet hub coupled to the distal axial end of the horizontal second flow passage; and

an isolation valve disposed in the horizontal second flow passage, between the inlet hub and the outlet hub.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outlet hub is configured for direct connection to a flowline.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inlet hub comprises one of a collet connector, a clamp connector, or a flange connector.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flow meter is at least one of a multi-phase flow meter, a single phase flow meter, a wet gas flow meter, or a virtual meter.

5. A method for using a flow control module assembly, comprising:

connecting a first end of an inlet hub of the flow control module assembly to a top axial end of a vertical first flow passage of the flow control module assembly, and directly coupling an opposite end of the inlet hub to a production wing outlet of a subsea tree or to a spool that is connected to the production wing outlet of the subsea tree;

connecting an outlet hub of the flow control module assembly to a flowline;

directing fluid from the production wing outlet of the subsea tree through the inlet hub of the flow control module assembly;

directing the fluid from the inlet hub directly down through the vertical first flow passage located in the flow control module assembly and through a flow meter disposed in the vertical first flow passage, wherein the fluid flows from a top to a bottom of the flow meter;

directing the fluid through a horizontal second flow passage coupled to a distal bottom axial end of the vertical first flow passage, the directing the fluid through the horizontal second flow passage comprising directing the fluid through a choke disposed in the horizontal second flow passage;

directing fluid through the second flow passage to the outlet hub, wherein the outlet hub is located on a distal end of the horizontal second flow passage; and

directing the fluid from the outlet hub to the flowline.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein a connection between the outlet hub and the flowline is horizontal, vertical, or any angle in between.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT R/F 064193/0810 Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: DNB BANK ASA, NEW YORK BRANCH
To: FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SCHILLING ROBOTICS, LLC
Reel/Frame 068525/0717 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT R/F 064193/0870 Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SCHILLING ROBOTICS, LLC
Reel/Frame 068527/0127 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2023
From: FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SCHILLING ROBOTICS, LLC
To: DNB BANK ASA, NEW YORK BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 064193/0810 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2023
From: FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SCHILLING ROBOTICS, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 064193/0870 →