Subsea power source, methods, and systems

• US 20130186637A1
• Filed: 01/23/2012
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wright's IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Wright's Well Control Services, LLC
• Inventors: Wright, David, Hernandez, Fernando
• Granted Patent: US 9,273,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/363
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/04 Manipulators for underwater operations, e.g. temporarily connected to well heads
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18; Power stations or aggregates incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/1855 where the connection between wom and conversion system takes tension and compression F03B13/187, F03B13/1875 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/7066 via a direct connection, i.e. a gearless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/7068 equipped with permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/97 on a submerged structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Abstract

Subsea power sources and related systems include a housing having at least one first magnetic member, an internal member having at least one second magnetic member, and at least one elastic member positioned in the housing. Movement of the one or more second magnetic members relative to the one or more first magnetic members, which can be obtained by positioning the power source in a subsea environment such that forces therein contact and move the housing or internal member, produces an electromagnetic output for powering a subsea object. Contact between the internal member and one or more elastic members causes the one or more elastic members to impart a force to the internal member to facilitate continued movement and power generation. Power generated in this manner or through other means is usable to operate a subsea kill plant, usable to kill a well or operate a subsea blowout preventer.

Claims

1. A subsea power source comprising:

a housing comprising at least one first magnetic member;

an internal member comprising at least one second magnetic member; and

at least one elastic member positioned at an end of the housing,

wherein at least one of the housing and the internal member is movable relative to the other of the housing and the internal member,

wherein relative movement between said at least one first magnetic member and said at least one second magnetic member produces an electromagnetic output for powering a subsea object,

wherein the internal member, the housing, or combinations thereof, is in fluid communication with a subsea environment,

wherein movement of fluid within the subsea environment imparts a force to said at least one of the housing and the internal member thereby causing movement of said at least one of the housing and the internal member relative to the other of the housing and the internal member, and

wherein contact between the internal member and said at least one elastic member causes said at least one elastic member to impart a force to the internal member thereby causing movement of said at least one of the housing and the internal member relative to the other of the housing and the internal member.

2. The power source of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a left magnetic member in a first side thereof and a right magnetic member in a second side thereof, and wherein the left magnetic member is oriented such that magnetic poles thereof are positioned opposite opposing magnetic poles of the right magnetic member.

3. The power source of claim 1, further comprising a fluid source in communication with said at least one elastic member.

4. The power source of claim 3, wherein contact between the internal member and said at least one elastic member causes flow of fluid between the fluid source and said at least one elastic member, and wherein the flow of fluid affects the force imparted to the internal member by said at least one elastic member.

5. The power source of claim 1, further comprising an electrical source in communication with said at least one first magnetic member, said at least one second magnetic member, or combinations thereof, wherein actuation of the electrical source controls a magnetic field of said at least one first magnetic member, said at least one second magnetic member, or combinations thereof to affect relative movement between said at least one first magnetic member and said at least one second magnetic member.

6. The power source of claim 5, wherein the electrical source comprises the electromagnetic output.

7. The power source of claim 5, wherein the electrical source comprises a conduit communicating between the power source and a surface environment, a subsea battery, a remotely operated vehicle, or combinations thereof.

8. The power source of claim 1, further comprising a subsea blowout preventer, a subsea pump, a subsea battery, a subsea accumulator, a subsea motor, or combinations thereof in communication with the housing for receiving power from the electromagnetic output.

9. The power source of claim 1, further comprising at least one locking member in communication with the housing and the internal member for retaining said at least one of the housing and the internal member in a fixed position relative to the other of the housing and the internal member.

10. The power source of claim 1, further comprising a mechanical converter engaged with the internal member, the housing, or combinations thereof, wherein movement of said at least one of the housing and the internal member is converted to an electrical output for powering the subsea object.

11. A method for generating power in a subsea environment, the method comprising the steps of:

providing into the subsea environment an apparatus comprising a first member having at least one first magnet and a second member having at least one second magnet;

imparting a force to at least one of the first member and the second member by moving fluid within the subsea environment to contact said at least one of the first member and the second member to impart the force thereto, thereby causing movement of said at least one of the first member and the second member relative to the other of the first member and the second member, wherein the relative movement between said at least one first magnet and said at least one second magnet produces an electromagnetic output;

contacting at least one elastic member with the second member, wherein contact between the second member and said at least one elastic member causes said at least one elastic member to impart a force to the second member thereby causing movement of said at least one of the first member and the second member relative to the other of the first member and the second member; and

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising communicating fluid to said at least one elastic member, communicating fluid from said at least one elastic member, or combinations thereof, responsive to contact between said at least one elastic member and the second member, wherein the fluid affects the force imparted to the second member by said at least one elastic member.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of actuating an electrical source to control a magnetic field of said at least one first magnet, said at least one second magnet, or combinations thereof to affect relative movement between said at least one first magnet and said at least one second magnet.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of actuating the electrical source comprises using the electromagnetic output, a conduit communicating between the apparatus and the surface, a subsea battery, a remotely operated vehicle, or combinations thereof, to control the magnetic field of said at least one first magnet, said at least one second magnet, or combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of communicating the electromagnetic output to the subsea object comprises providing power to comprising a subsea blowout preventer, a subsea pump, a subsea battery, a subsea accumulator, a subsea motor, or combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of contacting the first member and the second member with a locking member to prevent the movement of said at least one of the first member and the second member to cause movement thereof relative to the other of the first member and the second member.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member comprises a mechanical converter, wherein the step of imparting the force to said at least one of the first member and the second member to cause movement thereof, and wherein the mechanical converter converts the movement to an electrical output, the method further comprising the step of communicating the electrical output to the subsea object.

