A network time synchronization monitoring system

Abstract

The present application belongs to the technical field of deepwater oil and gas development, and relates to a network time synchronization monitoring system, comprising a clock server, a switch, an optical fiber umbilical cable, an underwater routing module, an underwater distribution unit and an underwater environment monitoring module; the switch sends a time request message to the clock server, the clock server responds to the request and outputs a time signal synchronized with a GPS satellite or a Beidou satellite to the switch, the switch sends the time signal to the underwater routing module through the optical fiber umbilical cable, the underwater routing module sends the received signal to the underwater distribution unit, the underwater distribution unit distributes the signal to each underwater environment monitoring module, the underwater environment monitoring module obtains accurate time information, thereby adjusting the system clock of the underwater environment monitoring module and realizing time synchronization.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a network time synchronization monitoring system, belonging to the field of deepwater oil and gas development technology. Background Technology

[0002] Oceans cover approximately 70.8% of the Earth's surface and are rich in resources, including biological resources, oil and gas resources, mineral resources, and marine chemical resources.

[0003] When exploring and developing marine resources, humans cannot directly see real-time images. Therefore, underwater environmental monitoring systems, such as underwater cameras and hydrophones, are needed to monitor underwater production systems online and ensure the safe operation of the extraction system. In recent years, marine exploration systems have mainly used cable communication because of its simplicity and ease of maintenance. However, it suffers from high signal attenuation, low data rate, and high latency, which can affect the quality of video signals. Especially when the system is equipped with multiple cameras, cable communication does not meet the requirements for video surveillance. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, the purpose of this invention is to provide a network time synchronization monitoring system that can perform long-term, in-situ, real-time observation of underwater production systems, enabling online monitoring and fault diagnosis of underwater production systems, and ensuring the safe operation of underwater oil and gas field development.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention proposes the following technical solution: a network time synchronization monitoring system, comprising: a clock server, a switch, an optical fiber umbilical cable, an underwater routing module, an underwater distribution unit, and an underwater environment monitoring module; the switch sends a time request message to the clock server, the clock server responds to the request and outputs a time signal synchronized with GPS satellites or BeiDou satellites and sends it to the switch, the switch sends it to the underwater routing module via the optical fiber umbilical cable, the underwater routing module sends the received signal to the underwater distribution unit, the underwater distribution unit distributes the signal to each underwater environment monitoring module, the underwater environment monitoring module obtains accurate time information, thereby adjusting the system clock of the underwater environment monitoring module to achieve time synchronization.

[0006] Furthermore, the time synchronization monitoring system also includes a fault diagnosis and online monitoring module. This module is connected to the switch and is used to receive monitoring data from the underwater environment monitoring module, analyze and process the monitoring data to identify external risks in the underwater production environment, and issue alarm commands.

[0007] Furthermore, the time synchronization monitoring system also includes a master control station, which is connected to the switch. It monitors and controls the underwater production environment through the underwater environment monitoring module, and receives alarm commands from the fault diagnosis and online monitoring module, triggers alarms, and shuts down the corresponding equipment in an emergency.

[0008] Furthermore, the fiber optic umbilical cable is connected to the switch via an above-water umbilical cable terminal, and the fiber optic umbilical cable is connected to the underwater distribution unit via an underwater umbilical cable terminal.

[0009] Furthermore, the underwater routing module can directly connect to the underwater environment monitoring module via Ethernet or serial communication. Ethernet is achieved by directly connecting to a switch, while serial communication is achieved by converting the serial port to an Ethernet port through a serial server before connecting to the switch. The underwater routing module then sends the time request messages from the underwater environment monitoring module and the collected monitoring signals to the switch.

[0010] Furthermore, the time synchronization monitoring system also includes a subsea control module, which is installed on the subsea tree and manifold to control the hydraulic pressure of the subsea tree and manifold, adjust the wellhead opening, and read downhole temperature and pressure.

[0011] Furthermore, the underwater control module and the underwater routing module communicate with each other via fiber optic communication, Ethernet communication, DSL communication, or power line carrier communication.

