Closed-Loop Solenoid System

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017145773-A1
Application number	US-201514946326-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 19, 2015
Priority date	Nov 19, 2015
Publication date	May 25, 2017
Grant date	—

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 . An apparatus for controlling hydraulically actuatable components disposed on a subsea blowout preventer assembly, the system comprising:
a solenoid valve configured to control at least one of the hydraulic components; and a dedicated accumulator configured to supply hydraulic fluid exclusively for use with the solenoid valve, wherein a hydraulic circuit between the solenoid valve and accumulator is a closed loop.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of solenoid valves configured to control the components of the subsea blowout preventer assembly.

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

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

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a means for fluidly coupling the solenoid valve to another accumulator not configured to supply hydraulic fluid exclusively for use with the solenoid valve.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the means for fluidly coupling the solenoid valves to another accumulator comprises a valve operable by a remotely operated vehicle.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , where the apparatus is installable on an existing subsea blowout preventer assembly.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the apparatus is installable by a remotely operated vehicle.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the components include at least one of a valve, a ram, and a connector.

10 . A subsea blowout preventer system comprising:
a subsea blowout preventer stack including hydraulically actuatable components; and a lower marine riser package coupled to the subsea blowout preventer stack and comprising additional components, the lower marine riser package also including:
a solenoid valve configured to control at least one of the components of the subsea blowout preventer stack and the additional components of the lower marine riser package;
an accumulator configured to supply hydraulic fluid for use with the solenoid valve; and
wherein the hydraulic circuit between the solenoid valve and accumulator is a closed loop.

11 . The blowout preventer system of claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of solenoid valves configured to control the 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 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 if accumulator pressure drops below a selected pressure.

14 . The blowout preventer system of claim 10 , further comprising a means for fluidly coupling the solenoid valve to another accumulator.

15 . The blowout preventer system of claim 14 , wherein the means for fluidly coupling the solenoid valves to another accumulator comprises a valve operable by a remotely operated vehicle.

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

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

18 . A blowout preventer assembly comprising a blowout preventer stack and a control pod comprising a solenoid valve configured to control hydraulic functions of the blowout preventer assembly, wherein the solenoid valve receives hydraulic fluid from a dedicated accumulator.

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

20 . The blowout preventer assembly of claim 19 , further comprising a plurality of dedicated accumulators configured to supply hydraulic fluid exclusively to the solenoid valve.

Assignees

• Shell Oil Co
• Cameron Int Corp

Inventors

• Van Wijk Johannes
• Gaude Edward C

Classifications

• E21B33/0355

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

• E21B33/064 Primary

  specially adapted for underwater well heads · CPC title

• F16K31/12

  actuated by fluid ({fluid-actuated lift valves F16K1/126} ; fluid-actuated check valves F16K15/00; fluid-actuated safety valves F16K17/00) · CPC title

• F16K31/06

  using a magnet {, e.g. diaphragm valves, cutting off by means of a liquid} · CPC title

• F15B1/02

  Installations or systems with accumulators · CPC title