18. A system for killing a subsea well, the system comprising:

a subsea power source for producing an electrical output;

at least one subsea motor in communication with the subsea power source for receiving power therefrom;

at least one subsea pump in communication with said at least one subsea motor;

a subsea accumulator in communication with said at least one subsea motor, said at least one subsea pump, or combinations thereof; and

a blowout preventer in communication with said at least one subsea motor, said at least one subsea pump, or combinations thereof,

wherein the subsea power source provides the blowout preventer with a continuous ability to close to prevent flow of fluid from the subsea well, and wherein the subsea power provides the subsea accumulator with a continuous ability to provide a kill weight fluid into the subsea well to prevent flow of fluid therefrom.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the subsea power source comprises:

a first member having a first magnet and a second member having a second magnet, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member is movable relative to the other of the first member and the second member, and wherein relative movement between the first magnet and the second magnet produces the electrical output.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the subsea power source comprises a subsea battery, a conduit communicating between the system and the surface, a remotely operated vehicle, or combinations thereof.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the subsea power source comprises a mechanical converter engaged with the first member, the second member, or combinations thereof, wherein movement of said at least one of the first member and the second member is converted to the electrical output.

22. A subsea power source comprising:

a housing comprising at least one first magnetic member; and

an internal member comprising at least one second magnetic member,

wherein at least one of the housing and the internal member is movable relative to the other of the housing and the internal member, and wherein relative movement between said at least one first magnetic member and said at least one second magnetic member produces an electromagnetic output for powering a subsea object.

23. The power source of claim 22, wherein the housing comprises a left magnetic member in a first side thereof and a right magnetic member in a second side thereof, and wherein the left magnetic member is oriented such that magnetic poles thereof are positioned opposite opposing magnetic poles of the right magnetic member.

24. The power source of claim 22, wherein the internal member is movable relative to the housing, wherein the internal member is in fluid communication with a subsea environment, and wherein movement of fluid within the subsea environment imparts a force to the internal member thereby causing movement of the internal member relative to the housing.

25. The power source of claim 22, wherein the housing further comprises at least one elastic member positioned at an end thereof, and wherein contact between the internal member and said at least one elastic member causes said at least one elastic member to impart a force to the internal member thereby causing movement of said at least one of the housing and the internal member relative to the other of the housing and the internal member.

26. The power source of claim 25, further comprising a fluid source in communication with said at least one elastic member.

27. The power source of claim 26, wherein contact between the internal member and said at least one elastic member causes flow of fluid between the fluid source and said at least one elastic member, and wherein the flow of fluid affects the force imparted to the internal member by said at least one elastic member.

28. The power source of claim 22, further comprising an electrical source in communication with said at least one first magnetic member, said at least one second magnetic member, or combinations thereof, wherein actuation of the electrical source controls a magnetic field of said at least one first magnetic member, said at least one second magnetic member, or combinations thereof to affect relative movement between said at least one first magnetic member and said at least one second magnetic member.

29. The power source of claim 28, wherein the electrical source comprises the electromagnetic output.

30. The power source of claim 28, wherein the electrical source comprises a conduit communicating between the power source and a surface environment, a subsea battery, a remotely operated vehicle, or combinations thereof.

31. The power source of claim 22, further comprising a subsea blowout preventer, a subsea pump, a subsea battery, a subsea accumulator, a subsea motor, or combinations thereof in communication with the housing for receiving power from the electromagnetic output.

32. The power source of claim 22, further comprising at least one locking member in communication with the housing and the internal member for retaining said at least one of the housing and the internal member in a fixed position relative to the other of the housing and the internal member.

33. The power source of claim 22, further comprising a mechanical converter engaged with the internal member, the housing, or combinations thereof, wherein movement of said at least one of the housing and the internal member is converted to an electrical output for powering the subsea object.

34. A subsea system for killing a well having a blowout preventer associated therewith, the system comprising:

at least one first accumulator in communication with the blowout preventer, wherein said at least one first accumulator is disposed on a subsea floor;

at least one second accumulator in communication with the well, wherein said at least one second accumulator is disposed on the subsea floor; and

at least one access point accessible to a remotely operated vehicle, a subsea power source, a surface conduit, a subsea conduit, or combinations thereof, wherein said at least one access point is in communication with said at least one first accumulator, said at least one second accumulator, or combinations thereof for providing power to said at least one first accumulator, said at least one second accumulator, or combinations thereof.

35. The subsea system of claim 34, further comprising at least one crimping apparatus in association with a conduit in communication with the well, wherein said at least one crimping apparatus is operable to prevent flow of fluid from said at least one second accumulator in an uphole direction through the conduit.

36. The subsea system of claim 34, further comprising a subsea power source in communication with said at least one first accumulator, said at least one second accumulator, said at least one access point, or combinations thereof, wherein the subsea power source comprises:

a housing comprising at least one first magnetic member; and

an internal member comprising at least one second magnetic member,

wherein at least one of the housing and the internal member is movable relative to the other of the housing and the internal member, and wherein relative movement between said at least one first magnetic member and said at least one second magnetic member produces an electromagnetic output for providing power to said at least one first accumulator, said at least one second accumulator, said at least one access point, or combinations thereof.