Patent Application
20240084924
The present invention pertains to the field of tools to perform termination adjustments, repair, re-termination or maintenance of subsea umbilical cables. Especially, the present invention pertains to the field of devices and methodologies applied to the subsea environment through operations managed by means of an ROV, Remoted Operated Vehicle or Remotely Operated Vehicle.
Subsea umbilicals are complex and multifunctional cabling structures of vital importance for subsea production systems. The umbilical cables, or simply umbilicals, are in the form of flexible pipes or hoses, multilayered, designed for different functions, such as, for example, transmission of electrical and/or hydraulic energy, for the operation of subsea equipment, and for the transport of various fluids in support of subsea operations.
In general, a typical umbilical is formed by hoses, electrical cables, fiber optic cables and piping gathered in a flexible wired or unwired structure, provided with terminals for connections. The connections are inserted inside a coating, usually polymeric, generally assembled with a flange at its end.
For example, among the various functions that umbilicals can assume, their use for activating subsea safety valves, such as ESDV, Emergency Shutdown Valves, stands out. It should be noted that these valves are subsea check valves with the purpose of blocking the flow of fluids in pipes, fixed to a structure (Skid), with their actuation occurring through an umbilical coming from a Stationary Production Unit, SPU.
The ESDV valves have the main function of performing an emergency stop in hydrocarbon production. Therefore, it is possible to observe that maintaining the perfect functioning of the umbilicals is particularly relevant to avoid improper behaviors of the subsea system, which would unexpectedly and undesirably interrupt the current operation.
In the past, the repair or replacement of subsea umbilicals was carried out with saturation diving support. Saturation diving is a methodology that poses high risks to the safety of the professionals involved, and requires the adoption of notably onerous contracts, especially due to the daily cost of the naval resource involved, which is the DSV (Diving Support Vessel). In addition, environments with adverse natural conditions used to impair, or even make unfeasible, operations carried out with a DSV.
Further, regarding what is available in the state of the art related to the field of the present invention, document BR102018009685-0A2 can be seen, which describes equipment for sectioning pipes and umbilicals, allowing the cutting and separation into two parts, where the umbilical has its ends provided with tight terminations, allowing the maintenance and decommissioning thereof. The equipment in question suggests reducing the use of special resources such as PLSV (Pipe Laying Support Vessel) for operations in water depths above 300 m, as it allows the sectioning of flexible production lines with the presence of hydrocarbons, through a cutting mechanism, consisting of an articulated cutting blade (06), a hydraulic cylinder of the articulated cutting blade (08), guides and stop for the articulated cutting blade (11), and a connector for injection/return of washing fluid (37) (38), operated by ROV, which allow the tight separation of the parts, cleaning of the parts that will be in contact with the ocean, and removal of the contaminated fluid. However, when comparing document BR102018009685-0A2 with the present invention, it is possible to note that the use of a split jaw is not described in the document to execute the pressing of an umbilical hose, this jaw being positioned in the receiving/introduction portion of the hose. Furthermore, in said document, a connector terminal attachment portion is not available that allows the suitability between connector and hose to receive the appropriate connector, as in the invention. Finally, it is worth noting that, in a general aspect, the structure of document BR102018009685-0A2 is a clearly distinct structure, which leads to the conclusion that, starting from the document in question, a technician skilled on the subject would not achieve the present invention by simple or expected modifications, at least in face of the differences between the components of one design and another one, as well as the interaction between the constituent components of the present invention.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,965, in turn, describes an apparatus that has an elongated cable junction housing to be positioned aligned between two cables, for subsea installation. The housing has through holes at each end to receive the ends of the respective first and second cables, and the cables are each terminated in a respective connector in the housing to releasably connect the two ends of the cable. Each connector is pivotally and retractably mounted to the housing by a respective pivot link so that the connectors can be detached and rotated up out of the housing by an ROV for selective connection to other cables in a subsea network to allow for its branch as needed. Said document proposes to solve the difficulty of reconnecting or redistributing circuits when an electrical/optical cable system was previously installed on the ocean floor, without the need to pull numerous cables from miles deep in the ocean and, subsequently, separate and terminate the same cables by means of splicing on board a laying vessel, using installations. Specifically with respect to this document U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,965, despite describing that an ROV can separate and pull cable connectors easily attached to the new ends of the cables, the components of the described equipment do not find correspondence with the present invention.
