EP1373682B1 - Stromanschluss und/oder steuerung von bohrlochkopf-eruptionskreuzen - Google Patents

Stromanschluss und/oder steuerung von bohrlochkopf-eruptionskreuzen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1373682B1
EP1373682B1 EP02704924A EP02704924A EP1373682B1 EP 1373682 B1 EP1373682 B1 EP 1373682B1 EP 02704924 A EP02704924 A EP 02704924A EP 02704924 A EP02704924 A EP 02704924A EP 1373682 B1 EP1373682 B1 EP 1373682B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
module
power
tree
control
host facility
Prior art date
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Expired - Lifetime
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EP02704924A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP1373682A1 (de
Inventor
David Eric Appleford
Brian William Lane
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Alpha Thames Ltd
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Alpha Thames Ltd
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    • 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
    • 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
    • E21B33/038—Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser
    • E21B33/0385—Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser electrical connectors
    • 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
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/01—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations
    • E21B43/017—Production satellite stations, i.e. underwater installations comprising a plurality of satellite well heads connected to a central station
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
    • H01R13/52—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases
    • H01R13/523—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases for use under water

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to power connection to and control of wellhead trees, such as those trees used in an underwater oil/gas field.
  • Each well has a wellhead tree on the seabed, the trees being linked to a host facility via flow lines.
  • Each wellhead tree incorporates a number of main valves which are often powered by hydraulically operated actuators.
  • Most of the valves are emergency shut-down (ESD) valves, although some may be variable positional flow control valves also known as chokes.
  • ESD valves are normally operated in either fully open or fully closed positions. It is usual for each valve to be operated in turn.
  • the trees are in close proximity to the host facility and few in number, they may be powered and controlled directly from the host facility.
  • trees are often not close to the host facility and consequently each tree is equipped with its own control pod which contains the means for actuating the valves in the trees.
  • These valves may be actuated by electric solenoid actuators or by hydraulically operated control valve actuators where both these systems require physical communication with the host facility.
  • the tree valves are generally hydraulic and the control pod will generally have hydraulic connections with these valves in order to operate them. Such hydraulic connections have cleanliness/ maintenance issues.
  • a control pod fails as a result of a component within it failing, for example, or due to the failure of an associated wet mateable connector between the control pod and the tree, then the tree ceases to operate as required and consequently production is lost whilst replacement or repairs are carried out.
  • US-A-4378848 discloses a subsea production system having a plurality of templates which are all connected to a subsea riser base and the riser base is connected to a host facility via a production riser.
  • Each template includes a plurality of template wells and a pair of replaceable electro-hydraulic control modules which are connected to the template wells and to a pair of remote satellite wells.
  • the host facility provides electrical control signals to the control modules which then hydraulically control the operation of valves in the Xmas trees. When a control module is removed the hydraulic supply to the tree is interrupted so that the valves in the tree cannot be inadvertently closed or opened.
  • EP-A-0545551 discloses a multiplexed electro-hydraulic control system having ten underwater control modules. One of these modules is installed on each local Xmas tree and on each satellite Xmas tree module. Each control module is provided with a hydraulic feed from a host facility via a hydraulic umbilical and a hydraulic distribution system on a manifold on the template. Each module also receives electrical energy and communication signals from the host facility via an electric umbilical and an electric distribution module junction box on the manifold and the signals to the control module cause it to control the tree using the hydraulic feed. Each control module is connected to the junction box by an electric jumper and the jumper can be connected or disconnected by means of a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV).
  • ROV Remotely Operated Vehicle
  • US-A-4174000 discloses a system for controlling a subsea Xmas tree.
  • the tree is held by a mounting plate on the seabed and a primary and a back-up control module for the Xmas tree are also mounted on the plate.
  • the modules receive hydraulic control signals from a host facility via hydraulic umbilicals and the primary control module receives electrical signals from the host facility via an electrical umbilical. The electrical signals are used to control hydraulic valves to control the tree. If the primary control module fails, a valve in the back-up control module isolates the primary control module so that the back-up control module can hydraulically control the tree whilst the primary control module is replaced.
  • WO 98/41730 discloses a subsea production control system having a control module connected to control and signal lines of an umbilical.
  • the control module is also connected to a harness carrier which has a plurality of parking dummies that each contain a half connector.
  • the control module and harness are removably installed on an Xmas tree by an ROV and the arm of the ROV individually connects the half connector in each parking dummy to a corresponding half connector for a device on the Xmas tree.
