Subsea Data Sharing System for Umbilical Bandwidth Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current subsea data transfer systems face challenges with high operational demands on umbilicals due to bandwidth constraints, leading to difficulties in transmitting large volumes of non-operation critical data, such as software updates and configuration datasets, and the discarding of valuable monitoring data due to limited channel capacity.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a subsea data sharing system with increased storage memory capacity, forming an ad hoc network through subsea links, where data is stored in a mass subsea data store across interconnected nodes, allowing for distributed storage, replication, and peer-to-peer connectivity, enabling efficient data sharing and bulk transfers using umbilicals or remotely operated vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If data is transferred through the umbilical using point-to-point connections, then data can be transmitted from topside to subsea equipment, but the umbilical bandwidth is consumed and transfer time increases for large files
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the data transfer process into two phases: first, the master control unit transfers the file to multiple slave units in parallel through the subsea network; second, individual slave units receive and store the complete file. This segmentation allows simultaneous transfers to multiple devices, dramatically reducing total transfer time compared to sequential point-to-point transfers.
Solution Approach 2:
The master control unit performs preliminary action by receiving the large file from topside and preparing it for distribution before individual equipment needs it. The file is staged in the subsea network infrastructure in advance, so when slave units need updates, the data is already available for immediate transfer, reducing operational delays.
2Productivity
If umbilical bandwidth is allocated for non-critical data transfers, then software updates can be transmitted, but operational critical data transfer may be interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The network segments data traffic into operational critical and non-critical categories, allowing parallel handling. Software updates and other non-critical data are transferred through the subsea network infrastructure without competing for umbilical bandwidth with time-sensitive operational data, eliminating interruptions while maintaining both productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The subsea network infrastructure acts as an intermediary between topside and individual slave units. Large software update files are transferred through this intermediary network rather than directly through the umbilical, buffering non-critical traffic and protecting operational critical data paths from interruption or bandwidth contention.
3Loss of information
If multiple slave units are updated individually through the umbilical, then each unit receives updates, but the total transfer time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the update distribution task across multiple slave units simultaneously. The master control unit divides the update deployment into parallel operations, transferring files to multiple slave units at the same time through the subsea network, rather than sequentially updating one unit at a time through the umbilical.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple data transfer operations into a single coordinated process. Instead of separate umbilical connections for each slave unit update, the master control unit combines multiple transfers into parallel operations through the shared subsea network, achieving economies of scale and dramatically improving overall update deployment speed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of sharing data in a subsea network includes a plurality of nodes interconnected by a plurality of data connections arranged to carry data to and from equipment in subsea installations, the method includes: storing data in a mass subsea data store provided across one or more nodes in the subsea network configured to act as a subsea data server; and on receiving, at the subsea data server, a request for access to data stored in the mass subsea data store, the subsea data server retrieving the requested data from the data store and causing the requested data to be sent over the subsea.