CA1109783A - Control system for subsea well-heads - Google Patents
Control system for subsea well-headsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1109783A CA1109783A CA300,236A CA300236A CA1109783A CA 1109783 A CA1109783 A CA 1109783A CA 300236 A CA300236 A CA 300236A CA 1109783 A CA1109783 A CA 1109783A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- well
- hydraulic
- electric
- control
- control system
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 239000003129 oil well Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000003643 water by type Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 claims 4
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 claims 2
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 claims 2
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 claims 2
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 claims 2
- 239000013535 sea water Substances 0.000 claims 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims 1
- 230000009102 absorption Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000002950 deficient Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 230000001788 irregular Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
- E21B33/02—Surface sealing or packing
- E21B33/03—Well heads; Setting-up thereof
- E21B33/035—Well heads; Setting-up thereof specially adapted for underwater installations
- E21B33/0355—Control systems, e.g. hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, acoustic, for submerged well heads
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B34/00—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells
- E21B34/16—Control means therefor being outside the borehole
Landscapes
- Geology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
- Fluid-Pressure Circuits (AREA)
- Reduction Or Emphasis Of Bandwidth Of Signals (AREA)
- Accommodation For Nursing Or Treatment Tables (AREA)
Abstract
CONTROL SYSTEM FOR SUBSEA WELL-HEADS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE :
A control system for subsea oil wells, more particularly well heads is disclosed, which comprises in combination, an electronic command and control unit, a valve actuating hydraulic electric unit, a power generator unit, interconnection devices for interconnecting the hydraulic lines for controlling the whole system from the surface with the hydraulic units for commanding the electric-hydraulic unit.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE :
A control system for subsea oil wells, more particularly well heads is disclosed, which comprises in combination, an electronic command and control unit, a valve actuating hydraulic electric unit, a power generator unit, interconnection devices for interconnecting the hydraulic lines for controlling the whole system from the surface with the hydraulic units for commanding the electric-hydraulic unit.
Description
~1)9783 This invention relates to a control system for subsea well-heads adapted to complete subsea oil wells in deep waters (down ~o 600 metres o~ water depth).
A number of systems are known for completing on the sea bottom oil wells, but none of these combines all the features and capabilities of the system according to the present ; invention.
According to the invention, a control system for subsea oil well heads adapted to complete subsea oil wells in deep waters down to 600 metres, comprises:
a~ an electronic unit for command and control;
b) an electric-hydraulic unit for actuating the well valves;
c) a unit for generating electric power;
dl a unit for interconnection of the hydraulic lines for control from the surface with the hydrauli~c lines for control from the electric hydraulic unit.
The well-head according to the present invention does not require, for its erection and operation the services of frog-men. It is remotely controlled hoth acoustically and by !
cable and also electrically along the flow lines for the hydro-' carbons. It is fed with electricity by a subsea radio-isotope generator.
- The mechanical portion of the well-head is conceived ;~; according to a modular pattern. The lower portion comprises the components which are intended to stay on the sea bottom for long periods of time, the top portion combines those components which require occasional upkeep~ The top portion collects also all those components of the control system proper.
The well-head, since the control and feed system are integrated thereon, does not require any connection with ~ .
l~LC1~783 with the terminal platform, the only exception being the flow lines for the hydroearbons~ By so doing, all the problems are offset; whieh are bound to the use of subsea electric eables and eonneetors.
Passing now to deseribing in detail the well-head eontrol system,referenee will be made to the aceompanying drawing whieh shows diagrammatieally a praatical embodiment of the sub~eet system, given by way of example only without limitation, as it is possible to introduce a number of ~odifieations and changes without departing from the scope and the function of this invention.
The eontrol system is prineipally composed by a eontainer, 1, for the eontrol electronic eircuitry connected to the hydrophones and to the transmitting station for reeeiving and sending the aeoustie signals.
The electronic cireuitry is also adapted to operate by using an electrie cable and the subsea conduits as means for transmitting the `
,/
... _ . . ....
necessary signals.
The electronic circuitry encodes and decodes the signals, starting signals and arriving signals, from and to ; the well head, respectively.
The electronic circuitry is adapted to operate, with the intermediary of the electric-hydraulic instalLation, the cutoff valves for the well ana to send analogic data (readings of pressure, electric voltage and others), to send indications relative to the position of the cutoff valves of the well and possible conditions of block and alarm.
