INTELLIGENT UNDERWATER LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM

• US 20090078028A1
• Filed: 09/26/2007
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FMC Technologies Incorporated (TechnipFMC, plc)
• Original Assignee: FMC Technologies Incorporated (TechnipFMC, plc)
• Inventors: McStay, Daniel, Nolan, Aidan, Shiach, Gordon
• Granted Patent: US 7,918,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/45.500
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/0122 Collecting oil or the like from a submerged leakage cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or the like E02B15/04
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/02 Preventing, monitoring, or locating loss

Abstract

A subsea leak detection system is disclosed which includes a plurality of subsea leak detection sensors and a leak detection controller adapted to receive leak detection data from the plurality of subsea leak detection sensors and direct the sensing activities of the plurality of subsea leak detection sensors based upon the received leak detection data.

Claims

1. A subsea leak detection system, comprising:

a plurality of subsea leak detection sensors; and

a leak detection controller adapted to receive leak detection data from said plurality of subsea leak detection sensors and direct the sensing activities of said plurality of subsea leak detection sensors based upon said received leak detection data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said leak detection controller is adapted to receive production data regarding operation of a subsea facility monitored by said plurality of leak detection sensors.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one camera that may be directed by said leak detection controller to observe a particular region based upon said received leak detection data.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a database for storing said leak detection data received from said plurality of leak detection sensors.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is adapted to compare leak detection data received from at least one of said plurality of sensors to a baseline established for said at least one of said plurality of leak detection sensors.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller may change pre-established sensing protocols if said received leak detection sensor data is outside of a preselected allowable range.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein said controller may change pre-established sensing protocols if said received leak detection sensor data is outside of a preselected allowable range and said production data is within an allowable range.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said leak detection controller, upon receipt of leak detection data indicative of a leak from any of said plurality of leak detection sensors, is adapted to direct at least one additional sensor of said plurality of subsea sensors to perform sensing activities to detect the source of said leak.

9. A subsea leak detection system, comprising:

a plurality of subsea leak detection sensors;

a leak detection controller adapted to receive leak detection data from said plurality of subsea leak detection sensors and direct the sensing activities of said plurality of subsea leak detection sensors based upon said received leak detection data, wherein said leak detection controller is adapted to receive production data regarding operation of a subsea facility monitored by said plurality of leak detection sensors; and

at least one camera that may be directed by said leak detection controller to observe a particular region based upon said received leak detection data.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a database for storing said leak detection data received from said plurality of leak detection sensors.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said controller is adapted to compare leak detection data received from at least one of said plurality of sensors to a baseline established for said at least one of said plurality of leak detection sensors.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said controller may change pre-established sensing protocols if said received leak detection sensor data is outside of a preselected allowable range.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein said controller may change pre-established sensing protocols if said received leak detection sensor data is outside of a preselected allowable range and said production data is within an allowable range.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein said leak detection controller, upon receipt of leak detection data indicative of a leak from any of said plurality of leak detection sensors, is adapted to direct at least one additional sensor of said plurality of subsea sensors to perform sensing activities to detect the source of said leak.

15. A subsea leak detection system, comprising:

a plurality of subsea leak detection sensors; and

a leak detection controller adapted to receive leak detection data from said plurality of subsea leak detection sensors and direct the sensing activities of said plurality of subsea leak detection sensors based upon said received leak detection data, wherein said leak detection controller is adapted to receive production data regarding operation of a subsea facility monitored by said plurality of leak detection sensors and wherein said leak detection controller, upon receipt of leak detection data indicative of a leak from any of said plurality of leak detection sensors, is adapted to direct at least one additional sensor of said plurality of subsea sensors to perform sensing activities to detect the source of said leak.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising at least one camera that may be directed by said leak detection controller to observe a particular region based upon said received leak detection data.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a database for storing said leak detection data received from said plurality of leak detection sensors.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said controller is adapted to compare leak detection data received from at least one of said plurality of sensors to a baseline established for said at least one of said plurality of leak detection sensors.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said controller may change pre-established sensing protocols if said received leak detection sensor data is outside of a preselected allowable range.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein said controller may change pre-established sensing protocols if said received leak detection sensor data is outside of a preselected allowable range and said production data is within an allowable range.

21. A subsea leak detection system, comprising:

a plurality of subsea leak detection sensors;

a leak detection controller adapted to receive leak detection data from said plurality of subsea leak detection sensors and direct the sensing activities of said plurality of subsea leak detection sensors based upon said received leak detection data, wherein said leak detection controller, upon receipt of leak detection data indicative of a leak from any of said plurality of leak detection sensors, is adapted to direct at least one additional sensor of said plurality of subsea sensors to perform sensing activities to detect the source of said leak; and

at least one camera that may be directed by said leak detection controller to observe a particular region based upon said received leak detection data.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a database for storing said leak detection data received from said plurality of leak detection sensors.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said controller is adapted to compare leak detection data received from at least one of said plurality of sensors to a baseline established for said at least one of said plurality of leak detection sensors.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein said controller may change pre-established sensing protocols if said received leak detection sensor data is outside of a preselected allowable range.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein said controller may change pre-established sensing protocols if said received leak detection sensor data is outside of a preselected allowable range and said production data is within an allowable range.