In view of this scenario, with the objective of solving the deficiencies and limitations observed in operations with saturation diving, more and more ways are being developed to operate in the subsea environment with ROVs. Thus, operations with a diving support vessel give way to operations with vessels of the type RSV, ROV Support Vessel, or Operations Support Vessel with Remote Operation Vehicles. Although the operation in robotic form with the ROV takes longer when compared to the conventional version with saturation diving, the savings are significant with the reduction of financial costs and, in addition, it becomes possible to operate in more adverse environmental conditions such as, for example, a scenario with a significant wave height of up to 4 meters.
In this sense, it is the objective of the present invention to provide a device for operation in the subsea environment, through which an ROV can be operated to efficiently carry out repairs related to the re-termination of umbilical cables. By means of the proposed device, it becomes possible to correct the termination of subsea umbilicals in a less expensive way and with less limitation due to unstable environments, as observed in subsea cable re-termination operations performed by a diver in saturation diving.
The present invention relates to a subsea termination device for performing operations of, for example, termination, maintenance, repair or re-termination of subsea umbilical cable hoses, wherein said device performs these operations when handled by an ROV through a handle. In a preferred embodiment, the termination device comprises a base that supports a pressing and termination structure, in turn, fed by a feeding path provided by the ROV.
In a preferred aspect, the base comprises a structure made of metallic material, with a rectangular base plate, preferably provided with three perforated portions equally spaced apart along its longitudinal length, and additionally comprising two parallel supports for two metallic columns of the pressing and termination structure, at the first end of the base plate. In addition, the base further comprises two parallel metallic columns, supporting a semicircle molded plate, in the middle portion of the base plate. Finally, the base comprises two metallic columns facing each other, supporting an upper plate at the second end of the base plate.
Further, in a particular way, the pressing and termination structure has a pressing end supported by the two metallic columns screwed to the two parallel supports of the base, as well as a metallic bar designed to be attached to the semicircle molded plate of the base, and a metallic block designed to be attached to the upper plate of the base.
In a preferably disclosed embodiment, the pressing and termination structure further comprises a hose receiving ring wherein two arms are enclosed in the form of parallel structures capable of moving in the direction of tightening a split jaw, which is attached in each split part to each arm, and the arms come from a connection with the metallic plate. In a particular aspect, in the ring also two movement strokes of a cylinder are enclosed, the two movement strokes being crossed by a connector terminal attachment block so that the two movement strokes parallelly pass through the block.
Particularly, the cylinder used is preferably a double-stage hydraulic cylinder, where the cylinder displacement operation is caused by hydraulic cycling from the hydraulic unit of the ROV through the feeding path, in the form of feeding terminals along the cylinder body. Meanwhile, preferably, the connector terminal attachment block has a hole in the center, facing the split jaw, and holds the connection containing the terminal to be inserted into the hose under maintenance.
Finally, still in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle is a metallic structure with a first portion contouring the cylinder in its intermediate middle region, and attached to the semicircle molded plate, while a second portion of the handle is attached by screws to the upper plate of the base.
In particular, additionally, the preferred embodiment of the invention provides for a subsea termination method, whereby operations of termination, maintenance, repair or re-termination are carried out on subsea umbilical cable hoses by means of an ROV handling a subsea termination device, wherein the method comprises a step a) of ‘Previous preparation in surface’, where the selection of the connector that will be applied to the hose takes place and the arrangement of the selected connector in the connector terminal attachment block with the equipment still in surface, by using, preferably, a quick coupling tool.
A step b) is additionally provided for, of ‘b) Positioning in a subsea environment’, where the ROV is driven to the seabed to the place where maintenance of the umbilical is required, in possession of the termination device and, additionally, in possession of a cutting tool.
In a step c), of ‘Preparation of the end of the hose to be terminated’, the ROV proceeds with the uniform cut, preferably at 900 in relation to the surface of the hose and, in sequence, a step d) executes the ‘Positioning the hose centrally to the termination device’ until it finds the pre-assembled interfaced hydraulic connections in step a). Further, preferably, in step e), the ROV energizes a piston and causes the tensioning of a split jaw in the direction of pressing the hose.
Finally, the preferred embodiment of the invention, which is not limiting, provides for steps f) and g), of tightness test and installation of the tight identified hose, providing that the system to which the umbilical under maintenance belongs returns to the normal operation.
The present invention provides a device for actuation in the subsea environment, precisely in the termination, maintenance, repair, or re-termination of umbilical cables through an ROV. By means of the proposed device, it becomes possible to correct the termination of subsea umbilicals without having to proceed with a saturation diving to take the required termination measures.
