ACCUMULATOR SENSOR APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD

Abstract

A sensor system for a dual bottle accumulator utilized with a subsea blowout preventer that monitors piston position with a position sensor in the hydraulic bottle, the gas pressure in the associated gas bottle with one or more pressure sensors, and sensors and remote actuators for associated valves.

Claims

1. A subsea piston accumulator utilized with blowout preventers in oil and gas well operations comprising: a hydraulic bottle, having a cylinder, an upper bulkhead, and a lower bulkhead, a center bulkhead, a piston rod centered in said center bulkhead having an upper piston, a lower piston wherein said upper bulkhead and said upper piston define an upper chamber and said lower bulkhead and said lower piston define a lower chamber wherein said lower chamber has a second pressure transducer to measure pressure in said lower chamber; a gas bottle having a chamber for holding gas, a top valve controlled by a top rotary actuator for opening and closing said top valve, a bottom valve controlled by a bottom rotary actuator for opening and closing said bottom, and a pressure sensor in said chamber to measure pressure in said chamber; a port between said gas bottle and said upper chamber of said cylinder wherein said port has a first pressure transducer for measuring pressure of upper chamber of said cylinder and said chamber of said gas bottle; a piston position sensor system having a receiving sensor mounted on said hydraulic bottle, a transponder mounted on said piston rod, and wherein said receiver sensor and said transponder are adapted to provide a position of said piston rod in said cylinder; and a monitoring and display system in communication with said first pressure transducer, said pressure sensor, said second pressure transducer, said receiving sensor, said transponder, said top rotary actuator of said top valve, said bottom rotary actuator of said bottom valve, and wherein said monitoring and display system is adapted to open and close respectively said top valve and said bottom valve as desired.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PICTORIAL ILLUSTRATIONS, GRAPHS, DRAWINGS, AND APPENDICES

[0019] The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed pictorial illustrations, graphs, drawings, and appendices.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a general illustration of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0021] Referring to the illustrations, drawings, and pictures, and to FIG. 1 in particular, reference character 10 generally designates a new and improved piston accumulator apparatus, system, and method of using same constructed in accordance with the present invention. Invention 10 is generally used in oil and gas well operations such as but not limited to blowout preventers and may be utilized in other operations not associated with oil and gas drilling operations. For purposes of convenience, the reference numeral 10 may generally be utilized for the indication of the invention, portion of the invention, preferred embodiments of the invention and so on. Invention 10 may also include a new and improved accumulator apparatus, system, and method as well as new and improved blowout preventer apparatus, system, and method.

[0022] Referring now to FIG. 1, a dual bottle accumulator 20 is shown with a hydraulic bottle 30, a gas bottle 40, an upper mounting plate 50, and lower mounting plate 60. Hydraulic bottle 30 comprises a cylinder 70, an upper bulkhead 80, and lower bulkhead 90, a center bulkhead 100, a piston rod 110, an upper piston 120, and a lower piston 130.

[0023] Porting pin 140 is ported to chamber 150 for receiving and dispensing working fluid and which is pressurized as a function of the nitrogen pressure inside upper chamber 160. Upper chamber 160 has gas supply such as but not limited to nitrogen provided from bottle 40.

[0024] Lower chamber 170 has atmospheric pressure or is functionally a vacuum. Chamber 180 has seawater environmental pressure. Chamber 150 has working fluid within which is pressurized as a function of the nitrogen pressure within lower chamber 160 and the environmental pressure within chamber 180.

Pressure Sensor System

[0025] Cylinder 70 is in communication with bottle 40 via porting 190, which may include a first pressure transducer 200. Bottle 40 may have a top valve 210 activated by rotary actuator 220 and a bottom valve 230 activated by rotary actuator 240. Valves 210 and 230 may be ball valves although other valves are contemplated such as but not limited to globe, plug, needle, gate and so forth.

[0026] First pressure transducer 200 may be provided to determine the pressure of the gas in bottle 40 and upper chamber 160. It is also contemplated to provide a pressure sensor 250 inside bottle 40. This would allow the ability to measure when valve 210 is closed. It is also contemplated to provide a second pressure transducer 260 to measure pressure in lower chamber 170.

Piston Position Sensor

[0027] It is contemplated to provide a piston position sensor system 270, which may include a sensor 280 in communication with piston rod 110. It is contemplated that sensor 280 may generally be a receiver and piston rod 110 may be fitted with transponder(s) 290. Invention 10 contemplates but is not limited to sensor 280 being RFID, ultrasonic, magnetic, inductive, and or combinations thereof.

Monitoring System

[0028] Invention 10 contemplates providing a monitoring and display system 300 that may monitor and display remotely the readings of pressure transducer 200, pressure transducer 250, pressure transducer 260, sensor 280, and so forth. It is also contemplated monitoring system 300 may also provide remote control of top valve 210 rotary actuator 220 and bottom valve 230 rotary actuator 240 and or indicate open/close status. Monitoring system 300 may include displays, be in communication with a master well controller, provide wired and or wireless connection, and so forth.

[0029] The current invention contemplates a subsea piston accumulator utilized with blowout preventers in oil and gas well operations comprising: a hydraulic bottle, having a cylinder, an upper bulkhead, and a lower bulkhead, a center bulkhead, a piston rod centered in said center bulkhead having an upper piston, a lower piston wherein said upper bulkhead and said upper piston define an upper chamber and said lower bulkhead and said lower piston define a lower chamber wherein said lower chamber has a second pressure transducer to measure pressure in said lower chamber; a gas bottle having a chamber for holding gas, a top valve controlled by a top rotary actuator for opening and closing said top valve, a bottom valve controlled by a bottom rotary actuator for opening and closing said bottom, and a pressure sensor in said chamber to measure pressure in said chamber; a port between said gas bottle and said upper chamber of said cylinder wherein said port has a first pressure transducer for measuring pressure of upper chamber of said cylinder and said chamber of said gas bottle; a piston position sensor system having a receiving sensor mounted on said hydraulic bottle, a transponder mounted on said piston rod, and wherein said receiver sensor and said transponder are adapted to provide a position of said piston rod in said cylinder; and a monitoring and display system in communication with said first pressure transducer, said pressure sensor, said second pressure transducer, said receiving sensor, said transponder, said top rotary actuator of said top valve, said bottom rotary actuator of said bottom valve, and wherein said monitoring and display system is adapted to open and close respectively said top valve and said bottom valve as desired.

[0030] Changes may be made in the combinations, operations, and arrangements of the various parts and elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, names, titles, headings, and general division of the aforementioned are provided for convenience and therefore, should not be considered limiting.