Disruptive Coupling With Fluid Bladder for Subsea Vibration Mitigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Subsea equipment in hydrocarbon production systems is limited by oceanic waves and currents, which induce vibrations and motions that restrict the weather window and operational lifespan, necessitating a cost-effective solution to mitigate these effects.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a disruptive coupling device with a bladder enclosing a fluid, configured to move in response to seawater loads, which acts as a compliant degree of freedom to reduce modal responses by altering the mass and phase lag of subsea components, thereby reducing vibrations and movements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If subsea equipment is installed in seawater environment, then the equipment can perform hydrocarbon production functions, but wave and current loads induce vibrations and motions that limit weather window and operational lifespan

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational lifespanVSAvoidwave and current induced vibrations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A disruptive coupling device is introduced as an intermediary element between the subsea equipment and the seawater environment. This device includes a bladder filled with fluid that acts as a mediator to absorb and dissipate wave and current loads, preventing direct transmission of vibrations to the subsea equipment. The fluid-filled bladder deforms under external loads, converting mechanical vibration energy into fluid pressure changes, thereby protecting the equipment while maintaining its operational function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful wave and current induced vibrations into beneficial effects by using the fluid-filled bladder to transform mechanical vibration energy into useful fluid pressure variations. The external loads that would normally cause damaging vibrations are instead used to compress and expand the fluid in the bladder, which dissipates the energy and reduces the transmission of harmful vibrations to the subsea equipment, thereby extending operational lifespan.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Strength

If traditional rigid coupling is used for subsea equipment, then structural strength is maintained, but weather window and operational lifespan are limited due to vibration transmission

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidvibration transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical parameters of the coupling system by replacing a rigid structural connection with a compliant fluid-filled bladder. This parameter change transforms the coupling characteristics from rigid (high strength, high vibration transmission) to compliant (reduced strength, low vibration transmission). The fluid bladder maintains sufficient structural integrity while fundamentally altering the vibration transmission properties, thereby reducing the harmful effects of wave and current loads on the subsea equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If vibration mitigation systems are added to subsea equipment, then operational lifespan is extended, but device complexity and installation time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational lifespanVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the vibration mitigation function from complex active control systems and implements it through a simple passive fluid-filled bladder. By separating the vibration protection function from the main equipment structure and encapsulating it in a standalone bladder component, the system achieves vibration mitigation without requiring complex sensors, actuators, or control algorithms. This extracted approach maintains operational lifespan while minimizing device complexity and installation requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 extends the weather window and operational lifespan of subsea equipment, facilitating simpler, more compact designs, cost savings, and reduced installation time by effectively mitigating vibrations and movements caused by waves and currents.

Implementation Method 1

The disruptive coupling device includes a bladder enclosing at least partially a fluid, and the disruptive coupling device is configured to move at least a portion of the fluid in response to a load applied by the seawater

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompressibility:

Implementation Method 2

a check valve disposed between the lower portion and the upper portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11668141B2Disruptive coupling systems and methods for subsea systems

Publication Date: 2023.06.06 J RAY MCDERMOTT SA

AI summary

Aspects of the present disclosure relates to disruptive coupling systems and methods, and apparatus thereof, for subsea systems. The subsea systems may be subsea oil and gas systems. In one implementation, a subsea system includes a subsea component disposed in seawater, and a disruptive coupling device coupled to the subsea structure and/or surrounding fluid.