Subsea Pressure Monitoring With Differential Sensor And Valve Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Monitoring minute changes in seabed floor movements and water pressure at subsea reservoirs is challenging due to high water depths and extensive reservoir sizes, leading to difficulties in sensor accuracy and stability, especially with existing pressure sensor technologies that require extended stabilization periods and are costly to operate.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a differential pressure sensor with a chamber and fluid control valves to capture a reference pressure and measure changes in water pressure at subsea environments, allowing for improved resolution and reduced sensor drift by maintaining pressure balance within tolerable ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pressure sensors are placed on the seabed for continuous monitoring, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and operational cost increase due to wired connections being expensive and permanently installed units requiring battery operation and sonic communication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces continuous wired mechanical connections with a temporary deployment system using a vehicle to transport and install pressure sensors. This substitution eliminates the need for complex wired infrastructure and battery-powered permanent installations, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through targeted temporary monitoring points.
2Measurement precision
If an ROV transports pressure sensors between measurement location points, then measurement precision is maintained through calibrated sensors, but productivity decreases due to the expensive and time-consuming transport process between fixed locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calibrating pressure sensors before deployment and installing them at multiple measurement location points in advance. This allows simultaneous or near-simultaneous monitoring across multiple points, eliminating the sequential transport process and significantly improving productivity while maintaining measurement precision through pre-established calibration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pressure sensors operate at elevated pressures, then measurement capability is improved for subsea environments, but reliability decreases due to extended stabilization periods beyond 70 days required before reaching stable performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by allowing pressure sensors to stabilize at elevated pressures during the deployment and installation process before beginning actual measurements. This pre-stabilization period, conducted during the necessary deployment time, eliminates the need for extended 70+ day stabilization periods during operation, thereby improving reliability while maintaining the capability to measure at elevated subsea pressures.
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 provides enhanced accuracy and reduced sensor drift, enabling sub-centimeter long-term resolution of seabed floor movements and pressure changes, with potential for compact design and reduced operational costs by preconditioning sensors and eliminating the need for overpressure protection.
Implementation Method 1
a differential pressure sensor including a first fluid pressure input in fluid communication with the chamber and a second fluid pressure input
Data Source
AI summary
A system and associated method for monitoring pressure of water at a sub-surface water location. The system includes a chamber, enclosing a fluid, and a fluid line. The system includes a differential pressure sensor with first and second fluid pressure inputs connected to the chamber and the fluid line, respectively. The system includes a first valve configured to have a first position in which the chamber is in fluid communication with the fluid line through the first valve and configured to have a second position in which the chamber is blocked from fluid communication with the line. The system includes a second valve configured to have a first position in which the fluid line is blocked from fluid communication with the water at the sub-surface location and is configured to have a second position in which the line is in fluid communication with the water through the second valve.