Systems and methods for real-time monitoring of a line

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10370962-B2
Application number	US-201715806533-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2017
Priority date	Dec 8, 2016
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

A system for monitoring a line comprising a line, such as a mooring line, umbilical, pipeline, or riser. connected to an offshore structure including a control processor located on the offshore structure, a wireless network comprising a plurality of communication nodes positioned along the line, and a plurality of measurement devices embedded within the communication nodes. When the line is being monitored, the output of each of the measurement devices is in continuous wireless communication with the wireless network via at least one of the communication nodes positioned along the line and the wireless network is in continuous communication with the control processor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for monitoring a line, comprising:
a line connected to an offshore structure; wherein the offshore structure includes a control processor;
a wireless network comprising a plurality of communication nodes positioned along the line;
a plurality of measurement devices positioned along the line; wherein the measurement devices are embedded within the communication nodes; wherein, when the line is being monitored, the output of each of the measurement devices is in continuous wireless communication with the wireless network via at least one of the communication nodes positioned along the line;
wherein, when the line is being monitored, the wireless network is in continuous communication with the control processor located on the offshore structure;
wherein the wireless network is an ultrasonic wireless network:
wherein each measurement device comprises at least one of a temperature gauge, a pressure gauge, a strain gauge, a 3D accelerometer, a 3D gyroscope, a video camera. an acoustic emission testing, or combinations thereof; and
wherein monitoring the line via the wireless network includes displaying a real-time visual representation of the shape of the line on a display in communication with the control processor.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the line is one of a mooring line, umbilical, pipeline, and riser.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein each communication node is spaced at a distance on the mooring line between 500-1000 meters.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein each communication node is paired with its closest neighbor.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein each communication node is paired with any communication node within 1000 meters as measured by length of the line.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication node comprises a top communication node that is connected to the control processor via wired, RF wireless, ultrasonic wireless, or acoustic wireless communication.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator in communication with the wireless network, the actuator designed to perform a control function on the line.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the control function is opening or closing a valve.

9. A method for monitoring a line, comprising:
providing a line connected to an offshore structure; wherein the offshore structure includes a control processor;
providing a wireless network comprising a plurality of communication nodes positioned along the line;
providing a plurality of measurement devices positioned along the line; wherein the measurement devices are embedded within the communication nodes; wherein, when the line is being monitored, the output of each of the measurement devices is in continuous wireless communication with the wireless network via at least one of the communication nodes positioned along the line;
monitoring the line via the wireless network which is in continuous communication with the control processor located on the offshore structure;

wherein the wireless network is an ultrasonic wireless network;
wherein each measurement device comprises at least one of a temperature gauge, a pressure gauge, a strain gauge, 3D accelerometer, a 3D gyroscope, a video camera, an acoustic emission testing, or combinations thereof; and
wherein monitoring the line via the wireless network includes displaying a real-time visual representation of the shape of the line on a display in communication with the control processor.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the line is one of a mooring line, umbilical, pipeline, and riser.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein each communication node is spaced at a distance on the mooring line between 500-1000 meters.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein each communication node is paired with its closest neighbor.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein each communication node is paired with any communication node within 1000 meters as measured by length of the line.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the communication node comprises a top communication node that is connected to the control processor via wired, RF wireless, ultrasonic wireless, or acoustic wireless communication.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein monitoring the line via the wireless network includes displaying a real-time location of the offshore structure on a display in communication with the control processor.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the monitoring the line via the wireless network further includes monitoring deformation of the line, stress on the line, or corrosion at a specific point on the line.

Assignees

• Exxonmobil Res & Eng Co
• Exxonmobile Res And Engineering Company

Inventors

• Zhang Yibing
• Song Limin
• Li Zhen

Classifications

• E21B47/001

  for underwater installation · CPC title

• E21B47/14 Primary

  using acoustic waves · CPC title

• B63B2021/003

  Mooring or anchoring equipment, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B63B21/50

  Anchoring arrangements {or methods} for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers · CPC title

• E21B17/01

  Risers · CPC title