Apparatus for remote hydraulic control of a subsea well device

Claim 2

Apparatus for the remote individual control of a plurality of hydraulically-actuated operators using a number of hydraulic lines between a surface control center and a subsurface device containing said operators, said apparatus being characterised by said number of hydraulic lines being smaller than the number of operators, said hydraulic lines comprising first and second signal pressure lines (A,B), a plurality of hydraulic AND-gates (Gl-G25) each having an output and a pair of inputs, said gates being arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, control means for coupling predetermined values of fluid pressure from a fluid source (37) to said first and said second signal lines, means for applying signals from said first pressure line to a first input of each of the gates in a predetermined row when the pressure in said first pressure line is within a corresponding predetermined range, and means for applying signals from said second pressure line to a second input of each of the gates in a predetermined column when the pressure in said second line is within a corresponding predetermined range, the output of each of said gates being connected to a corresponding one of said operators.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that said control means includes a first means (35) for regulating the value-of pressure in said first pressure line and a second means (36) for regulating the value of pressure in said second pressure line.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that each of said means for regulating includes a fluid-flow control unit (35,36) and means (40, 41) for connecting said control unit between said fluid pressure source and a corresponding one of said first and said second pressure lines (A,B).

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 characterised in that said means for connecting includes a hydraulic switch (40,41) connected between said fluid pressure source (37) and said fluid-flow control unit (35,36).

Claim 6

Apparatus according to any preceding claim characterised in that said means for applying signals from said first and second pressure lines comprise a plurality of series-connected valve-pairs (Vl-V10) for conducting fluid from an input to an output when the pressure applied to a predetermined valve-pair is between a predetermined lower limit and a predetermined upper limit, said valve-pairs being segregated into a first group (Vl -V5) and a second group (V6-V10), said first signal line being connected to the input of each of said valve-pairs in said first group, and said second signal line being connected to the input of each of said valve-pairs in said second group, the output of each of said first group of valve-pairs being coupled to a first input of each of said gates in a corresponding row and the output of each of said second group of valve-pairs being coupled to a second input of each of said gates in a corresponding column.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5 characterised in that each of said valve-pairs includes first and second pressure-sensitive valves, the output of said first pressure-sensitive valve being connected to the input of the second pressure sensitive valve, the first valve being arranged to open when the pressure at the input of said first valve is above a first predetermined value, and said second valve being arranged to open when the pressure applied to said second valve is above a second predetermined value.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to any preceding claim characterised in that each of said AND-gates includes a power input, said apparatus including a hydraulic power line and means for connecting said hydraulic power line between said fluid source and said power input of each of said AND-gates, and that the ouput of each of said AND-gates communicates with said power input when pressure signals of predetermined suitable values are simultaneously applied to said first and said second inputs of said gates.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 1 characterised by means (68,69) for coupling a status signal from said subsea operator to said first signal pressure line, said status signal indicating the open or closed position of said operator.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 8 characterised in that said means for coupling status signals includes a feedback valve (65) connected to said operator, said first and second hydraulic signal lines or other pair of sources of hydraulic pressure, said feedback valve connecting a first hydraulic pressure source to said first signal pressure line (A) when said subsea operator is in a first position and said feedback valve connecting a second hydraulic pressure source to said first signal pressure line when said subsea operator is in a second position.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 9 characterised in that said first signal pressure line is isolated from said source of hydraulic fluid when said status signals are coupled to said first signal pressure line.

Claim 12

Apparatus for the remote individual control of a plurality of hydraulically-actuated operators comprising hydraulic lines connected between a source of pressure and said actuators characterised in that said hydraulic lines consist of first and second signal pressure lines for operating a substantially greater number of actuators, a separate AND-gate each having its output connected to a separate actuator, pressure control means connected to said source for feeding selected pressure signals along the two signal pressure lines, each actuator being operable by a different pair of signals, and two valve assemblies each connected between a separate signal pressure line and a separate input of each AND-gate and operative to direct pressure signals within predetermined pressure ranges selectively to said inputs of the AND-gates.

Claim 13

Apparatus for the remote individual control of a plurality of hydraulically-actuated operators comprising hydraulic lines connected between a source of pressure and said actuators characterised in that said hydraulic lines consist of first and second signal pressure lines for operating a substantially greater number of actuators, a separate AND-gate each having its output connected to a separate actuator, pressure control means connected to said source for feeding selected pressure signals along the two signal pressure lines, each actuator being operable by a different pair of signals, and two valve assemblies each connected between a separate signal pressure line and a separate input of each AND-gate and operative to direct pressure signals within predetermined pressure ranges selectively to said inputs of the AND-gates.

