US3640299A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Subsea wellhead control system
Assignee: Cooper Industries LLC
•
Filing: 1969-10-06
•
Granted: 1972-02-08
•
Expires: 1989-10-06
Abstract
Abstract The invention concerns a fluid energized control system for controlling the valves of subsea wellheads and for controlling other like mechanical devices designed for fluid actuation. A single protective conduit is connected at one extremity thereof to a control facility while its other extremity terminates in connection structure located adjacent or attached to a remotely located wellhead or other mechanical device. Suitable actuator control conduits extend from a plurality of fluid-controlled wellhead valve actuators and are connected in fluid communication to the connection structure. The terminal connection structure is provided with internal fluid passages communicating with respective ones of the actuator conduits and defines a pigreceiving recess. A locomotive pig is inserted into the protective conduit at the control facility and is moved within the protective conduit by fluid pressure applied from a suitable source of pressurized fluid or by a combination of fluid pressure applied at one side of the pig and a suction applied to the other side of the pig. A plurality of valve control conduits are connected to the pig in fluid communication with corresponding fluid passages formed in pig structure. The control conduits are pulled through the protective conduits by the pig as fluid pressure is applied. As the pig enters the pig-receiving recess, it is oriented, if necessary, by appropriate orienting structure and is locked into assembly within the recess with appropriate fluid passage structure of the pig disposed in fluid communication with corresponding fluid passages in the terminal connection structure. A plurality of pilot valves, provided within or adjacent the pig or terminal connection structure, are controlled by application of fluid pressure through the control conduits and serve to control communication of pressurized actuating fluid, carried in the protective conduit externally of the control conduits, to the actuating conduits of the subsea wellhead. The valve actuators are energized by the actuating fluid responsive to actuation of the pilot valves. An accumulator and pressure-balancing circuit are communicated to the fluid circuitry of each of the valve actuators in order to allow quick energized and deenergized actuation of the valve actuators. Fluid pressure is transferred from the accumulator and pressurebalancing circuitry to the actuator fluid supply of the fluid system upon reduction of pressure in the actuator fluid supply and such transfer may be aided by the hydrostatic head of the sea water in which the system is submerged.
Inventors
- 👤 Norman A Nelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:50
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B33/00; E21B33/02; E21B33/03; E21B33/035; E21B33/0355; E21B33/0387; F; F16; F16L; F16L37/00; F16L37/56; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/87153; Y10T137/87161
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
A fluid-energized control system for controlling at least one remotely located subsea wellhead mechanical device having fluid passage structure, said system comprising a protective conduit extending from a control facility above sea level to a position adjacent said mechanical device, terminal connector means defining an extremity of said protective conduit and having fluid passage means defined therein, means defining fluid communication between said connector means and said mechanical device, a locomotive pig having fluid passage means formed therein, said pig being disposed within said protective conduit and establishing a dynamic seal with the internal wall of said protective conduit control conduit means being connected at one extremity thereof to said pig and establishing fluid communication with said fluid passage means of said pig, a source of fluid pressure being disposed in fluid communication with the other extremity of said protective conduit and being capable of moving said pig through said protective conduit and thereby propelling said control conduit means through said protective conduit, said pig upon being moved to its terminal position within said protective conduit establishing fluid communication between said fluid passage means of said pig and the fluid passage means of said terminal connector means, means locking said pig in assembly with said terminal connector means, and a second source of fluid pressure connected to the other extremity of said control conduit means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
A fluid-energized control system for controlling at least one remotely located subsea wellhead mechanical device having fluid passage structure, said system comprising a protective conduit extending from a control facility above sea level to a position adjacent said mechanical device, terminal connector means defining an extremity of said protective conduit and having fluid passage means defined therein, means defining fluid communication between said connector means and said mechanical device, a locomotive pig having fluid passage means formed therein, said pig being disposed within said protective conduit and establishing a dynamic seal with the internal wall of said protective conduit control conduit means being connected at one extremity thereof to said pig and establishing fluid communication with said fluid passage means of said pig, a source of fluid pressure being disposed in fluid communication with the other extremity of said protective conduit and being capable of moving said pig through said protective conduit and thereby propelling said control conduit means through said protective conduit, said pig upon being moved to its terminal position within said protective conduit establishing fluid communication between said fluid passage means of said pig and the fluid passage means of said terminal connector means, means locking said pig in assembly with said terminal connector means, and a second source of fluid pressure connected to the other extremity of said control conduit means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
