Wireless subsea monitoring and control system
AssigneeFMC Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDaniel McStay, John J. Mulholland, David Kane
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A subsea system for producing or processing a hydrocarbon production fluid comprises a plurality of sensors, each of which generates a sensor signal that is representative of a condition of a component of the system or a property of a fluid. A base unit mounted on or adjacent the system is in wireless communication with each of the sensors, and a subsea control module is in communication with the base unit. In operation, the sensor signals are transmitted wirelessly from the sensors to the base unit and are then transmitted from the base unit to the subsea control module.
Claims23
A subsea system for producing or processing a hydrocarbon production fluid, the subsea system comprising:
- a subsea production or processing apparatus;
- a plurality of sensors which are mounted on the apparatus, each of the plurality of sensors generating a sensor signal that is representative of a condition of a component of the apparatus or a property of a fluid;
- a base unit which mounted on or adjacent the apparatus and is in direct wireless communication with each of the plurality of sensors;
- and
- a subsea control module which is mounted on or adjacent the apparatus and is in communication with the base unit, the subsea control module being configured to monitor and/or control the subsea production or processing apparatus;
- wherein the sensor signals are transmitted wirelessly from the plurality of sensors to the base unit and are then transmitted from the base unit to the subsea control module;
- and
- wherein the base unit and the subsea control module are separate components which are mounted physically apart on or adjacent the apparatus;
- whereby the base unit and the subsea control module are independently installable on and retrievable from on or adjacent the apparatus.
A subsea production system which comprises:
- a wellhead which is installed at an upper end of a well bore;
- a christmas tree which is connected to the top of the wellhead by a tree connector;
- the christmas tree comprising a production bore, an annulus bore, a first valve for controlling flow through the production bore and a second valve for controlling flow through the annulus bore;
- a plurality of sensors, at least one of which generates a corresponding sensor signal that is representative of the latched or unlatched state of the tree connector or the open or closed position of the first valve or the second valve;
- a base unit which mounted on or adjacent the christmas tree and is in wireless communication with each of the sensors;
- and
- a subsea control module which is mounted on or adjacent the christmas tree and is in communication with the base unit, the subsea control module being configured to monitor and/or control the christmas tree;
- wherein the sensor signals are transmitted wirelessly from the sensors to the base unit and are then transmitted from the base unit to the subsea control module;
- wherein the base unit and the subsea control module are separate components which are mounted physically apart on or adjacent the christmas tree;
- whereby the base unit and the subsea control module are independently installable on and retrievable from on or adjacent the christmas tree.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.