Retrievable Dynamic Seal for Subsea Intervention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Controlling pressure and maintaining a reliable seal during subsea intervention operations is challenging due to difficulties in positioning, locking, and activating dynamic seals in subsea installations, which can lead to the escape of pressurized fluids.
Innovation Solution
A retrievable dynamic seal system that uses mechanical rams to temporarily lock the seal in place and compress a seal element to form a pressure-tight barrier against a conveyance, allowing for reliable containment of pressurized fluids during intervention operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If a retrievable dynamic seal is deployed to facilitate maintenance and replacement, then the seal can be serviced and replaced, but difficulties arise in positioning, locking, and activating the seal in the subsea installation
Solution Approach 1:
A conveyance member is introduced as an intermediary tool to facilitate the deployment, positioning, and installation of the dynamic seal within the subsea installation. The conveyance member carries the seal to the target location and provides a reference structure for accurate positioning and locking operations, thereby simplifying the operational complexity of handling the retrievable seal system
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic seal is pre-assembled with its sealing element and positioning features before deployment. The conveyance member is prepared in advance to carry the seal to the subsea installation, allowing the seal to be installed and activated more efficiently once到达 the target location, reducing the complexity of on-site assembly and positioning operations
2Reliability
If mechanical rams are used to compress the seal element into sealing engagement, then a reliable pressure barrier is formed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Hydraulic rams are employed to compress the seal element into sealing engagement with the conveyance member. The hydraulic actuation system provides controlled, high-force compression to ensure a reliable pressure barrier is formed, while the use of fluid power allows for compact actuator design compared to purely mechanical screw or lever mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical actuation system with rams is designed to perform multiple functions: positioning the seal, compressing the sealing element, and maintaining the pressure barrier. This multi-functional approach reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each operation, thereby managing device complexity while ensuring reliable pressure containment
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
The system effectively maintains a pressure barrier during conveyance movement, enabling safe and efficient subsea intervention operations while allowing for easy deployment, positioning, and retrieval of the dynamic seal.
Implementation Method 1
The actuation involves mechanically manipulating a seal element to force the seal element into sealing engagement with the conveyance
Data Source
AI summary
A technique for subsea intervention operations utilizes a retrievable dynamic seal system. The technique provides an improved dynamic seal system that is retrievable from a subsea installation. A retrievable dynamic seal is deployed with a tool string on a conveyance and positioned in or at the subsea installation. The retrievable dynamic seal is then actuated to form a seal with the conveyance by mechanically manipulating a seal element to force the seal element into sealing engagement with the conveyance.