GB2225755A - An intergrated offshore safety system - Google Patents
An intergrated offshore safety system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2225755A GB2225755A GB8924389A GB8924389A GB2225755A GB 2225755 A GB2225755 A GB 2225755A GB 8924389 A GB8924389 A GB 8924389A GB 8924389 A GB8924389 A GB 8924389A GB 2225755 A GB2225755 A GB 2225755A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- safety
- offsnore
- safety system
- integrated
- subsea
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000013535 sea water Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 231100000279 safety data Toxicity 0.000 abstract description 3
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000009189 diving Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004083 survival effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 241001317177 Glossostigma diandrum Species 0.000 description 1
- 206010041235 Snoring Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 description 1
- ZPUCINDJVBIVPJ-LJISPDSOSA-N cocaine Chemical compound O([C@H]1C[C@@H]2CC[C@@H](N2C)[C@H]1C(=O)OC)C(=O)C1=CC=CC=C1 ZPUCINDJVBIVPJ-LJISPDSOSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000013480 data collection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003111 delayed effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003628 erosive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001012 protector Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009991 scouring Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
- B63C11/00—Equipment for dwelling or working underwater; Means for searching for underwater objects
- B63C11/52—Tools specially adapted for working underwater, not otherwise provided for
-
- 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
- E21B35/00—Methods or apparatus for preventing or extinguishing fires
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (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)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
Abstract
This invention relates to an integrated offshore safety system on a buoy or like structure at a safe remote distance from the platform continuously monitoring safety data. Able to adopt primary or secondary control, receive, select and switch power. A remote subsea pump system supplies fire and deluge water and trickle charged hydraulic accumulators which actuate remote subsea emergency shut-off valves. A safety or service vessel can couple to the remote buoy/safety station to provide power or manual intervention and so allow re-entry to the platform by rescue and fire fighting crews.
Description
AN INTh'GRAT2iD OFFSHORE SAFETY SYS2sM This invention relates to an offsnore safety system in which data collection, power supply and switching of a subsea remote fire/deluge pump and the actuation of remote subsea emergency shutdown valves is obtained and controlled by a conputer in a safety station.
It would continuously monitor, record and compute safety data. Adopt primary or secondary control of safety systems and emergency power. In emergency or abandonment the safety station would provide fire and deluge water,emergency power, control of safety systems, shutdown of subsea flowline valves, a lifeboat tether and survival post. Some installations would include an absail escape wire system. Connectors on tne safety station would allow intervention by rescue or service vessels.
Offshore installations suce as platforms, production units, drilling units, and the like are nereinafter referred to under tne general terms of offsnore platforms.
Such off snore platforms normally nava sopnisticated safety systems, controlled by a control room.
Sometimes tney also nave a secondary control point.
However, all such safety systems have tneir power supply and control on tne platform Itself.
Mixing diving operations it nas been tne practice and regulation to take the fire and deluge water pumps off the automatic control.
Gas and oil escapes can be caused by drilling, riser fracture,malfunctlon or collision of a vessel. with tes platform.
@any installations nave incoming and outgoing oil and gas flowlines. Tne only immediate means of snutting off tu6 flow lines are by valves on tne platform itself.
The inability to close off flowlines nas meant large volumes of oil and gas nave been available to feed uncontrollable fires.
Fires under platforms nave on occasions made it impossible to launcn lifeboats or for personnel to escape from tne platforms.
In the past fire, deluge and otner safety systems have besn delayed or prevented from operation by diving activities, control room maintenance, damage, inaccessability or abandonment.
After abandonment of an offsnore installation it nas not been possible for rescue parties to operate and control the safety systems.
According to the present invention there is provided a safety station situated a safe remote distance from an offshore platform able to continuously monitor, record and compute safety data. Adopt primary or secondary control of safety systems and emergency power. In emergency or abandonment the safety station would provide fire and deluge water from a subsea unit, emergency power, control of safety systems, snutdown of subsea floiline valves, provide a lifeboat tetner and survival post. Some installations would include an absail escape wire system.
Connectors on tne safety station would allow intervention to tne platform by rescue or service vessels.
Under normal daily routine tne safety station would receive power from tne offsn.ore platforms via an umbilical cable to provide general service power and battery charging on tne safety station. Along the same ical cable would be transmitted safety system data.
Tn is would be referenced by tne computer and any appropriate action taken.
Eower and data from tne safety station would be supplied to subsea valves to ensure tns actuators are always fully charged.
In emergency tne safety station would transmit power and data to subsea valves, remote subsea fire and deluge water pumps, also back to the offshore platform for operation of the various other systems.
he size of the safety station would depend on economics.
A large safety station would have a fire protected umbilical connection from tne offsnore platform plus its own large and small power generators; additionally it would have a connector to allow for power supply and system control from a rescue or service vessel.
