A signal-actuated subsea valve

Abstract

A system comprising a Wellhead equipment connected to a subsea wellhead via a tubing hanger, with a valve positioned within the tubing hanger, and a signal transmitter for transmitting a signal to the valve. If an "open" signal is transmitted by the signal transmitter, the valve activates an open position to allow flow within the Wellhead equipment. If a "close" signal is transmitted by the signal transmitter, the valve activates a close position to prevent flow within the Wellhead equipment. If no signal is received for a period of time, the valve activates a close position.

Description

Attorney Docket No. IS23.1345-WO-PCT A SIGNAL-ACTUATED SUBSEA VALVE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application is an international application that claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 63 / 608591 that was filed on December 11, 2023, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND

[0002] This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and / or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

[0003] Typically, wellhead equipment is attached to the wellhead of a production system to direct the flow of oil through a series of valves to the flowline. Unlike onshore production, the wellhead equipment of subsea production is usually installed at the seabed level, which is thousands of meters under sea level, and with no permanent casing or riser to the surface allowing direct entry of tools in the well. Well interventions for subsea production systems are therefore made very expensive and complicated, as any interaction with the wellhead equipment must be managed topside using mechanical means such as hydraulic lines, or manual means such as divers. Furthermore, hydraulic lines connected to the surface may fail, losing control to the subsea well.

[0004] Hence, there is a need to provide a signal-actuated valve for subsea production systems. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying Figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.

[0006] Fig. 1 is a representation of an embodiment of the signal-actuated subsea valve, according to one or more examples of the disclosure.

[0007] Fig.2 is a representation of a second embodiment of the signal-actuated subsea valve, according to one or more examples of the disclosure.

[0008] Fig.3 is a representation of a third embodiment of the signal-actuated subsea valve, according to one or more examples of the disclosure.Attorney Docket No. IS23.1345-WO-PCT DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] Illustrative examples of the subject matter claimed below will now be disclosed. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions may be made to achieve the developers’ specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort, even if complex and time-consuming, would be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0010] Further, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to have its ordinary meaning in the patent arts, namely “one or more.” Moreover, examples herein are intended to be illustrative only and are presented for discussion purposes and not by way of limitation.

[0011] Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a signal-actuated subsea valve.

[0012] In one or more embodiments, the system 100 may comprise an wellhead equipment 10 connected to a subsea wellhead via a tubing hanger, with a valve 20 positioned within the tubing hanger, and a signal transmitter 30 for transmitting a signal to the valve 20.

[0013] In one or more embodiments, the signal transmitter 30 may further comprise electrode cables 40 for connecting the signal transmitter 30 to the wellhead equipment 10.

[0014] In one or more embodiments, the signal transmitter 30 may be a current generator or a voltage generator. The signal transmitted by the signal transmitter may be an electric current or an electrical voltage .

[0015] In one or more embodiments, the signal transmitter 30 may be configured to connect to both ends or two parts of the wellhead equipment 10. In operation, the signal transmitter 30 may inject an electric current or voltage through both ends or two parts of the wellhead equipment 10 which flows through the wellhead equipment, generating a small voltage between the top and bottom of the valve which forms a local electromagnetic (EM) telemetry. The EM telemetry produced can be modified by adjusting the voltage / current as an “open” or a “close” command to be received by the valve. A representation of this embodiment can be referred in Fig.1.

[0016] In one or more embodiments, the signal transmitter 30 may be configured to connect to an end of the wellhead equipment 10 opposing the subsea wellhead. In this configuration, a first electrode cable 42 may connect the end of the wellhead equipment 10 opposing the subsea wellhead to the signal transmitter 30, and a second electrode cable 44 may be laid on a seabed relative to the subsea wellhead to act as a subsea antenna. In operation, the signal transmitter 30 may inject an electric current / voltage through the end of the wellhead equipment 10 connected to the signal transmitter 30 which flows through the wellhead equipment, as well as theAttorney Docket No. IS23.1345-WO-PCT subsea antenna, producing a voltage which forms a local electromagnetic (EM) telemetry. The EM telemetry produced can be modified by adjusting the voltage as an “open” or a “close” command to be received by the valve 20. A representation of this embodiment can be referred in Fig.2.

[0017] In one or more embodiments, the signal transmitter 30 may be an acoustic transmitter. In this embodiment, the acoustic transmitter is coupled to the wellhead equipment. In operation, the signal transmitter may transmit a signal in the form of an acoustic wave which propagates within the wellhead equipment. The acoustic wave transmitted by the acoustic transmitter can be modified as an “open” or a “close” instruction to be received by the valve 20. A representation of this embodiment can be referred in Fig.3.

