Control and supply unit

• US 9,376,894 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2009
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OneSubsea IP UK Limited (SLB)
• Original Assignee: OneSubsea IP UK Limited (SLB)
• Inventors: Abicht, Daniel, Thies, Reinhard, Keese, Joachim, Tegt, Florian
• Primary Examiner(s): COY, NICOLE A
• Application Number:
  US13/510,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20130319652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,413 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/0355 Control systems, e.g. hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, acoustic, for submerged well heads
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0007 for underwater installations E21B41/005, E21B41/04, E21B41/06, E21B41/08, E21B41/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/12 Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00

Abstract

A control and supply unit for an actuating device of a choke, a valve, a blow-up preventer or some other device applied in the field of oil and natural gas production includes at least an auxiliary power supply which is specially rechargeable, and a connecting means used for an exchange of data and/or for the purpose of voltage supply. To improve such a control and supply unit, such that the respective connecting means satisfy a relevant standard and has a compact structural design and is also easily accessible from outside, the control and supply unit includes, as a connecting means, a communication interface for connecting thereto a field bus and a voltage supply connection for connecting thereto a voltage supply line.

Claims

1. A control and supply unit for an actuating device of a choke, a valve, a blow-out preventer or another device applied in the field of oil and natural gas production, said unit comprising:

a unit housing releasably secured to the actuating device and comprising;

a plug connection device configured to exchange of data and to supply a received voltage;

a motor control unit inside the unit housing; and

an auxiliary power supply inside the unit housing;

a supply and communication assembly as a separate unit inside the unit housing, the separate supply and communication assembly comprising;

a plurality of terminals configured to be contacted via the plug connection device and configured to;

exchange data through a communication interface comprising a field bus; and

supply voltage to a voltage supply connection; and

a plurality of terminals internal to the unit housing and configured to;

exchange data between the communication interface and the auxiliary power supply; and

receive voltage from the voltage supply connection and supply said voltage to the auxiliary power supply.

2. The control and supply unit of claim 1, wherein the unit is implemented separately of the actuating device.

3. The control and supply unit of claim 1 wherein the field bus is a CAN bus.

4. The control and supply unit of claim 1, wherein the field bus and the voltage supply line couplings are implemented as separate connections.

5. The control and supply unit of claim 1 further comprising a second control and supply unit coupled to the actuating device for redundancy.

6. The control and supply unit of claim 1 wherein the supply and communication assembly comprises at least connections for supplying electric power to the motor control unit and/or at least one sensor unit of the actuating device.

7. The control and supply unit of claim 1 wherein the supply and communication assembly comprises bus connections for communication with and/or control of the motor control unit and/or at least one sensor unit of the actuating device.

8. The control and supply unit of claim 1 wherein the supply and communication assembly is provided with a ground terminal connected at least to the auxiliary power supply and/or the motor control unit.

9. The control and supply unit of claim 1 wherein an inert gas atmosphere is provided in the unit housing.

10. The control and supply unit of claim 1 wherein the plug connection device is accessible from outside, for the communication interface and the voltage supply connection.

11. The control and supply unit of claim 1 wherein the unit is connected to a submarine control module for communication and/or voltage supply.

12. The control and supply unit of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary power supply is rechargeable.