Computer controlled switch gear would select the most appropriate power supply.
In snallow water the structure would be a fixed tower.
In deep water it would be a tetnered buoy.
although unmanned there would be space for maintenance personnel, survivors and a medi-centre.
When economics dictate a small safety station, it would be a tethered buoy but without a large power generator.
In tne past remote buoys bave been suggested for the supply of fire/deluge water from pumps attached to the platform or buoy structure and conducted by continuous pipeline between buoy and platform, or supply of firewater from a vessel stabbed into a pipe riser at the surface. A fire pump power supply on a vessel to operate the platforms own punps nas also been su0-gested.
A specific embodiment of tne invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accopaying drawings in wnich: Fig 1 is a diagramatic view of a safety station system
Fig 2 is a drawing of the remote subsea fire and deluge water pump system.
Referring to Fig 1, a typical offshore installation 1 needs additional safety cover as provided by a safety station. A typical large safety station is snown at 2, or an alternative typical small safety station as snown at 3.
Routine daily power and communication is by umbilical cable 4,to avoid scouring by sea motion of the cable the weight is taken on submerged support 5. Safety station 2 is secured in position by anchor 6, anchor cables 7 are tensioned by a procedure using ancnor handling tugs (not snown) and secured to 8.
Alternative power supply can be from tne safety station generators (not snown) or from a rescue/service vessel 9, via connector 10. Due selected power and data are transmitted to tne subsea fire and deluge pump 11 via umbilical cable 12. Fire and deluge water is pumped tnrougn the subsea pipeline 13 and up the riser pipe 14 to a non return valve 15 and then into the installa.tion's own fire and deluge systems sown dotted 16.
Routine power and data for the charging of subsea flowline valve actuators 17 are transmitted on umbilical cables 18.
In the case of evacuation/abandonment of tne offsnore installation 1 the safety station has arc lights 19, to illuminate the surrounding sea. Lifeboats can group and tetner at 20.
Survivor and mcdi centre space 21 on safety station 1 is for snort term use.
Helicopter pad 22 is used for maintenance crew or survivor lift-off using nelicopter 23.
Intervention by rescue or service vessel would use connection 10.
rIatorm. evacuation is assisted by absail escape wire 24.
Fig 2. The subsea pump and motor assembly (25) is easily installed or recovered by a surface vessel witnout tne need for diver assistance.
Tfle pump and motor assembly (25) comprises a pump (26) a submersible motor (27) fitted on a fabricated pallet (28) which has a tubular frame (29) which acts as a protector and has lifting lugs (30).
The sides and top of the tubular frame are boxed in witn panels (31) to form an enclosure. The panels on the long sides have nigh level inlet grills (32) for seawater entry.
The seawater is sucked into a shaped duct (33) so the fast flowing water cools the motor (27) and then enters the pump through a fine mesh filtered inlet (35). If a liquid other than seawater is required then an inlet and coupling will be provided (34 not snown). A small anciliary pump can be fitted to assist cooling if required, (not shown).
The outlet from the pump nas a remote actuated coupling (36).
ne subsea pump and motor assembly (25) is easily installed/removed from a permanently installed subsea base (37) wnich nas a mud mat (33) and an optional erosion mat (not snown).
The base is secured to the seabed by piles (39) which are neld in pile guides (40) cradles and clamps form an ancnor (41) to nold tne subsea pipeline (42) in a fixed position.
A positioner (43) keeps a space between the coupling and pipe end during installation.
Locators (44) on the base (37) positively locate and lock the pump axd motor assembly (25).
?or installation a liCt and guide frame (45) is secured to the lifting lugs (30) on tne pump and motor assembly (25) by nydraulic lock and release units (46).
Guide wires (47) are secured to tt3s installation vessel (48) and the bottom ends are attached to the locators (44)
Gates in the cone guides allow the lift and guide frame to be slotted onto the guide wires (47).
When the pump and motor assembly (25) is positively locked onto the seabed base (37) an nydraulic system (49) closes and locks the remote actuated coupling (36).
The lifting and guid frame (45) and guide wires (47) are removed to the surface.
Emergency subsea shut-off valves (17) are connected to the safety station by small combined power and data cables (18) data is received from the platform via cable (4) and tne subsea emergency snutdown valves by cable (18). In tnis patent it is only necessary to nave small power cables (13) to operate small nydraulic pumps (50) which trickle cnarge nydraulic accumulators (51) capable of riving a minimum of tnree actuations of eacn valve.
ne safety station analyses data and instigates action.
Claims (13)
1. An offsnore integrated safety system situated a
safe remote distance from an offshore platform
and being capable of the remote control of safety,
emergency and shutdown situations.
