Subsea power source, methods, and systems

• US 9,273,663 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2012
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Buck, Matthew R
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOLEDO-DURAN, EDWIN J
• Application Number:
  US13/374,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20130186637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,499 Days
• Field of Search: 166/363, 166/338, 166/351, 166/344, 166/345, 166/339
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 system for killing a subsea well, the system comprising:

a subsea power source operable for producing an electrical output, the 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 the at least one first magnetic member and the at least one second magnetic member produces an electromagnetic output, 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 the at least one of the housing and the internal member thereby causing movement of the 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 the at least one elastic member causes the at least one elastic member to impart a force to the internal member thereby causing movement of the at least one of the housing and the internal member relative to the other of the housing and the internal member;

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

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

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

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

wherein the electromagnetic output from 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 electromagnetic output from the subsea power source provides the subsea accumulator with a continuous ability to provide a kill weight fluid into the subsea well to prevent flow of fluid therefrom.

2. The system 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 system of claim 1, further comprising a fluid source in communication with the at least one elastic member.

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

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

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

7. The system 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 system of claim 1, further comprising at least one locking member in communication with the housing and the internal member for retaining the 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.

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

10. 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 the at least one first accumulator is disposed on a subsea floor;

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

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

a subsea power source comprising a housing and an internal member, wherein the housing comprises at least one first magnetic member, wherein the internal member comprises at least one second magnetic member, wherein at least one of the housing and the internal member are movable relative to the other of the housing and the internal member, and wherein relative movement between the at least one first magnetic member and the at least one second magnetic member produces an electromagnetic output for powering the at least one first accumulator, the at least one second accumulator, the at least one access point, or combinations thereof.

11. The subsea system of claim 10, wherein the housing of the subsea power source additionally 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.

12. The subsea system of claim 10, 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.

13. The subsea system of claim 10, wherein the housing further comprises at least one elastic member positioned at an end thereof, and wherein contact between the internal member and the at least one elastic member causes the at least one elastic member to impart a force to the internal member thereby causing movement of the at least one of the housing and the internal member relative to the other of the housing and the internal member.

14. The subsea system of claim 13, further comprising a fluid source in communication with the at least one elastic member.

15. The subsea system of claim 14, wherein contact between the internal member and the 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 the at least one elastic member.

16. The subsea system of claim 10, further comprising an electrical source in communication with the at least one first magnetic member, the at least one second magnetic member, or combinations thereof, wherein actuation of the electrical source controls a magnetic field of the at least one first magnetic member, the at least one second magnetic member, or combinations thereof to affect relative movement between the at least one first magnetic member and the at least one second magnetic member.

17. The subsea system power of claim 16, wherein the electrical source comprises the electromagnetic output.

18. The subsea system of claim 16, 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.

19. The subsea system of claim 10, 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.

20. The subsea system of claim 10, further comprising at least one locking member in communication with the housing and the internal member for retaining the 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.

21. The subsea system claim 10, further comprising a mechanical converter engaged with the internal member, the housing, or combinations thereof, wherein movement of the at least one of the housing and the internal member is converted to an electrical output for powering the at least one first accumulator, the at least one second accumulator, the at least one access point, or combinations thereof.

22. The subsea system of claim 10, further comprising at least one crimping apparatus in association with a conduit in communication with the well, wherein the at least one crimping apparatus is operable to prevent flow of fluid from the at least one second accumulator in an uphole direction through the conduit in communication with the well.