[0018] In one or more embodiments, the valve 20 may further comprise a signal receiver for receiving the signal transmitted by the signal transmitter 30. If an “open” command is received, the valve 20 may activate an open position which allows flow within the wellhead equipment 10. If a “close” instruction is received, the valve 20 may activate a close position which prevents flow within the wellhead equipment 10. If no signal is received for a period of time, the valve will close.

[0019] In one or more embodiments, the signal receiver may be an EM telemetry receiver.

[0020] In one or more embodiments, the signal receiver may be an acoustic receiver 35.

[0021] In one or more embodiments, the signal transmitter 30 can combined EM and acoustic, for example for redundancy or back-up, and the signal receiver may combined acoustic and EM telemetry receiver.

[0022] In one or more embodiments, the signal transmitter 30 is connected to a surface system via an umbilical cable 50. Alternatively, the transmitter can communicate with the surface via acoustic means or any other wireless technique instead or as a back-up to the umbilical cable.

[0023] In operation, an operator may control the signal transmitter 30 from a surface system. When an “open” command is issued by the operator from the surface system, the signal transmitter 30 may receive the command and transmits the applicable signal to the valve 20 via the connected wellhead equipment 10 as an EM telemetry signal or an acoustic signal. The signal receiver 35 of the valve 20 receives and decodes the signal, instructing the valve 20 to activate an open position which allows flow within the wellhead equipment 10. Vice versa, when a “close” command is issued by the operator from the surface system, the signal transmitter 30 may receive the command and transmits the applicable signal to the valve 20 via the connected wellhead equipment 10 as an EM telemetry signal or an acoustic signal. The signal receiver 35 of the valve 20 receives and decodes the signal, instructing the valve 20 to activate a close position which prevents flow within the wellhead equipment 10. If no signal is received by the valve for a period of time, the valve will close.

[0024] Advantageously, a surface operator can control the opening and closing of the valve 20 within the wellhead equipment 10 indirectly, without interacting with the wellhead equipment 10.Attorney Docket No. IS23.1345-WO-PCT

[0025] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the systems and methods described herein. The foregoing descriptions of specific examples are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive of or to limit this disclosure to the precise forms described. Obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The examples are shown and described in order to best explain the principles of this disclosure and practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize this disclosure and various examples with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of this disclosure be defined by the claims and their equivalents below.

Claims

Attorney Docket No. IS23.1345-WO-PCT CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising: an wellhead equipment (10) connected to a subsea wellhead via a tubing hanger; a valve (20) positioned within the tubing hanger; and a signal transmitter (30) for transmitting a signal to the valve (20); wherein, if an “open” signal is transmitted by the signal transmitter, the valve (20) is configured to activate an open position; wherein, if a “close” signal is transmitted by the signal transmitter, the valve (20) is configured to activate a close position; and wherein, if the signal is absent for a period of time the valve (20) is configured to activate a close position. 2 The system of claim 1, wherein the signal transmitter (30) further comprises electrode cables (42, 44) for connecting the signal transmitter (30) to the Wellhead equipment (10). 3 The system of claim 2, wherein the signal transmitter (30) is connected to both ends, or two parts of the Wellhead equipment (10) via the electrode cables (42, 44). 4 The system of claim 2 or 3, wherein: a first electrode cable (42) is positioned on a seabed relative to the subsea wellhead; and a second electrode cable (44) connects the signal transmitter (30) to an end or any part of the Wellhead equipment opposing the subsea wellhead. 5 The system of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the signal transmitted by the signal transmitter (30) is an electric current or voltage. 6 The system of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the signal transmitter is connected to a surface system via an umbilical cable (50). 7 The system of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the signal transmitter (30) can communicate with the surface via a wireless technique. 8 The system of claim 7, wherein, the wireless technique includes acoustic means.Attorney Docket No. IS23.1345-WO-PCT 9. The system of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the valve (20) further comprises a signal receiver (35) for receiving the signal from the signal transmitter (30).

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the signal receiver (35) is an electromagnetic (EM) telemetry receiver.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the signal receiver (35) is an acoustic receiver.

12. The system of claim 9; wherein the signal receiver (35) is a combined acoustic and EM telemetry receiver.

13. The system of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the valve (20) is powered by a battery.

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