Umbilical Management System Preventing Subsea Entanglement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subsea well intervention systems face issues with umbilical buckling, twisting, and entanglement due to ocean waves and currents, leading to damage and inefficiencies in deploying and managing control umbilicals, particularly in deepwater environments where constant tension winch systems are costly and impractical.
Innovation Solution
A dedicated motorized umbilical management system unit (UMSU) with thrusters and tethers that can be remotely controlled or autonomous, allowing for independent deployment and tensioning of control umbilicals and tethers, preventing excessive forces and entanglements, and enabling precise positioning to avoid other subsea lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a control umbilical is tensioned to prevent buckling and crumpling under compressive forces, then the umbilical can maintain structural integrity during vessel heaving motion, but the umbilical is subjected to repeated bending and straightening that causes fatigue and internal friction damage over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the tensioning function from the umbilical itself and transfers it to a separate constant tension winch system. The winch actively applies tension to the umbilical, preventing buckling and crumpling during vessel heaving motion, while avoiding the repeated bending damage that would occur if the umbilical were to collapse and then be pulled straightened repeatedly
Solution Approach 2:
The constant tension winch acts as an intermediary device between the vessel and the umbilical. It provides controlled tensioning force that prevents the umbilical from collapsing under compressive forces during wave motion, while the winch's mechanical system distributes the tensioning action to reduce concentrated stress and fatigue on the umbilical structure
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple umbilicals are used to supply different functions to subsea equipment, then the system can provide comprehensive power and communication capabilities, but the deployment and operation become more complex and the umbilicals may clash or tangle in the water column
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces horizontal positioning capability through the winch system, allowing the umbilical to be deployed and positioned in three-dimensional space rather than simply vertical deployment. This enables multiple umbilicals to be routed through different horizontal positions and depths, reducing the likelihood of clashing and tangling while maintaining comprehensive functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic control of umbilical deployment and positioning, allowing the winch to adjust the tension and position of multiple umbilicals in real-time during operations. This dynamic management enables the umbilicals to adapt to changing sea conditions and avoid entanglement with other downlines while maintaining all required functions
3Reliability
If a constant tension winch is used to tension the umbilical, then the umbilical can be kept under constant tension to prevent buckling, but the system becomes expensive and impractical in deepwater environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service tensioning mechanism where the winch system automatically adjusts and maintains umbilical tension based on vessel motion and sea conditions. The system uses sensors and control mechanisms to self-regulate the tensioning force, eliminating the need for complex external control systems and reducing overall cost and complexity while maintaining reliable tension control
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 UMSU system effectively manages umbilical tension and position, reducing fatigue and damage, allowing for efficient subsea operations without the need for constant tension winches, and enabling deployment in deepwater environments with reduced costs and increased operational flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
The UMSU also includes thrusters which can move the UMSU in two planes and rotate about its central axis in the water column to avoid clashing with other cables
Implementation Method 2
The UMSU also includes a weight to compensate for the heave motion and thus keep the CU or MCU under tension as needed
Data Source
AI summary
An intervention system and method for control of seabed equipment, including a control umbilical connected to a support vessel or rig via a surface winch; a tether connected to underwater seabed equipment; and an umbilical management system unit coupled between the tether and the control umbilical to couple the support vessel or rig to the seabed equipment. The control umbilical and the tether via the umbilical management system unit provide a communications channel for communicating media, including data, electrical power, hydraulic power and/or chemical treatment fluid, from the support vessel or rig to the seabed equipment. The umbilical management system unit allows for easy deployment and management of the control umbilical and tether and can reel in or pay out the tether and/or the control umbilical under remote control or autonomously.