Subsea power module

• US 6,250,199 B1
• Filed: 04/27/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deep Oil Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Deep Oil Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Schulte, Clarence Afton, Stanton, Paul Nelson
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOANG M
• Application Number:
  US09/300,101
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 91/4.R, 603/98, 604/53
• US Class Current: 91/4.00R
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/0355 Control systems, e.g. hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, acoustic, for submerged well heads
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 1/265 with pressurised main reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 21/006 Compensation or avoidance of ambient pressure variation
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 3/00 Intensifiers or fluid-pressure converters, e.g. pressure exchangers; Conveying pressure from one fluid system to another, without contact between the fluids fluid-driven pumps F04B9/08

Abstract

A subsea hydraulic control module that is totally enclosed such that the hydraulic fluid does not contact the seawater. The majority of the power for the module comes from the hydrostatic pressure of the sea itself. Two oil-over-seawater actuators each have an internal piston that separates the oil from the seawater. Each actuator is provided with two solenoid valves that control the flow of seawater. A fluid line and one solenoid valve on the seawater side of each actuator is in fluid communication with a seawater recovery reservoir. These two valves are also in fluid communication with each other through a common fluid line to the seawater reservoir. The remaining solenoid valve on the seawater side of each actuator may be selectively opened or closed to the ambient seawater. A hydraulic line on the oil side of each actuator is in fluid communication with the equipment to be controlled. The hydraulic lines from each actuator enter the equipment to be controlled on opposite sides of the equipment to allow control of the equipment. The solenoid valves are opened and closed in selected combinations to open, close, or maintain the equipment in selected operating positions.

Claims

1. A subsea power module, comprising:

a. a seawater recovery reservoir;

b. an air line in fluid communication with said reservoir for supplying low pressure air to said reservoir and for removing water from said reservoir;

c. a first oil-over-water actuator;

d. a second oil-over-water actuator;

e. a water line providing fluid communication between the water sides of said first and second actuators, said reservoir, and said air line;

f. means in said water line for selectively controlling water flow to and from each of said actuators;

g. means for selectively opening the water side of each of said actuators to the surrounding hydrostatic water pressure;

h. a hydraulic fluid line providing fluid communication between the oil sides of said first and second actuators; and

i. equipment in fluid communication with said hydraulic line whereby the operation of said equipment is controlled by the direction of hydraulic fluid flow through said hydraulic fluid line.

2. The subsea power module of claim 1, wherein said means for selectively opening the water side of each actuator comprises a solenoid valve.

3. The subsea power module of claim 1, where the oil and water sides of said actuators are separated by a movable piston.