Universal pump platform
The present invention is directed to a Universal Pumping Platform (UPP) that comprises a platform containing an electric motor that drives a hydraulic pump for producing high pressure hydraulic fluid and one or more pumps powered by the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump. The pump is selected for the desired commissioning method to be carried out, such as filling, chemical treating, pigging, hydrostatic testing or dewatering the pipeline. The UPP is suspended from a vessel by an umbilical that provides the electric current for the electric motor supported by the UPP.
1. A commissioning system for deep water pipelines comprising:
a non-buoyant platform suspended from a first umbilical configured to support the weight of the platform and including an electric motor configured to drive a hydraulic pump for pressurizing hydraulic fluid and a pump disposed on the platform, wherein the pump is configured to be powered by said hydraulic fluid; and
a remotely operated vehicle independent of the platform and attached to a second umbilical, wherein the remotely operated vehicle is configured to couple the pump to the subsea pipeline;
wherein said pumps is configured to perform a commissioning method selected from the group of filling, chemical treating, pigging, hydrostatic testing and dewatering on a subsea pipeline.
2. A commissioning system according to claim 1 wherein said metal is aluminum.
3. A commissioning system according to claim 1 wherein said pump is a high pressure triplex pump.
4. The commissioning system of claim 1 , wherein the platform includes an interface configured to collect and transmit data.
5. A commissioning system according to claim 1 wherein the first umbilical is suspended from a vessel and is configured to provides electric current to said electric motor.
6. The commissioning system of claim 5 , wherein the first umbilical is configured to provide a conduit for data transmission between the platform and the vessel.
7. The commissioning system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a manifold disposed on the sea floor and coupled to the subsea pipeline;
a conduit connecting the pump to the manifold.
8. The commissioning system of claim 7 , wherein the remotely operated vehicle is configured to stab an end of the conduit into the manifold.
9. The commissioning system of claim 7 , wherein the conduit comprises a break-away device configured to disconnect the conduit from the manifold.