[0012] Furthermore, both the underwater control module and the underwater routing module are equipped with backups, and the sensors in the underwater environment monitoring module are also equipped with backups. When a link, module, or device fails, the underwater control module can quickly switch to the backup link through a redundancy protocol.

[0013] Furthermore, the time request message can be a PTP time message, an NTP time message, or an SNTP time message.

[0014] Furthermore, the underwater environment monitoring module includes an underwater camera, a hydrophone, or an acoustic Doppler current profiler.

[0015] The present invention has the following advantages due to the adoption of the above technical solutions:

[0016] The solution in this invention uses optical fiber for communication, which has the advantages of large system transmission capacity, long transmission distance, fast response speed and good confidentiality. It can be used for long-distance, large-scale oil and gas field development projects to ensure fast and transparent data transmission.

[0017] The present invention places a clock server on the surface platform as the time source for the entire underwater production system. This enables time synchronization of the underwater routing module, the underwater environmental monitoring system, and the underwater control module, ensuring the correct sequence of actions of various devices and guaranteeing the safe operation of the underwater oil and gas field development process.

[0018] The solution in this invention can provide a two-way transmission channel between the main control station and the subsea control modules on the manifold and the wellhead; it can also perform online monitoring, fault diagnosis and safety analysis of the operation of the subsea production system, and provide early warning and handling of external risks.

[0019] The solution in this invention supports multiple communication methods: power line carrier communication, DSL communication, Ethernet communication, serial communication, and fiber optic communication. The system has good compatibility and can meet the needs of various application scenarios. This invention employs a backup design, ensuring high system reliability and guaranteeing the safe operation of the underwater production system.

[0020] The solution in this invention supports the access of multiple underwater control modules, which can simplify the structure of the underwater production control system and improve the efficiency of oil and gas extraction. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the network time synchronization monitoring system in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of a network time synchronization monitoring system in one embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of the present invention, the present invention is described in detail through specific embodiments. However, it should be understood that the specific embodiments are provided only for a better understanding of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terminology used is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0024] To address the problems of high signal attenuation, low data rate, and large latency in existing marine exploration systems, which affect video signal quality, especially when the system is equipped with multiple cameras and cable communication cannot meet video monitoring requirements, this invention provides a network time synchronization monitoring system. Its clock server tracks time signals such as GPS or BeiDou satellite signals, and then forwards the obtained PTP, NTP, or SNTP time messages to the surface platform's switch, which in turn forwards them to the entire underwater production control system. This ensures the correct sequence of actions of various devices and guarantees the safe operation of the underwater oil and gas field development process. This invention also provides a bidirectional transmission channel between the main control station and the underwater control modules on the manifold and wellhead; it can also perform online monitoring, fault diagnosis, and safety analysis of the underwater production system's operation, and provide early warning and handling of external risks. The following detailed description of the invention's solution, with reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrates the solution in detail through embodiments.

[0025] This embodiment describes a network time synchronization monitoring system, such as... Figure 1As shown, the system includes: a clock server, a switch, a fiber optic umbilical cable, an underwater routing module, an underwater distribution unit, and an underwater environment monitoring module. The switch sends time request messages to the clock server. The clock server responds to the request and outputs a time signal synchronized with GPS or BeiDou satellites, which is then sent back to the switch. The time request messages include, but are not limited to, PTP, NTP, or SNTP time messages. The switch is used for signal forwarding, facilitating signal transmission between two network nodes. The switch sends signals to the underwater routing module via the fiber optic umbilical cable. The underwater routing module is used for information transmission, communication bandwidth management and allocation between the surface switch and the underwater environment monitoring module, and for converting and distributing the electrical energy input from the surface platform to the underwater environment monitoring module. The underwater routing module receives the signal from the fiber optic umbilical cable and sends it to the underwater distribution unit. The underwater distribution unit distributes and transmits the power and communication signals from the shore base station to each underwater environment monitoring module. The underwater environment monitoring modules obtain accurate time information, thereby adjusting their system clocks to achieve time synchronization.

[0026] The underwater environment monitoring module is used to monitor and collect environmental information around the underwater production system. This module includes, but is not limited to, underwater cameras, hydrophones, or acoustic Doppler current profilers. The underwater environment monitoring module can be configured according to specific needs, such as by adding water quality sensors and temperature sensors. Therefore, the specific equipment included is not limited to those mentioned in this embodiment.

