US3865142A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric remote control system for underwater wells
Assignee: FMC Corp
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Filing: 1973-03-08
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Granted: 1975-02-11
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Expires: 1993-03-08
Abstract
Abstract A fail-safe electrical system for controlling, from a remote location, the operation of hydraulic, pneumatic, and/or electric powered mechanisms, and for measuring pressures, temperatures, and any other parameter transduceable to an electric parameter and indicating the values thereof on a display panel at the remote location. As employed with valves and pressures at an underwater oil, gas, or other fluid well, the system comprises a control station at a suitable surface location, an underwater or subsea station adjacent to the well, a single electric cable interconnecting the two stations, and additional single electric cables from the subsea station to each of the valves to be operated and each of the pressure locations to be monitored. Where the valves, chokes, or other elements of the well are hydraulically or pneumatically powered, the system involves solenoid valves preferably positioned in the subsea station to control the hydraulic or pneumatic pressure delivered to the elements, and where the valves are electrically powered they are controlled by suitable relays in their electric circuit. A specific system for controlling the operation of nine valves and for monitoring five pressures at a well''s Christmas tree is described, as also is a system for carrying out these procedures on a plurality of wells from a single control station.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A Begun
- 👤 Erik Thuse
- 👤 Arthur L Mcgee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:34
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B33/00; E21B33/02; E21B33/03; E21B33/035; E21B33/0355; E21B34/00; E21B34/02; E21B34/04; E21B43/00; E21B43/01; E21B43/017; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/402; Y10T137/8158; Y10T137/8225; Y10T137/8242; Y10T137/8326; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/87048
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
315 words
In a fluid well flow control apparatus having a system for remotely controlling the operation of electrically energized mechanisms wherein said mechanisms have a plurality of operational states, and for measuring and reading out the operational state of each of said mechanisms, said system including a control station connectable to a source of electrical power, electrical circuit means at said control station with display means having indicators for individually selectively indicating the operational state of said mechanisms, a switching station in the vicinity of the fluid well, first means including electric conductors for electrically interconnecting the control station and the switching station, and second means including electric conductors for individually electrically interconnecting the switching station with each of said electrically energized mechanisms, the improvement comprising: a. said selective indication means having a corresponding selective response to each one of a plurality of differing predetermined voltages present in one of said electric conductors, b. a plurality of resistors interconnected with said mechanisms for providing said differing predetermined voltages, c. means for selectively interconnecting said resistors in response to control of said mechanisms to produce said predetermined voltages on said conductor, and wherein, d. said plurality of resistors include first, second and third resistors, wherein said first and third resistors are selectively connected in parallel by said selective interconnecting means to provide a predetermined voltage indicating a first limit of operation of said mechanism, said second and third resistors are selectively connected in parallel by said selective interconnecting means to provide a differing predetermined voltage indicating a second limit of operation, and said third resistor alone provides a further differing predetermined voltage indicating a third state of operation when said first and second resistors are disconnected therefrom, thereby to effect display at said control station of the particular operational state of the well control mechanisms with a minimum of conductors interconnecting said mechanisms and said control station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
315 words
In a fluid well flow control apparatus having a system for remotely controlling the operation of electrically energized mechanisms wherein said mechanisms have a plurality of operational states, and for measuring and reading out the operational state of each of said mechanisms, said system including a control station connectable to a source of electrical power, electrical circuit means at said control station with display means having indicators for individually selectively indicating the operational state of said mechanisms, a switching station in the vicinity of the fluid well, first means including electric conductors for electrically interconnecting the control station and the switching station, and second means including electric conductors for individually electrically interconnecting the switching station with each of said electrically energized mechanisms, the improvement comprising: a. said selective indication means having a corresponding selective response to each one of a plurality of differing predetermined voltages present in one of said electric conductors, b. a plurality of resistors interconnected with said mechanisms for providing said differing predetermined voltages, c. means for selectively interconnecting said resistors in response to control of said mechanisms to produce said predetermined voltages on said conductor, and wherein, d. said plurality of resistors include first, second and third resistors, wherein said first and third resistors are selectively connected in parallel by said selective interconnecting means to provide a predetermined voltage indicating a first limit of operation of said mechanism, said second and third resistors are selectively connected in parallel by said selective interconnecting means to provide a differing predetermined voltage indicating a second limit of operation, and said third resistor alone provides a further differing predetermined voltage indicating a third state of operation when said first and second resistors are disconnected therefrom, thereby to effect display at said control station of the particular operational state of the well control mechanisms with a minimum of conductors interconnecting said mechanisms and said control station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein each indicator includes indicia for indicating three operational positions of the mechanism to which it is related, including the opposite limits of operation and a state of operation in between said limits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improved system of claim 1 wherein said controlled mechanisms include valves, and wherein said states of operation thereof comprise respectively: valve open, valve closed, and valve intermediate position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improved system of claim 3 wherein said states of operation of said well control apparatus further include temperature and pressure parameters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said mechanism includes first and second limit switches, and wherein said first resistor is in series with said first limit switch, said second resistor is in series with said second limit switch, and said third resistor is connected across the series combination of said first and second limit switches, and their respective resistors, whereby when the mechanism is somewhere in between its limits of operation neither limit switch is closed and said third resistor only can then be measured externally.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system according to claim 1, including a further plurality of resistors and at least one transducer means for measuring temperature or pressure at said well flow control apparatus, such that said display means indicates the measured temperature or pressure in response to specific voltages conducted from said measuring means to said display means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said electrically energized mechanisms are valves, and wherein said well flow control apparatus is an underwater Christmas tree, including the further improvement wherein said first interconnecting means comprises a four-conductor electrical cable between the control station and the switching station, wherein said second interconnecting means comprises a three-conductor electrical cable between the switching station and each valve, and wherein said switching station includes means to switch from one valve to another upon command from the control station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
85 words
A system according to claim 1, including a plurality of separate fluid well flow control apparatuses each having its own switching station, and an intermediate station between the control station and said switching stations, the further improvement wherein the first interconnecting means comprises a six-conductor cable between the control and intermediate stations, and a four-conductor cable between the intermediate station and the switching stations, and wherein the second interconnecting means comprises a three-conductor cable between the switching stations and their related well flow control apparatuses.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3400730A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-10 | 1978-08-12 | 1979-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-10 | 1982-08-12 | 1983-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-10 | 1986-08-12 | 1987-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |