Closed-loop solenoid system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10337277-B2
Application number	US-201514946326-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2015
Priority date	Nov 19, 2015
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling hydraulically actuatable components of a blowout preventer stack assembly and a system for same. The apparatus comprises a blowout preventer stack including hydraulically actuatable components and a lower marine riser package coupled to the blowout preventer stack and including additional hydraulic components. The lower marine riser package includes a solenoid valve configured to control at least some of the components. The solenoid valve receives hydraulic fluid from a dedicated accumulator or accumulator bank configured to supply hydraulic fluid exclusively for use with the solenoid valve. A closed-loop hydraulic circuit is formed between the accumulator or accumulator bank and the solenoid valve.

First claim

We claim:

1. A system for controlling hydraulically actuatable components disposed on a subsea blowout preventer assembly, the system comprising:
a solenoid valve configured to control a flow of hydraulic fluid to adjust at least one of the hydraulically actuatable components;
a dedicated accumulator configured to supply the hydraulic fluid exclusively for use with the solenoid valve; and
a reservoir transfer vessel comprising a first chamber configured to receive and store a portion of the hydraulic fluid and a second chamber configured to receive a second fluid to cause the portion of the hydraulic fluid in the first chamber to flow to the accumulator to re-pressurize the accumulator in the event of a pressure loss;
wherein a flow path of the hydraulic fluid flowing between the solenoid valve, the reservoir transfer vessel and the accumulator forms a closed loop.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of solenoid valves configured to control the flow of the hydraulic fluid to adjust the hydraulically actuatable components of the subsea blowout preventer assembly.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of dedicated accumulators configured to supply the hydraulic fluid exclusively for use with the solenoid valve.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure transducer configured to monitor accumulator pressure, wherein the accumulator is configured to be re-pressurized by the reservoir transfer vessel if accumulator pressure drops below a selected pressure.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second accumulator and a valve for fluidly coupling the solenoid valve to the second accumulator, wherein the second accumulator comprises a biodegradable hydraulic fluid, wherein the second accumulator is not configured to supply the biodegradable hydraulic fluid exclusively for use with the solenoid valve, and wherein the valve is operable by a remotely operated vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is installable on an existing subsea blowout preventer assembly, and wherein the system is installable by a remotely operated vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulically actuatable components include at least one of a valve, a ram, and a connector.

8. The system of claim 4 , comprising a reset valve communicatively coupled to the pressure transducer, wherein the reset valve is configured to adjust to an open position when the accumulator pressure falls below the selected pressure.

9. The blowout preventer system of claim 8 , wherein the hydraulic fluid flowing through the reset valve in the open position is configured to open a valve that fluidly couples a source of the second fluid with the second chamber of the reservoir transfer vessel to cause the portion of the hydraulic fluid in the first chamber to flow to the accumulator to re-pressurize the accumulator.

10. A subsea blowout preventer system comprising:
a subsea blowout preventer stack including hydraulically actuatable components; and
a lower marine riser package coupleable to the subsea blowout preventer stack and comprising additional components, the lower marine riser package also comprising:
a solenoid valve configured to control a flow of hydraulic fluid to adjust at least one of the hydraulically actuatable components of the subsea blowout preventer stack and the additional components of the lower marine riser package;
an accumulator configured to supply the hydraulic fluid for use with the solenoid valve; and
a reservoir transfer vessel comprising a first chamber configured to receive and store a portion of the hydraulic fluid and a second chamber configured to receive a second fluid to cause the portion of the hydraulic fluid in the first chamber to flow to the accumulator to re-pressurize the accumulator in the event of a pressure loss;
wherein a flow path of the hydraulic fluid flowing between the solenoid valve, the reservoir transfer vessel and the accumulator forms a closed loop.

11. The blowout preventer system of claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of solenoid valves configured to control the flow of the hydraulic fluid to adjust the hydraulically actuatable components of the blowout preventer stack and the additional components of the lower marine riser package.

12. The blowout preventer system of claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of accumulators configured to supply the hydraulic fluid exclusively for use with the solenoid valve.

13. The blowout preventer system of claim 10 , further comprising a pressure transducer configured to monitor accumulator pressure, wherein the accumulator is configured to be re-pressurized by the reservoir transfer vessel if accumulator pressure drops below a selected pressure.

14. The blowout preventer system of claim 10 , further comprising a second accumulator and a valve for fluidly coupling the solenoid valve to the second accumulator, wherein the second accumulator comprises a biodegradable hydraulic fluid, wherein the second accumulator is not configured to supply the biodegradable hydraulic fluid exclusively for use with the solenoid valve, and wherein the valve is operable by a remotely operated vehicle.

15. The blowout preventer system of claim 10 , wherein the hydraulically actuatable components of the blowout preventer stack comprise a pair of hydraulically controlled rams.

16. The blowout preventer system of claim 10 , wherein the additional components of the lower marine riser package comprise an annular blowout preventer.

17. The blowout preventer system of claim 10 , comprising a filtration assembly disposed along the flow path of the hydraulic fluid, wherein the filtration assembly is configured to remove contaminants from the hydraulic fluid.

18. A subsea blowout preventer assembly comprising:
a blowout preventer stack; and
a control pod comprising a solenoid valve configured to control a flow of hydraulic fluid to control hydraulic functions of the blowout preventer assembly, wherein the solenoid valve receives the hydraulic fluid from a dedicated accumulator, wherein a reservoir transfer vessel comprises a first chamber configured to receive and store a portion of the hydraulic fluid and a second chamber configured to receive a second fluid to cause the portion of the hydraulic fluid in the first chamber to flow to the accumulator to re-pressurize the accumulator in the event of a pressure loss, and wherein a flow path of the hydraulic fluid flowing between the solenoid valve, the reservoir transfer vessel and the accumulator forms a closed loop.

19. The blowout preventer assembly of claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of solenoid valves configured to control the flow of the hydraulic fluid to control hydraulic functions of the blowout preventer assembly, wherein the plurality of solenoid valves receive the hydraulic fluid exclusively from the dedicated accumulator.

20. The blowout preventer assembly of claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of dedicated accumulators configured to supply the hydraulic fluid exclusively to the solenoid valve.

Assignees

• Cameron Int Corp

Inventors

• Van Wijk Johannes
• Gaude Edward C

Classifications

• E21B33/064 Primary

  specially adapted for underwater well heads · CPC title

• E21B34/16

  Control means therefor being outside the borehole {(control systems for submerged well heads E21B33/0355)} · CPC title

• E21B33/0355

  Control systems, e.g. hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, acoustic, for submerged well heads · CPC title

• F15B1/02

  Installations or systems with accumulators · CPC title

• F15B2211/885

  Control specific to the type of fluid, e.g. specific to magnetorheological fluid · CPC title