Subsea Latching Assembly Acoustic Control System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for subsea drilling face challenges in unlatching a rotating control device (RCD) or other oilfield devices when the primary electro-hydraulic umbilical line is damaged or impractical to use, especially in deep-sea environments where human divers or ROVs may not be safe or feasible.
Innovation Solution
An acoustic control system is introduced, which includes a surface control unit, a subsea control unit, and acoustic signal devices that can transmit and receive signals to remotely operate a subsea latch assembly, using pressurized hydraulic fluid stored in accumulators to unlatch or latch the RCD, serving as a backup or primary operation method.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an electro-hydraulic umbilical line is used to operate the subsea latch assembly, then the latching operation can be controlled from the surface, but the system becomes vulnerable to umbilical line damage and requires complex cabling infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hydraulic power supply from the surface umbilical line and places it locally on the subsea latch assembly in the form of accumulators. This eliminates the need for continuous umbilical line connection for power transmission, retaining remote operability while removing the vulnerability associated with long umbilical lines.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic signaling as an intermediary communication method between the surface and subsea latch assembly. Acoustic signals serve as a reliable mediator that can operate independently of the electro-hydraulic umbilical line, enabling control commands to be transmitted even when the primary umbilical connection is damaged.
2Ease of operation
If human divers or ROVs are deployed to operate the latching assembly in deep-sea environments, then direct manual intervention is possible, but safety risks and operational feasibility decrease in hazardous conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The subsea latch assembly is equipped with self-contained accumulators that store hydraulic energy locally. This enables the system to operate autonomously using stored energy, eliminating the need for continuous external power supply or manual intervention by divers or ROVs in hazardous deep-sea environments.
3Reliability
If a backup acoustic control system is implemented, then operational reliability improves in case of umbilical line damage, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the electro-hydraulic umbilical control system and the acoustic control system into a unified latching assembly. Both control methods share common components such as the hydraulic actuators and latch mechanism, reducing overall system complexity while providing redundant control pathways for improved reliability.
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
Enables safe and reliable operation of subsea latching assemblies without the need for a functional electro-hydraulic umbilical line, ensuring continued drilling operations even in hazardous conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an acoustic signal device capable of transmitting an acoustic signal and a subsea control unit with an acoustic signal receiver
Implementation Method 2
a piston movable within the cylinder between a retracted position and an extended position to unlatch or latch the RCD or other oilfield device from the housing
Implementation Method 3
using pressurized hydraulic fluid stored in accumulators to unlatch or latch the RCD
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 2
AI summary
An acoustic control system wirelessly operates a subsea latching assembly (14, 18) or other subsea device, such as an active seal (22). The acoustic control system may control a subsea first accumulator to release its stored hydraulic fluid to operate the latch assembly or other subsea device, such as an active seal. An RCD or other oilfield device may be unlatched or latched with the latching assembly. The acoustic control system may have a surface control unit, a subsea control unit, and two or more acoustic signal devices. A valve may allow switching from an umbilical line system to the acoustic control system accumulator.