Subsurface Safety Valve for Electric Subsea Tree

• US 20090038804A1
• Filed: 08/09/2007
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Going, Walter S. III
• Application Number:
  US11/836,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20090038804A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/335
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/0355 Control systems, e.g. hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, acoustic, for submerged well heads
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/10 operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole

Abstract

An all electric subsea tree can be coupled with a hydraulic pressure unit that is fed off electrical and control lines that are in the umbilical from the surface. In that way hydraulic lines do not need to be separately run from the surface to the tree. Alternatively hydraulic pressure can be generated at a downhole tool using power and control lines running from the tree to the downhole equipment. As another alternative, the downhole equipment can be run by electric motor located downhole adjacent the downhole equipment and powered and controlled by lines running from the tree to the downhole location.

Claims

1. A control system for a downhole tool, comprising:

an electric subsea tree;

a hydraulic pressure generating module mounted to or adjacent said tree operatively connected to the downhole tool.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said module is connected to the downhole tool by at least one hydraulic pressure line run along a tubular string to the downhole tool.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

said tree provides at least one of power supply and control wire to said module.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein:

said module comprises a hydraulic pressure generating system further comprising a pump and a reservoir and a regulation system to maintain pressure in said hydraulic pressure line between predetermined values.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

said hydraulic pressure generating system is one of a vented system to the surrounding sea and a non-vented system.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein:

said hydraulic pressure line further comprises a wet connect for rapidly hooking up said pump to the downhole tool upon placement of said module on said tree.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said downhole tool comprises a subsurface safety valve.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein:

said downhole tool comprises a subsurface safety valve.

9. A control system for a downhole tool, comprising:

an electric subsea tree;

a hydraulic pressure generating module mounted to or near the downhole tool.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein:

said tree provides at least one of power supply and control wire to said module.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein:

said module comprises a hydraulic pressure generating system further comprising a pump and a reservoir and a regulation system to maintain pressure in said hydraulic pressure line between predetermined values.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein:

said hydraulic pressure generating system is one of a vented system and a non-vented system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

said hydraulic pressure generating module further comprises a wet connect for rapidly hooking up said pump to the downhole tool upon placement of said module near the downhole tool.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein:

said downhole tool comprises a subsurface safety valve.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein:

said downhole tool comprises a subsurface safety valve.

16. A control system for a downhole tool, comprising:

an electric subsea tree, said tree operatively electrically connected to a motor on the downhole tool for operation thereof.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein:

said tree provides at least one of power supply and control wire to the downhole tool.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein:

said motor directly or indirectly operates a valve member in the downhole tool between an open and a closed position.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein:

said valve member comprises a flapper on a subsurface safety valve.