  • WO 01/20746 discloses a system having a host facility arranged to provide power or control signals to a plurality of retrievable modules.
  • WO 01/20746 was filed on 18 August 2000, claiming priority from GB 9921373.8 filed on 10 September 1999.
  • WO 01/20746 was published on 22 March 2001 and the Contracting States AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LI, LU, MC, NL, PT and SE were designated.
  • the host facility and removable modules are connected in series to form a circuit.
  • Each module has disconnectable connectors to connect the module to the adjacent modules or adjacent module and host facility and each module has a load through which power flows and which has control electronics for controlling switchgear in the module.
  • the host facility also has switchgear and the switchgear enables a module or a plurality of serially adjacent modules to be isolated and removed without cutting off the supply of power to any of the remaining modules of the system.
  • a hydrocarbon extraction system comprising at least one retrievable all electrical power connection and control module, at least one wellhead tree, and a host facility being arranged to provide electrical power to the or each module, the or each module comprising:
  • One such retrievable electrical power connection and control module of the system is able to provide power and control operation of a number of remote trees instead of there being a control pod for each tree.
  • the module can control all the functions of the tree.
  • the retrievable module permits high voltages (e.g. 11/24KV) to be used between the host facility and such a module with there being a benefit of low losses over long step-out distances. It also enables relatively low voltages (e.g. 400V) to be used between the retrievable module and the wellhead tree or trees to which it is connected and also avoids the problems of using hydraulics. By having the control means in the retrievable electrical power connection module, this avoids local control equipment on the trees resulting in simpler and more reliable trees.
  • high voltages e.g. 11/24KV
  • relatively low voltages e.g. 400V
  • the power and control means may be adapted to receive control signals from the host facility and supply them to said at least one tree.
  • the isolating means may be desirable for the isolating means to isolate the power and control means from the host facility.
  • the module may include voltage reduction means for receiving electrical power at a first voltage level from the host facility and supplying electrical power at a second lower voltage level to at least one said wellhead tree.
  • the system may include power isolating means for enabling the power and control means to supply power or negligible or no power to said at least one tree.
  • Each module may have a module based part of the power isolating means, and each wellhead tree may have a tree based part of the power isolating means.
  • the power and control means may include power means for supplying power from the module to said at least one tree.
  • the power and control means may include control means for controlling the power means and/or the power isolating means.
  • the hydrocarbon extraction system may include a system module remote from the at least one tree including the retrievable electrical power connection and control module.
  • At least one module may be connected by the first disconnectable connection means to a plurality of trees in parallel. At least one tree may be connected to a plurality of modules in parallel.
  • At least one tree may be connected in series between two modules.
  • a plurality of the trees connected in series may be connected between two modules.
  • At least one tree may be connected in parallel to a plurality of modules.
  • the system may include a plurality of modules and module isolating means for isolating at least one module so that the isolated module or modules can be removed without cutting off the supply of electrical power to any of the trees or any of the remaining modules of the system.
  • the host facility may have a host facility based part of the module isolating means.
  • Each wellhead tree may have a tree based part of the module isolating means.
  • Each module may have a module based part of the module isolating means.
  • parts of the module isolating means adjacent to the module to be removed are adapted to isolate the module.
  • the module isolating means may be adapted to isolate a plurality of serially adjacent modules.
  • the module isolating means and/or the power isolating means may comprise switchgears.
  • a method of powering and controlling at least one wellhead tree in a hydrocarbon extraction system including:
  • the control is effected without using pressurised fluid control signals.
  • the method may include the steps of:
  • the method may include the step of activating the power isolating means to isolate the module from at least one said tree before step (a).
  • step (d) after step (c) of activating the module to supply negligible or no power to at least one said tree, and the additional step (e) of activating the power isolating means to isolate the module from at least one said tree.
  • Step (b) may include the step of activating a tree based part of the "module isolating means before a module based part of the module isolating means.
  • Step (e) may include the step of activating the module based part of the module isolating means before the tree based part of the module isolating means.
  • the various activating steps may be controlled by the control means in the retrievable module.
  • the power isolating means may be switches/relays which are operated at no or negligible power, which means that reliability issues regarding switching at high power are avoided.
  • Electrical power may be transmitted at a first voltage from a host facility to voltage reduction means and transmitted at a second lower voltage from the voltage reduction means to the tree, and electrical control signals may be transmitted from a control means in a retrievable module to the wellhead tree.