Claim 14

Apparatus for the remote individual control of a plurality of hydraulically-actuated operators via hydraulic lines between a surface control center and a subsea device containing said operators, said apparatus being characterised by having first and second hydraulic lines (A,B) controlling a substantially greater number of actuators and further characterised by a plurality of hydraulic AND-gates (Gl -G25) each having an output and a pair of inputs, said gates being arranged in rows and columns, a plurality of series-connected valve-pairs (Vl -V10) for conducting fluid from an input to an output when the pressure applied to a predetermined valve-pair is between a predetermined lower limit and a predetermined upper limit, said valve-pairs being segregated into first and second groups (Vl-V5,V6-V10),said first signal pressure line being connected from a hydraulic pressure source (37) to the input of each of said valve-pairs in said first group,said second signal pressure line being connected from said source to the input of each of said valve-pairs in said second group, the output of each of said first group of valve-pairs being connected to a first input of each of said gates in a corresponding row,the output of each of said second group of valve- pairs being connected to a second input of each of said gates in a corresponding column, and the output of each of said gates being connected to a corresponding one of said subsea operators.

Claim 15

Apparatus for the remote individual control of a plurality of hydraulically-actuated operators via hydraulic lines between a surface control center and a subsea device containing said operators, said apparatus being characterised by having first and second hydraulic lines (A,B) controlling a substantially greater number of actuators and further characterised by a plurality of hydraulic AND-gates (Gl -G25) each having an output and a pair of inputs, said gates being arranged in rows and columns, a plurality of series-connected valve-pairs (Vl -V10) for conducting fluid from an input to an output when the pressure applied to a predetermined valve-pair is between a predetermined lower limit and a predetermined upper limit, said valve-pairs being segregated into first and second groups (Vl-V5,V6-V10),said first signal pressure line being connected from a hydraulic pressure source (37) to the input of each of said valve-pairs in said first group,said second signal pressure line being connected from said source to the input of each of said valve-pairs in said second group, the output of each of said first group of valve-pairs being connected to a first input of each of said gates in a corresponding row,the output of each of said second group of valve- pairs being connected to a second input of each of said gates in a corresponding column, and the output of each of said gates being connected to a corresponding one of said subsea operators.

Claim 16

Apparatus for remote individual control of plurality of hydraulically-actuated operators using a single hydraulic power line between a surface control center and a subsurface device containing said operators, said apparatus being characterised by a multiple-position switching valve (92) having an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, control means for selectively coupling said inlet port of said multiple-position switch to a hydraulic source, a multiple-section multiple-mode switching valve (93) having a plurality of inlet ports and a plurality of outlet ports, each of said inlet ports of said multiple-section valve being coupled to a corresponding one of said outlet ports of said multiple-position valve, each of said outlet ports of said multiple-section valve being connected to one of said operators,a switch (S2) for selectively switching said multiple-position valve into a selected position, and a switch (S3) for selectively switching said multiple-section valve into a selected mode to couple a selected operator to said inlet line of said multiple-position valve.

Claim 17

Apparatus for remote individual control of plurality of hydraulically-actuated operators using a single hydraulic power line between a surface control center and a subsurface device containing said operators, said apparatus being characterised by a multiple-position switching valve (92) having an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, control means for selectively coupling said inlet port of said multiple-position switch to a hydraulic source, a multiple-section multiple-mode switching valve (93) having a plurality of inlet ports and a plurality of outlet ports, each of said inlet ports of said multiple-section valve being coupled to a corresponding one of said outlet ports of said multiple-position valve, each of said outlet ports of said multiple-section valve being connected to one of said operators,a switch (S2) for selectively switching said multiple-position valve into a selected position, and a switch (S3) for selectively switching said multiple-section valve into a selected mode to couple a selected operator to said inlet line of said multiple-position valve.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 13 characterised in that said means for selectively switching each of said valves includes a pilot section connected to said valve, and means for energizing said pilot section to change said valve from one mode to another.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 13 or claim 14 characterised by first and second pilot sections, said first pilot section being connected to said multiple-position valve, means for energizing said first pilot section to cause said multiple-position valve to change from one position to another, said second pilot section being connected to said multiple-section valve, and means for energizing said second pilot section to cause said multiple-section valve to change from one mode to another.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 15 characterised in that said means for energizing each of said pilot sections includes a signal pressure line (P) connected to said pilot section and a switch connected between said signal pressure line and said source of hydraulic fluid.