Electrical power transmission for well construction apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10697275-B2
Application number	US-201715676035-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2017
Priority date	Aug 14, 2017
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

Apparatus and methods pertaining to a moveable well construction apparatus to be electrically energized via an electrical power transmission path extending between a stationary power source and the moveable well construction apparatus. The path comprises cables and connectors. A system comprises a detector operable for generating information indicative of whether the path is properly installed. The system permits the path to be electrically energized when the detector-generated information indicates the path is properly installed, and prevents the path from being electrically energized when the detector-generated information indicates the path is not properly installed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
moving a moveable well construction apparatus relative to a stationary side, wherein the stationary side comprises a stationary power source, wherein the moveable well construction apparatus is to be electrically energized via an electrical power transmission path extending between the stationary power source and the moveable well construction apparatus, and wherein the electrical power transmission path comprises one or more electrical power cables and one or more electrical connectors; and
operating a system comprising a detector, wherein the detector is operable for generating information indicative of whether the electrical power transmission path is properly installed between the stationary power source and the moveable well construction apparatus, and wherein the system is operable for:
permitting the electrical power transmission path to be electrically energized when the detector-generated information is indicative of the electrical power transmission path being properly installed between the stationary power source and the moveable well construction apparatus; and
prohibiting the electrical power transmission path from being electrically energized when the detector-generated information is indicative of the electrical power transmission path not being properly installed between the stationary power source and the moveable well construction apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:
each electrical connector is contained within a corresponding protection box;
each protection box comprises a lid that is moveable between open and closed positions to permit human access inside the protection box;
the detector comprises one or more sensors each associated with a corresponding protection box and operable to generate information indicative of whether the lid of that protection box is in the closed position;
with regard to each protection box, the detector-generated information is based on the sensor-generated information; and
the method further comprises moving the lid of each protection box to the closed position.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:
each electrical connector is contained within a corresponding protection box;
each protection box comprises a lid that is moveable between open and closed positions to permit human access inside the protection box;
the system comprises a locking system that comprises, with respect to each protection box:
a key-operated lock of the protection box that is operable to lock the lid in the closed position via operation of a key in the lock, wherein the key cannot be removed from the lock when the lid is not locked in the closed position; and
a receptacle located at the stationary side and able to receive the key;

the detector-generated information is based on whether each key is received in the corresponding stationary side receptacle; and
the method further comprises:
locking each protection box with the corresponding key;
removing each key from the corresponding locked protection box; and
inserting each key into the corresponding stationary side receptacle.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the detector comprises one or more sensors each associated with a corresponding protection box and operable to generate information indicative of whether the lid of that protection box is in the closed position;
with regard to each protection box, the detector-generated information is based on the sensor-generated information; and
the method further comprises moving the lid of each protection box to the closed position.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:
each electrical connector is contained within a corresponding protection box;
each protection box comprises a lid that is moveable between open and closed positions to permit human access inside the protection box;
the system comprises a locking system that comprises:
a key-operated lock of each protection box, wherein:
the lock of each protection box is operable to lock the lid of that protection box in the closed position via operation of a key in the lock;
with respect to each protection box, the key cannot be removed from the lock when the lid is not locked in the closed position; and
the key is a single key that operates each of the protection box locks; and

a receptacle located at the stationary side and able to receive the key;

the detector-generated information is based on whether the key is received in the stationary side receptacle; and
the method further comprises:
locking each protection box with the key; and
inserting the key into the stationary side receptacle.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the detector comprises one or more sensors each associated with a corresponding protection box and operable to generate information indicative of whether the lid of that protection box is in the closed position;
with regard to each protection box, the detector-generated information is based on the sensor-generated information; and
the method further comprises moving the lid of each protection box to the closed position.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the system comprises a first conductive path and a second conductive path each extending between the stationary power source and the moveable well construction apparatus in parallel with the electrical power transmission path;
the first and second conductive paths each comprise one or more wires;
the detector is operable to measure impedance between the first and second conductive paths;
the method further comprises placing an impedance device between each pair of electrical connections along the electrical power transmission path;
each impedance device has a known impedance; and
the system is operable to determine, based on the measured and known impedances, whether the electrical power transmission path is properly installed between the stationary power source and the moveable well construction apparatus.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein:
each electrical connector is contained within a corresponding protection box;
each protection box comprises a lid that is moveable between open and closed positions to permit human access inside the protection box;
the detector comprises one or more sensors each associated with a corresponding protection box and operable to generate information indicative of whether the lid of that protection box is in the closed position;
with regard to each protection box, the detector-generated information is based on the sensor-generated information; and
the method further comprises moving the lid of each protection box to the closed position.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein:
each electrical connector is contained within a corresponding protection box;
each protection box comprises a lid that is moveable between open and closed positions to permit human access inside the protection box;
the system comprises a locking system that comprises, with respect to each protection box:
a key-operated lock of the protection box that is operable to lock the lid in the closed position via operation of a key in the lock, wherein the key cannot be removed from the lock when the lid is not locked in the closed position; and
a receptacle located at the stationary side and able to receive the key;

the detector-generated information is based on whether each key is received in the corresponding stationary side receptacle; and
the method further comprises:
locking each protection box with the corresponding key;
removing each key from the corresponding locked protection box; and
inserting each key into the corresponding stationary side receptacle.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the detector comprises one or more sensors each associat

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Krippner Nick Paul
• White Carlos
• Orban Jacques

Classifications

• G01R31/52 Primary

  Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults · CPC title

• E21B41/00 Primary

  Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00 · CPC title

• G01R31/54

  Testing for continuity · CPC title

• H01R2103/00

  Two poles · CPC title

• H02G15/10

  protected by boxes, e.g. by distribution, connection or junction boxes · CPC title