Method and apparatus for hydraulically controlling subsea well equipment
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
- Resource Relation:
- Patent Priority Date: Priority date 26 Feb 1977, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK); Other Information: PAT-APPL-873323
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
42 ENGINEERING
03 NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OFFSHORE DRILLING
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
OIL WELLS
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
FLUID FLOW
HYDRAULIC EQUIPMENT
OFFSHORE OPERATIONS
SWITCHES
VALVES
DRILLING
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
423000 - Engineering- Marine Engineering- (1980-)
030300 - Natural Gas- Drilling
Production
& Processing