A fluid-energized control system according to claim 1, an actuating fluid supply passage being defined between said control conduit means and the internal wall of said protective conduit, fluid pressure for actuating said mechanical device being supplied through said actuating fluid supply passage, control valve means provided for controlling fluid communication between said actuating fluid supply passage and the fluid passage means of said pig, said control valve means being selectively opened or closed responsive to pressure changes within said control conduit means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
136 words
A fluid-energized control system according to claim 1, an actuating fluid supply passage being defined between said control conduit means and the internal wall of said protective conduit, accumulator means and pressure-balancing means being disposed in communication with said actuating fluid supply passage, means disposed adjacent said mechanical device and being disposed in fluid communication with the fluid circuitry of said mechanical device, said accumulator means receiving fluid from said actuating fluid supply passage in order to provide an ample supply of pressurized actuating fluid adjacent said mechanical device, said pressure-balancing means receiving fluid upon exhausting of said mechanical device in order to assure rapid actuation of said mechanical device, said pressure-balancing means bleeding fluid into said actuating fluid supply passage upon decrease of pressure within said source below the pressure Level of said accumulator means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
94 words
A fluid-energized control system according to claim 1, said means locking said pig in assembly with said connector means comprising a locking groove formed within said connector means, movable fluid-actuated latch means carried by said pig, a latch control fluid passage within said pig supplying fluid to said latch means, a latching control conduit connected to said pig in communication with said latch control fluid passage and extending through said protective conduit to said control facility, fluid pressure supplied through said latching control conduit causing movement of said latch means into said locking groove.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
241 words
A fluid-energized control system for controlling a plurality of remotely located fluid actuatable mechanical devices of a subsea wellhead, said system comprising a protective conduit extending from a control facility above sea level to a position adjacent said mechanical devices, a terminal connector defining an extremity of said protective conduit and having a pig receiving recess therein and having a plurality of fluid passages disposed therein in fluid communication with said pig-receiving recess, said protective conduit being connected at one extremity thereof to said terminal connector, a locomotive pig disposed within said protective conduit in dynamic sealed relation with the inner wall thereof, a plurality of fluid passages formed in said pig, a plurality of control conduits connected to said pig in fluid communication with the fluid passages formed in said pig, a source of fluid pressure being communicated to the other extremity of said protective conduit and being operative to impart movement to said locomotive pig thereby causing said control conduits to be drawn along with said pig through said protective conduit, said pig upon reaching its terminal position being received within said pig-receiving recess and establishing fluid communication between the fluid passages of said terminal connector and the fluid passages of said pig, means securing said pig within said pig-receiving recess, and means for supplying fluid pressure from said protective conduit to a selected mechanical device in response to fluid pressure in an associated one of said control conduits.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
241 words
A fluid-energized control system for controlling a plurality of remotely located fluid actuatable mechanical devices of a subsea wellhead, said system comprising a protective conduit extending from a control facility above sea level to a position adjacent said mechanical devices, a terminal connector defining an extremity of said protective conduit and having a pig receiving recess therein and having a plurality of fluid passages disposed therein in fluid communication with said pig-receiving recess, said protective conduit being connected at one extremity thereof to said terminal connector, a locomotive pig disposed within said protective conduit in dynamic sealed relation with the inner wall thereof, a plurality of fluid passages formed in said pig, a plurality of control conduits connected to said pig in fluid communication with the fluid passages formed in said pig, a source of fluid pressure being communicated to the other extremity of said protective conduit and being operative to impart movement to said locomotive pig thereby causing said control conduits to be drawn along with said pig through said protective conduit, said pig upon reaching its terminal position being received within said pig-receiving recess and establishing fluid communication between the fluid passages of said terminal connector and the fluid passages of said pig, means securing said pig within said pig-receiving recess, and means for supplying fluid pressure from said protective conduit to a selected mechanical device in response to fluid pressure in an associated one of said control conduits.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
