Subsea electronic tagging and monitoring systems

Details Subsea electronic tagging and monitoring systems Subsea electronic tagging and monitoring systems

1999-07-19

2001-02-13

Trieu, Van T. (Department: 2736)

Communications: electrical

Wellbore telemetering or control

Including detail of subsurface signal storage

C340S853100, C340S854100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06188327

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electronic tagging and monitoring systems for subsea use, for example in tagging and monitoring of valves used in subsea pipelines and installations such as trees and manifolds for hydrocarbon production.
2. General Background
The accurate logging of subsea installed devices, such as the positions of valves in subsea trees and manifolds, has in many circumstances been difficult to achieve, particularly with frequent functioning-during installation and commissioning when many different parties may be involved.
The risks associated with not knowing the status of an installed device such as a valve prior to intervention (for example due to incomplete record keeping) are considerable. The valve assembly may sustain damage due to inappropriate torque being applied, or the operator believing that the valve is not functioning correctly if the valve does not move in the expected direction. At the very least, re-establishing the valve status by functioning is a time consuming exercise.
Another problem is positive valve identification, particularly where the marking system has deteriorated, or been damaged, possibly leading to inadvertent operation of the wrong valve.
In general, particularly in deep water, the operation/override of installed devices such as subsea valves is an activity undertaken by ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles), and the tools specified are largely similar in design. For valve operation, the torque tool is positioned in the valve interface/receptacle using a manipulator arm or a tool deployment mechanism mounted on the front of the ROV. When the tool is docked, it is located in the receptacle in the valve panel or on the valve. The valve stem has a profile/interface appropriate for the selected tool. When the torque tool is energized, the valve stem is turned and the reaction torque is reacted through the tool to the valve/panel interface, in other words the torque is reacted locally and not through the ROV. The tool basically comprises a hydraulic motor and gearbox with an appropriate drive interface. The problems with the existing arrangements are basically those set out above, resulting from difficulties in arriving at reliable valve (and valve type) identification, and also maintaining an effective log of past valve performance, including previous torque settings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a subsea electronic tagging and monitoring system comprising a subsea installed device including a data storage capsule having tagging and operational data, and apparatus for operatively interacting with the subsea installed device, the apparatus comprising a read/write head for communication with the data storage capsule when the apparatus is positioned for operative interaction with the installed device, the apparatus including means for sending the operational data to data processing equipment.
The systems as described below are retro-fit applications for existing installations. In new build applications, the data storage capsule and the required interface would be incorporated in the original equipment.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, to be described in greater detail below, there is provided a system for tagging and monitoring subsea installations such as valves used in hydrocarbon production, the system including a torque tool provided with a read/write head for inductive interaction with a capsule on a valve installation, the capsule storing valve identification and status data. When the torque tool is operatively engaged with the shaft (or an adaptor) of the valve, the read/write head inductively energizes the capsule and inductively receives identification data from the capsule, as well as operating data of previous operation, and this data is sent to a console in an ROV so as to ensure correct identification of the valve and proper subsequent operation by the tool.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4117688 (1978-10-01), Ball
patent: 5166677 (1992-11-01), Schoenberg
patent: 5992526 (1999-11-01), Cunningham et al.
patent: 6024514 (2000-02-01), Ostergaard

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