Vetco Gray Controls Limited Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150042486 | COMMUNICATION IN A SUBSEA WELL CONTROL SYSTEM - A communication arrangement for a subsea well control system, comprising an umbilical between a topside location and a subsea location, an electrical conductor in said umbilical, and a data transmission system configured to transmit and receive data between said locations via said conductor, wherein a return path for said data comprises the sea. | 02-12-2015 |
20140346857 | PROTECTING AGAINST TRANSIENTS IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A system for transmitting alternating current power and communication signals between a first location and a second location via a communication path which includes at least one inductive load and at least one switching means for switching power to said at least one load on and off, the system including control means adapted for controlling said at least one switching means so that, in response to switching off said power, a direct current is applied to said at least one inductive load and, in response to actuation of said at least one switching means to switch said power on, said power is switched on during a phase of the power which results in a magnetization of said at least one inductive load opposite to that resulting from said direct current. | 11-27-2014 |
20140337827 | METHOD OF REDUCING DOWNTIME OF PRODUCTION CONTROLS DURING UPGRADES - An apparatus for updating the software in a subsea electronics module, the apparatus including a first data transmitting and receiving means, a second data transmitting and receiving means, and a transmission line between the first and the second data transmitting and receiving means, wherein packets of data from the first data transmitting and receiving means are transmitted to the second data transmitting and receiving means and aggregated to form a local master, from which software in SEMs may be updated locally. The packets of data may be transmitted using unutilised capacity of the transmission line not required during normal operations. | 11-13-2014 |
20140318797 | ACID INJECTION - A method of applying acid-wash to a subsea connection assembly, in particular a stabplate connection, in order to remove unwanted material such as marine growth and calcareous deposits. The method consists of inserting a plug, containing channels, into a central in a stabplate connection and injecting acid-wash through the plug. The plug may be carried by an operating tool arm of a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV). | 10-30-2014 |
20140305637 | DOWNHOLE TEMPERATURE CALCULATION - A method for calculating a value representative of a downhole temperature in a hydrocarbon well, wherein the well includes production tubing inside an outer tubing, an annulus is provided between the production tubing and the outer tubing, and the annulus receives a hydraulic control line supplying hydraulic fluid for the control of a downhole device, the method including sensing the pressure of hydraulic fluid in the control line at the wellhead, and using a measurement of the pressure to calculate the value representative of the downhole temperature. | 10-16-2014 |
20140293488 | PROTECTING AGAINST TRANSIENTS IN A POWER CONTROL SYSTEM - A system for providing alternating current to at least one inductive load, the system including at least one switching means for switching power to the load on and off, controller adapted for controlling the at least one switching means and a pre-magnetization device, wherein the pre-magnetization device is configured to generate pulses which cause the switching means to pre-magnetize the inductive load. | 10-02-2014 |
20140209315 | HYDRAULIC ACCUMULATORS - A hydraulic accumulator assembly in which a hydraulic accumulator is associated with at least one responsive unit, which is responsive to the weight of the accumulator to provide an indication dependent on the weight of the accumulator. The accumulator is in an underwater fluid extraction well facility. | 07-31-2014 |
20140144515 | SHUTTING DOWN AN UNDERWATER FLUID PRODUCTION 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. | 05-29-2014 |
20140072454 | HIGH PRESSURE INTENSIFIERS - A hydraulic intensifier comprising a reciprocating differential piston arrangement and a controller configured to control the supply of low pressure hydraulic fluid to the intensifier is provided. The controller comprises at least one solenoid operated pilot valve and electronic operator configured to operate the pilot valve. | 03-13-2014 |
20140062492 | TESTING A FUSE - A method of testing a fuse in apparatus for monitoring electrical insulation surrounding first and second electrical conductors in a cable, the fuse being connected to the conductors, comprises: applying an electrical signal, with respect to a reference, to the fuse from a source; obtaining a value for the resistance of the insulation with respect to the reference; determining if the resistance value is greater than a fuse test resistance threshold and, if it is, causing the application of the signal to cease; and monitoring the decay of the signal to determine if the time for it to decay below a set value exceeds a set time limit, indicative of the fuse being satisfactory, or is less than the limit indicative of the fuse being blown. | 03-06-2014 |