  • electrical power at a first voltage and control signals may be transmitted from a host facility to voltage reduction means and electrical power at a second lower voltage and control signals from the voltage reduction means may be transmitted to the tree.
  • a substantially underwater system 1 is shown.
  • a top side host facility 2 is connected to a wellhead tree 3 via a retrievable module 4 or control pod in a substantially autonomous system module on the seabed (not shown) remote from the tree.
  • the host facility provides the source of power for both the retrievable module 4 and the tree, the module 4 forming part of an electrical power connection to the tree.
  • the host facility 2 has a switchgear 5 which is connected to an underwater mateable connector 6 on one side of the module by an integrated power/control cable 7.
  • the opposite side of the module 4 also has an underwater mateable connector 8 that is connected to an underwater mateable connector 9 on the wellhead tree 3 by another integrated power/control cable 10, the module mateable connectors 6,8 enabling the module to be retrieved.
  • the tree 3 has a load 11 to which the tree connector 9 is connected.
  • the module 4 has a load 12 connected to an integrated power/control cable 13 which links the two connectors 6,8 of the module together.
  • the load 12 is electrically isolatable from the mateable connectors 6 and 8 by first and second switchgears 14 and 15 respectively, each switchgear being controlled by the load 12. Accordingly, the first switchgear 14 connects the load with the host facility 2 and the second switchgear 15 connects it to the wellhead tree 3.
  • Each power/control cable or umbilical 7,13,10 comprises a three-phase power supply cable, each including three supply lines 7a,13a,10a;7b,13b,10b; 7c,13c,10c as illustrated in the simplified circuit diagram shown in Figure 2.
  • the power supply line 7a,13a,10a forms a series connection from the host facility switchgear 5 to the tree load 11 through the module 4.
  • the power supply line 7b,13b,10b also forms a series connection from the host facility switchgear 5 to the tree load 11 through the module 4 as does the power supply line 7c,13c,10c.
  • the module load 12 is connected across the power supply lines 13a,13b,13c as shown.
  • the host facility switchgear 5 and the module switchgears 14,15 effect the switching of all three power supply lines.
  • the module also includes a transformer 16 for reducing high voltage input from the host facility 2, the transformer being across the power supply lines between the module's mateable connector for the host facility and the first switchgear 14.
  • the retrievable module 4 has a control pod which is divided into two compartments by means of a bulkhead.
  • the two compartments house the control electronics, which forms part of the module load 12, and the switchgears 14,15 respectively.
  • the control electronics controls the normal running of the module 4 and the connected wellhead tree 3 and the module load 12 is in communication with the host facility 2 from where it may, for example, be reprogrammed or be instructed to shut down the tree.
  • the control pod is constructed as a pressure vessel and has penetrators for cables from outside the pod to connect to the control electronics and switchgear.
  • the host facility switchgear 5 and the two module switchgears 14,15 are closed so that the module load 12 and the tree load 11 receive power from the host facility 2 and so that the module load is able to electrically control the wellhead tree 3 via the closed second switchgear 15.
  • FIG. 3 a more complex substantially underwater system 20 is shown, the system being similar to the underwater system 1 described in Figures 1 and 2 except where noted.
  • the system 20 has first and second substantially autonomous seabed modules 21,22, the load 23,24 of each module being connected to separate switchgears 25,26 of a host facility 27.
  • the system 20 also has first and second wellhead trees 28,29, the load 23,24 of each module being interconnected with the load 30,31 of each wellhead tree 28,29.
  • Each module 21,22 and each tree 28,29 has a pair of parallel switchgears 32a,32b;33a,33b;34a,34b;35a,35b connected to its respective load 23,24,30,31, the pair of switchgears for each module and each wellhead tree being controlled by its respective load, although the switchgears of the trees may also or instead be controlled by either of the modules.
  • One 32a of the pair of switchgears of the first module 21 is connected via an integrated power/control cable 36 to one 34a of the switchgears of the first tree 28 and the other 32b of the pair of switchgears of the first module is connected via another integrated power/control cable 37 to one 35a of the switchgears of the second tree 29.
  • the pair of switchgears 33a,33b of the second module 22 are similarly connected to the other switchgears 34b,35b of both the trees 28,29 via integrated power/control cables 38,39 respectively.
  • the electrical connectors are such that the load 23,24 of each module 21,22 can control either or both of the trees 28,29.
