Apparatus and methods for subsea control system testing

• US 8,430,168 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2009
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Valkyrie Commissioning Services Inc. (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Goodall, Alastair R., Sweeney, Alan J
• Primary Examiner(s): Beach, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEMBO, AARON LLOYD
• Application Number:
  US12/468,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20090288836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: 166/336, 166/337, 166/344, 166/345, 166/368, 166/357, 166/250.01, 166/254.2
• US Class Current: 166/336
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/0385 electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 1/26 Repairing or joining pipes on or under water

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are described for subsea control system testing including one or more of electrical, optical and fluidic conduit testing, wherein the testing is conducted subsea using a subsea testing skid. In one embodiment of the invention a subsea pipeline service skid is provided that includes at least one skid mounted pump dimensioned to deliver from about 3000 to about 20000 p.s.i. of pressure for pressure testing the fluidic conduits to desired pressures. Modular construction of the skid permits customization for testing service of unique subsea control equipment.

Claims

1. A subsea control system testing skid comprising:

at least one fluidic conduit testing module and at least one additional marinized testing module, the additional marinized testing module selected from one or more of an electrical testing module and an optical testing module, wherein each of the testing modules are operably mounted on the skid for and during the testing of components present on a subsea control system;

at least one data logger mounted on the skid and in electrical communication with the testing modules and configured to record the measurements taken via the testing modules; and

at least one flying lead or hot stab connectable between the testing modules and a termination assembly on the subsea control system.

2. The skid of claim 1, wherein the termination assembly is a subsea umbilical termination assembly.

3. The skid of claim 1, wherein the skid further comprises a high pressure positive displacement pump in fluidic communication with a test fluid supply, and a test fluid filtration system in fluid communication with, and disposed between, the high pressure pump and the test fluid supply whereby the test fluid is filtered prior to entry into the pump.

4. The skid of claim 3, wherein the test fluid filtration system is mounted on the skid.

5. The skid of claim 3, wherein the test fluid supply is a test fluid supply bladder mounted on a separate skid.

6. The skid of claim 3, further comprising a fluidic connection for communication to a waste fluid containment bladder.

7. The skid of claim 3, wherein the pump is a high pressure positive displacement triplex pump operable to deliver pressure up to 20,000 p.s.i.

8. The skid of claim 1, wherein the skid comprises an electrical testing module including one or more of a microhmmeter, an insulation resistance tester, and a time domain reflectometry (TDR) tester.

9. The skid of claim 1, wherein the skid comprises an optical testing module that includes an optical time domain reflectometer.

10. The skid of claim 1, wherein the at least one flying lead is fitted with a wet-mate connector to make connections between the testing skid and the termination assembly on the subsea control system.

11. A method of testing and service of a subsea control system comprising:

transporting a testing and service skid to a subsea control system using a SV, ROV or AUV, wherein the testing and service skid comprises a plurality of testing or service modules operably mounted on the skid together with one or more respective testing or service data loggers operably mounted on the skid and wherein the plurality of testing or service modules include at least one fluidic conduit testing module and at least one additional marinized testing module, the additional marinized testing module selected from one or more of an electrical testing module and an optical testing module, each of the modules configured to test components present on a subsea control system;

docking the testing and service skid to a termination assembly on the subsea control system;

utilizing one or more of the testing or service modules mounted on the skid to perform one or more of electrical, optical and fluidic conduit testing on the subsea control system while the testing modules are mounted on the testing skid, and

logging the conduct of the electrical, optical and/or fluidic conduit testing on the one or more subsea data logger(s).

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the subsea control system is selected from a dynamic umbilical, static umbilical, flying lead, and a subsea control module in operable association with one or more production trees, manifolds and distribution units.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the testing and service skid comprises a fluidic testing module and the method further comprises utilizing the fluidic conduit testing module to control a high pressure test that is performed on one or more fluidic conduits of the subsea control system using a high pressure positive displacement pump mounted on the skid.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising supplying a test fluid from test fluid supply bladder for the high pressure test.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising filtering the test fluid through a test fluid filtration system in fluid communication with, and disposed between, the high pressure pump and the test fluid supply prior to entry into the high pressure pump during the high pressure test.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the high pressure test is conducted to a pressure of 1.1×

DWP (design working pressure) of the fluidic conduit being tested.

17. A subsea control system testing skid comprising:

a subsea testing skid frame having a ROV, SUV or AUV interface plate;

a plurality of marinized testing modules mounted on the subsea testing skid including at least one marinized fluidic testing module and at least one additional marinized testing module, the additional marinized testing module selected from one or more of an electrical and an optical testing module, wherein the testing modules are configured to test components present on a subsea control system while the testing modules are mounted on the testing skid;

at least one data logger mounted on the skid in operable communication with each of the plurality of marinized testing modules and configured to record measurements taken subsea via the testing modules; and

at least one flying lead or hot stab mounted on the skid and connectable between the testing modules and a termination assembly on the subsea control system.

18. The subsea control system testing skid of claim 17, further comprising a high pressure positive displacement pump in fluid communication with the fluidic testing module.

19. The subsea control system testing skid of claim 17, further comprising a test fluid supply conduit in fluid communication with the high pressure pump.

20. The subsea control system testing skid of claim 19, further comprising a test fluid filtration system in fluid communication with the high pressure pump and disposed between the high pressure pump and a test fluid supply.

21. The subsea control system testing skid of claim 17, wherein the high pressure pump is a high pressure positive displacement triplex pump operable to deliver pressure up to 20,000 p.s.i.