Patent classifications
E21B33/0355
SAFETY INTEGRITY LEVEL RATED CONTROLS FOR ALL-ELECTRIC BOP
A safety integrity level rated control system includes a surface control system and a subsea control system. The surface control system includes one or more remote display panels, one or more buttons operatively connected to each of the remote display panels, two main controllers connected to the remote display panels, two junction boxes, each junction box connected to one of the two main controllers, and a surface intervention system controller connected to the one or more buttons via a wiring bus. The subsea control system is connected to the surface control system by one or more umbilicals extending from the two junction boxes.
MODIFIED RISER JOINTS FOR SUBSEA MANAGED PRESSURE OPERATIONS
Systems and processes for subsea marine managed pressure operations. One system includes a modified riser joint configured to fluidly connect inline with one or more riser joints. The modified riser joint and the one or more riser joints are connected to form a riser connecting a floating vessel with a wellhead. The system further includes a subsea pressure management sub-system configured to be operatively and fluidly connected to the modified riser joint at a subsea location.
SYSTEMS FOR REDUCING FLUID HAMMER IN SUBSEA SYSTEMS
A pumping system includes a plurality of pumps, each having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is fluidly coupled to a hydraulic fluid reservoir. The outlet is fluidly coupled to a control pod having a valve and a pair of sensors monitoring upstream and downstream pressures of the valve. The control pod is fluidly coupled to a subsea blowout preventer. A first motor is coupled to a first pump of the plurality of pumps and sets the first pump at a first predetermined pressure. A controller is coupled to and configured to control the first motor, thereby controlling the first pump. The pumping system is configured to: engage and disengage each pump independently; and de-stroke each pump to limit pressure to the valve, when a predetermined pressure for each pump is attained, thereby reducing fluid hammer at the control pod.
PRESSURE SENSING BLOWOUT PREVENTER CONTROL SYSTEM
A control system includes a closing unit including a tank including a usable volume of the control system, at least one primary pump configured to pump hydraulic fluid from the usable volume of the tank, a plurality of valves, and a first pressure transducer disposed between the at least one primary pump and at least one valve of the plurality of valves. The at least one primary pump, the pressure transducer, and the at least one valve of the plurality of valves are hydraulically connected with the tank. The first pressure transducer manages a start-stop operation of the at least one primary pump. Hydraulic fluid within the control system has a predetermined static pressure. The at least one pump is powered by an electric energy source.
Methods for Assessing the Reliability of Hydraulically-Actuated Devices and Related Systems
This disclosure includes methods for testing hydraulically-actuated devices and related systems. Some hydraulically-actuated devices have a housing defining an interior volume and a piston disposed within the interior volume and dividing the interior volume into a first chamber and a second chamber, where the piston is movable relative to the housing between a maximum first position and a maximum second position in response to pressure differentials between the first and second chambers. Some methods include: (1) moving the piston to the first position by varying pressure within at least one of the first and second chambers such that pressure within the second chamber is higher than pressure within the first chamber; and (2) while the piston remains in the first position: (a) reducing pressure within the second chamber and/or increasing pressure within the first chamber; and (b) increasing pressure within the second chamber and/or decreasing pressure within the first chamber.
HIGH-INTEGRITY PRESSURE PROTECTION SYSTEM CHRISTMAS TREE
A high-integrity pressure protection system Christmas tree is provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a Christmas tree, a choke coupled to receive fluid from the Christmas tree, and a high-integrity pressure protection system. The high-integrity pressure protection system includes pressure sensors downstream of the choke, valves upstream of the choke, and a logic solver connected to control operation of the valves of the high-integrity pressure protection system that are upstream of the choke. Further, the valves of the high-integrity pressure protection system that are upstream of the choke include at least two valves of the Christmas tree. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.
WELLHEAD SYSTEMS AND METHODS
A wellhead system includes a wellhead including a position sensor disposed in an inner surface of the wellhead, and a wellhead component to be installed in the wellhead, the wellhead component including a position indicator disposed in an outer surface of the wellhead component, wherein the position sensor is configured to transmit a position signal in response to the wellhead component entering into a predetermined aligned position in the wellhead.
Pressure compensator for subsea device
A pressure compensator for providing pressure compensation for a chamber of a subsea device is provided. The pressure compensator has an enclosure with at least an outer wall. A first compensation chamber is provided inside the enclosure. A flow connection from the first compensation chamber towards the chamber of the subsea device is further provided. As second compensation chamber is provided inside the enclosure. First and second separating walls are arranged inside the enclosure. A first bellows portion of the first separating wall and a second bellows portion of the second separating wall are deformable to provide pressure compensation between the chamber of the subsea device and a second inner volume around which the second separating wall extends.
CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SUPPLY OF POWER TO ACTIVE MAGNETIC BEARINGS IN A ROTATING MACHINE
A control system and a method arranged for redundant supply of power to active magnetic bearings adapted for support of a shaft or rotor in a rotating machine. The control system comprises at least two control modules which are supplied external power. The control modules are connectable to a base module comprising a first set of power and sensor signal pathways which can be switched in to provide contact between a first control module and the active magnetic bearings, and a second set of power and sensor signal pathways which can be switched in to provide contact between a second control module and the active magnetic bearings. Each control module comprises a switching mechanism which is controllable for connecting the control modules one at a time to the active magnetic bearings via the first set or via the second set of power and sensor signal pathways.
Pressure-retaining connector
Seals for pressure control fittings are disclosed, where such pressure control fittings are located at a wellhead, for example. Embodiments of cam lock seals, a spring-driven ball race seal and wedge seals are disclosed.