Well Access Systems

Direct Vertical Access (DVA) Completion Workover Riser (CWOR) Riserless Light Well Intervention (RLWI)
Riser and Riserless Systems for the
Offshore Industry...
FMC Technologies Well Access Systems (WAS) is a combination of FMC’s Direct
Vertical Access (DVA) with our Completion Work Over Riser (CWOR) and FMC’s
latest Riserless Intervention Systems. This combination of products and services
provide a complete systems approach to system engineering, detail design, stress and
riser analysis, and equipment manufacturing. WAS ensures reliability while adding
value.

For solutions to your well access and intervention needs, contact FMC Technologies
at www.fmctechnologies.com/subsea
Direct Vertical Access
FMC Technologies’ Direct Vertical Access (DVA) products provide a combination of surface
and subsea technology to meet the demanding conditions associated with Tension Leg
Platform and Spar floating production platforms.

A DVA System consists of these types of components:

• FMC UWD-15 or UWD-10 Subsea Wellhead System at the mudline

• FMC Subsea Tie Back Connector to connect the top tensioned riser to the subsea wellhead

• FMC Stress, Keel and Tensioner Joints designed to be application specific

• FMC High- and Medium-Fatigue Resistant Riser Joints designed to be application specific

• FMC Riser Tensioner System

• FMC Surface Wellhead and Tree System

UWD-15 Subsea Wellhead Systems
FMC’s UWD-15 subsea wellhead systems have set the standard for excellence since their introduction in 1991.
Today’s UWD-15 family advances this long tradition in a complete range of high pressure and deepwater applications.

Standard Rigid Lock Large Bore

UWD-10 Subsea Wellhead Systems

FMC’s UWD-10 Slimbore System offer smaller bore diameters for slender well designs. The UWD-10 system is
based on the same world-proven technology as the UWD-15 systems. The Slimbore wellhead allows the use of
reduced diameter riser systems for drilling and production applications. This makes it possible for early genera-
tion drilling vessels to drill in deeper water and floating production facilities can increase the quantity of produc-
tion risers tied back to the host platform.

13-5/8” Slimbore 14-3/4” Slimbore 16-3/4” Slimbore

Tieback Connectors
FMC has a wide variety of hydraulic and mechanical tieback connectors for various Well
Access System (WAS) applications. The hydraulic connectors are designed to lock to an
internal or external profile on the subsea wellhead housing. The hydraulic tieback connec-
tors feature hydraulic locking and unlocking by ROV, interface with the industry standard
H4 subsea wellhead profile and are positioned on the wellhead with either guidelines or
guidelineless systems.

Internal Hydraulic Tieback

FMC’s internal hydraulic tieback connectors are
designed to lock into an internal profile in the FMC
UWD-15 Subsea Wellhead Housing. The reduced OD
(27”) of this connector allows it to pass safely through
buoyancy cans and keel guides. This connector has a
bending moment capacity of 2.0 MM ft/lbs. with a
primary metal-to-metal seal and elastomer backups in
the production casing hanger.

Internal Hydraulic Tieback

Connector landed and
locked into a UWD-15
subsea wellhead, with a
tapered stress joint
assembled to the top of
the connector.

Slimline Torus 4 External Connector

FMC’s Slimline Torus 4 external connector was specifi-
cally designed for WAS applications with an outside
diameter (OD) of 32.5” it is best suited where the
tieback connector must pass through TLP keel guides
and Spar buoyancy cans. It features a secondary
unlock piston and has numerous seal configurations –
metal-to-metal and elastomer seal into the production
casing hanger, or lockdown bushing for single riser and
H4 type wellhead seal for drilling riser and dual riser
applications. This connector has high bending moment
capacity of 4.7 MM ft/lbs and 10,000 psi internal
pressure, combined.
Slimline Torus 4
FMC’s Slimline external connector utilizes field proven External Connector
locked on to a sub-
technology and has been qualification tested to API sea wellhead
17D standards.
Specialty Joints
FMC has provided custom designed specialty joints (Tapered Stress, Keel and Tensioner)
for numerous riser applications. These specialty joints are engineered on a project specific
basis for overall length, wall thickness and taper length. They feature custom design inter-
face fatigue resistant compact flanges and threaded riser connections. They are construct-
ed from steel open die forgings and designed for high fatigue applications, high fracture
toughness and large bending moments.

Tensioners
FMC offers various tensioner systems from the basic fixed lock-off riser tensioner system to
the more sophisticated hydro-pneumatic systems. These tensioner systems provide the top
tension on the riser system that is required to ensure the survival of the riser system from
the ocean currents, and waves and the motion of the floating platform relative to the riser.

HPT Pull Up Tensioner HPT Push Up Tensioner

Hydro-Pneumatic Tensioner (HPT)
Systems
The HPT systems feature large hydraulic cylinders and
accumulators which operate in severe offshore conditions,
even with one cylinder out of service. The HPT interfaces
with the tension load ring that adjusts on the tension joint for
proper riser space-out and position. The tensioner is made up
of an array of four to six cylinders with a total stroke 5 ft. to
20 ft. and can be supported by an integral structural frame or
can be built directly into the TLP/Spar structure.