The elctronic circuitry is connected to a container, ~- 2, which encloses the electric-hydraulic installation. Such a container is partitioned into two chambers which are mutually connected by an interconnection plate through which are formed all the passageways (for electric and hydraulic ducts) both between the two adjoining chambers and towards the outside (for , actuating the valve-operating members, for identifying their position, for reading the values of the pressure in the well-head and others).
In the top chamber, under atmospherical pressures, is housed the interface unit along with the storage batteries for feeding both the electric hydraulic installation and the elec-tronic circuitry.
; The interface unit fulfils the task of controlling the start and the stop of the electric motor which actuates the hydraulic pump, on the basis of the indications given by the pressure-stats installcd on the hydraulic accumulators and of interconnecting all the electric signals coming from the hydraulic apparatus and from the apparatus mounted on the 3~ well head with the electronic circuitry and vice-versa.
In the lower chamber, which is pressure-compensated and is thus under the pressure which corresponds to the depth 9~783 at which the well head has been installed, there are enclosed, in an oil-bath, the hydraulic installation and the electric motor as ~ell.
The electric motor actuates a pump which is intended only to load appropriate hydraulic accumulators.
The hydraulic accumulators actuate the actuators for the cutoff valves of the well at the instant of time at which operation is required and within the times which are provided for actuating such valves. The transfer of the operative hydraulic fluid to the utilization apparatus takes place by directional electro-magnetic valves which are controlled by the control electronic circuitry. A ratio isotope generator, - 3, supplies the necessary electric power to the entire system via the storage batteries installed in the top chamber of the container 2.
For controlling the valves in the well head during the performance of operation from the surface a cutoff block 4 which permits, by appropriate valves actuated hydraulically, to cut off the electric hydraulic system which has been installed on the well head.
, ..
-
A number of systems are known for completing on the sea bottom oil wells, but none of these combines all the features and capabilities of the system according to the present ; invention.
According to the invention, a control system for subsea oil well heads adapted to complete subsea oil wells in deep waters down to 600 metres, comprises:
a~ an electronic unit for command and control;
b) an electric-hydraulic unit for actuating the well valves;
c) a unit for generating electric power;
dl a unit for interconnection of the hydraulic lines for control from the surface with the hydrauli~c lines for control from the electric hydraulic unit.
The well-head according to the present invention does not require, for its erection and operation the services of frog-men. It is remotely controlled hoth acoustically and by !
cable and also electrically along the flow lines for the hydro-' carbons. It is fed with electricity by a subsea radio-isotope generator.
- The mechanical portion of the well-head is conceived ;~; according to a modular pattern. The lower portion comprises the components which are intended to stay on the sea bottom for long periods of time, the top portion combines those components which require occasional upkeep~ The top portion collects also all those components of the control system proper.
The well-head, since the control and feed system are integrated thereon, does not require any connection with ~ .
l~LC1~783 with the terminal platform, the only exception being the flow lines for the hydroearbons~ By so doing, all the problems are offset; whieh are bound to the use of subsea electric eables and eonneetors.
Passing now to deseribing in detail the well-head eontrol system,referenee will be made to the aceompanying drawing whieh shows diagrammatieally a praatical embodiment of the sub~eet system, given by way of example only without limitation, as it is possible to introduce a number of ~odifieations and changes without departing from the scope and the function of this invention.
The eontrol system is prineipally composed by a eontainer, 1, for the eontrol electronic eircuitry connected to the hydrophones and to the transmitting station for reeeiving and sending the aeoustie signals.
The electronic cireuitry is also adapted to operate by using an electrie cable and the subsea conduits as means for transmitting the `
,/
... _ . . ....
necessary signals.
The electronic circuitry encodes and decodes the signals, starting signals and arriving signals, from and to ; the well head, respectively.
The electronic circuitry is adapted to operate, with the intermediary of the electric-hydraulic instalLation, the cutoff valves for the well ana to send analogic data (readings of pressure, electric voltage and others), to send indications relative to the position of the cutoff valves of the well and possible conditions of block and alarm.
The elctronic circuitry is connected to a container, ~- 2, which encloses the electric-hydraulic installation. Such a container is partitioned into two chambers which are mutually connected by an interconnection plate through which are formed all the passageways (for electric and hydraulic ducts) both between the two adjoining chambers and towards the outside (for , actuating the valve-operating members, for identifying their position, for reading the values of the pressure in the well-head and others).
