Subsea DC Power Network for Extended Umbilical Reach
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subsea umbilicals face challenges such as increased costs due to rising power and data transfer requirements, high costs of extending umbilicals to new wells, and the issue of faults affecting multiple wells, with alternating current transmission limiting practical length to around 150 km due to power losses.
Innovation Solution
A separate direct current electrical power and data network is provided, using fibre optic communications for high bandwidth and flexibility, with hubs and branching units to reduce voltage and ensure redundancy, allowing for longer distance transmission and easier expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If alternating current is used in subsea umbilicals, then power can be transmitted to subsea wells, but power losses limit the practical length to around 150 km
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrical parameter from alternating current to direct current transmission. This parameter change eliminates the reactive power losses and impedance issues associated with AC transmission, enabling power transmission over distances exceeding 150 km without significant power loss.
2Productivity
If subsea umbilicals are extended to serve more subsea wells, then more wells can be connected, but costs become prohibitively expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the traditional integrated umbilical into separate functional components: direct current power transmission cables and fibre optic data communication cables. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and enables modular extension to serve additional wells without the need to replace entire umbilical assemblies, significantly reducing extension costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The direct current power transmission infrastructure is designed to serve multiple subsea wells and various subsea assets (production wells, injection wells, processing facilities) through a shared network. This multi-functional approach allows a single DC power system to support diverse subsea operations, reducing the overall cost per well compared to dedicated umbilicals for each well.
3Extent of automation
If control systems for subsea wells become more sophisticated, then better control is achieved, but electric power and data transfer requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional electrical power transmission with direct current transmission and complements it with fibre optic data communication. This substitution enables sophisticated control systems with high data bandwidth requirements while the DC power system efficiently handles the increased power demands, as DC transmission is more efficient for high-power applications compared to AC transmission at subsea voltages.
4Ease of manufacture
If a subsea umbilical is used to connect multiple wells in series, then infrastructure costs are reduced, but a fault can affect all downstream wells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements segmentation by using separate DC power cables and fibre optic data cables that can be independently routed and connected to multiple subsea wells. This segmentation creates electrical and communication independence between wells, so that a fault in one cable or well connection does not propagate to affect downstream wells, while still maintaining a cost-effective shared infrastructure approach.
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 solution enables cost-effective and reliable transmission of electric power and data over longer distances, reducing costs and increasing flexibility, allowing for easier connection of subsea wells and other assets, and facilitating the exploration and maintenance of marginal prospects.
Implementation Method 1
using fibre optic communications for high bandwidth and flexibility
Implementation Method 2
A separate direct current electrical power and data network is provided, using fibre optic communications for high bandwidth and flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
A subsea oil and/or gas production system comprises a host production facility and a plurality of subsea wells. A fluid conveying network is provided that connects each subsea well to the host production facility. A separate electrical power and data network is provided for conveying direct current electrical power and data, operatively connected to each subsea well for providing each subsea well with data transfer and electrical power services. The use of direct current ensures that the electrical power and data network can provide power over much greater distances than currently available, and the use of separate networks for conveying fluids and for providing electrical power and data transfer allows for a much more flexible system.