Modular Sealing Elements for Subsea Tubular Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subsea sealing technologies for drill pipes and tubular bodies in hydrocarbon producing wells face challenges in providing effective sealing across varying diameters and conditions, particularly in subsea environments where reliability and adaptability are critical.
Innovation Solution
A modular sealing assembly comprising multiple sealing elements with varying inner diameters, removably attached by sleeves, which form chambers and include elastomeric sealing portions and sensors for pressure and temperature monitoring, allowing for wireless transmission of data, ensuring secure sealing and adaptive fitment to different tubular sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single sealing element is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to different tubular diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing assembly is divided into multiple discrete sealing elements that can be individually selected and combined. Each sealing element has a specific inner sealing diameter, and by selecting different combinations of sealing elements, the assembly can adapt to various tubular diameters without requiring a completely different design for each size.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing elements are designed with universal attachment features (sleeves, bearing attachments) that allow the same basic component structure to serve multiple functions across different applications. The modular design enables a single set of sealing element components to work with multiple tubular diameters, making the system universally applicable.
2Adaptability or versatility
If modular sealing elements with varying diameters are used, then adaptability to different tubular sizes is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing elements are arranged in a nested configuration where each sealing element fits within the structure of the previous one, connected by sleeves. This nesting approach allows multiple sealing elements to be compactly organized in a vertical stack, reducing the overall space required and making the modular assembly more manageable despite having multiple components.
3Productivity
If sensors are added for real-time monitoring, then operational efficiency is enhanced, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensors are integrated into the sealing elements themselves, allowing the sealing assembly to self-monitor its own operational conditions. This self-service capability enables real-time detection of pressure, temperature, and other parameters without requiring external monitoring systems, thereby improving operational efficiency while minimizing additional complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a sealing assembly for a bearing assembly that supports a rotating tubing string that extends through the riser. The sealing assembly has a plurality of sealing elements. Each sealing element has a seal body having an inner sealing surface designed to seal against a tubular body. The sealing assembly also has one or more sleeves that removably attach between adjacent sealing elements. Adjacent sealing elements are attached to the one or more sleeves in axial alignment. A chamber is formed by the adjacent sealing elements and the corresponding sleeve. The sealing assembly further has a bearing attachment for attaching the plurality of modular sealing elements to a rotating portion of the bearing assembly such that the sealing elements extend downward in series from the bearing assembly and rotate with the rotating tubing string.