The two primary types of the hydro-pneumatic tensioner

(HPT) design configurations are: pull-up or push-up. The
most common is the pull-up tensioner which is utilized in
applications where the tension loads are medium to high with
stroke lengths from 4 ft. to 28 ft. The push-up type tensioner
is utilized for applications with high tensioner loads, stroke
lengths greater than 20 feet, and where the cylinders can be
mounted directly onto the floating facilities structure. Both Pneumatic Riser Tensioner
configurations incorporate centralizing rollers that constrain
the system from lateral and rotational loads while providing
guidance during the entire stroke. These types of tensioner
systems have been successfully utilized on TLP’s and Spars in
the Gulf of Mexico, Asia-Pacific and West Africa regions.

Fixed Lock-Off Tensioner Systems

FMC’s Fixed Lock-Off Riser Tensioner Systems are designed
for benign ocean environments. This tensioner features
upper and lower passive load rings that interface with
electronic load cells allowing for simple access and mainte-
nance. The design also features two adjustment nuts
allowing for riser tension adjustment.

This type of tensioner system has been successfully utilized

on TLP’s in the Asia-Pacific and West Africa regions.
Fixed Lock-Off
Tensioner System
WAS Surface Wellheads
FMC Technologies is the market leader in surface wellheads and trees for WAS with
equipment designed with special considerations for minimizing wellhead and tree height
and weight for floating production platform applications, while incorporating fire resis
resis-
tance rating and high fatigue loading capabilities.

FMC offers five patented adjustable casing hanger

designs for WAS applications as well as a top mounted
riser load monitoring system (RLMS) to measure the
applied tension on the riser system from the tensioning
system.

Typically, Surface Wellhead Systems require a specially

designed wellhead access platform that gives the
operator ergonomic access to the wellhead and tree.
These wellhead access platforms provide attachment
points for the electrical junction boxes and the hydrau-
lic bulkheads for umbilicals, while providing clearance
for flowlines and piping.

3D cutaway of a Dual Bore DVA Surface

Wellhead and Tree System
Completion Workover Riser Systems
FMC Technologies is the market leader in the supply of Completion / Workover Riser
Systems throughout the world. From multi-functional monobore and dual bore riser
systems for heavy installation operation from drilling rigs, to the Riserless Light Well
Intervention systems for wireline and coil tubing operations performed for drilling rigs or
smaller support vessels. These systems make it possible to install, retrieve and perform
interventions on the subsea tree systems while maintaining well control from the comple-
tion / intervention vessel.

EDP

LRP

Tree

Tubing Head

Completion Workover Riser System landed on

subsea tree
Completion/ Intervention Systems
The Heavy Completion / Intervention System includes Lower Riser Package, Emergency
Disconnect Package, riser joints, specialty riser joints, tensioner system and surface tree.

The Emergency Disconnect Package (EDP) is designed for an emergency

allowing the completion/intervention vessel to disconnect from the
subsea well while under load with a high disconnection angle. The EDP
disconnects from the LRP and isolates the riser from the environment.
A production retainer valve shuts in the riser and the annulus master
valve shuts in the riser. A crossover valve allows circulation of the riser
after disconnection.
Emergency Disconnect Package (EDP)
The Lower Riser Package (LRP) is designed to isolate the well from the
personnel and the riser. The Pipe Slip Ram (PSR) hangs off the work
string and provides the means for retrieval of a sheared work string once
the emergency has ended. The Lower Blind Shear Ram (LBSR) shears the
work string and provides the primary seal to the environment. The
Upper Blind Shear Ram (UBSR) shears the work string and provides a
secondary seal to the environment.

The Light Completion / Intervention System includes

Lower Riser Package (LRP)
Lower Lubricator Package, Lubricator Tubulars, Upper
Lubricator Package and Pressure Control Head.
This system is used with smaller dynamically positioned semis and
monohull vessels that offer economic advantages over the high cost of
drilling units.

The Riserless Light Weight Intervention (RLWI) system is a 10,000 psi

working pressure system that offers subsea flushing with well fluids at
the surface. This system is capable of passing a wireline tool string
length of up to 66 feet long and is compatible with both horizontal and
vertical subsea trees.
The Lower Lubricator Package (LLP) has a 13 5/8” connector for connect-
ing to the LIP. The LLP has the same functionality as the EDP in the
Heavy Intervention system, plus it has a 44 function control module and
umbilical termination. The Lubricator tubulars (LUB) have a 7 1/16” main
bore with Speedloc MkII connections and integrated hydraulic lines and
grease lines in the speedloc hubs.

The Upper Lubricator Package (ULP) has a shear seal ram with wire
cutting capaility and 10” connector for connecting to the pressure control
head.

The Pressure Control Head (PCH) has a dual stuffing box in the lower end
and subsea grease injection capabilities.
 FMC Technologies
1777 Gears Road
Houston TX 77067
281 591 4000

www.fmctechnologies.com/subsea ©Copyright 2008, FMC Technologies, Inc.