Hydraulic signature tester

• US 8,240,199 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2009
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 4Subsea AS (Subsea 7 SA)
• Original Assignee: 4Subsea AS (Subsea 7 SA)
• Inventors: McMiles, Barry James
• Primary Examiner(s): FITZGERALD, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US12/674,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20110259095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 7315251-15253
• US Class Current: 73/152.53
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/001 for underwater installation
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 20/00 Safety arrangements for fluid actuator systems; Applications of safety devices in fluid actuator systems; Emergency measures for fluid actuator systems

Abstract

The present invention provides a subsea apparatus for testing a hydraulic signature which has a fluid supply, a first pressure line coupled to the fluid supply, a second pressure line coupled to the fluid supply; and a pressure recording device operatively coupled to both the first pressure line and the second pressure line. A pressure recording device is capable of storing pre-determined pressure data representative of said pressure lines. The first pressure line functions at a lower pressure than the second pressure line while a pressure recording device records data to allow comparison of actual pressure data on the first and second pressure lines with said stored data.

Claims

1. A subsea apparatus for testing a hydraulic signature comprising:

a fluid supply;

a first pressure line coupled to the fluid supply;

a second pressure line coupled to the fluid supply; and

a pressure recording device operatively coupled to both the first pressure line and the second pressure line;

storage of pre-determined pressure data representative of said pressure lines in said pressure recording device;

wherein the first pressure line functions at a lower pressure than the second pressure line; and

wherein said pressure recording device records data and compares actual pressure data on said lines with said stored data.

2. The apparatus for testing a hydraulic signature of claim 1, further comprising a gauging device coupled to the first pressure line.

3. The apparatus for testing a hydraulic signature of claim 1, further comprising a processor for comparing data recorded by said recording device.

4. The apparatus for testing a hydraulic signature of claim 1, further comprising a regulating mechanism operatively disposed between the fluid supply and the first pressure line coupled to the fluid supply.

5. The apparatus for testing a hydraulic signature of claim 1, further comprising a regulating mechanism operatively disposed between the fluid supply and the second pressure line coupled to the fluid supply.

6. The apparatus for testing a hydraulic signature of claim 1 further comprising a control for maintaining constant fluid flow regardless of pressure and temperature changes.

7. The apparatus for testing a hydraulic signature of claim 1, further comprising a communicating device for translating a pressure reading into an electric signature.

8. The apparatus for testing a hydraulic signature of claim 1, further comprising a pressure relief operatively coupled to the first pressure line.

9. The apparatus for testing a hydraulic signature of claim 1, further comprising a processor for comparing said stored data with said pressure data to determine potential failure of pressure lines.

10. The apparatus for testing a hydraulic signature of claim 1, further comprising a gauge saving valve operatively coupled to the first pressure line.

11. The apparatus for testing a hydraulic signature of claim 10, further comprising an isolation valve operatively associated with the gauge saving valve for isolating pressure between the gauge saving valve and the pressure recording device.

12. The apparatus for testing a hydraulic signature of claim 1, further comprising a valve operatively coupled to an apparatus for receiving pressure.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus for receiving pressure is a BOP.