  • the load 23 of the first module 21 can control the first tree 28 and the load 24 of the second module 22 can control the second tree 29.
  • This is achieved by having the first module first switchgear 32a closed and the first module second switchgear 32b opened and the second module first switchgear 33a opened and the second module second switchgear 33b closed.
  • the host facility switchgears 25,26 and the tree switchgears 34a and 35b need to be closed.
  • first module load 23 can control the second tree 29 and the second module load 24 can control the first tree 28 by having the first module first switchgear 32a opened and the first module second switchgear 32b closed and the second module first switchgear 33a closed and the second module second switchgear 33b opened.
  • the switchgears can be set so that the two trees can be controlled by the load of the other module with the trees still being provided with power from the host facility 27.
  • the second switchgear 34b in the first tree 28 and the second switchgear 35b in the second tree 29 are opened and the second switchgear 26 in the host facility 27 is opened, causing the second module 22 to be isolated.
  • the first switchgears 34a,35a in the first and second trees 28,29 remain closed as do the pair of first module switchgears 32a,32b to which they are respectively connected.
  • both trees 28,29 are able to be controlled by the load 23 in the first module and receive power from the host facility 27 via the closed first host facility switchgear 25.
  • the second module 22, being isolated, can then be retrieved, whilst permitting the remaining module and trees to continue to operate. Once retrieved the second module 22 may be inspected/adjusted before being lowered back or a separate replacement module may be lowered and installed in the place hitherto occupied by the second module.
  • the first module 21 can be isolated and retrieved with both wellhead trees 28,29 being controlled by the load 24 in the second module 22 and the trees receiving power from the host facility 27 via the second switchgear 26 of the host facility.
  • a single module could be connected to two or more trees.
  • plural modules could be connected to a single tree.
  • Further alternatives include two or more modules connected to two or more trees.
  • one or more trees may be removed by first being isolated by the relevant switchgears, and at the same time permitting the remaining trees and modules to continue to operate.
  • the system 40 shown in Figure 5 is similar to the system 20 shown in Figures 3 and 4 except that each module 41,42 is adapted to be connected to four wellhead trees 43,44,45,46, each module having four parallel switchgears 47a,47b,47c,47d, each one of these switchgears being provided for a respective tree.
  • the two modules 41,42 are connected in series between the two switchgears 25,26 of the host facility 27 to form a circuit and each module has an additional switchgear 48 for the series connection to the power supply of the load of the adjacent module.
  • the host facility switchgears 25,26 are adapted to isolate the modules 41,42 from the power supply at the host facility 27, and from control signals which may be sent from the host facility.
  • either of the modules may be isolated by operating the host facility switchgear and the module switchgear 48 on adjacent opposite sides of the module to be removed and the tree switchgear 49 adjacent to the module to be removed.
  • a module is able to be recovered without affecting power to the trees 43,44,45,46 or to the remaining module nor effecting the control of the trees by the remaining module.
  • the system 50 shown in Figure 6 is similar to the system 40 shown in Figure 5 except that there are three modules 51,52,53 in series and two wellhead trees 54,55.
  • Each module 51,52,53 is adapted to be connected to the two trees 54,55 and each tree has three parallel switchgears 56a,56b,56c, with there being one switchgear for each module.
  • three modules are provided only two power/control cables need to extend from the host facility 27 to the subsea location where the modules and trees are installed.
  • Figure 7 shows an arrangement of four modules 61,62,63,64 connected in series between the two host facility switchgears 25,26 with three wellhead trees 65,66,67 being interconnected with the first two modules 61,62 and another three wellhead trees 68,69,70 being interconnected with the third and fourth modules 63,64.
  • the first two modules 61,62 and the trees 65,66,67 comprise one of two system groups and the third and fourth modules 63,64 and the trees 68,69,70 comprise the other system group.
  • a module in one system group is able to power and control any tree in the other group via the power/control link 73 between the second and third modules 62,63.
  • the substantially underwater system can continue production.
  • Grouping of modules and trees interconnected in a like manner could alternatively be used.
  • any number of groups could be used with each group containing any number and preferably a plurality of modules and trees.
  • Figure 8 illustrates an arrangement where a number of modules 71a-d are connected in series between the two host facility switchgears 25,26.
  • a number of wellhead trees 72a-e are connected in series and are connected to two of the modules, the series of trees being parallel to the modules in series.
