Granted Patent B2

US 12,352,157 · App. 18/056,871 · Granted Jul 8, 2025

Inventors: Brett Janssen (Houston, TX); Blake Schumann (Houston, TX); Justin Rodriguez (Houston, TX); Matthew Edmiston (Houston, TX); Dirk Dunlap (Houston, TX)

Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.

E21B47/12E21B17/01E21B33/064E21B47/001E21B47/26

Abstract

Claims (55)

1. An in-riser communication system, comprising:

a riser extending from a surface facility to a subsea wellhead;

a communication tool comprising one or more sensors installed on a tool string, wherein the tool string is disposed in the riser,

wherein the one or more sensors are configured to measure one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of turns in the tool string, inclination of the tool string, heading, and weight on the tool string at a depth of the communication tool within the riser;

a repeater positioned on an exterior surface of the riser, the repeater comprising a body, a first end, and a second end, wherein the body penetrates a wall of the riser with the first end exposed on an inner surface of the riser and the second end exposed on an outer surface of the riser;

wherein the communication tool and the repeater are positioned in proximity to one another, and

wherein the communication tool is configured to transmit data to the repeater;

a remote operated vehicle (ROV); and

a computer system operatively connected to the ROV,

wherein the computer system comprises a computer processor and a memory.

2. The in-riser communication system of claim 1 , further comprising a user display unit connected to the computer system, wherein the user display unit is configured to display real time data.

3. The in-riser communication system of claim 1 , wherein the computer system is positioned on the surface facility.

4. The in-riser communication system of claim 1 , wherein the communication tool and the repeater are positioned proximate a blowout preventer on the subsea wellhead.

5. The in-riser communication system of claim 1 , wherein the ROV comprises a detachable tool interface, wherein the detachable tool interface is connected to a removeable puck.

6. The in-riser communication system of claim 5 , wherein the repeater comprises a tool puck interface configured to connect to the removeable puck.

7. A method, comprising:

providing a communication tool comprising one or more sensors in a riser,

wherein the communication tool is installed on a tool string, and

wherein the one or more sensors are configured to measure one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of turns in the tool string, inclination of the tool string, heading, and weight on the tool string at a depth of the communication tool within the riser;

measuring the one or more parameters with the one or more sensors disposed in the communication tool;

creating a raw data set from the one or more parameters;

transmitting the raw data set from the communication tool to a repeater positioned on an exterior surface of the riser, the repeater comprising a body, a first end, and a second end, wherein the body penetrates a wall of the riser with the first end exposed on an inner surface of the riser and the second end exposed on an outer surface of the riser;

positioning a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) proximate the repeater;

transmitting the raw data set from the repeater to the ROV; and

transmitting the raw data set from the ROV to a computer system through an umbilical,

wherein the computer system is located on a surface facility and comprises a computer processor and a memory.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

plotting the raw data set into one or more graphs; and

displaying the one or more graphs on a display unit connected to the computer system.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the ROV is connected to a Tether Management System (TMS) by a tether cable and the TMS is connected to the computer system via the umbilical.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the method is repeated continuously to determine real time changes in the one or more parameters.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

running one or more algorithms on the raw data set;

identifying one or more undesirable data points; and

displaying a user message indicating the one or more undesirable data points on a display unit connected to the computer system.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein a display unit is wirelessly connected to the computer system and where the display unit is positioned at an onshore location.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein transmitting the raw data set from the communication tool to the repeater comprises transmitting data via acoustic or electromagnetic transmission.

14. The method of claim 7 , wherein transmitting the raw data set from the repeater to the ROV comprises acoustic or optical transmission.

15. An in-riser communication system, comprising:

a riser extending from a surface facility to a subsea wellhead;

a communication tool comprising one or more sensors installed on an in-riser tool provided in the riser,

wherein the one or more sensors are configured to measure one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of turns in the in-riser tool, inclination of the in-riser tool, heading, and weight on the in-riser tool at a depth of the communication tool within the riser;

a repeater positioned on an exterior surface of the riser, the repeater comprising a body, a first end, and a second end, wherein the body penetrates a wall of the riser with the first end exposed on an inner surface of the riser and the second end exposed on an outer surface of the riser,

wherein the communication tool and the repeater are positioned in proximity to one another, and

wherein the communication tool is configured to transmit data to the repeater;

a remote operated vehicle (ROV); and

a computer system operatively connected to the ROV, wherein the computer system comprises a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions, when executed on a processor, comprising functionality for:

receiving raw data from the ROV;

converting the raw data into a displayable data set;

transmitting the displayable data set to a display; and

displaying the displayable data set on the display to a user.

16. The in-riser communication system of claim 15 , the instructions comprising further functionality for:

transmitting the displayable data set to a portable display unit via a wireless connection; and

displaying the displayable data set on the portable display unit.

17. The in-riser communication system of claim 15 , wherein the ROV is connected to the computer system via an umbilical.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (24)