Subsea Control Module with Removable Section Having a Flat Connecting Face

Abstract

A subsea device is configured to control a subsea well. The subsea device includes a frame; a blowout preventer connected to the frame; a pressure supply line configured to provide a fluid under pressure; and a control module configured to receive the fluid from the pressure supply line and to distribute the fluid to control various functions of the subsea device. The control module includes a fixed part and a removable section. The fixed part has a first base connected to a valve manifold that houses a hydraulic activated valve and the removable section is configured to detachably attach to the fixed part and includes a second base connected to an electrically activated valve. The hydraulic activated valve of the fixed part is configured to be actuated by the electrically activated valve of the removable section when the removable section is mated to the fixed part.

1 . A subsea device that is configured to control a subsea well, the subsea device comprising:
 a frame;   a blowout preventer connected to the frame and configured to close a bore that fluidly communicates with the subsea well;   a pressure supply line connected to the frame and configured to provide a fluid under pressure;   a control module connected to the frame and configured to receive the fluid from the pressure supply line and to distribute the fluid to control various functions of the subsea device, the control module including a fixed part and a removable section;   the fixed part having a first base connected to a valve manifold that houses a hydraulic activated valve; and   the removable section being configured to detachably attach to the fixed part and including a second base connected to an electrically activated valve,   wherein the hydraulic activated valve of the fixed part is configured to be actuated by the electrically activated valve of the removable section when the removable section is mated to the fixed part,   wherein the first base has a flat first surface and the second base has a flat second surface facing the flat first surface, and   wherein all functional connections between the fixed part and the removable section are provided between the flat first surface and the flat second surface.   
     
     
         2 . The subsea device of  claim 1 , wherein the functional connections include all hydraulic connections between hydraulic activated valves of the fixed part and electrically activated valves of the removable section. 
     
     
         3 . The subsea device of  claim 2 , wherein the functional connections further include a locking device configured to secure the removable section to the fixed part, guides configured to facilitate a mating between the fixed part and the removable section, and electrical connectors configured to electrically connect the fixed part to the removable section. 
     
     
         4 . The subsea device of  claim 1 , wherein the removable section further comprises:
 eight electrically activated valves and each electrically activated valve includes at least a solenoid.   
     
     
         5 . The subsea device of  claim 1 , wherein the removable section further comprises:
 an electronic section configured to control the electrically activated valve.   
     
     
         6 . The subsea device of  claim 5 , wherein the removable section further comprises:
 a compensator connected to a cavity in which the electronic section is provided and the compensator is configured to negate a differential pressure between an ambient subsea pressure and a pressure inside the cavity.   
     
     
         7 . The subsea device of  claim 1 , wherein the removable section further comprises:
 a connection device configured to be connected to a remotely operated vehicle for being removed from the fixed part.   
     
     
         8 . The subsea device of  claim 1 , the removable section further comprising:
 at least one of a fluid filter, pressure sensing devices, or pressure regulation devices.   
     
     
         9 . The subsea device of  claim 1 , wherein the fixed part receives electrical signals from a MUX pod. 
     
     
         10 . The subsea device of  claim 1 , wherein the subsea device is a blowout preventer stack. 
     
     
         11 . The subsea device of  claim 1 , wherein the subsea device is a lower marine riser package that is configured to be removably attached to a blowout preventer stack. 
     
     
         12 . The subsea device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a MUX pod device configured to receive electrical signals and to include plural hydraulic activated valves fluidly connected to plural electrically activated valves that are not removable from the MUX pod by a remotely operated vehicle.   
     
     
         13 . The subsea device of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure supply line is fluidly connected to a MUX pod or is a regulated or unregulated supply line that provides the fluid under pressure to the blowout preventer. 
     
     
         14 . A control module configured to control various elements of a subsea device to be attached to a subsea well, the control module comprising:
 a fixed part attached to a frame of the subsea device, the fixed part having a first base connected to a valve manifold that houses a hydraulic activated valve; and   a removable section being configured to detachably attach to the fixed part and including a second base connected to an electrically activated valve,   wherein the hydraulic activated valve of the fixed part is configured to be actuated by the electrically activated valve when the removable section is mated to the fixed part,   wherein the first base has a flat first surface and the second base has a flat second surface facing the flat first surface, and   wherein all functional connections between the fixed part and the removable section are provided between the flat first surface and the flat second surface.   
     
     
         15 . The control module of  claim 14 , wherein the functional connections include all hydraulic connections between hydraulic activated valves of the fixed part and electrically activated valves of the removable section. 
     
     
         16 . The control module of  claim 15 , wherein the functional connections further include a locking device configured to secure the removable section to the fixed part, guides configured to facilitate a mating between the fixed part and the removable section, and electrical connectors configured to electrically connect the fixed part to the removable section. 
     
     
         17 . The control module of  claim 14 , wherein the removable section further comprises:
 a connection device configured to be connected to a remotely operated vehicle for being removed from the fixed part.   
     
     
         18 . The control module of  claim 14 , wherein the hydraulic activated valve of the fixed part is configured to be actuated by the electrically activated valve when the removable section is mated to the fixed part. 
     
     
         19 . The control module of  claim 14 , wherein the pressure supply line is fluidly connected to a MUX pod or is a regulated or unregulated supply line that provides the fluid under pressure to a blowout preventer. 
     
     
         20 . A control module configured to control various elements of a subsea device to be attached to a subsea well, the control module comprising:
 a fixed part attached to the subsea device, the fixed part having a first base connected to a valve manifold that houses a hydraulic activated valve; and   a removable section being configured to detachably attach to the fixed part and including a second base connected to an electrically activated valve,   wherein the first base has a flat first surface and the second base has a flat second surface facing the flat first surface, and   wherein all functional connections between the fixed part and the removable section are provided between the flat first surface and the flat second surface.