ELECTRICAL MUDLINE SYSTEM

• US 20110084490A1
• Filed: 09/10/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vetco Gray Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Vetco Gray Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Knox, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US12/879,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20110084490A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/54
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/02 Adaptations for drilling wells
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/10 Submerged units incorporating electric generators or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/97 on a submerged structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Abstract

An electrical mudline system that includes a turbine-type power generation assembly that can be lowered by wireline and installed at the seabed or mudline. A generator may be installed on a wellhead for support and located on a lower part of the generation assembly or may be installed through a tree if a cap on the tree is removed. A frame is included to provide additional support for the generation assembly and protect the turbine blades on the periphery of the turbine. The turbine rotates in response to water currents and thereby rotates a shaft coupled to the turbine to generate electrical power. The electrical power is generated local to the well to power various types of equipment at the well or in the vicinity of the well.

Claims

1. A current power generator, comprising:

a support frame;

a wellhead mounted on a seafloor;

a generator mounted to the wellhead;

a drive shaft mounted to the generator;

a turbine mechanically coupled to the drive shaft; and

an umbilical, in electrical communication with the generator and extending away from the generator, so that when subsea currents rotate the turbine, the drive shaft rotates to activate the generator and energize the umbilical.

2. The current power generator of claim 1, wherein the support frame comprises at least one horizontal frame member and at least one inclined frame member, the horizontal frame member connected to the structure embedded within the mudline, the inclined member being supported by the mudline.

3. The current power generator of claim 1, wherein the turbine comprises a wheel having plurality of blades for facilitating rotation of the turbine in response to the subsea current, the blades being disposed along the surface of the turbine in a curve so that the turbine will rotate for incidence angles between the subsea currents and the turbine ranging between 0 to 360.

4. The current power generator of claim 1, wherein the umbilical extends to and connects to a subsea equipment to thereby supply power to the equipment from the power generated by the generator.

5. The current power generator of claim 1, further comprising a pair of panels attached to opposing sides of the frame so that the turbine is between the panels and the panels channel the subsea current to the turbine.

6. The current power generator of claim 1, wherein the wellhead assembly comprises a caisson having a structural member.

7. A current power generator, comprising:

a support frame having a plurality of legs supported by a mudline in a body of water;

a wellhead embedded within the mudline having an end that protrudes above the mudline;

a generator mounted to the wellhead, the generator including a rotatable shaft, operatively connected to the generator such that when the shaft rotates, the generator generates electricity;

a wheel mounted to the rotatable shaft, capable of rotation in response to water current, the wheel having an axis of rotation normal to the water current; and

an umbilical, in electrical communication with the generator and extending away from the generator.

8. The current power generator of claim 7, wherein the support frame comprises at least one horizontal frame member and at least one inclined frame member, the horizontal frame member connected to the structure embedded within the mudline, the inclined member being supported by the mudline.

9. The current power generator of claim 7, wherein the wheel further comprises a plurality of blades for facilitating rotation of the wheel in response to the water current.

10. The current power generator of claim 7, wherein the umbilical extends to and connects to a subsea equipment to thereby supply power to the equipment from the power generated by the generator.

11. The current power generator of claim 7, further comprising a pair of panels located across from each other and attached to the frame so that the wheel is between the panels and the panels channel the water current to the wheel.

12. The current power generator of claim 7, wherein the generator is mounted within the wellhead.

13. A method for generating electrical power, comprising:

locating a support frame approximately at a wellhead mounted on a seafloor;

mounting a generator to the wellhead;

mounting a drive shaft to the generator;

mechanically coupling a turbine to the drive shaft;

electrically communicating an umbilical with the generator; and

extending the umbilical away from the generator, so that when subsea currents rotate the turbine, the drive shaft rotates to activate the generator and energize the umbilical.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of generating electrical power from the rotation of the turbine in response to the subsea current acting on a plurality of blades on the turbine.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of extending and connecting the umbilical to a subsea equipment to thereby supply power to the equipment from the power generated by the generator.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of channeling the subsea current to the turbine via a pair of panels attached to opposing sides of the frame wherein the turbine is between the panels.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of mounting a generator to the wellhead comprises mounting the generator on a structural member located in a caisson.