Sensor assembly for monitoring a fluid extraction component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9732879-B2
Application number	US-201514850378-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2015
Priority date	Sep 10, 2015
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to monitoring the condition of fluid extraction components associated with a subsea hydrocarbon drilling and production operation and, in an embodiment described herein, more particularly provides a sensor assembly for monitoring the extraction component which is easily installable and locally powered. The sensor assembly, in one embodiment, is contained on a patch. The assembly comprises a sensor, a power supply, and a communication device, all located on the patch. The patch can be easily coupled to fluid extraction components, such as a valve associated with a blowout preventer stack. The patch can include a coupling material on one side of the patch allowing the patch to adhere to the fluid extraction components. The patch can further include a power generator, such as a piezoelectric generator, thereby allowing for the sensor assembly to be locally powered.

First claim

I claim:

1. A sensor assembly for monitoring a fluid extraction component, the sensor assembly comprising:
a base layer including a coupling material and configured to be removably coupled to the fluid extraction component;
a sensor configured to measure a characteristic of the fluid extraction component; and
a communication device operatively coupled to the sensor, the communication device configured to wirelessly transmit the measured characteristic.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a power generator layer coupled to the base layer and configured to provide power to at least one of the sensor and communication device.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the power generator layer comprises a piezoelectric material configured to generate electrical charge in response to a mechanical strain.

4. The assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a protective layer coupled to the power generator layer and configured to protect the base layer and power generator layer from an external environment.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an external power source configured to provide power to at least one of the sensor and communication device.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic to be measured comprises at least one of temperature, pressure, and strain.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, and a strain sensor.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluid extraction component comprises a valve.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect an operational state of the valve.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the sensor is a Hall Effect sensor.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the measured characteristic is wirelessly transmittable to a remote location including a receiver, wherein the remote location is at least one of a remotely operated subsea vehicle, an autonomous underwater vehicle, and a surface location.

12. A subsea drilling or production system comprising:
a subsea blowout preventer stack comprising a fluid extraction component; and
a sensor assembly comprising:
a coupling material configured to removably attach the sensor assembly to the fluid extraction component; and
a sensor configured to measure a characteristic of the fluid extraction component.

13. The system of claim 12 , the sensor assembly further comprising a communication device operatively coupled to the sensor, the communication device configured to wirelessly transmit the measured characteristic.

14. The system of claim 12 , the sensor assembly further comprising a power generator coupled to the sensor and configured to provide power to the sensor and communication device.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the power generator layer comprises a piezoelectric material configured to generate electrical charge in response to a mechanical strain.

16. The system of claim 12 , the sensor assembly further comprising a protective housing configured to protect the sensor from an external environment.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the characteristic to be measured comprises at least one of temperature, pressure, and strain.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, and a strain sensor.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the fluid extraction component comprises a valve including a movable element therein and wherein the sensor is configured to detect the position of the movable element within the valve.

20. The system of claim 13 , wherein the measured characteristic is wirelessly transmittable to a remote location including a receiver, wherein the remote location is at least one of a remotely operated subsea vehicle, an autonomous underwater vehicle, and a surface location.

Assignees

• Cameron Int Corp

Inventors

• Jaffrey Andrew

Classifications

• G01C15/00

  Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00 · CPC title

• E21B47/001

  for underwater installation · CPC title

• E21B47/13

  by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency · CPC title

• E21B41/04

  Manipulators for underwater operations, e.g. temporarily connected to well heads · CPC title

• G01D5/142

  using Hall-effect devices (measuring magnetic variables using Hall-effect or other galvanomagnetic devices G01R33/06) · CPC title