Subsea Hydraulic Control via Wireline and Open Water Umbilical
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional subsea well intervention equipment requires a large, complex hydraulic umbilical and associated spooling/handling equipment, which occupies valuable rig space and increases operational complexity.
Innovation Solution
A subsea hydraulic control system that uses a simple signal carrier, such as a wireline logging cable, to control hydraulically actuated devices, with pressurized hydraulic fluid supplied from an existing workover control system via an open water umbilical, eliminating the need for a conventional electro-hydraulic umbilical and associated spooling equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional electro-hydraulic umbilical is used to control subsea equipment, then hydraulic control functionality is achieved, but rig space is occupied and operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hydraulic umbilical and spooling equipment from the surface rig system, eliminating the need for these components on the rig. Instead, hydraulic control is achieved through an open-water umbilical deployed from a separate platform, while the rig uses only a wireline for signal transmission. This separation removes the complexity and space requirements of conventional electro-hydraulic umbilical systems from the rig.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireline logging cable, originally designed for signaling and data transmission, is made multi-functional by using it to control the electro-hydraulic control system that in turn actuates hydraulic devices. This allows a single component (the wireline) to serve multiple purposes: communication, control signaling, and indirect hydraulic actuation, thereby eliminating the need for separate hydraulic umbilical infrastructure on the rig.
2Ease of operation
If spooling and handling equipment is mounted on the surface rig to manage the umbilical, then umbilical deployment is enabled, but valuable rig space is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The spooling and handling equipment is extracted from the surface rig and relocated to a separate platform. This allows the rig to deploy operations without being burdened by heavy umbilical handling machinery, freeing up valuable deck space for other operational equipment while still enabling complete umbilical deployment capability through the separate platform's infrastructure.
3Reliability
If a bespoke umbilical is designed and deployed through the drilling riser, then subsea equipment control is achieved, but system complexity and handling requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical electro-hydraulic umbilical system with an electrical signaling system (wireline) that communicates with a remote electro-hydraulic control system. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical hydraulic umbilicals running through the drilling riser, replacing them with simpler electrical wiring that achieves the same control objective through electronic rather than direct mechanical means.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique enables a simplified approach for providing subsea hydraulic control. A subsea installation comprises one or more devices that are actuated hydraulically. A simple signal carrier, such as a wireline logging cable, can be routed down to the subsea installation. However, hydraulic fluid for controlling the one or more hydraulic devices in the subsea installation is delivered via an open water umbilical that extends to the subsea installation from a separate workover control system.