Acoustic frequency interrogation and data system

• US 9,397,759 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2012
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Coonrod, Donald Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Ratcliffe, Luke
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baghdasaryan, Hovhannes
• Application Number:
  US13/403,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20130223190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,608 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 47/14 using acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/002 Details, e.g. power supply systems for logging instruments, transmitting or recording data, specially adapted for well logging, also if the prospecting method is irrelevant means for transmitting well survey signals E21B47/12; signal transmission systems in general G08C; transmission in general H04B
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/02 using infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 11/00 Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/02 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the earth or a large mass of water thereon, e.g. earth telegraphy
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 Waterproofing of transmission device

Abstract

A system, in certain embodiments, includes a subsea acoustic frequency interrogation and data system. The subsea acoustic frequency interrogation and data system includes a master acoustic transceiver configured to broadcast an acoustic activation signal and an acoustic frequency interrogated data transmitter configured to generate power from the acoustic activation signal and activate a sensor configured to measure an operating parameter of subsea equipment.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a subsea acoustic frequency data system, comprising;

a master acoustic transceiver configured to broadcast an acoustic activation signal, wherein the master acoustic transceiver is configured to be disposed subsea and couple to a support structure of a blowout preventer stack; and

an acoustic frequency data transmitter configured to generate power from the acoustic activation signal and activate a sensor configured to measure an operating parameter of subsea equipment, wherein the acoustic frequency data transmitter is configured to be disposed subsea.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the master acoustic transceiver comprises electronics circuitry configured to generate the acoustic activation signal and a transceiver configured to broadcast the acoustic activation signal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic frequency data transmitter comprises a process acoustic module and a process sensor module, where the process acoustic module and the process sensor module are removably coupled to one another.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the process acoustic module and the process sensor module are removably coupled to one another with a dry-mate connector having electrical contacts protected by at least one seal.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the process acoustic module comprises a transceiver configured to receive the high-power acoustic activation signal.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit an acoustic return signal containing sensor measurement data.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the acoustic return signal using an Ethernet protocol.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the process sensor module comprises electronics circuitry configured to generate power from the acoustic activation signal.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic frequency data transmitter is configured to be partially mounted within an opening of subsea equipment.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the master acoustic transceiver is connected to a subsea instrumentation housing configured to monitor operating parameters of the subsea equipment.

11. The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of acoustic frequency data transmitters, each acoustic frequency data transmitter configured to communicate with the master acoustic transceiver.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the master acoustic transceiver is configured to broadcast the acoustic activation signal to each of the plurality of acoustic frequency data transmitters.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of acoustic frequency data transmitters communicate data to the master acoustic transceiver in series with one another.

14. The system of claim 1, comprising subsea equipment having the subsea acoustic frequency data system.

15. A subsea system, comprising:

a master acoustic transceiver configured to couple to a support structure of a blowout preventer stack; and

an acoustic frequency data transmitter, comprising;

a first transceiver configured to receive an acoustic activation signal from a second transceiver of a master acoustic transceiver, and the first transceiver is configured to transmit an acoustic return signal containing sensor measurement data;

electronics circuitry configured to convert the acoustic activation signal into power; and

a sensor configured to measure an operating parameter, wherein the sensor is powered by the power generated by the electronics circuitry, and the sensor is exposed to an interior of the blowout preventer stack.

16. The subsea system of claim 15, comprising subsea equipment having the acoustic frequency data transmitter and the master acoustic transceiver, wherein the operating parameter is a subsea equipment operating parameter.

20. The subsea system of claim 15, wherein the operating parameter is a temperature or a pressure within the interior of the blowout preventer stack.

17. A subsea system, comprising:

a master acoustic transceiver comprising a first transceiver configured to broadcast an acoustic activation signal to a second transceiver of an acoustic frequency data transmitter to cause power generation with the acoustic activation signal at the second transceiver, wherein the first transceiver is configured to receive an acoustic return signal containing sensor measurement data from the second transceiver after power generation at the second transceiver, and wherein the master acoustic transceiver is coupled to a support arm extending from a blowout preventer stack.

18. The subsea system of claim 17, comprising the acoustic frequency data transmitter, comprising:

the second transceiver;

electronics circuitry configured to convert the acoustic activation signal into power; and

a sensor configured to measure an operating parameter, wherein the sensor is powered by the power generated by the electronics circuitry.

19. The subsea system of claim 18, comprising subsea equipment having the master acoustic transceiver and the acoustic frequency data transmitter, wherein the operating parameter is a subsea equipment operating parameter.

21. The subsea system of claim 17, wherein the master acoustic transceiver comprises a mounting portion configured to mount to the support arm and a housing containing the first transceiver, wherein the mounting portion and the housing are removably coupled to one another with a dry-mate connector.