SUPPLYING POWER TO UNDERWATER DEVICES

• US 20120032523A1
• Filed: 07/22/2011
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: OVERTON, Paul, PACKHAM, Andrew Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,097,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices

Abstract

A method of supplying electrical power to at least one device at a tree of an underwater fluid extraction well is disclosed. The method comprises using magnetic resonance coupling for wirelessly transmitting power from a supply to each device.

Claims

1. A method of supplying electrical power to at least one device at a tree of an underwater fluid extraction well, the method comprising using magnetic resonance coupling for wirelessly transmitting power from a supply to the at least one device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein there is a plurality of devices, each powered via respective receiver circuit coupled by magnetic resonance coupling with a transmitter circuit of the supply.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein power from the supply is modulated by a code unique to at least one of the devices, wherein detection of the code at the receiver circuit of the device causes power to be supplied to the device.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein a code unique to at least one of the devices is transmitted by wireless means the receiver circuit of the device, wherein detection of the code at the receiver circuit of the device causes power to be supplied to the device.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of supplies each resonant at a respective one of a plurality of frequencies and a plurality of devices each powered by a respective receiver circuit resonant at a respective one of said frequencies.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the supply is in a subsea electronics module of a subsea control module of the tree.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the supply is located externally of the tree.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one such device is in a subsea control module of the tree.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one device is located externally of a subsea control module of the tree.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one device comprises at least one of a sensor and a directional control valve.

11. An apparatus for supplying electrical power to at least one device at a tree of an underwater fluid extraction well, the apparatus comprising circuitry configured to use magnetic resonance coupling for wirelessly transmitting power from a supply to the at least one device.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, comprising a plurality of devices, each powered via a respective receiver circuit coupled by magnetic resonance coupling with a transmitter circuit of the supply.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, comprising circuitry configured to modulate power from the supply by a code unique to at least one of the devices and circuitry configured to detect the code at the receiver circuit of the device, wherein detection of the code at the receiver circuit of the device causes power to be supplied to the device.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, comprising circuitry configured to wirelessly transmit a code unique to at least one of the devices to the receiver circuit of the device and circuitry configured to detect the code at the receiver circuit of the device, wherein detection of the code at the receiver circuit of the device causes power to be supplied to the device.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11, comprising a plurality of supplies each resonant at a respective one of a plurality of frequencies and a plurality of devices each powered by a respective receiver circuit resonant at a respective one of the frequencies.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the supply is in a subsea electronics module of a subsea control module of the tree.

17. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the supply is mounted externally of the tree.

18. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least one device is in a subsea control module of the tree.

19. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least one device is located externally of a subsea control module of the tree.

20. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least one device comprises at least one of a sensor and a directional control valve.