  • isolation of any module or tree for removal purposes can be effected by opening the two serially adjacent switchgears on opposite sides of the particular module or tree, whilst permitting the remaining modules and trees to continue to operate.
  • the switchgear 25 fails, the power/control continues to the modules and trees from the switchgear 26 via the ring circuit If, say, module 71a is removed, although the ring circuit is broken, supply continues via switchgear 26. Also, if the load 12 within the module 71a for controlling the trees fails, control would be supplied by any one of the other modules via a clockwise route around the ring circuit via module 71d.
  • any number, and preferably a plurality, of modules could be connected to any number, and preferably a plurality, of trees.
  • Figure 9 The arrangement of Figure 9 is similar to Figure 8 except that there are two groups of trees 72, each tree of a group being connected to other trees in the group in series, each group being connected in parallel to the modules and being connected to different modules. If a module is removed, the trees connected thereto are able to receive control signals from the load of a remaining adjacent module and the trees and the remaining modules are still able to receive power from host facility, control signals/power being received via any intervening modules or trees.
  • the system may include any number of groups, each group comprising any number, and preferably a plurality, of modules connected to any number, and preferably a plurality, of series connected trees.
  • the wellhead tree 3 includes five valves 80a-e, such as choke valves, which are each actuated by an associated valve actuator comprising a motor 81a-e.
  • the retrievable module 4 has a three-phase drive system 82 which receives its power from the host facility (not shown) via the power/control cable 7 including the three supply lines 7a-c.
  • the drive system 82 is connected via the three power supply lines 10a-c carried by the integrated power/control cable 10 between the module and the tree, to each valve actuator motor 81a-e in parallel.
  • the drive system has an associated low power switch/relay 83 across the three power supply lines 10a-c between it and the tree.
  • Each motor 81a-e also has an associated simple low power switch/relay 84a-e.
  • the module 4 also includes a control system 85 which is connected by parallel control lines 86a-e carried by the integrated power/control cable 10, each control line 86a-e connecting to a respective switch/relay 84a-e in the tree.
  • the control system controls the speed and direction of operation of the valve actuators in the tree.
  • the control system 85 is also connected to the drive system 82 by a control line 87. It also is connected to the host facility by a control line 88 carried by the integrated power/control cable 7 to the host facility.
  • the drive system 82, the switch/relay 83 and the control system 85 are all contained within the retrievable control pod or module 4. This ensures that these components with a propensity for failure are contained within the retrievable control pod and can be readily replaced.
  • the control system 85 is so configured to ensure that the switches 84a-e are only operated when the drive system 82 is not providing power to the power/control cable 10 between the module 4 and the tree 3.
  • valve 80a When, for example, valve 80a is required to be operated, all the switches/relays 83, 84a-e are initially open and the drive system 82 is set by the control system 85 to ensure that there is negligible / no power on the supply lines 10a-c.
  • the control system 85 then closes the switch/relay 84a associated with the valve 80a and then the drive system's switch/relay 83.
  • the drive system is then instructed by the control system 85 to provide the required power to the motor 81 a to operate the valve 80a.
  • the drive system 82 is actuated to ensure that there is negligible/no power on the supply lines 10a-c.
  • the control system 85 then causes the switch/relay 83 to be opened and then the valve switch/relay 84 to be opened.
  • valves 80b-e of the tree 3 are operated in a similar manner.
  • FIG. 11 a modification of the arrangement of Figure 10 is shown in which the tree 3 additionally has an emergency shut-down (ESD) facility 90a-d on four of the valves 80a-d.
  • the ESD facility comprises part of the valve actuator and does not require the valve motor 81 a-e to operate to facilitate closure of the valve.
  • Each ESD facility 90a-d is connected to a common ESD supply from an ESD control device 91 in the control pod 4 via a supply line 92 in the integrated power/control cable 10.
  • the ESD control device 91 is controlled by signals from the host facility supplied via the control system 85 in the control pod 4 and receives its power from the drive system 82 via a supply line 93.
  • the systems described are all electric. Electrical systems can operate over greater distances / deeper levels, transmit emergency signals instantaneously, such as to shut down a wellhead tree, and are cheaper than existing systems.
  • the systems use industry standard networking protocols to signals sent from the seabed modules to the trees or from the host facility to the seabed modules and/or trees which enables a signal to be received by the intended recipient tree or module to be interpreted as a control signal for that particular tree or module.