20130276894 | SEALS - An apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a housing, a body defining a first chamber and an elongate actuator member mounted for reciprocal movement, at least a part of the actuator member being enclosed by the housing. The apparatus further comprises a seal compartment between the first chamber and a compartment of the housing, the actuator member extending from the housing to the first chamber through the seal compartment. The seal compartment comprises a fluid filled seal chamber enclosing at least a portion of the actuator member and located within the housing, wherein a volume comprising a volume between the fluid filled seal chamber and the actuator member remains substantially constant during movement of the actuator member. | 10-24-2013 |
20130214933 | Monitoring of Undesirable Fluid Ingress Into Subsea Control Modules - A subsea control module has a casing inside which there is at least one pair of electrodes, there being electronic means connected with the electrodes of the or each pair for monitoring at least one electrical characteristic between the electrodes as a result of a fluid to which the electrodes are exposed. This can include, for example, a change due to an ingress of seawater and/or an ingress of hydraulic fluid into the interior of the casing. The or each pair of electrodes include an array in which each electrode of the pair has finger portions interleaved with finger portions of the other electrode. | 08-22-2013 |
20130161019 | GREASE DELIVERY SYSTEM - A grease delivery system for delivering grease to a location is provided. The grease delivery system comprises: a first grease reservoir having a first grease output and a first output device configured to output grease from the first grease reservoir; a second grease reservoir having a second grease output and a second output device configured to output grease from the second grease reservoir; and a common grease output for delivering grease to the location, wherein the common grease output is fluidly connected to the first and second grease outputs, wherein the system is configured to simultaneously output grease from the first and second grease reservoirs to the common grease output. | 06-27-2013 |
20130154393 | PROTECTING AGAINST TRANSIENTS IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A system for transmitting alternating current power and communication signals between a first location and a second location through a communication path which includes at least one inductive load and at least one switch configured to switch power to the at least one inductive load on and off is disclosed herein. The system comprises a control configured to control the at least one switch so that, if the power is switched on during a particular phase of the power, is the power is switched off during the opposite phase of the power, and if the power is switched off during a particular phase of the power, the power is switched on during the opposite phase of the power. | 06-20-2013 |
20130148747 | TRANSMITTING ELECTRICAL POWER AND COMMUNICATION SIGNALS - A system for transmitting electrical power and communication signals is provided. The system comprises a transmission line, a source of electrical power for supplying electrical power to the transmission line, a first communication unit configured to supply communication signals to the transmission line, a power extraction unit configured to extract and use electrical power from the transmission line, a second communication unit configured to receive communication signals from the transmission line; and a control unit configured to control operation of the system. The source supplies electrical power to the transmission line for respective periods of time which are different from respective periods of time in which the first communication unit supplies communication signals to the transmission line. | 06-13-2013 |
20110088909 | STABPLATE CONNECTIONS - A stabplate connection is provided by: providing a first part ( | 04-21-2011 |
20110071966 | CONDITION MONITORING OF AN UNDERWATER FACILITY - A method for monitoring the condition of apparatus located at an underwater facility that includes sensing at least one parameter associated with the apparatus, providing a model of expected behaviour of said at least one parameter, comparing said sensed parameter with said model, and assessing the condition of the apparatus based upon said comparison. | 03-24-2011 |
20110062936 | AC POWER SWITCHING MODULE - An AC power switching module comprising: AC current input and output means; switching means located between said input and output means for selectively blocking or passing said AC current; a switch controller arranged to provide an output signal to the switching means to control the state of the switching means; a primary control for setting the output of the switch controller; and a secondary control for setting the output of the switch controller, wherein said secondary control comprises a current-dependent circuit dependent on the AC current. | 03-17-2011 |
