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US 12,680,410 B2Granted
Electrically-actuated blow-out preventer
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsSuman Katanguri, Matthew Givens, Matthew Olson, Jesse Hardt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method includes actuating a blow-out preventer (BOP) by moving a ram using an electric motor. The method also includes capturing sensor data with one or more sensors as the BOP is electrically-actuated. The method also includes determining one or more parameters with a controller based upon the sensor data. The method also includes controlling the electric motor based upon the one or more parameters.
Claims18
A method, comprising:
- actuating a blow-out preventer (BOP) by moving a ram using an electric motor, wherein the electric motor comprises a variable-frequency drive (VFD);
- capturing sensor data with one or more sensors as the BOP is electrically-actuated, wherein the sensor data comprises position data;
- speed data;
- and torque data;
- determining one or more parameters with a controller based upon the sensor data;
- and
- controlling the electric motor based upon the one or more parameters,
- wherein controlling the electric motor comprises controlling a frequency and/or a voltage of a power supplied to the VFD of the electric motor,
- wherein controlling the frequency and/or the voltage causes the electric motor to operate in a first mode as the ram moves toward a pipe but has not yet contacted the pipe, and to operate in a second mode as the ram cuts through the pipe,
- wherein a speed of the electric motor is greater than a predetermined speed threshold in the first mode and less than the predetermined speed threshold in the second mode, and
- wherein a torque of the electric motor is less than a predetermined torque threshold in the first mode and greater than the predetermined torque threshold in the second mode.
8 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an electric motor configured to actuate a blow-out preventer (BOP) by moving a ram;
- a variable-frequency drive (VFD);
- one or more sensors configured to capture sensor data as the BOP is actuated, wherein the sensor data comprises position data;
- speed data;
- and torque data;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- determine one or more parameters based upon the sensor data;
- and
- control the electric motor based upon the one or more parameters,
- wherein controlling the electric motor comprises controlling a frequency and/or a voltage of a power supplied to the VFD,
- wherein controlling the electric motor causes the electric motor to operate in a first mode as the ram moves toward a pipe but has not yet contacted the pipe, and to operate in a second mode as the ram cuts through the pipe,
- wherein a speed of the electric motor is greater than a predetermined speed threshold in the first mode and less than the predetermined speed threshold in the second mode, and
- wherein a torque of the electric motor is less than a predetermined torque threshold in the first mode and greater than the predetermined torque threshold in the second mode.
11 more elements
A system, comprising:
- two electric motors configured to actuate a blow-out preventer (BOP) by moving two rams toward or away from one another, wherein the two electric motors each comprise a variable-frequency drive (VFD);
- a plurality of sensors configured to capture sensor data as the BOP is actuated, wherein the sensor data comprises position data;
- speed data;
- and torque data;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- determine a plurality of parameters based upon the sensor data, wherein a first of the parameters comprises positions of the two rams based upon the position data, wherein a second of the parameters comprises speeds of the two rams based upon the speed data, and wherein a third of the parameters comprises torques of the two electric motors based upon the torque data;
- and
- control the two electric motors based upon the parameters,
- wherein controlling the two electric motors comprises controlling a frequency and/or a voltage of a power supplied to the VFDs of the two electric motors,
- wherein the controlling the frequency and/or the voltage causes the two electric motors to operate in a first mode as the two rams move toward a pipe therebetween and in a second mode as the two rams cut through the pipe,
- wherein the speeds of the two electric motors are greater than a predetermined speed threshold in the first mode and less than the predetermined speed threshold in the second mode, and
- wherein the torques of the two electric motors are less than a predetermined torque threshold in the first mode and greater than the predetermined torque threshold in the second mode.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.