Distributed Database Architecture for Subsea Well Control Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing well control systems for subsea drilling operations face inefficiencies due to the need for centralized data management, which can lead to overhead and inefficiency, especially in harsh environments where reliability and resilience are critical.
Innovation Solution
The system separates databases into logical groupings and distributes them throughout the control system, allowing local hardware databases to automatically update primary and secondary display databases, enabling decentralized data management and redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If centralized data management is used in well control systems, then data consistency can be maintained, but system overhead and inefficiency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized database into multiple distributed databases located at different nodes (subsea equipment, surface control, etc.). Each node maintains its own database locally, eliminating the single-point bottleneck of centralized management while maintaining data consistency through peer-to-peer synchronization mechanisms.
2Device complexity
If centralized data management is used, then control simplicity is maintained, but system resilience and reliability in harsh environments decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables each distributed node to maintain local database copies and perform local data processing independently. This local autonomy ensures that if one node fails due to harsh subsea conditions, other nodes continue to operate with their local data, significantly improving system resilience while maintaining operational simplicity through standardized protocols.
3Device complexity
If data is centralized in one location, then data storage is simplified, but overhead for updating and retrieving data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple distributed databases into a cohesive networked system where data is replicated across nodes. This allows simultaneous local access to data at multiple locations, eliminating the sequential access bottleneck of centralized systems and reducing data update and retrieval time through parallel operations.
4Quantity of substance
If all data is stored centrally, then data redundancy is reduced, but system efficiency and resilience are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates distributed copies of database data across multiple nodes in the system. Each node maintains a local copy of relevant data, eliminating the need to repeatedly access centralized storage and significantly improving access efficiency. The redundant copies also ensure system resilience against node failures.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus to update data in a well control system includes a central control unit in communication with a communications network, the central control unit comprising a first display database, an end device in communication with the communications network, the end device comprising a local hardware database, and an operator's panel in communication with the communications network, the operator's panel comprising a second display database, wherein the local hardware database is configured to automatically update data to a primary display database designated from one of the first and the second display databases, wherein the primary display database is configured to automatically update the data to the other of the first and the second display databases.