Subsea methane production assembly
A methane production assembly comprising a subsea well ( 3 ) extending from the seabed to a methane hydrate formation ( 5 ). The assembly comprises a well casing ( 7 ) extending into the subsea well ( 3 ), a subsea well control assembly ( 9 ), a submersible pump ( 17 ) in fluid communication with the methane hydrate formation, and a methane-water separator ( 29 ) having a water outlet ( 31 ) and a methane outlet ( 32 ). The submersible pump is arranged above the subsea well.
1. A methane production assembly comprising:
a subsea well extending from the seabed to a methane hydrate formation;
a well casing extending into the subsea well;
a subsea well control assembly;
a submersible pump in fluid communication with the methane hydrate formation;
a methane-water separator having a water outlet and a methane outlet;
wherein the submersible pump is arranged above the subsea well;
a riser extending from a surface installation down to the subsea well control assembly; and
wherein the methane-water separator is integrated with a riser joint.
2. The methane production assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the submersible pump is arranged external to the subsea well control assembly and the riser.
3. The methane production assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the submersible pump is integrated with the subsea well control assembly or with a disconnection apparatus.
4. The methane production assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the methane-water separator is arranged downstream of the subsea well control assembly, wherein the submersible pump connects to the water outlet and wherein a flowline extending to shore is in fluid communication with the methane outlet.
5. The methane production assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the subsea well control assembly has a bore with a well control valve, and wherein the bore is in fluid communication with a well space confined by the inwardly facing wall of the casing.