[0027] The time synchronization monitoring system also includes a subsea control module, which is installed on the subsea production tree and manifold to control the hydraulic pressure of the subsea production tree and manifold, adjust the wellhead opening, and read downhole temperature and pressure data.

[0028] The time synchronization monitoring system also includes a fault diagnosis and online monitoring module. This module connects to a switch to receive monitoring data from the underwater environment monitoring module. Therefore, it can analyze and process monitoring data generated by the underwater production operating environment on the surface platform to identify external risks and issue alarm commands. The fault diagnosis and online monitoring system can also issue control commands; its signal forwarding process is the reverse of the uplink process.

[0029] The time synchronization monitoring system also includes a master control station, which is connected to the switch. It monitors and controls the underwater production environment through the underwater environment monitoring module, and receives alarm commands from the fault diagnosis and online monitoring module, triggers alarms, and shuts down the corresponding equipment in an emergency.

[0030] The fiber optic umbilical cable connects to the switch via a surface umbilical cable terminal, and to the underwater distribution unit via a submerged umbilical cable terminal. These surface and submerged umbilical cable terminals primarily provide interfaces between the umbilical cable and electrical, fiber optic, hydraulic, and chemical supply equipment.

[0031] like Figure 2 As shown, the underwater routing module can connect directly to the underwater environment monitoring module via Ethernet or serial communication. Ethernet is achieved through direct connection to a switch, while serial communication uses a serial server to convert the serial port to an Ethernet port before connecting to the switch. The underwater routing module sends the time request messages from the underwater environment monitoring module and the collected monitoring signals to the switch.

[0032] The underwater control module forwards the read downhole temperature, pressure, and other process parameters to the underwater platform's switch. The underwater platform's switch then transmits the data to the surface platform's switch, and finally to the main control station. This enables monitoring of the underwater production system. If abnormal process parameters are detected, the main control station generates an alarm signal and initiates an emergency shutdown. The process of issuing control commands from the main control station is the reverse of the process parameter upload process. A bidirectional, transparent transmission channel is provided between the underwater control module and the main control station, enabling remote control of the underwater production system from the surface platform and ensuring the safe operation of the underwater production process. The time synchronization process of the underwater control module is similar to that of the underwater environmental monitoring module. The conversion of photoelectric signals in the switch is achieved through an optical module. The optical module modulates electrical signals into optical signals, which are then coupled into optical fibers, extending the signal transmission distance.

[0033] The underwater control module and the underwater routing module communicate via fiber optic, Ethernet, DSL, or power line carrier communication. The specific method depends on the required transmission distance and rate. DSL and power line carrier communication require paired modems, thus each has a separate device at the transmitting and receiving ends. Power line carrier communication transmits a high-frequency signal carrying information onto a power line, and at the receiving end, a demodulator separates the signal from the power line. The power line carrier module transmits the signal onto the power line used by the power module to supply electrical energy. The power module's function is to transmit power to the underwater control module and the underwater environment monitoring module. The power module is powered by the power unit on the surface platform.

[0034] The signal and power connections of the underwater routing module, underwater control module, and underwater environment monitoring module are accomplished through watertight connectors. These watertight connectors can operate continuously in underwater environments and are characterized by corrosion resistance, rapid connection, and small mating parameters.

[0035] Because the safe operation of underwater production systems is closely related to oil and gas assets, lives, property, and the marine environment, it is essential to ensure the reliable operation of the system. In this embodiment, both the underwater routing module and the underwater control module adopt a redundant design, with backups for both. The sensors in the underwater environment monitoring module are also backed up. When a link, module, or device fails, the underwater control module quickly switches to the backup link through a redundancy protocol to ensure the safe operation of the underwater production system.

