Chevron U.s.a. Inc.

Lee Mitchell

Baha Tulu Tanju

Fred Anderson

Emile Boudreaux

Brian Jake Arias

Karry Guidry

Scott Weatherwax

Joseph Micheal Smoorenburg

Marcus Paul Abshire

Systems and methods quickly regulate hydraulic fluid pressure to meet hydraulic fluid demands in subsea equipment over long umbilicals. A hydraulic power unit includes a reservoir and a pump for pumping hydraulic fluid from the reservoir into a fluid supply line to subsea equipment. A supply-side module located downstream of the hydraulic power unit includes a circulation pump in communication with the supply line for circulating hydraulic fluid in a circuit including the fluid supply line and a fluid return line. A demand-side module is located upstream of the subsea equipment and includes a diverter valve for opening or closing the circuit. Adjustments can be made to the circulation pump and the diverter valve such that hydraulic fluid is circulated through the circuit. The pressure of the supply-side module is greater and does not exceed twice than the pressure of the demand-side module.

Subsea fluid pressure regulation systems and methods

Disclosed are fluid handling systems and methods for mitigating the effects of pressure drops that occur at the startup of subsea pumps associated with liquid producing reservoirs. The systems and methods are particularly useful in conjunction with subsea pumps used for producing liquids from high-pressure, low permeability hydrocarbon reservoirs. The systems and methods can mitigate damage to reservoir completions and reservoirs caused by high pressure transients downstream of the pump. A choke valve is used to restrict the flow of the liquids prior to the startup of the subsea pump. After the start of the subsea pump, the choke valve is gradually opened while a recirculation valve is gradually closed, and a full bore valve is opened.

System and method for mitigating pressure drop at subsea pump startup

Growing community of inventors

Katy, TX, United States of America

Lee Mitchell