CONTROL AND SUPPLY SYSTEM

• US 20090296428A1
• Filed: 08/14/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Onesubsea IP UK Limited (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Biester, Klaus, Kunow, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,212,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/35
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/36 Arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks via a high-tension dc link
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/60 Arrangements for transfer of electric power between AC networks or generators via a high voltage DC link [HVCD]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/14 District level solutions, i.e. local energy networks

Abstract

In accordance with at least some embodiments, a maritime well system includes a sea-surface control unit. The maritime well system also includes a sea-bed control unit coupled to the sea-surface control unit by a sub-sea cable configured to carry a direct current (DC) voltage output from the sea-surface control unit at least 30 kilometers to the sea-bed control unit. The maritime well system also includes a sub-sea tree coupled to the sea-bed control unit via a connecting line configured to carry a converted voltage output from the sea-bed control unit to the sub-sea tree. In accordance with at least some embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the sub-sea cable is designed to carry a predetermined amount of power to the sea-bed control unit as DC power and is at least 10 times smaller than a cross-sectional area needed for carrying the predetermined amount of power to the sea-bed control unit as alternating current (AC) power.

Claims

1. A maritime well system, comprising:

a sea-surface control unit;

a sea-bed control unit coupled to the sea-surface control unit by a sub-sea cable configured to carry a direct current (DC) voltage output from the sea-surface control unit at least 30 kilometers to the sea-bed control unit; and

a sub-sea tree coupled to the sea-bed control unit via a connecting line configured to carry a converted voltage output from the sea-bed control unit to the sub-sea tree.

2. The maritime well system of claim 1 wherein a cross-sectional area of the sub-sea cable is designed to carry a predetermined amount of power to the sea-bed control unit as DC power and is at least 10 times smaller than a cross-sectional area needed for carrying the predetermined amount of power to the sea-bed control unit as alternating current (AC) power.

3. The maritime well system of claim 1 wherein a cross-sectional area of the sub-sea cable is designed to carry a predetermined amount of power to the sea-bed control unit as DC power and is at least 25 times smaller than a cross-sectional area needed for carrying the predetermined amount of power to the sea-bed control unit as alternating current (AC) power.

4. The maritime well system of claim 1 wherein a cross-sectional area of the sub-sea cable is designed to carry a predetermined amount of power to the sea-bed control unit as DC power and is at least 5 times smaller than a cross-sectional area needed for carrying the predetermined amount of power to the sea-bed control unit as alternating current (AC) power with power factor correction.

5. The maritime well system of claim 1 further comprising a multiplexer and a data coupler at the sea surface, wherein the multiplexer and the data coupled selectively modulate data onto the DC voltage output from sea-surface control unit.

6. The maritime well system of claim 1 further comprising a data transmission device coupled to the sea-surface control unit, wherein control and monitoring of all components of the maritime well system occur through the data transmission device.

7. The maritime well system of claim 1 wherein the sub-sea tree comprises a motor-actuated valve that operates by receiving the converted voltage output in a range between 240V to 300V.

8. The maritime well system of claim 1 wherein the DC voltage output is at least 3000V for transmission via the sub-sea cable to the sub-sea control unit and wherein the converted voltage output is at least 240V for transmission via the connecting line to the sub-sea tree.

9. The maritime well system of claim 1 wherein the sub-sea control unit comprises a measurement device and a data modulation device to transmit data to the sea-surface control unit for regulating the DC voltage output.

10. A method for a maritime well system, comprising:

providing a sea-surface control unit;

coupling the sea-bed control unit to the sea-surface control unit using a sub-sea cable configured to carry a direct current (DC) voltage output from the sea-surface control unit at least 30 kilometers to the sea-bed control unit; and

coupling a sub-sea tree to the sea-bed control unit via a connecting line configured to carry a converted voltage output from the sea-bed control unit to the sub-sea tree.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising selecting a cross-sectional area of the sub-sea cable to carry a predetermined amount of power to the sea-bed control unit as DC power and to be at least 10 times smaller than a cross-sectional area needed for carrying the predetermined amount of power to the sea-bed control unit as alternating current (AC) power.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising selecting a cross-sectional area of the sub-sea cable to carry a predetermined amount of power to the sea-bed control unit as DC power and to be at least 25 times smaller than a cross-sectional area needed for carrying the predetermined amount of power to the sea-bed control unit as alternating current (AC) power.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising selecting a cross-sectional area of the sub-sea cable to carry a predetermined amount of power to the sea-bed control unit as DC power and to be at least 5 times smaller than a cross-sectional area needed for carrying the predetermined amount of power to the sea-bed control unit as alternating current (AC) power with power factor correction.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising selectively coupling data onto the DC voltage output at the sea surface.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising controlling and monitoring all components of the maritime well system using a data transmission device.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising operating a motor-actuated valve of the sub-sea tree by providing the converted voltage output in a range between 240V to 300V.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising transmitting the DC voltage output in a range between 3000V to 6000V via the sub-sea cable to the sub-sea control unit and transmitting the converted DC voltage output in a range between 240V to 300V via the connecting line to the sub-sea tree.

18. The method of claim 10 further comprising providing data from the sub-sea control unit to the sea-surface control unit to regulate the DC voltage output.

19. A maritime well system, comprising:

a sea-surface control unit;

a sea-bed control unit coupled to the sea-surface control unit by a sub-sea cable configured to carry a direct current (DC) voltage output from the sea-surface control unit to the sea-bed control unit; and

a sub-sea tree coupled to the sea-bed control unit via a connecting line configured to carry a converted voltage output from the sea-bed control unit to the sub-sea tree,

wherein a cross-sectional area of the sub-sea cable is designed to carry a predetermined amount of power to the sea-bed control unit as DC power and is at least 10 times smaller than a cross-sectional area needed for carrying the predetermined amount of power to the sea-bed control unit as alternating current (AC) power.

20. The maritime well system of claim 19 wherein the DC voltage output is at least about 3000V for transmission via the sub-sea cable to the sub-sea control unit and wherein the converted voltage output is at least about 240V for transmission via the connecting line to the sub-sea tree and wherein the converted voltage output powers a motor-actuated valve of the sub-sea tree.