In-situ testing of subsea power components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10065714-B2
Application number	US-201514631623-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 25, 2015
Priority date	Feb 25, 2015
Publication date	Sep 4, 2018
Grant date	Sep 4, 2018

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a testing system that is configured to test subsea power components in-situ while they are deployed on the sea floor. The testing system includes a top side testing system with test instruments, a multi-conductor work-over umbilical cable, and a subsea deployable test head. The test head can be deployed using and ROV and makes electrical connection to the subsea power component via wet connects.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for in-situ testing of a power component in a subsea environment, the system comprising:
a surface subsystem including testing equipment configured to measure one or more electrical characteristics of the power component from which one or more electrical faults are determined;
a subsea subsystem configured to enable the testing equipment to measure the one or more electrical characteristics of the power component when the power component is in a subsea environment prior to a subsea device being driven by the power component, wherein the subsea subsystem is configured to be deployed in the subsea environment, wherein the subsea subsystem comprises one or more connectors configured to transmit electricity between the subsea subsystem and the power component;
a cable including one or more electrical conductors for transmitting electricity between the surface test subsystem and the subsea subsystem, wherein the one or more electrical faults are determined based on the one or more electrical measurements of the power component by the surface test subsystem when the one or more connectors are connected to the power component, wherein the one or more electrical faults arose during deployment of the power component through the subsea environment; and
a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) configured to deploy the subsea subsystem in the subsea environment and connect the one or more connectors of the subsea subsystem to the power component.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more connectors comprise one or more releasable wet connectors.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the subsea subsystem further includes a negatively buoyant subsea test head on which the one or more connectors are mounted.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the power component is a subsea motor or a subsea transformer.

5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the subsea device is selected from a group consisting of: a subsea pump, a subsea compressor, and a subsea separator.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the power component is of a type selected from a group consisting of: subsea variable frequency drive (VFD) and subsea switchboard.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the cable is a suspension cable configured to suspend a negatively buoyant subsea test head on which the one or more connectors are mounted.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the cable is further configured as an umbilical cable used to deploy the remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) which in turn is used to deploy a negatively buoyant subsea test head on which the one or more connectors are mounted.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the power component is powered by three-phase electric power, and the subsea subsystem includes at least three releasable wet connectors and the cable includes at least three electrical conductors.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the power component is powered by three-phase electric power, and the subsea subsystem includes a releasable wet connector having at least three connector pins and the cable includes at least three electrical conductors.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the power component forms part of a fluid processing system configured to process hydrocarbon bearing fluids produced from a subterranean rock formation.

12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more connectors comprise one or more stab connectors.

13. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the ROV is configured to connect the one or more connectors of the subsea subsystem to the power component by turning a spindle of the subsea subsystem that actuates a lead screw of the subsea subsystem to push the one or more connectors to connect to the power component.

14. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the ROV is configured to turn a spindle of the power component and to actuate a leadscrew, wherein turning the spindle and actuating the leadscrew pushes the one or more connectors forward to determine the additional electrical faults.

15. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrical faults that arose during deployment of the power component through the subsea environment are based on performing high voltage insulation resistance testing.

16. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrical faults that arose during deployment of the power component through the subsea environment are based on performing continuity tests configured to detect broken conductors.

17. A method for in-situ testing of a power component in a subsea environment, the method comprising:
deploying a surface subsystem to a surface location;
deploying a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) at a subsea location;
deploying a subsea subsystem via the ROV to the power component which is deployed at the subsea location, the subsea subsystem being in electrical communication with the surface subsystem at least in part through a cable including one or more electrical conductors;
using the ROV to make one or more electrical connections between the subsea subsystem and the power component using one or more connectors; and
measuring with the surface subsystem one or more electrical characteristics of the power component from which one or more electrical faults that arose during transportation of the power component through the subsea environment are determined via the one or more electrical connections prior to a subsea device being driven by the power component.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the one or more connectors comprise one or more releasable wet connectors.

19. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the subsea subsystem is a negatively buoyant subsea test head on which the one or more connectors are mounted.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the cable comprises a suspension cable configured to suspend the test head.

21. The method according to claim 17 , further comprising, after the measuring:
disconnecting the one or more connectors from the power component; and
operating the power component.

22. A subsea system for in-situ testing of a power component deployed in a subsea environment, the system comprising:
a housing configured for deployment in a subsea environment;
testing equipment configured to measure one or more electrical characteristics of the power component from which one or more electrical faults that arose during deployment of the power component and the housing through the subsea environment are determined prior to a subsea device being driven by the power component;
one or more connectors configured to transmit electricity between the testing equipment and the power component, wherein when the one or more connectors are connected to the power component the one or more electrical faults are determined based on the one or more electrical measurements of the power component by testing equipment; and
a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) configured to deploy the subsea system in the subsea environment and connect the one or more connectors to the power component.

23. The system according to claim 22 , wherein the power component is of a type selected from a group consisting of: subsea motor, subsea transformer, subsea variable frequency drive (VFD) and subsea switchboard.

Assignees

• Onesubsea Ip Uk Ltd

Inventors

• Diesen Asbjoern

Classifications

• G01R31/62

  Testing of transformers · CPC title

• G01R31/50

  Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections (testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58) · CPC title

• B63C11/52 Primary

  Tools specially adapted for working underwater, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• G01R27/025

  Measuring very high resistances, e.g. isolation resistances, i.e. megohm-meters · CPC title

• H01R13/523

  for use under water · CPC title