Subsea Chemical Injection Disconnect Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subsea chemical injection systems face challenges in minimizing environmental impacts, preventing damage to subsea hardware, and managing fatigue loads when using coiled tubing for delivering chemicals and control signals to subsea structures, particularly in deep and remote offshore locations.
Innovation Solution
A subsea chemical injection system utilizing coiled tubing with a disconnect mechanism and hydraulic fluid supply to selectively release the connector from the hose, incorporating a weak link and poppet mechanism to prevent damage, and integrating electrical lines for power and signal transmission, allowing for flexible connections that reduce fatigue loads and facilitate emergency shutdowns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If coiled tubing is used to deliver chemicals and control signals to subsea structures, then flexibility and ease of deployment are improved, but fatigue loads and risk of damage to subsea hardware increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the connection into separable components: a disconnect mechanism on the coiled tubing end and a corresponding connector on the subsea structure. This allows the coiled tubing to be disconnected and removed from the subsea structure, eliminating fatigue loads while maintaining ease of deployment during operational periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The disconnect mechanism enables dynamic connection and disconnection of the coiled tubing to the subsea structure. The system transitions from a static permanent connection to a dynamic reversible connection, allowing the tubing to be deployed when needed and removed when not in use, thereby reducing fatigue accumulation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If coiled tubing is used for chemical injection, then flexibility in delivery is improved, but environmental impact risk increases due to potential damage and leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a safety valve and disconnect mechanism that can be activated before environmental damage occurs. These preventive measures are built into the design to close automatically or can be remotely activated to seal the chemical flow path, preventing leakage into the environment even if the tubing is damaged or disconnected unexpectedly.
Solution Approach 2:
The disconnect mechanism acts as an intermediary between the coiled tubing and the subsea structure, providing a controlled interface that can seal the chemical flow path. This intermediary component prevents direct exposure of chemicals to the environment by maintaining a sealed connection or enabling controlled disconnection.
3Reliability
If permanent connections are used between coiled tubing and subsea structure, then connection reliability is improved, but fatigue loads accumulate leading to potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into removable components with standardized interfaces. The disconnect mechanism and connector are designed to provide reliable sealing and mechanical connection during operational periods, then allow clean separation to reset the fatigue accumulation cycle, extending the overall service life of the coiled tubing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables periodic discarding (removal) and recovering (redeployment) of the coiled tubing. By removing the tubing from service before fatigue failure occurs and redeploying it after recovery, the system maintains connection reliability during each operational cycle while extending the total service life through multiple deployment cycles.
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 minimizes the risk of environmental damage, reduces the likelihood of subsea hardware damage, and enhances operational parameters by providing a flexible and reliable conduit for chemical injection and signal transmission, while allowing for easy installation and emergency shutdowns.
Implementation Method 1
The disconnect mechanism has a hydraulic fluid supply connected to the connector. The hydraulic fluid supply is actuatable so as to release the connector from the hose.
Implementation Method 2
The connector has a plurality of collet segments engaged with the hub such that the hoses is in fluid communication with an interior of the connector.
Implementation Method 3
The connector also has another hub joined with the disconnect mechanism. An actuating piston is positioned over this hub. The actuating piston is movable in one direction so as to release the collet segments from the hub of the hose upon receipt of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid supply.
Implementation Method 4
The hub of the connector has a poppet resiliently mounted therein. The poppet is movable to a position sealing the interior of the connector when the collet segments are released from the hub of the hose.
Implementation Method 5
coiled tubing from a surface location... delivering and injecting chemicals into the subsea structure
Implementation Method 6
integrating electrical lines for power and signal transmission
Data Source
AI summary
A subsea chemical injection system has a subsea structure, a manifold connected by jumper to the subsea structure, a coiled tubing, a disconnect mechanism affixed to the coiled tubing, and a hose extending from the disconnect mechanism to the manifold such that the chemical flowing through the coil tubing can selectively flow through the disconnect mechanism and through the hose to the subsea structure. The disconnect mechanism is adapted to selectively release from the hose. The disconnect mechanism has a connector affixed thereto. A hydraulic fluid supply is connected to the connector so as to selectively release the connector from the hose. Control lines can extend from a surface location to a control module and the disconnect mechanism for selectively delivering for receiving signals from the subsea structure.