In the top chamber, under atmospherical pressures, is housed the interface unit along with the storage batteries for feeding both the electric hydraulic installation and the elec-tronic circuitry.
; The interface unit fulfils the task of controlling the start and the stop of the electric motor which actuates the hydraulic pump, on the basis of the indications given by the pressure-stats installcd on the hydraulic accumulators and of interconnecting all the electric signals coming from the hydraulic apparatus and from the apparatus mounted on the 3~ well head with the electronic circuitry and vice-versa.
In the lower chamber, which is pressure-compensated and is thus under the pressure which corresponds to the depth 9~783 at which the well head has been installed, there are enclosed, in an oil-bath, the hydraulic installation and the electric motor as ~ell.
The electric motor actuates a pump which is intended only to load appropriate hydraulic accumulators.
The hydraulic accumulators actuate the actuators for the cutoff valves of the well at the instant of time at which operation is required and within the times which are provided for actuating such valves. The transfer of the operative hydraulic fluid to the utilization apparatus takes place by directional electro-magnetic valves which are controlled by the control electronic circuitry. A ratio isotope generator, - 3, supplies the necessary electric power to the entire system via the storage batteries installed in the top chamber of the container 2.
For controlling the valves in the well head during the performance of operation from the surface a cutoff block 4 which permits, by appropriate valves actuated hydraulically, to cut off the electric hydraulic system which has been installed on the well head.
, ..
-
Claims (5)
1. A control system for subsea oil well heads adapted to complete subsea oil wells in deep waters down to 600 metres, comprising:
a) an electronic unit for command and control;
b) an electric-hydraulic unit for actuating the well valves;
c) a unit for generating electric power;
d) a unit for interconnection of the hydraulic lines for control from the surface with the hydraulic lines for control from the electric hydraulic unit.
a) an electronic unit for command and control;
b) an electric-hydraulic unit for actuating the well valves;
c) a unit for generating electric power;
d) a unit for interconnection of the hydraulic lines for control from the surface with the hydraulic lines for control from the electric hydraulic unit.
2. A control system for subsea well heads according to claim 1 wherein the command and control electronic circuitry:
a) is adapted to operate using as the transmission channel both the acoustic transmission through sea water and the electric transmission through a cable or along the hydro-carbon flow ducts with return of the signals through the sea water, b) is provided with alarm systems for automatically closing the valves of the well in the case of an average of the system of remote transmission and of the feeding system, or in the case of irregular conditions of operation of the well or break of the hydrocarbon conveying ducts in the case of a lack of propagation of the acoustic signals, c) the control terminal can actuate a number of subsea well heads simultaneously in the case of alarm conditions on the surface platform.
a) is adapted to operate using as the transmission channel both the acoustic transmission through sea water and the electric transmission through a cable or along the hydro-carbon flow ducts with return of the signals through the sea water, b) is provided with alarm systems for automatically closing the valves of the well in the case of an average of the system of remote transmission and of the feeding system, or in the case of irregular conditions of operation of the well or break of the hydrocarbon conveying ducts in the case of a lack of propagation of the acoustic signals, c) the control terminal can actuate a number of subsea well heads simultaneously in the case of alarm conditions on the surface platform.
3. A control system according to claim 1 or 2 in which the electric hydraulic installation for the actuation of the cutoff valves of the well:
a) is housed in a steel container partitioned into two separate chambers partitioned from one another by an interconnection plate through which are formed all the passage-ways for electric and hydraulic ducts between the two chambers and the outside environment, b) the hydraulic components and the pumping group are installed in the bottom chamber which is pressure-compensated and immersed in oil, c) the hydraulic installation is composed by two circuits, a high-pressure and a low-pressure circuit fed by the same pumping group, d) the hydraulic installation comprises an intrinsic-safety system for the automatic release of the hydrau-lic pressure from all the actuators of the well valves (with consequent shut up of the well) both in the case of average to the feed system and anormal pressure conditions in the well and also of average to the remote-transmission system or defective reception of the control signals.
a) is housed in a steel container partitioned into two separate chambers partitioned from one another by an interconnection plate through which are formed all the passage-ways for electric and hydraulic ducts between the two chambers and the outside environment, b) the hydraulic components and the pumping group are installed in the bottom chamber which is pressure-compensated and immersed in oil, c) the hydraulic installation is composed by two circuits, a high-pressure and a low-pressure circuit fed by the same pumping group, d) the hydraulic installation comprises an intrinsic-safety system for the automatic release of the hydrau-lic pressure from all the actuators of the well valves (with consequent shut up of the well) both in the case of average to the feed system and anormal pressure conditions in the well and also of average to the remote-transmission system or defective reception of the control signals.
