Method and apparatus for hydraulically controlling subsea well equipment

Patent · Tue Jan 29 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5557236

Milberger, L J; Tucker, A R

Method and apparatus are described for hydraulically controlling subsea well equipment, such as valve operators, connectors, and other hydraulically actuated devices, with a significantly reduced number of hydraulic pressure source lines from the surface to the subsea location of said well equipment. The apparatus includes a multi-mode subsea switching valve having a plurality of modulelike sections, each section having an inlet port, a vent port and a plurality of outlet ports. When installed, this valve preferably is located near the subsea well, and a source of hydraulic pressure and a plurality of hydraulic switches, all located on a surface vessel or other surface facility, are connected to the valve's inlet ports by means of a relatively small number of hydraulic pressure source lines. A relatively large number of hydraulic outlet lines interconnect the valve's outlet ports and the subsea well equipment so that in each of its functional modes the valve directs fluid pressure to a different set of subsea devices. The valve is switched from one mode to another by a pulse of hydraulic pressure exerted on an operator apparatus that is connected to the valve's flow control element, and these modes are changed in a manner such that the position of the valve's flow control element is always known.

• Assignee: Fmc Corp
• Patent Number(s): US 4185541
• OSTI ID: 5557236
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
42 ENGINEERING
423000 -- Engineering-- Marine Engineering-- (1980-)
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
DRILLING
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
FLUID FLOW
HYDRAULIC EQUIPMENT
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OFFSHORE DRILLING
OFFSHORE OPERATIONS
OIL WELLS
SWITCHES
VALVES
WELLS