20110025526 | Communication System for a Hydrocarbon Extraction Plant - A method of enabling communication between components of a hydrocarbon extraction plant, the plant having an underwater hydrocarbon extraction installation including at least one hydrocarbon extraction well with an associated tree, comprises providing a plurality of RF communication means at respective components of the installation. | 02-03-2011 |
20110001483 | Subsea Electronic Modules - A module for use as a subsea electronic module of a subsea well, comprises an input ( | 01-06-2011 |
20100207783 | Subsea Well Control System - A subsea well control system comprises: a well tree ( | 08-19-2010 |
20100170678 | Mounting a Module on an Underwater Structure - A method of mounting a subsea control module ( | 07-08-2010 |
20100156662 | Subsea Electronic Module - An electronic module for use as a subsea electronic module for an underwater fluid extraction well, wherein a local area network enables communication within the module, the local area network including a plurality of interfaces with components of the network, and wherein the interfaces comprise capacitive coupling interfaces. | 06-24-2010 |
20100078175 | Hydraulic Control System - A hydraulic control system for controlling an external device ( | 04-01-2010 |
20100065277 | Stabplate Connections - An underwater stabplate connection is provided by lowering a counterbalanced first part of the connection in a horizontal disposition by a lift line, the first part being attached to an umbilical. The first part of the connection mates with a second part of the connection, the second part being attached to an underwater structure such as a well tree. | 03-18-2010 |
20100038090 | Umbilical termination assemblies - An underwater termination assembly for use with a subsea system such as a well tree, comprises a construction having first and second limbs substantially at a right-angle to each other, which construction may be lowered having an umbilical connected to one of the limbs so that said one of the limbs sits on the bed of a body of water. | 02-18-2010 |
20100010759 | Testing of an Electronics Module - A method of testing an electronics module ( | 01-14-2010 |
20090303687 | Subsea Electronics Module - A Subsea Electronics Module for a well installation, comprising: | 12-10-2009 |
20090220236 | MULTIDROP COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM USING WAVE DIVISION MULTIPLEXING - A multidrop communications system for transferring data to a plurality of devices, comprises an optical fibre having first and second ends, a plurality of light sources for producing light of different respective wavelengths, modulation means to modulate light from each light source to encode respective data thereon, the modulation means outputting a plurality of modulated light components having said respective wavelengths, an optical multiplexer for multiplexing said modulated light components onto said first end of the optical fibre using wavelength division multiplexing, an optical demultiplexer connected to the second end of the optical fibre for demultiplexing light therefrom into a plurality of components having respective wavelengths, demodulation means for demodulating each of said components to extract said respective data, and means for transferring the extracted data to different respective target devices. | 09-03-2009 |
20090107682 | Monitoring A Solenoid of A Directional Control Valve - A method of monitoring a solenoid ( | 04-30-2009 |
20090097207 | Heat Removal From Electronic Modules - An electronics assembly for an underwater well installation, comprises a housing; an electrical module located within the housing; and a resiliently deformable member located between the electrical module and the housing for conducting heat between the electrical module and the housing. | 04-16-2009 |
20090079583 | Shutdown System - A production shutdown system for an underwater hydrocarbon production facility, comprising, on the topside: | 03-26-2009 |
20090031297 | Electronics Module - An electronics module for a well installation comprises a wireless receiver for receiving data and/or software from an external source. | 01-29-2009 |
20090029737 | Electronics card communication - An electronics card for an electronics module comprises a wireless transceiver for communication with a second wireless transceiver external to the card. In addition, an electronics module comprises such an electronics card. | 01-29-2009 |
20080308277 | Umbilical deployment system - A method for providing an umbilical connection for a well installation, the well installation being located at the bed or floor of a body of water, comprises the steps of providing an umbilical with first and second ends and prior to operative deployment of the umbilical, locating the umbilical such that at least a portion of the umbilical is substantially statically retained within the body of water. Additionally, an umbilical deployment system for a well installation located at the bed or floor of a body of water, comprises an umbilical, wherein, prior to operative deployment of the umbilical, at least a portion of the umbilical is substantially statically retained within the body of water. | 12-18-2008 |