4. A control system according to claim 1 or 2 constructed modularly so as to be susceptible of use on well heads of different types as regards the number of valves to be actuated and of being calibrated for different operative conditions.
5. A control system according to claim 1 or 2, which adopts technical solutions for the hydraulic installation such as to require low absorptions of electric power and thus usable with subsea sources of electric power (radio-isotope generators) of a low power throughout.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| IT84118A/77 | 1977-04-01 | ||
| IT84118/77A IT1071925B (en) | 1977-04-01 | 1977-04-01 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR SUBMARINE WELL HEADS |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1109783A true CA1109783A (en) | 1981-09-29 |
Family
ID=11324262
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA300,236A Expired CA1109783A (en) | 1977-04-01 | 1978-03-31 | Control system for subsea well-heads |
Country Status (9)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS53123302A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1109783A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2813768C3 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK138578A (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2385887A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1595529A (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1071925B (en) |
| NL (1) | NL7803402A (en) |
| NO (1) | NO781093L (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4378848A (en) * | 1979-10-02 | 1983-04-05 | Fmc Corporation | Method and apparatus for controlling subsea well template production systems |
| DE3228938A1 (en) * | 1982-08-03 | 1984-02-16 | Deutsche Tiefbohr-Aktiengesellschaft, 4444 Bad Bentheim | DEVICE FOR REMOTE CONTROL AND MONITORING OF HOLE HOLE LOCKING SYSTEMS |
| GB0806098D0 (en) * | 2008-04-04 | 2008-05-14 | Vetco Gray Controls Ltd | Underwater power supplies |
| GB2476238B (en) | 2009-12-15 | 2015-11-18 | Ge Oil & Gas Uk Ltd | Underwater power generation |
| NO340742B1 (en) | 2015-05-08 | 2017-06-12 | Fmc Kongsberg Subsea As | Remote controlled well completion equipment |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3163222A (en) * | 1961-04-24 | 1964-12-29 | Shell Oil Co | Wellhead apparatus |
| GB1060774A (en) * | 1964-02-06 | 1967-03-08 | Hydril Co | Apparatus for controlling a submarine well head |
| US3405387A (en) * | 1965-10-24 | 1968-10-08 | Stewart & Stevenson Inc Jim | Acoustical underwater control apparatus |
| GB1167740A (en) * | 1966-03-07 | 1969-10-22 | Global Marine Inc | Improvements in apparatus for surface actuation and control if underwater devices |
| US3496999A (en) * | 1967-12-26 | 1970-02-24 | Atlantic Richfield Co | Self-contained benthonic blowout prevention control apparatus and method |
| FR1563151A (en) * | 1968-02-28 | 1969-04-11 | ||
| US3504741A (en) * | 1968-06-27 | 1970-04-07 | Mobil Oil Corp | Underwater production satellite |
-
1977
- 1977-04-01 IT IT84118/77A patent/IT1071925B/en active
-
1978
- 1978-03-29 DK DK138578A patent/DK138578A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1978-03-29 NO NO781093A patent/NO781093L/en unknown
- 1978-03-30 GB GB12537/78A patent/GB1595529A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-03-30 DE DE2813768A patent/DE2813768C3/en not_active Expired
- 1978-03-30 NL NL7803402A patent/NL7803402A/en active Search and Examination
- 1978-03-31 FR FR7809554A patent/FR2385887A1/en active Granted
- 1978-03-31 JP JP3691878A patent/JPS53123302A/en active Pending
- 1978-03-31 CA CA300,236A patent/CA1109783A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| IT1071925B (en) | 1985-04-10 |
| FR2385887A1 (en) | 1978-10-27 |
| DE2813768B2 (en) | 1981-03-12 |
| NO781093L (en) | 1978-10-03 |
| JPS53123302A (en) | 1978-10-27 |
| DE2813768A1 (en) | 1978-10-05 |
| DK138578A (en) | 1978-10-02 |
| DE2813768C3 (en) | 1981-11-12 |
| FR2385887B1 (en) | 1984-10-12 |
| NL7803402A (en) | 1978-10-03 |
| GB1595529A (en) | 1981-08-12 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |