Power generation at a subsea location

• US 8,779,614 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2011
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Onesubsea IP UK Limited (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Yarnold, John, Gandolfi, Jason, Phillips, Larry W., Niemeyer, Matt W., Cascudo, Javier
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRUC T
• Application Number:
  US13/289,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20130113213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 290 54- 55
• US Class Current: 290/54
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/02 Adaptations for drilling wells
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/602 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/50 Hydropower in dwellings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

Abstract

A technique facilitates powering of devices at a subsea location without requiring routing of hydraulic pressure and/or electric signals through an umbilical from a surface location. A fluid flow, such as an injection chemical fluid flow, is at least partially routed through a flow converter disposed at a subsea location. The flow converter converts energy from the fluid flow to energy used to operate a power generation device. The power generation device may be designed to generate electrical, hydraulic, or other suitable power which is utilized at the subsea location.

Claims

1. A method for providing power at a subsea location, comprising:

coupling an umbilical with a subsea facility;

delivering a chemical injection fluid through the umbilical from a surface location to the subsea facility;

diverting at least a portion of the chemical injection fluid through a subsea flow converter unit which converts the flowing fluid to rotational motion;

injecting at least a portion of the chemical injection fluid into a subsea well; and

using the subsea flow converter unit to drive a power generation unit able to generate energy for use at the subsea facility.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein delivering comprises delivering methanol.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein coupling comprises coupling the umbilical to a subsea tree.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein diverting comprises diverting at least the portion of chemical injection fluid through the subsea flow converter unit in the form of a turbine.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein diverting comprises diverting at least the portion of chemical injection fluid through the subsea flow converter unit in the form of a fluid driven motor.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein using comprises using the subsea flow converter unit to drive the power generation unit in the form of a hydraulic pump.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising using the hydraulic pump to build hydraulic pressure;

and storing the hydraulic pressure in a subsea accumulator.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein using comprises using the subsea flow converter unit to drive the power generation unit in the form of an electrical generator.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising using the electrical generator to generate electricity;

and storing the electrical energy in an energy storage device.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising powering devices at the subsea facility with the energy provided by the power generation unit.

11. A system for providing power at a subsea location, comprising:

a subsea facility positioned at a seafloor and over a subsea well;

a conduit extending from a surface location to the subsea facility, the conduit comprising a flow passage for carrying a fluid;

a flow converter unit coupled to the conduit, the flow converter unit being powered by flow of at least a portion of the fluid;

a power generation unit coupled to the flow converter unit, the power generation unit being positioned at a subsea location; and

a subsea energy storage unit positioned at the subsea location to store energy output by the power generation unit.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the conduit comprises an umbilical.

13. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the power generation unit comprises a hydraulic pump.

14. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the power generation unit comprises an electrical generator.

15. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the power generation unit comprises a hydraulic pump and an electrical generator.

16. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the subsea energy storage unit comprises a plurality of hydraulic pressure accumulators.

17. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the subsea energy storage unit comprises a battery.

18. A method, comprising:

routing a conduit to a subsea location;

coupling a flow converter unit to the conduit at the subsea location with a diverter circuit which diverts a portion of a fluid flowing through the conduit to the flow converter unit to create rotational motion;

injecting at least a portion of the fluid into a subsea well to help control an operation performed with respect to the subsea well; and

using the rotational motion output by the flow converter unit to power a power generation unit.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising outputting hydraulic power from the power generation unit.

20. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising outputting electrical power from the power generation unit.