A fluid-energized control system according to claim 5, a plate forming a closure for the other extremity of said protective conduit said control conduits extending through said plate, said plate having means establishing a seal about each of said control conduits whereby said control conduits may be drawn through said plate and into the protective conduit by the locomotive pig.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A fluid-energized control system according to claim 5, said pig having a plurality of control valves one provided for each of said control conduits, said control conduits and said protective conduit cooperating to define an actuating fluid passage, said control valves controlling the supply of actuating fluid to said fluid passages of said mechanical devices.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
A fluid-energized control system according to claim 5, a pressure-balancing circuit connected to said mechanical devices and also communicating with said operating fluid supply passage, said pressure-balancing circuit being charged with fluid upon deenergization of said mechanical devices in order to provide for quick deenergized actuation of said mechanical devices, said pressure-balancing circuit communicating with said operating fluid supply passage and bleeding fluid into said operating fluid supply passage upon decrease of fluid pressure below the pressure level of said operating fluid within said operating fluid supply passage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
A fluid-energized control system according to claim 8, said system having fluid return passage means communicating said pressure-balancing circuit to said source of fluid pressure through said protective conduit, check valve means permitting the flow of fluid from the pressure-balancing circuit to said protective conduit but preventing the flow of fluid from saiD protective conduit directly into said pressure-balancing circuit.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of connecting a plurality of control conduits between remotely located facilities, said method comprising the steps of laying a protective conduit between said facilities, placing a locomotive pig within one end of said protective conduit, attaching said control conduits to said pig, connecting said one end of said protective conduit to a source of pressurized fluid communicating pressurized fluid into said protective conduit thereby forcing said locomotive pig through said protective conduit to a terminal position and causing said control conduit to be pulled through said protective conduit by said locomotive pig, establishing fluid connection of each extremity of said control conduits with appropriate fluid receptacle at each of said facilities.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of connecting a plurality of control conduits between remotely located facilities, said method comprising the steps of laying a protective conduit between said facilities, placing a locomotive pig within one end of said protective conduit, attaching said control conduits to said pig, connecting said one end of said protective conduit to a source of pressurized fluid communicating pressurized fluid into said protective conduit thereby forcing said locomotive pig through said protective conduit to a terminal position and causing said control conduit to be pulled through said protective conduit by said locomotive pig, establishing fluid connection of each extremity of said control conduits with appropriate fluid receptacle at each of said facilities.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
102 words
A method according to claim 10, said locomotive pig having fluid passage means formed therein one of said facilities having fluid passage structure adapted to receive said fluid passage means of said pig in fluid communication therewith, said method including the steps of; establishing fluid communication between said control conduits and said locomotive pig, moving said locomotive pig within said protective conduit to a position establishing fluid communication between said fluid passage structure at said one facility and said fluid passage means of said locomotive pig and locking said pig in immovable relation with said fluid passage structure of said one facility.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 10 and including the step of communicating a source of suction to the protective conduit on the opposite side of said locomotive pig simultaneously with communication of pressure to said protective conduit, whereby said suction and pressure act simultaneously to provide a motive force for movement of said locomotive pig within said protective conduit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method according to claim 10 and including the step of venting fluid from the protective conduit on the opposite side of said locomotive pig simultaneously with communication of pressure to said protective conduit whereby movement of said locomotive pig within said protective conduit will not be resisted by the presence of fluid within said protective conduit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-07 | 1975-08-09 | 1976-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-07 | 1979-08-09 | 1980-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-07 | 1983-08-09 | 1984-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |