Integrated controls for subsea landing string, blow out preventer, lower marine riser package

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10767433-B2
Application number	US-201815904736-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2018
Priority date	Feb 26, 2018
Publication date	Sep 8, 2020
Grant date	Sep 8, 2020

Abstract

A controls module for use with a subsea landing string, a blowout preventer (BOP) stack and a lower marine riser package (LMRP) is disclosed. The controls module can be integrated into the BOP stack or the LMRP or between the BOP stack and the LMRP. The controls module includes an input line that is coupled to control the subsea landing string through the BOP or the LMRP. The input line can be a hydraulic line, an electrical line, or a combination.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A subsea landing string, comprising:
a subsea landing string configured to couple to a wellhead on a seabed, the subsea landing string having a first input line component;
a blowout preventer (BOP) stack coupled to the subsea landing string having one or more actuatable components;
a controls module coupled to the subsea landing string above the BOP stack, the controls module comprising an input line, a second input line component, and a coupling mechanism, the coupling mechanism comprising a piston wherein the piston is configured move from a first position to a second position in response to hydraulic and/or electric actuation wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to couple the first input line component to the second input line component in response to movement of the piston from the first position to the second position; and
a lower marine riser package (LMRP) coupled to the subsea landing string above the controls module, the LMRP having one or more actuatable components;
wherein the one or more actuatable components in the BOP stack and the LMRP are configured to receive an input from the input line in the controls module.

2. The subsea landing string of claim 1 , wherein the controls module is configured to operate with the subsea landing string, the BOP stack, and the LMRP using at least one shared line coupled to the input line.

3. The subsea landing string of claim 1 , wherein the input line comprises at least one of a hydraulic line or an electric line.

4. The subsea landing string of claim 1 , wherein the input line comprises a plurality of input lines.

5. The subsea landing string of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of input lines comprises at least one hydraulic line and an electric line.

6. The subsea landing string of claim 4 , wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to couple one or more of the input lines separate from at least one other input line.

7. The subsea landing string of claim 1 , wherein the input line comprises a power line and a communication line.

8. The subsea landing string of claim 1 , wherein the controls module is configured to be installed as a separate module between the BOP and the LMRP independently from the BOP and the LMRP.

9. The subsea landing string of claim 1 , wherein the controls module is integrated into the BOP.

10. The subsea landing string of claim 1 , wherein the controls module is integrated into the LMRP.

11. The subsea landing string of claim 1 , wherein the controls module includes an external access point configured to be accessed via a remotely operated vehicle (ROV).

12. The subsea landing string of claim 1 , wherein the first input line component and the second input line component comprise an inductive coupler.

13. A controls module, comprising:
a plurality of ports configured to couple with corresponding ports on a subsea landing string on a wellhead, wherein the ports are coupled to input lines operably coupled to a remote control device; and
a coupling mechanism configured to couple the plurality of ports on the controls module with the corresponding ports on the subsea landing string, wherein the input lines are configured to provide control inputs for both a blowout preventer (BOP) stack and a lower marine riser package (LMRP), the coupling mechanism comprises:
a piston configured to move from a first position to a second position in response to hydraulic and/or electric actuation to move the plurality of ports on the controls module relative to the corresponding ports on the subsea landing string to couple the plurality of ports with the corresponding ports.

14. The controls module of claim 13 , wherein the controls module is configured to operate with the subsea landing string, the BOP stack, and the LMRP using a plurality of shared lines coupled to the input lines.

15. The controls module of claim 13 , wherein the controls module is integrated with the LMRP.

16. The controls module of claim 13 , wherein the controls module is integrated with the BOP.

17. The controls module of claim 13 , wherein the input lines are configured to actuate the coupling mechanism.

18. The controls module of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the ports is a hydraulic port and at least one other of the ports is an electric line.

19. The controls module of claim 13 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises an emergency disengage component configured to disengage the plurality of ports in response to a predetermined emergency signal.

20. A method, comprising:
coupling together a controls module, a subsea landing string, a lower marine riser package (LMRP), and a blowout preventer (BOP) stack, wherein the controls module comprises an input line and a coupling mechanism;
actuating the coupling mechanism hydraulically and/or electrically to move one or more input ports relative to corresponding ports on the subsea landing string to to couple the input line to the corresponding ports, wherein the one or more input ports are operably coupled to components within the subsea landing string, the LMRP, and the BOP stack; and
operating the components via the controls module, the input line, and the one or more input ports.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the input line comprises at least one of a hydraulic line, an electrical power line, and a communications line.

22. The method of claim 20 , further comprising actuating the coupling mechanism to uncouple the input line from the corresponding ports.

23. The method of claim 20 , further comprising integrating the controls module into the LMRP.

24. The method of claim 20 , further comprising operating the components within the BOP stack, the subsea landing string, and the LMRP via the input line coupled to a shared control line extending to a surface rig.

Assignees

• Onesubsea Ip Uk Ltd

Inventors

• Hussain Bilal Rafaqat
• Rehmatullah Khurram
• Nault Christopher
• Rakhunde Vikas
• Ryan Darcy

Classifications

• E21B33/038

  Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser · CPC title

• E21B33/0355 Primary

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

• E21B33/064

  specially adapted for underwater well heads · CPC title

• E21B33/063

  for shearing drill pipes (cutting of wireline E21B29/04) · CPC title