  • the system of retrievable modules and wellhead trees may comprise any suitable arrangement for the particular oil/gas field being exploited. While the invention has been described in the context of a sub-sea hydrocarbon field it could also be used in other environments and, in particular, environments in which access is not readily available such as in swamps or marshes.
  • each cable such as cables 7,10,36-39, shown by a single line in the Figures 1 and 3 to 9 may comprise three lines (e.g. 7a,7b,7c;10a,10b,10c), each line carrying one phase of a three phase electrical supply and running parallel to each other as shown for example in Figure 2.
  • Any of the integrated power/control cables or umbilicals 7,13,10 may be replaced by separate power and control lines.
  • the intervening unit may be a docking manifold in which cross-linking between at least one tree and at least one module is hard wired.
  • a single umblicial may connect at least one module to the docking manifold and another single umblicial may connect at least one tree to the docking manifold. At least one module and at least one tree may be connected together by a "loomed" umbilical.
  • a retrievable module may comprise a retrievable subsea power and control pod which may be contained within a system module.
  • connectors referred to are to be taken as electrical connectors.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Remote Monitoring And Control Of Power-Distribution Networks (AREA)
  • General Induction Heating (AREA)
  • Flanged Joints, Insulating Joints, And Other Joints (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
  • Harvester Elements (AREA)
  • Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)
  • Feeding, Discharge, Calcimining, Fusing, And Gas-Generation Devices (AREA)
  • Pipeline Systems (AREA)
  • Air Transport Of Granular Materials (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Supply And Distribution Of Alternating Current (AREA)
  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Arrangements For Transmission Of Measured Signals (AREA)
  • Switches Operated By Changes In Physical Conditions (AREA)
  • Direct Current Feeding And Distribution (AREA)

Claims (34)

  1. Ein Kohlenwasserstoff-Extraktionssystem (1), welches mindestes einen wieder bergbaren elektrischen Stromanschluss und ein Steuermodul (4) aufweist, mindestens ein Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuz (3), und eine Hauptanlage (2), welche angepasst ist, um elektrische Energie dem oder jedem Modul (4) zur Verfügung zu stellen, wobei das oder jedes Modul (4) umfasst:
    erste trennbare Verbindungsmittel (8), eingerichtet, um das Modul (4) mit mindestens einem Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuz (3) zu verbinden, und zweite trennbare Verbindungsmittel (6), angepasst, um das Modul (4) mit der Hauptanlage (2) zu verbinden;
    Energie und Steuermittel (12), angepasst zur Aufnahme von Energie von der Hauptanlage (2) über das zweite Verbindungsmittel (6), und zur Lieferung von Energie zu mindestens einem Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuz (3) und zur Steuerung des Betriebes des mindestens einen Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuzes (3) über das erste Verbindungsmittel (8); und
    Trennmittel (14, 15) zur Trennung des Energie und Steuermittels (12) von dem mindestens einen Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuz (3), wobei die Trennmittel mindestens eine Schalteinrichtung (14, 15) aufweisen, und die oder jede Schalteinrichtung angepasst ist von den Energie und Steuermitteln (12) des Moduls (4) gesteuert zu werden.
  2. System nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Energie und die Steuermittel (12) zum Empfang von Kontrollsignalen von der Hauptanlage (2) und zur Weiterleitung der Kontrollsignale zu mindestens einem Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuz eingerichtet sind.
  3. System nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei die Trennmittel (14, 15) eingerichtet sind, um die Energie und Steuermittel (12) von der Hauptanlage (2) zu trennen.
  4. System nach Anspruch 1, 2 oder 3, wobei eines der Module (4) Spannungsreduktionsmittel (16) aufweist, um elektrische Energie mit einem ersten Spannungswert von der Hauptanlage (2) aufzunehmen und elektrische Energie mit einem zweiten, niedrigeren Spannungswert zu mindestens einem Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuz (3) zu liefern.
  5. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, welches Energietrennmittel zur Freigabe des Energie und Steuermittels (12) aufweist um Energie oder vernachlässigbare oder keine Energie zu mindestens einem Eruptionskreuz zu liefern.
  6. System nach Anspruch 5, wobei das oder jedes Modul (4) ein Modul basierendes Teil (83) der Energietrennmittel aufweist, und das oder jedes Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuz (3) ein Eruptionskreuzgrundteil (84 a - e) der Energietrennmittel aufweist.
