Ge Oil & Gas UK Limited

Vetco Gray Controls Limited

Baker Hughes Energy Technology UK Limited

Ian John Kent

Peter John Davey

Robert Dalziel

Julian Richard Davis

Vernon Lester Huutchings

Stuart Guy Holley

A safety node for a hydrocarbon extraction facility control system, the node comprising: a hydraulic input; a hydraulic output; a directional control valve disposed between the hydraulic input and the hydraulic output; and a functional safety electronics module containing a logic solver in operable communication with the directional control valve; wherein the logic solver is configured to operate the directional control valve to permit hydraulic communication between the hydraulic input and the hydraulic output in response to the presence of a given condition and inhibit hydraulic communication between the hydraulic input and the hydraulic output in response to the absence of a given condition.

Subsea safety node

A control system for monitoring a filter in a subsea control module (SCM) of an underwater hydrocarbon well is presented. The control system includes an upstream pressure transducer disposed upstream of a filter of the SCM and configured to sense an upstream pressure. The control system further includes a downstream pressure transducer disposed downstream of the filter and configured to sense a downstream pressure. Furthermore, the control system includes a subsea electronics module (SEM) coupled to the upstream pressure transducer and the downstream pressure transducer. The SEM is configured to determine average pressure differential values at different instances based on the upstream pressure and the downstream pressure. Moreover, the control system also includes a master control station (MCS) coupled to the SEM and configured to predict a filter maintenance generate an indication of the predicted filter maintenance due time for an operator of the underwater hydrocarbon well.

Control system and a method for monitoring a filter in an underwater hydrocarbon well

A production control system for an underwater well, comprises: first electrically operated means for supplying first hydraulic fluid, for opening a first control valve of the well; second electrically operated means, for supplying second hydraulic fluid at a higher pressure than said first fluid, for opening a further control valve of the well; electronic circuitry (SEM1) for providing electrical power for operating said first and second means; and means for controlling the sequence of closing said control valves as a result of a loss of electrical power from said electronic circuitry. The controlling means comprises: electrical power storage means; detection means responsive to said loss of power from said electronic circuitry; and means coupled with said detection means for using electrical power from said storage means to keep said further control valve open for a period after closure of said first control valve and close it after said period.

Shutting down an underwater fluid production well

A communication connection in a subsea well for converting an optical signal from an optical fiber to an electrical signal, comprising a small form factor pluggable device.

Communications connection in a subsea well

An electronics module for a well installation configured to receive software via a wireless connection and methods of installing software on an electronics module for a well installation, are provided. An example of such electronics module comprises a short-range wireless receiver for wirelessly receiving software and/or data from an external wireless source. Modem external interface wiring can be employed as an antenna for the wireless receiver to receive the wireless transmission of the software and/or data.

Subsea electronics module and methods of loading software thereon

A production shutdown system for an underwater hydrocarbon production facility, comprising, on the topside: a safety system, and a communications module; and, underwater; drive control means, and an underwater communications component; wherein in use safety signals are passed from the safety system to the drive control means via the topside communications module and the underwater communications component, and wherein the safety system and drive control means are rated according to a prescribed safety level but the communications module and underwater communications component are not so rated.

Growing community of inventors

North Somerset, United Kingdom

Ian John Kent