Wireless electrical feedthrough wetmate connector

A wireless wetmate connector which comprises:

• a male connector half which includes an axially extending shaft portion and a male magnetic transceiver, the shaft portion comprising an internal first cavity within which the male magnetic transceiver is positioned, the first cavity being sealed from an external environment when the first connector half is mounted to the first component;
• and
• a female connector half which includes a housing portion and a female magnetic transceiver, the housing portion comprising an external axially extending receptacle which is configured to receive the shaft portion and an internal annular second cavity which is positioned coaxially around the receptacle and within which the female magnetic transceiver is positioned, the second cavity being sealed from an external environment when the first connector half is mounted to the first component;
• wherein during use of the wetmate connector the shaft portion is inserted into the receptacle portion and the male and female magnetic transceivers communicate wireless data and/or power signals through the shaft portion and the housing portion using near field magnetic induction (NFMI) communications.

An electrical downhole feedthrough system for communicating data and/or power signals between an external device which is connected to a first subsea component and a downhole device which is connected to a second subsea component, the first and second subsea components comprising respective first and second feedthrough bores, the downhole feedthrough system comprising a wireless wetmate connector which includes:

• a first connector half which is secured and sealed to an end of the first feedthrough bore closest to the second subsea component, the first connector half including a first internal cavity and a first wireless communications device which is positioned in the first internal cavity, the first wireless communications device being operable to transmit and/or receive wireless data and/or power signals, and the first internal cavity being sealed from an external environment;
• and
• a second connector half which is secured and sealed to an end of the second feedthrough bore closest to the first subsea component, the second connector half including a second internal cavity and a second wireless communications device which is positioned in the second internal cavity, the second wireless communications device being operable to transmit and/or receive wireless data and/or power signals, and the second internal cavity being sealed from the external environment;
• wherein the first connector half is movable relative to the second connector half into and out of an engaged position in which the first and second wireless communications devices are in operable proximity;
• whereby the downhole feedthrough system is operable to communicate data and/or power signals between the external device and the downhole device through the wetmate connector while the first and second communications devices are isolated from the external environment in a respective sealed cavity.

A feedthrough communications system for a subsea hydrocarbon production system, the subsea production system comprising a wellhead which is positioned at the top of a wellbore, a tubing hanger which is landed in the wellhead, and a christmas tree which is connected to the top of the wellhead, the tubing hanger and the christmas tree comprising respective first and second feedthrough bores, the feedthrough communications system comprising:

• a first connector portion which is connected to the tubing hanger, the first connector portion including a first magnetic transceiver which is configured to transmit and/or receive wireless data and/or power signals using near field magnetic induction (NFMI) communications;
• and
• a second connector portion which is connected to the christmas tree, the second connector portion including a second magnetic transceiver which is configured to transmit and/or receive wireless data and/or power signals using NFMI communications;
• wherein the first connector portion is secured and sealed to an end of the first feedthrough bore closest to the christmas tree, the first connector portion including a first internal cavity within which the first magnetic transceiver is positioned, and the first internal cavity being sealed from an external environment;
• wherein the second connector portion is secured and sealed to an end of the second feedthrough bore closest to the tubing hanger, the second connector portion including a second internal cavity within which the second magnetic transceiver is positioned, and the second internal cavity being sealed from the external environment;
• and
• wherein when the christmas tree is moved into a position for connection to the top of the wellhead, the second connector portion is moved into an engaged position with the first connector portion in which the second magnetic transceiver is positioned in operable proximity to the first magnetic transceiver;
• whereby in operation of the feedthrough communications system, the first and second magnetic transceivers are operable to communicate wireless data and/or power signals between each other.

A method for transmitting wireless data and/or power signals between a christmas tree which is connected to the top of a wellhead and a tubing hanger which is landed in the wellhead, the tubing hanger and the christmas tree comprising respective first and second feedthrough bores, the method comprising:

• mounting a first connector half to the tubing hanger, the first connector half including a first magnetic transceiver which is configured to transmit and/or receive wireless data and/or power signals using near field magnetic induction (NFMI) communications;
• mounting a second connector half to the christmas tree, the second connector half including a second magnetic transceiver which is configured to transmit and/or receive wireless data and/or power signals using NFMI communications;
• wherein the first connector half is secured and sealed to an end of the first feedthrough bore closest to the christmas tree, the first connector half including a first internal cavity within which the first magnetic transceiver is positioned, and the first internal cavity being sealed from an external environment;
• wherein the second connector half is secured and sealed to an end of the second feedthrough bore closest to the tubing hanger, the second connector half including a second internal cavity within which the second magnetic transceiver is positioned, and the second internal cavity being sealed from the external environment;
• and
• moving the christmas tree into a position for connection with the top of the wellhead to thereby position the first and second magnetic transceivers in operable proximity to each other;
• and
• operating the first and second magnetic transceivers to communicate wireless data and/or power signals between each other.