System for use in controlling a hydrocarbon production well

Abstract

A system for use in controlling a hydrocarbon production well has a: computer at a control location remote from a well tree of the well. A processor at the well tree applies control signals to and receives signals from devices of the well tree. The processor also receives further signals associated with the operation of the well. A bi-directional communication link extends between the remote computer and the well tree processor. The well tree further has a communications router coupled with the processor and receiver, for multiplexing the signals from devices at the well head and the further signals on to the bi-directional link.

1 - 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . A system for remotely controlling subsea equipment, comprising: 
 a subsea well complex;    a surface computer facility;    at least one communicating device at the well complex;    a modem at the well complex for communicating with the computer facility;    a communications router at the well complex coupled to the modem;    a communications link extending between the computer facility and the modem;    a processing core at the well complex coupled to the communications router for performing control and monitoring functions at the well complex;    the communicating device being coupled directly to the router and by-passing the processing core for communicating with the computer facility.    
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the communicating device comprises a sensor.  
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises a video camera.  
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 9 , further comprising a sensor coupled to the processing core for performing the monitoring function.  
   
   
       13 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the communicating device communicates with the router pursuant to a selected data protocol, and the processing core communicates with the router pursuant to a different data protocol.  
   
   
       14 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one communicating device comprises first and second communicating devices and wherein the first communicating device communicates with the router pursuant to a selected data protocol, and the second communicating device communicates with the router pursuant to a different data protocol.  
   
   
       15 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the communication link comprises an optical fiber.  
   
   
       16 . A subsea electronics module for removing controlling subsea equipment, comprising: 
 at least one subsea communicating device;    a subsea modem;    a subsea communications router coupled to the modem;    a subsea processing core coupled to the communications router for performing subsea control and monitoring functions;    the communicating device being coupled directly to the router and by-passing the processing core.    
   
   
       17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the communicating device comprises a sensor.  
   
   
       18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the sensor comprises a video camera.  
   
   
       19 . The system according to  claim 16 , further comprising a sensor coupled to the processing core for performing the monitoring function.  
   
   
       20 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the communicating device communicates with the router pursuant to a selected data protocol, and the processing core communicates with the router pursuant to a different data protocol.  
   
   
       21 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one communicating device comprises first and second communicating devices and wherein the first communicating device communicates with the router pursuant to a selected data protocol, and the second communicating device communicates with the router pursuant to a different data protocol.  
   
   
       22 . The system according to  claim 16 , further comprising an optical fiber link connected between the subsea modem and a surface computer facility.  
   
   
       23 . A method for remotely controlling subsea equipment at a subsea well complex from a surface computer facility, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a subsea processing core;    (b) providing a subsea communicating device;    (c) monitoring and controlling subsea equipment with the processing core and routing a signal in response thereto from the processing core to the surface computer facility; and    (d) routing a signal from the communicating device directly to the surface computer facility and by-passing the subsea processing core.    
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein step (d) comprises routing a signal corresponding to a sensed parameter.  
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein step (d) comprises routing a video signal.  
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein steps (c) and (d) are performed using different protocols.  
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising sensing a subsea characteristic and providing a signal to the processing core.  
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein steps (c) and (d) are communicated to the surface computer facility via an optical fiber.