2. An offshore integrated safety system as claimed in
Claim 1 wberein there is provided a fire protected
umbilical subsea cable wnich can transmit power
and data to or from the safety station.
3. An offsnore integrated safety system as claimed in
Claim 1 and Claim 2 wnerein tnere is provided a
cable and connector to allow power and data
connection to a rescue or service vessel.
4. An offsnore integrated-safety system, as claimed
in any preceding claim wherein a power generating
and control unit is carried on a rescue or service
vessel and connected to tne safety station.
5. An offsnore integrated safety system as claimed in
any preceding claim wnerein tns power supply and
data can be selected from either the offsuore installation, safety station or support vessel.
6. An offsnore integrated safety system as claimed in
any of the preceding claims wherein a remote subsea
fire and deluge water pump is po-red and controlled
by an umbilical cable from tne safety station.
7. An offsnore iiir.egrated safety system as claimed in
any preceding claims wherein subsea flowline valves
are powered and controlled by an umbilical cable
from tte safety station.
8. An integrated offsnore safety system as claimed in
any of tne preceding claims wnerein tne safety
station is part of a snared facility sucn as, but not restrictad to, a flare, location buoy, loading buoy
or otner offsnore installation.
9. An offsnore integrated safety system as claimed
in any preceding claim wherein a fire and deluge
water pump system as described is easily installed/removed from a subsea base witnout the
need for diver assistance.
10. An offsnore integrated safety system as claimed
in any preceding claim wherein the pump as
described is located at a distance to avoid
diver problems, and in wnich the power switcning and control may be some greater distance away
on a remote safety installation.
11. An offsnore integrated safety system as claimed
in any preceding claim wflerein the pump and
motor subsea assembly as described is used in
whole or in part for the pumping of fluid other than seawater.
12. An offshore integrated safety system as claimed
in any preceding claim wherein subsea emergency shutdown valves are actuated from hydraulic
accumulators which have been nydraulically
trickle cbarged by small hydraulic motors
supplied by small capacity cables giving power
and control from a remote safety station. The
accumulators when coared being capable of giving
a nunber of actuations to eacn valve.
13. An offsnore integrated safety system substantially
as nereinbefore described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB888825346A GB8825346D0 (en) | 1988-10-29 | 1988-10-29 | Subsea remote fire & deluge water pump system |
| GB898902111A GB8902111D0 (en) | 1989-02-01 | 1989-02-01 | Safety station |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8924389D0 GB8924389D0 (en) | 1989-12-20 |
| GB2225755A true GB2225755A (en) | 1990-06-13 |
Family
ID=26294564
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8924389A Withdrawn GB2225755A (en) | 1988-10-29 | 1989-10-30 | An intergrated offshore safety system |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU4508989A (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2225755A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1990004700A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NO340075B1 (en) * | 2015-06-26 | 2017-03-06 | Kongsberg Oil & Gas Tech As | A MEG storage system and a method for storing MEG |
| WO2019220456A1 (en) * | 2018-05-17 | 2019-11-21 | Parmar Ukalal Devjibhai | Submersible water lifting assembly and automatic fire fighting system for unmanned platforms having said system |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1538552A (en) * | 1977-01-06 | 1979-01-24 | Freeze D | Fire control apparatus for use on an offshore structure |
| GB1580790A (en) * | 1976-05-04 | 1980-12-03 | Dunne J | Underwater drilling apparatus and method |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB949654A (en) * | 1961-04-14 | 1964-02-19 | Atomic Energy Commission | Multiple ship propulsion system |
| US4192383A (en) * | 1978-05-02 | 1980-03-11 | Armco Inc. | Offshore multiple well drilling and production apparatus |
| GB1592972A (en) * | 1978-05-31 | 1981-07-15 | Offshore Emergency Systems Ltd | Fire control apparatus |
| GB2085727B (en) * | 1980-08-22 | 1984-12-05 | Havron Engineering Ltd | Fire fighting buoy for offshore structures |
| US4619111A (en) * | 1984-09-07 | 1986-10-28 | Hydril Company | Oilfield closing device operating system |
-
1989
- 1989-10-30 AU AU45089/89A patent/AU4508989A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1989-10-30 GB GB8924389A patent/GB2225755A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1989-10-30 WO PCT/GB1989/001291 patent/WO1990004700A1/en unknown
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1580790A (en) * | 1976-05-04 | 1980-12-03 | Dunne J | Underwater drilling apparatus and method |
| GB1538552A (en) * | 1977-01-06 | 1979-01-24 | Freeze D | Fire control apparatus for use on an offshore structure |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8924389D0 (en) | 1989-12-20 |
| AU4508989A (en) | 1990-05-14 |
| WO1990004700A1 (en) | 1990-05-03 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |