IP Library Granted Patent US 11,499,389
Granted Patent B1
US 11,499,389 · App. 17/465,523 · Granted Nov 15, 2022

Modular control systems with umbilical deployment

Inventors: James Cook (Houston, TX); Corey Massey (Houston, TX); Chad Vrla (Houston, TX)
Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
E21B33/076E21B34/04E21B43/2607
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,499,389
App. No.
17/465,523
Granted
Nov 15, 2022
Kind
B1
Abstract

A control unit includes a hydraulic fluid system, a lubricant system, at least one sensor cable, an electronics module in communication with the at least one sensor cable, the hydraulic fluid system, and the lubricant system. A housing of the control unit contains the hydraulic fluid system, the lubricant system, the sensor cable(s), and the electronics module.

Claims (66)

1. A control unit, comprising:

a hydraulic fluid system, comprising:

a hydraulic fluid flowline extending between a main hydraulic inlet and a main hydraulic outlet;

a plurality of hydraulic fluid valves positioned along the hydraulic fluid flowline;

a plurality of hydraulic fluid ports, wherein each hydraulic fluid port is fluidly connected to one of the hydraulic fluid valves;

a hydraulic fluid return flowline extending between a main hydraulic return inlet and a main hydraulic return outlet; and

a plurality of hydraulic fluid return ports fluidly connected to the hydraulic fluid return flowline;

a lubricant system, comprising:

a lubricant flowline extending between a main lubricant inlet and a main lubricant outlet;

a plurality of lubricant valves positioned along the lubricant flowline; and

a plurality of lubricant ports, wherein each lubricant port is fluidly connected to one of the lubricant valves;

at least one sensor cable extending between at least one sensor port and an electronics module, wherein the electronics module is in communication with the at least one sensor cable, the plurality of hydraulic fluid valves, and the plurality of lubricant valves; and

a housing containing the hydraulic fluid system, the lubricant system, the at least one sensor cable, and the electronics module.

2. The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the main hydraulic inlet and the main lubricant supply inlet are positioned on an inlet side of the housing, and wherein the main hydraulic supply outlet and the main lubricant outlet are positioned on an outlet side of the housing, opposite the inlet side.

3. The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic fluid ports, at least some of the lubricant ports, and at least some of the at least one sensor port are grouped in multiple hydraulic banks, wherein each hydraulic bank comprises at least one of the hydraulic fluid ports, one of the lubricant ports, and one of the at least one sensor ports.

4. The control unit of claim 3 , wherein the housing contains at least eight hydraulic banks.

5. The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic fluid ports, the lubricant ports, and the at least one sensor port are positioned on a same side of the control unit.

6. The control unit of claim 1 , further comprising at least one manual valve bank, wherein each manual valve bank comprises one of the lubricant ports and one of the at least one sensor port.

7. The control unit of claim 1 , further comprising:

a heat tracing cable extending from a heat tracing power inlet to a heat tracing power outlet; and

a plurality of heat tracing ports in communication with the heat tracing cable via heat tracing lines.

8. A system, comprising:

a modular asset control unit, comprising:

a hydraulic fluid system;

a lubricant system;

at least one sensor cable;

an electronics module; and

a housing holding the hydraulic fluid system, the lubricant system, the at least one sensor cable, and the electronics module;

a well equipment unit comprising multiple valves; and

an umbilical connecting the modular asset control unit to each of the multiple valves of the well equipment unit, wherein the umbilical comprises:

at least one hydraulic hose fluidly connecting the hydraulic fluid system to the multiple valves; and

a lubricant hose fluidly connecting the lubricant system to the multiple valves.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the umbilical further comprises a sensor line connecting the at least one sensor cable to one or more sensors on the at least one valve.

10. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:

a second modular asset control unit connected to the modular asset control unit;

a second well equipment unit comprising at least one second valve; and

a second umbilical connecting the second modular asset control unit to the at least one second valve of the second well equipment unit.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein an outlet side of the modular asset control unit is connected to an inlet side of the second modular asset control unit via a connection supply umbilical, wherein the connection supply umbilical comprises two hydraulic supply hoses, a lubricant supply hose, and an electrical cable.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a third modular asset control unit connected to a third well equipment unit by a third umbilical, wherein an outlet side of the second modular asset control unit is connected to an inlet side of the third modular asset control unit via a second connection supply umbilical, and wherein the second connection supply umbilical has the same components as the connection supply umbilical connecting the modular asset control unit to the second modular asset control unit.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the modular asset control unit further comprises a heat tracing cable, and wherein the umbilical further comprises a heat tracing line connected to the heat tracing cable.

14. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a distribution center located a distance away from the modular asset control unit and the well equipment unit,

wherein the distribution center comprises:

a hydraulic power unit;

a master control unit;

a lubricant source;

a power source; and

at least one pump; and

wherein the modular asset control unit is connected to the distribution center by a connection supply umbilical, the connection supply umbilical comprising:

two hydraulic supply hoses connected to the hydraulic power unit;

a lubricant supply hose connected to the lubricant source; and

an electrical cable connected to the power source.

15. The system of claim 8 , wherein the modular asset control unit further comprises multiple hydraulic banks of ports to the hydraulic fluid system, the lubricant system, and the at least one sensor cable, and wherein the umbilical is in multiple segments, each segment extending from one of the multiple hydraulic banks to one of the multiple hydraulic valves.

16. A method, comprising:

providing multiple well equipment units at a well site;

connecting multiple modular asset control units to the well equipment units in a one-to-one ratio with the well equipment units, such that each of the modular asset control units is connected to one of the well equipment units, wherein the connecting comprises connecting at least one umbilical from one of the modular asset control units to at least one valve on one of the well equipment units;

connecting the multiple modular asset control units together in series using a connection supply umbilical;

connecting a first modular asset control unit of the multiple modular asset control units to a distribution center with the connection supply umbilical; and

providing hydraulic pressure and a lubricant to the at least one valve from the distribution center through the connection supply umbilical, the modular asset control units, and the umbilical.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

shutting down a first well equipment unit of the multiple well equipment units; and

while the first well equipment unit is shut down, continuing to provide the hydraulic pressure and the lubricant to the at least one valve in the remaining multiple well equipment units.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

assigning a label for each of the at least one valves in an electronics module of each of the modular asset control units;

assigning a type for the well equipment unit that each modular asset control unit is connected to; and

operating the at least one valve from the distribution center by sending at least one signal between the electronic module and a master control unit in the distribution center through the connection supply umbilical.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the at least one signal is sent from a sensor on the at least one valve through the umbilical and the connection supply umbilical.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT R/F 064193/0810 Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: DNB BANK ASA, NEW YORK BRANCH
To: FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SCHILLING ROBOTICS, LLC
Reel/Frame 068525/0717 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT R/F 064193/0870 Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SCHILLING ROBOTICS, LLC
Reel/Frame 068527/0127 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2023
From: FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SCHILLING ROBOTICS, LLC
To: DNB BANK ASA, NEW YORK BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 064193/0810 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2023
From: FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SCHILLING ROBOTICS, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 064193/0870 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 7, 2022
From: JAMES, JAMES; MASSEY, COREY; VRLA, CHAD
To: FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 061349/0570 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,252,951