Hydraulic Deck Compensator Synchronous Heave Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Offshore drilling systems face challenges in maintaining accurate wellbore pressure control and efficient drilling operations due to heave motion caused by waves, which can lead to equipment damage and limited operational capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a hydraulic deck compensator with a valve-controlled bypass channel and accumulator, allowing for synchronous heave compensation of the working deck and travelling block, along with a riser tensioning system and a rotating control device, to maintain constant fluid volume and pressure, enabling accurate heave compensation and improved drilling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a floating drilling vessel is used to perform subsea wellbore activities, then the vessel can access offshore drilling locations, but the heave motion caused by waves leads to inaccurate wellbore pressure control and equipment damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic heave compensation mechanisms including a deck compensator with hydraulic cylinders and a travelling block compensator that actively counteract the heave motion of the floating vessel. These dynamic systems adjust the position of the working deck and drilling equipment in real-time to maintain stability despite wave-induced vessel motion, thereby ensuring accurate wellbore pressure control while enabling offshore drilling operations
Solution Approach 2:
A fluid connection system serves as an intermediary between the wellbore and the floating vessel, transmitting pressure information and control signals while isolating the wellbore from direct mechanical coupling with the heaving vessel. This intermediary fluid pathway allows accurate pressure monitoring and control to be maintained even as the vessel moves with waves
2Reliability
If heave compensation systems are implemented to counteract wave motion, then wellbore pressure control accuracy is improved, but the system complexity and device configuration become more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple heave compensation functions into integrated systems: the deck compensator and travelling block compensator are coordinated through shared control mechanisms, and the hydraulic systems for both are merged into a unified control architecture. This merging reduces the overall system complexity while maintaining the dual function of compensating for heave motion to ensure accurate wellbore pressure control
Solution Approach 2:
The heave compensation system is designed with multi-functional components that serve multiple purposes: the hydraulic cylinders compensate for vertical deck motion, the fluid connection system simultaneously transmits pressure signals and provides mechanical coupling, and the control system manages both deck position and wellbore pressure. This universality reduces the number of separate devices needed while maintaining high pressure control accuracy
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides high accuracy and reliability in heave compensation, preventing equipment damage and enhancing drilling techniques like Managed Pressure Drilling by maintaining constant pressure variations within the wellbore, thus improving drilling project efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a deck compensator (60) which is hydraulically connected via a hydraulic conduit (65, 66) to the hydraulic sheave compensator (32, 33), such that in operation the deck compensator (60) moves synchronously with the sheave compensator (32, 33) of the heave compensation system
Implementation Method 2
maintaining constant pressure variations within the wellbore, thus improving drilling project efficiency and safety
Implementation Method 3
a riser tensioning system adapted to connect a riser extending along the firing line (16) between the subsea wellbore and the floating body
Data Source
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AI summary
Offshore drilling system comprising a drilling tower (10), a tubular string hoisting device with a crown block (23) and a travelling block (24) suspended from said crown block in a multiple fall arrangement, a heave compensation system adapted to provide heave compensation of the travelling block (24). The heave compensation system comprises a hydraulic sheave compensator (32, 33). The system further comprises a mobile working deck (70) which is movable with respect to the drilling tower (10) within a motion range including a heave compensation motion range (72). The heave compensation system is further adapted to provide heave compensation of the mobile working deck (70) by a hydraulic deck compensator (60), which is hydraulically connected via a hydraulic conduit (65,66) to the hydraulic sheave compensator (32, 33), such that in operation the deck compensator (60) moves synchronously with the sheave compensator (32, 33) of the heave compensation system.