Hydrostatic Pressure Testing with Temperature-Stabilized Intensification Fluid
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for testing blowout preventers (BOP) are inaccurate due to temperature-induced pressure changes, leading to prolonged testing times and increased costs, especially in offshore operations where the BOP assembly is located far from the drilling platform.
Innovation Solution
The use of a heat exchanger to cool or heat the intensification fluid before pressurization, ensuring it matches the temperature of the BOP assembly, thereby stabilizing the pressure decay rate and reducing the time required for each test segment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If intensification fluid is used to pressurize the BOP assembly during hydrostatic testing, then the BOP assembly can be tested at required pressure levels, but temperature changes in the intensification fluid cause inaccurate pressure decay measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-cooling the intensification fluid in a cooling chamber before it enters the BOP assembly. This temperature stabilization is performed in advance of the actual pressure testing, ensuring that the fluid temperature remains constant throughout the test duration and does not cause measurement errors in pressure decay readings.
2Productivity
If the BOP assembly is located far from the drilling platform (deep water operations), then offshore drilling can be conducted, but the testing time and costs increase due to temperature-induced pressure changes
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling chamber pre-cools the intensification fluid before testing, eliminating temperature-related delays during the actual test. This preliminary temperature stabilization prevents the need for extended waiting periods to allow temperature equilibration, thereby reducing overall testing time and improving productivity in deep water operations.
3Measurement precision
If temperature changes are not controlled during BOP testing, then the testing procedure remains simple, but pressure decay measurements become inaccurate leading to prolonged testing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cooling chamber as an intermediary device between the intensification pump and the BOP assembly. This mediator component specifically addresses temperature control of the intensification fluid, improving measurement accuracy while adding only the necessary complexity to achieve the desired precision in pressure decay measurements.
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 approach enhances the accuracy of BOP testing, reduces testing time, and decreases costs by minimizing the effects of temperature changes on pressure measurements, allowing for more efficient and reliable hydrostatic pressure testing.
Implementation Method 1
The use of a heat exchanger to cool or heat the intensification fluid before pressurization, ensuring it matches the temperature of the BOP assembly
Implementation Method 2
intensification fluid from a high pressure intensification pump is introduced into the closed BOP assembly in a volume sufficient to cause the internal pressure within the closed BOP assembly to rise to the first pressure test level
Data Source
AI summary
A method of pressure testing a closed hydraulic system for leaks includes heating or cooling pressure intensification fluid before it enters the closed hydraulic system under pressure. The closed hydraulic system may be for example a blowout preventer for an oil/gas well, a manifold system or tubulars. The intensification fluid is heated or cooled to a temperature at or near the temperature of the fluid within the closed hydraulic system.