  7. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Energie und Steuermittel (12) Energieversorgungsmittel (82) zur Lieferung von Energie von dem Modul (4) zu mindestens einem Eruptionskreuz (3) aufweist.
  8. System nach Anspruch 5 oder 7, wobei das Energie und Steuermittel Steuermittel (85) zur Steuerung der Energieversorgungsmittel (82) und/oder der Energietrennmittel (83, 84 a - e) aufweist.
  9. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Energie und Steuermittel (12) eingerichtet ist, um Steuersignale zu mindestens einer Verzweigung parallel zur Energie zu senden.
  10. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, welches ein Modulsystem aufweist, welches das wieder bergbare Modul (4) aufweist und welches entfernt von dem mindestens einen Eruptionskreuz (3) ist.
  11. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei mindestens das Modul (21, 41, 51, 61) mittels erster trennbarer Verbindungsmittel (8) verbunden ist mit einer Vielzahl von Verzweigungen (28, 29; 43 - 46; 54, 55; 65 - 67) in einer parallelen Anordnung.
  12. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei mindestens die Verzweigung (28, 43, 54, 65) mit einer Vielzahl von Modulen (21, 22; 41, 42; 51 - 53; 61, 62) in einer parallelen Anordnung verbunden ist.
  13. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei eine Vielzahl von Modulen (41, 42, 51 - 53, 61 - 64, 71 a - d) in Serie mit der Hauptanlage (27) verbunden ist, um einen Schaltkreis zu bilden.
  14. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei mindestens das Eruptionskreuz (28, 43, 54, 65, 72) in Serie zwischen die beiden Module (21, 22; 41, 42; 51, 53; 61, 62; 71) geschaltet ist.
  15. System nach Anspruch 13, wobei mindestens das Eruptionskreuz (43, 54, 65, 72) zu einer Vielzahl von Modulen (41, 42; 51 - 53; 61, 62; 71) parallel geschaltet ist.
  16. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, welches Modultrennmittel zur Trennung von mindestens einer Vielzahl von Modulen aufweist, so dass das Trennmodul (22, 42) oder Module entfernt werden können, ohne Unterbrechung der Stromversorgung zu einem der Eruptionskreuze (28, 29, 43 - 46) oder einem der verbleibenden Module (21, 41) des Systems.
  17. System nach Anspruch 16, wobei die Hauptanlage (27) ein Hauptanlagengrundteil (25, 26) des Modultrennmittels aufweist.
  18. System nach Anspruch 16 oder 17, wobei jedes Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuz (28, 29, 43 - 46) ein Eruptionskreuzgrundteil (34a, 34b; 35a, 35b; 49) des Modultrennmittels aufweist.
  19. System nach Anspruch 16, 17 oder 18, wobei jedes Modul (41, 42) ein Modul basierendes Teil (48) des Modultrennmittels aufweist.
  20. System nach einem der Ansprüche 16 bis 19, wobei Teile (25, 48, 49) des Modultrennmittels elektrisch benachbart dem zu entfernenden Modul (41) zur Trennung des Moduls eingerichtet sind.
  21. System nach Anspruch 16 bis 20, wobei das Modultrennmittel zur Trennung einer Vielzahl von in Serie angeschlossenen Modulen eingerichtet ist.
  22. System nach einem der Ansprüche 16 bis 21, wobei die Modultrennmittel und/oder die Energieversorgungstrennmittel Schalteinrichtungen aufweisen.
  23. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei mindestens das Eruptionskreuz (3) eine parallele Energieversorgung von dem Modul (4) aufweist und eine Notfallabschalteinrichtung (90a - d) zum Schließen des mindestens einen Ventils (80a - d) in dem Eruptionskreuz (3), wenn das Fehlen der parallelen Energieversorgung vorliegt.
  24. Verfahren zur Energieversorgung und Regelung mindestens eines Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuzes (3) in einem Kohlenwasserstoff-Extraktionssystem (1), welches umfasst:
    Bereitstellung mindestens einer wieder bergbaren elektrischen Energieversorgungsverbindungen und Regelmodules (4), welches lösbar verbunden mit mindestens einer Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuz (3) entfernt von dem Modul (4) und einer Hauptanlage (2) ist, welches Energie- und Steuermittel (12) zur Aufnahme von Energie von der Hauptanlage (2) und Lieferung von Energie- und Regelungsfunktionen der mindestens einen Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuz (3), und welches mindestens eine Schalteinrichtung (14, 15) aufweist;
    Lieferung mindestens eines Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuzes (3) mit elektrischer Energie und elektrischen Regelsignale von dem Modul (4); und
    Trennung des Energie und Steuermittels (12) von mindestens einem Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuz unter Verwendung mindestens einer Schalteinrichtung (14, 15), welche von dem Energie- und Steuermittel (12) des Moduls (4) gesteuert wird.
