Electrical mudline system
AssigneeVetco Gray Inc.
InventorRichard J. Knox
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical mudline system that includes a turbine-type power generation assembly that can be lowered by wireline and installed at the seabed or mudline. A generator may be installed on a wellhead for support and located on a lower part of the generation assembly or may be installed through a tree if a cap on the tree is removed. A frame is included to provide additional support for the generation assembly and protect the turbine blades on the periphery of the turbine. The turbine rotates in response to water currents and thereby rotates a shaft coupled to the turbine to generate electrical power. The electrical power is generated local to the well to power various types of equipment at the well or in the vicinity of the well.
Claims17
A current power generator, comprising:
- a support frame;
- a wellhead mounted on a seafloor;
- a generator mounted to the wellhead;
- a drive shaft mounted to the generator;
- a turbine mechanically coupled to the drive shaft;
- and
- an umbilical, in electrical communication with the generator and extending away from the generator, so that when subsea currents rotate the turbine, the drive shaft rotates to activate the generator and energize the umbilical.
A current power generator, comprising:
- a support frame having a plurality of legs supported by a mudline in a body of water;
- a wellhead embedded within the mudline having an end that protrudes above the mudline;
- a generator mounted to the wellhead, the generator including a rotatable shaft, operatively connected to the generator such that when the shaft rotates, the generator generates electricity;
- a wheel mounted to the rotatable shaft, capable of rotation in response to water current, the wheel having an axis of rotation normal to the water current;
- and
- an umbilical, in electrical communication with the generator and extending away from the generator.
A method for generating electrical power, comprising:
- locating a support frame approximately at a wellhead mounted on a seafloor;
- mounting a generator to the wellhead;
- mounting a drive shaft to the generator;
- mechanically coupling a turbine to the drive shaft;
- electrically communicating an umbilical with the generator;
- and
- extending the umbilical away from the generator, so that when subsea currents rotate the turbine, the drive shaft rotates to activate the generator and energize the umbilical.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.