Patent Application
20180162504
Reservoirs under the continental shelf often have seeps where gas breaks through the subsurface, creating bubbles or formations on the sea floor. Often, there is a desire to locate these seeps. In addition, it is often desirable to survey subsea environments to locate subsea opportunities, e.g. a seep, a potential mining site, hydrate, a subsea wreck, or the like, or a combination thereof.
Some work has been done on trying to locate reservoirs by locating seeps associated with them. However, the costs in such a search have always been quite large. An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) may be used to scan the seafloor for potential targets, and then these potential sites are followed up by a survey vessel and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) deployed to seafloor to inspect the site. The day rate costs for vessel time are prohibitive and it has not been feasible to search for seeps in this manner.
The figures supplied herein illustrate various embodiments of the invention. Items not expressly illustrated in the drawings are not necessary for the understanding of the subject matter sought to he patented by one of ordinary skill in these arts.
Referring now to
ASV 10 typically comprises data transceiver 11 and power source 12 operatively in communication with data transceiver 11. Data transceiver 11 is typically configured to operate as communications link to the subsea assets, e.g. AUV 20 and ROV 30, and relays data from control station 200 to the subsea assets.
In certain embodiments, ASV 10 further comprises berth 17 for AUV 20 into which AUV 20 may be selectively released or captured.
Additionally, ASV power source 12 may comprise a battery which may be rechargeable; a fuel based electric generator; a fuel cell; or the like, or a combination thereof. In certain embodiments, where the battery is rechargeable, ASV 10 may further comprise one or more solar cells 14 operatively in communication with the rechargeable battery and operative to recharge the rechargeable battery. Further, ASV 10 may further comprise power interface 15 which is typically configured to allow refueling or recharging of power source 12 from a shore location or from a vessel.
In certain embodiments, ASV 10 further comprises tether 16 which, in these configurations, allows ROV 30 to be tethered to tether 16.
Referring additionally to
Subsea survey system 21 may be a swappable subsea survey system, i.e. one configured to be removed and/or replaced by ASV 10 or ROV 30, and comprise a subsea formation survey package, a subsea mining opportunity survey package, a hydrate harvesting location survey package, or a treasure hunting/shipwreck site survey package, or the like, or a combination thereof. Subsea survey system 21 and its associated electronics may be used in a survey system to detect subsea seeps or other formations and/or objects.
Additionally, AUV 20 may further comprise power interface 23 configured to allow refueling or recharging of AUV power source 22 such as from a vessel or from ASV 10.
Telemetry transceiver 24 is typically in communication with AUV power source 22 and subsea survey system 21 and used to provide telemetry data to control station 200, either directly or via ASV 10, e.g. via data transceiver 11.
Referring additionally to
In embodiments ROV instrumentation package 31 typically further comprises a limitation inertial guidance system, a current profiler, sonar, a visual camera system, a light, or a sampling system for water, sediment, and the like, or a combination thereof
ROV power source 32 may comprise a battery, a fuel based electric generator, a fuel cell, or the like, or a combination thereof.
Where ASV 10 comprises tether 16, ROV 30 typically further comprises tether power connector 36 adapted to receive power from tether 16 and power management system 37 configured to allow ROV 30 to switch from tether power to battery power and to manage power consumption to allow for low power operation and for trickle charging from lower power recharging stations.
Referring back to
In the operation of exemplary embodiments, referring back to
Surveys typically comprise deploying AUV 20 and ASV 10 to search area 100 and using AUV 20 to perform a search pattern looking for a subsea opportunity, e.g. a seep, mining site, hydrate, wreck, or the like, or a combination thereof. Telemetry may be communicated from AUV 20 back to control station 200, which may be located anywhere worldwide, either directly or via ASV 10. If something of interest is located, ASV 20 is sent to investigate potential subsea finds found by the search, e.g. a subsea opportunity (object or site or the like) of interest, such as by piloting ASV 10 to a location on or near the sea surface near the subsea find. Once ASV 10 is in that location, ROV 30 may be deployed, such as from ASV 10, and ROV 30 piloted to descend to investigate the subsea find. As noted above, ROV 30 may be operated autonomously, by pre-programmed operation, or by teleoperation and is either tethered or free swimming. ROV 30 is then used to locate and survey the subsea find and data supplied by ROV 30 relayed to control station 200, e.g. via ASV 10.
ROV 30 may be recovered to ASV 10 at a predetermined time, e.g. after ROV 30 descends and investigates the subsea find.
In embodiments, ASV 10 may be navigated to a series of subsea finds, such as after ROV 30 descends and investigates a first subsea find.
The foregoing disclosure and description of the inventions are illustrative and explanatory. Various changes in the size, shape, and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrative construction and/or an illustrative method may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62433698 | Dec 2016 | US |