  25. Verfahren nach Anspruch 24, welches den Schritt zur Versorgung der Module (4) mit Steuersignalen von der Hauptanlage (2) aufweist.
  26. Verfahren nach Anspruch 24 oder 25, wobei mindestens ein Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuz mit Steuersignalen in Parallelanordnung zur elektrischen Energieversorgung versorgt wird.
  27. Verfahren nach Anspruch 26, welches folgende Schritte umfasst:
    (a) Aktivierung des Moduls (4) zur Lieferung vernachlässigbarer oder keiner Energie zu mindestens einem Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuz (3);
    (b) Aktivierung von Energietrennmitteln, welche mindestens eine Schalteinrichtung (14, 15) aufweisen, um dem Modul (4) zu ermöglichen Energie zu mindestens einem Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuz (3) zu liefern; und
    (c) Aktivierung des Moduls, um elektrische Energie von dem Modul (4) zu mindestens einem Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuz (3) zu liefern.
  28. Verfahren nach Anspruch 27, welches vor dem Schritt (a) den Schritt der Aktivierung der Energietrennmittel, zur Trennung des Moduls (4) von dem mindestens einen Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuz (3) aufweist.
  29. Verfahren nach Anspruch 27 oder 28, welches nach dem Schritt (c) den Schritt von (d) Aktivierung des Moduls (4) zur Lieferung vernachlässigbarer oder keiner Energie zu mindestens einem Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuz (3); und (e) Aktivierung der Energietrennmittel, zur Trennung des Moduls (4) von dem mindestens einen Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuz (3) aufweist.
  30. Verfahren nach Anspruch 29, welches den Schritt (e) zur Aktivierung eines Modul basierenden Teils (83) der Energieversorgungsmittel vor einem Eruptionskreuzgrundteil (84a - e) der Energietrennmittel aufweist.
  31. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 27 bis 30, welches den Schritt (b) zur Aktivierung des Eruptionskreuzgrundteils (84a - e) der Energietrennmittel vor einem Modul basierenden Teil (83) der Energietrennmittel aufweist.
  32. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 27 bis 31, welches die Regelung zur Aktivierung der Schritte durch Steuermittel (85) in dem wieder bergbaren Modul (4) aufweist.
  33. Verfahren nach Anspruch 24 bis 32, welches die Übertragung von elektrischer Energie mit einer ersten Spannung von der Hauptanlage (2) zu dem Spannungsreduktionsmittel (16) aufweist und die Übertragung elektrischer Energie mit einer zweiten, niedrigeren Spannung von dem Spannungsreduktionsmittel zu mindestens einem Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuz (3), und Übertragung elektrischer Steuersignale von dem Steuermittel (12) in dem wieder bergbaren Modul (4) zu mindestens einem Bohrlochkopf-Eruptionskreuz (3).
  34. Verfahren nach Anspruch 24 bis 32, welches die Übertragung von elektrischer Energie und Steuersignale von der Hauptanlage (2) zu mindestens einem Eruptionskreuz (3) und Reduzierung der Spannung zwischen der Hauptanlage (2) und mindestens einem Eruptionskreuz (3) aufweist.
EP02704924A 2001-03-09 2002-03-06 Stromanschluss und/oder steuerung von bohrlochkopf-eruptionskreuzen Expired - Lifetime EP1373682B1 (de)

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GB0105856 2001-03-09
GBGB0105856.9A GB0105856D0 (en) 2001-03-09 2001-03-09 Power connection to and/or control of wellhead trees
PCT/GB2002/001030 WO2002072999A1 (en) 2001-03-09 2002-03-06 Power connection to and/or control of wellhead trees

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GB (1) GB0105856D0 (de)
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BR0208181A (pt) 2004-03-02
ATE312269T1 (de) 2005-12-15
US20040149446A1 (en) 2004-08-05
EP1373682A1 (de) 2004-01-02
NO20033955D0 (no) 2003-09-08
WO2002072999A1 (en) 2002-09-19
DE60207839D1 (de) 2006-01-12
NO20033955L (no) 2003-11-07

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