As seen in
The pressing and termination structure 2 receives the hose to be terminated in its central portion. Precisely, the structure 2 has a hose receiving ring 2.1, at its first end, through which the ROV introduces the hose into the device of the invention. Reference is made to
Additionally, crossing the two movement strokes 2.3, a connector terminal attachment block 2.8 is disposed. The two movement strokes 2.3 pass through block 2.8 in parallel. The connector terminal attachment block 2.8 has a hole in the center, facing the split jaw 2.9 and, consequently, the hose receiving ring 2.1. Therefore, it should be noted that block 2.8 is the element that temporarily holds the connection containing the terminal to be inserted in the hose under maintenance. It is relevant to note here that, in order to accurately and adequately terminate the umbilical hose under maintenance, a previous assembly/repair of the block 2.8 is proposed, still in surface, prior to the launch of the ROV. In practice, still on the RSV deck, the connector must be mounted on the block 2.8 according to the model and gauge of the hose to be pressed. By way of illustration, it can be mentioned that the type of hydraulic connector/interface will depend on each operating case. Subsea hoses are generally JIC 4, 6 or 8 type. However, this type of connection may present resistance in use for ROV; in this way, it is generally suggested to adapt a flat face quick coupling type connector, since this connector is of the “plug and play” type and facilitates handling by the ROV.
It should be noted that for the operation of displacement of the cylinder and resulting pressing, the use of hydraulic cycling of 1000 psi (6.895 MPa) provided by the hydraulic unit of the ROV was established. However, this is an exemplary version, and adjustments are expected to generate different values, keeping the same concepts involved.
Resuming the reference to
Having described the component elements of the device of the present invention, in an illustrative and exemplary manner, in the preferred and non-limiting embodiment, the method of operation of the device will be described below, by which the technical solution for termination, maintenance or re-termination is achieved of umbilical hoses, also object of the invention.
In this sense, to perform the termination of a hose of a subsea umbilical in a remote operation, through the ROV, dispensing with saturation diving and the mandatory equipment that saturation diving demands, the present invention additionally discloses a termination method, comprising the steps of:
The step a), of previous preparation in surface, comprises the selection of the connector that will be applied to the hose of a given umbilical. In particular, said selection considers the model and gauge of the hose. Once the appropriate connector has been selected for the maintenance in question, this connector is pre-assembled in the connector terminal attachment block 2.8 with the equipment still in surface, using a quick coupling tool.
In the step b), of positioning in a subsea environment, the ROV is driven to the bottom of the sea, to the place where maintenance of the umbilical is required, in possession of the device of the present invention in the pre-assembly position, as provided in step a), and, additionally, in possession of a commercially available cutting tool of the guillotine type.
In the step c), the ROV positions the cutting tool next to the section of hose that will be reconditioned, and executes the cut, aiming at the subsequent crimping of the hydraulic connector. After the correct fixation of the hose next to the cutting tool, guillotine, the ROV proceeds with the uniform cut. It should be noted that, at this step, it is essential that the cut be made as close to 90° in relation to the surface of the hose as possible, in order to contribute to the correct pressing of the metallic terminal.
The step d), of positioning the hose centrally to the termination device, comprises the part of the process in which the ROV directs the hose through the available path through the hose receiving ring 2.1 and the split jaw 2.9, until the interfaced hydraulic connections, pre-assembled in step b), are found.
Thus, next, in the step e) of pressing the connector suitable for the hose, once the hose is inserted in the device of the invention, the ROV starts pressurizing for energizing, which generates the advance of the piston 2.7 and causes the tensioning of the split jaw 2.9. Initially, the initial pressure of 1000 psi (6.895 MPa) is expected. However, if, when analyzing the pressing of the metallic terminal next to the hose, it is verified the need of repeating the processing, a new cycle of pressing with 1000 psi (6.895 MPa) of pressure can be performed.
In sequence, the step f) comprises the tightness test of the hose in order to guarantee the operational success of the termination carried out on the hose. Once the tightness has been verified, there is the execution of the next step. On the other hand, if the tightness is not verified, a new termination procedure can be carried out, or the verification of eventual problems that may have influenced the failure of the necessary maintenance.
Finally, in the step g), there is the terminated hose installation, and the system returns to the normal operation.
The descriptions proposed herein are intended to technically report the invention in terms of an exemplary embodiment. Nevertheless, it should be clear to a technician skilled on the subject that, while maintaining the new and inventive features of the invention, modifications may be additionally proposed, which are still encompassed by the same scope defined and claimed herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2022 018073 3 | Sep 2022 | BR | national |
