# US 10,119,352 B2 · Direct hydraulic rapid response module apparatus and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,352 B2 - Document ID: US10119352B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/319,942 - Filed: 2015-06-17 - Published: 2017-05-18 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-19 - Assignees: FMC Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: FMC Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Lewis Holmes; Iain G. Duncan; Kevin Masterson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119352B2 ## CPC - E21B 33/0355: {Control systems, e.g. hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, acoustic, for submerged well heads} - E21B 34/04: in underwater well heads - F15B 1/04: Accumulators - F15B 13/024: {Pressure relief valves} - F16K 17/0473: {Multiple-way safety valves} - F16K 17/30: spring-loaded - F16K 24/04: for venting only (F16K24/02 takes precedence) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract An apparatus, fixed or recoverable to control a remote device includes a valve assembly having a cylinder, a piston dividing the cylinder into a first hydraulic chamber and a second hydraulic chamber, a spring to bias the piston toward the first hydraulic chamber, and a linkage to connect the piston to the remote device, a quick-vent valve assembly comprising an inlet connected to a hydraulic source, an outlet connected to the first hydraulic chamber, and a vent port, wherein the quick-vent valve assembly is configured to discharge fluid from the outlet to the vent when a pressure of the hydraulic source connected to the inlet drops below a threshold value, and a vent line connecting the vent port of the quick-vent valve assembly to a hydraulic accumulator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus to control a remote device, the apparatus comprising: a valve assembly comprising a cylinder, a piston dividing the cylinder into a first hydraulic chamber and a second hydraulic chamber, a spring to bias the piston toward the first hydraulic chamber, and a linkage to connect the piston to the remote device; a quick-vent valve assembly comprising an inlet connected to a hydraulic source, an outlet connected to the first hydraulic chamber such that a pressure from the hydraulic source connected to the inlet acts on a face of the piston in the first hydraulic chamber of the valve assembly when the pressure at the inlet is greater than an opening pressure value of the quick-vent valve assembly, and a vent port, wherein the quick-vent valve assembly is configured to discharge fluid from the outlet to the vent port when the pressure of the hydraulic source connected to the inlet drops below a threshold value; a vent line connecting the vent port of the quick-vent valve assembly to a hydraulic accumulator; and an equalization line to connect the second hydraulic chamber to the vent line. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flow restriction device in the vent line positioned between the vent port and the hydraulic accumulator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the flow restriction device comprises a shuttle valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the flow restriction device comprises an orifice plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a hydraulic connection between the second hydraulic chamber and the vent line, wherein the hydraulic connection is positioned in the vent line between the flow restriction device and the hydraulic accumulator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a check valve to prevent flow from the vent line through the hydraulic connection to the second hydraulic chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote device comprises a production shutoff valve. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote device comprises a production choke. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote device is located in a subsea environment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote device is located more than 1.5 km away from the hydraulic source. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second hydraulic chamber is open to a surrounding environment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic accumulator comprises a seachest. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic accumulator comprises a vent to release excess volume of the hydraulic fluid. ### Claim 14 A modular valve carrier to engage and complete a subsea valve assembly, the modular valve carrier comprising: an engagement portion on a connection side of the modular valve carrier comprising a mechanical connector and a plurality of hydraulic quick-connectors, wherein the engagement portion is configured to engage a corresponding socket of the subsea valve assembly; a plurality of quick-vent valve assemblies disposed on a work side of the modular valve carrier, each of the plurality of quick-vent valve assemblies comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a vent port, each inlet, outlet, and vent port hydraulically connected to one of the plurality of hydraulic quick-connectors; and a lifting feature configured to be manipulated by a remotely operated vehicle; wherein the connection side and the work side are opposite to each other; wherein each of the plurality of the quick-vent valve assemblies is configured to discharge fluid from the outlet to the vent when a pressure of the hydraulic source connected to the inlet drops below a threshold value. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The modular valve carrier of claim 14, further comprising a lock mechanism configured to selectively lock the engagement portion with the socket of the subsea valve assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The modular valve carrier of claim 15, wherein the lock mechanism is configured to be operated by the remotely operated vehicle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The modular valve carrier of claim 14, wherein the socket of the subsea valve assembly comprises a plurality of corresponding hydraulic quick-connector sockets configured to hydraulically couple with the plurality of hydraulic quick-connectors of the engagement portion. ### Claim 18 A method to control a remote device, the method comprising: linking the remote device to a piston configured to reciprocate between a first hydraulic chamber and a second hydraulic chamber of a cylinder; hydraulically coupling an outlet of a quick-valve assembly to the first hydraulic chamber; supplying a hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic source to an inlet of the quick-vent valve assembly; increasing pressure of the hydraulic fluid at the inlet of the quick-valve assembly beyond an opening pressure; thrusting the piston from the first hydraulic chamber to the second hydraulic chamber and venting hydraulic fluid from the second hydraulic chamber to a hydraulic accumulator when the pressure of the hydraulic fluid at the inlet is increased beyond the opening pressure to operate the linked remote device; and venting hydraulic fluid from the first hydraulic chamber to the hydraulic accumulator through a vent port of the quick-vent valve assembly and venting hydraulic fluid from the first hydraulic chamber to the second hydraulic chamber through the vent port of the quick-vent valve assembly when pressure of the hydraulic fluid at the inlet drops below a threshold value to thrust the piston from the second hydraulic chamber to the first hydraulic chamber. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the remote device comprises a subsea production shutoff valve. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the remote device comprises a subsea production choke. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising biasing the piston toward the first hydraulic chamber.