[0036] In this embodiment, the solution uses optical fiber for communication between the surface platform's switch and the underwater routing module. This offers advantages such as large system transmission capacity, long transmission distance, fast response speed, and good confidentiality, making it suitable for long-distance, large-scale oil and gas field development projects, ensuring rapid and transparent data transmission. A clock server is placed on the surface platform, tracking time signals such as GPS or BeiDou satellite signals. It then forwards the obtained PTP, NTP, or SNTP time messages to the surface platform's switch, transmitting them via optical fiber to the underwater routing module, and subsequently forwarding them to the underwater environmental monitoring system and underwater control module. This achieves time synchronization between the underwater routing module, the underwater environmental monitoring system, and the underwater control module, ensuring the correct sequence of actions of various devices. If the time is not synchronized, the system may malfunction in severe cases. It provides a bidirectional transmission channel between the main control station and the underwater control modules on the manifold and wellhead; it also enables online monitoring, fault diagnosis, and safety analysis of the underwater production system's operation, providing early warning and handling of external risks. The solution in this embodiment supports power line carrier communication, DSL communication, Ethernet communication, serial communication and fiber optic communication. The system has good compatibility and can meet the needs of various application scenarios.

[0037] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and not to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can still be made to the specific embodiments of the present invention. Any modifications or equivalent substitutions that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be covered within the protection scope of the claims of the present invention. The above content is only a specific embodiment of this application, but the protection scope of this application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be covered within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application should be determined by the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A network time synchronization monitoring system, characterized in that, Used for deepwater oil and gas development, including: clock server, switch, fiber optic umbilical cable, underwater routing module, underwater distribution unit and underwater environment monitoring module; The switch sends a time request message to the clock server. The clock server responds to the request and outputs a time signal synchronized with GPS or BeiDou satellites, which is then sent to the switch. The switch transmits the signal to the underwater routing module via the fiber optic umbilical cable. The underwater routing module sends the received signal to the underwater distribution unit, which distributes the signal to each underwater environment monitoring module. The underwater environment monitoring module obtains accurate time information and adjusts its system clock accordingly to achieve time synchronization. The time synchronization monitoring system also includes a fault diagnosis and online monitoring module, which is connected to the switch and is used to receive monitoring data from the underwater environment monitoring module, analyze and process the monitoring data to identify external risks in the underwater production environment, and issue alarm commands. The time synchronization monitoring system also includes a master control station, which is connected to the switch. The master control station monitors and controls the underwater production environment through the underwater environment monitoring module connected to the switch and receives alarm commands from the fault diagnosis and online monitoring module, triggers an alarm, and shuts down faulty equipment in an emergency. The time synchronization monitoring system also includes an underwater control module, which is installed on the subsea tree and manifold to control the hydraulic pressure of the subsea tree and manifold, adjust the wellhead opening, and read downhole temperature and pressure. The underwater control module forwards the read process parameters to the underwater platform's switch, which then transmits them to the surface platform's switch, and finally forwards them to the main control station to monitor the underwater production system. If abnormal process parameters are detected, the main control station will generate an alarm signal and initiate an emergency shutdown.

2. The network time synchronization monitoring system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The fiber optic umbilical cable is connected to the switch via an above-water umbilical cable terminal, and the fiber optic umbilical cable is connected to the underwater distribution unit via an underwater umbilical cable terminal.

3. The network time synchronization monitoring system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The underwater routing module connects directly to the underwater environment monitoring module via Ethernet or serial communication. Ethernet is directly connected to the switch, while serial communication is converted from a serial port to an Ethernet port by a serial server and then connected to the switch. The underwater routing module sends the time request message issued by the underwater environment monitoring module and the collected monitoring signals to the switch.

4. The network time synchronization monitoring system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The underwater control module and the underwater routing module communicate with each other via optical fiber communication, Ethernet communication, DSL communication or power line carrier communication.

5. The network time synchronization monitoring system as described in claim 4, characterized in that, Both the underwater control module and the underwater routing module are equipped with backups, and the sensors in the underwater environment monitoring module are also equipped with backups. When the underwater control module, the underwater routing module, or the sensors fail, the underwater control module can quickly switch to the backup underwater control module, the underwater routing module, or the sensors through a redundancy protocol.

6. The network time synchronization monitoring system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The time request message is a PTP time message, an NTP time message, or an SNTP time message.

7. The network time synchronization monitoring system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The underwater environment monitoring module includes an underwater camera, a hydrophone, or an acoustic Doppler current profiler.

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