Method and system for performing an electrically operated function with a running tool in a subsea wellhead

Abstract

A subsea running tool receives electric potential from a control unit located at a platform through a tubular string having an electrically conductive wire formed in tubular wall of the tubular string. The running tool provides at least one electrically operated function for setting a subsea wellhead component. The running tool is then run on the tubular string from a surface platform to a location within a wellhead. Electric potential is then supplied to the electrically conductive wire by a control unit at the platform to operate the electrically operated function of the running tool to set the subsea wellhead component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for performing a remote operation of a subsea wellhead, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a running tool having at least one electrically operated function and coupling a subsea wellhead component to the running tool;   (b) coupling the running tool to a tubular string having at least one electrically conductive wire mounted within a tubular wall of the tubular string for transmitting electric potential to the running tool;   (c) running the running tool and subsea wellhead component on the tubular string from a surface platform to a location within the subsea wellhead; then   (d) performing the electrically operated function of the running tool using the transmission of electric potential through the at least one electrically conductive wire of the tubing string.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one electrically conductive wire mounted within a tubular wall of the tubular string comprises a first electrically conductive wire, and a second electrically conductive wire; and   step (d) comprises transmitting an electrical potential along the first electrically conductive wire from the surface platform to the running tool while receiving an electrical potential along the second electrically conductive wire from the running tool to the surface platform.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (b) comprises further coupling the tubular string to a source of electrical potential. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (b) comprises further coupling the tubular string to a data receiver. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (d) comprises:
 providing electric potential to at least one electric servo motor of the running tool through the at least one electrically conductive wire of the tubular string; and   operating the electric servo motor of the running tool in response to the electric potential to set the subsea wellhead component.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein performing at least one tool function comprises operating at least one of a set of locking dogs of the running tool and porting valves of the running tool. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (d) comprises:
 providing at least one sensor package on the running tool, wherein the sensor package generates an electrical signal in response to at least one of the tool position, the tool torque at the tool joint, and the weight suspended from the tool; then   transmitting the generated electrical signal through the at least one electrically conductive wire to the surface platform.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (d) comprises:
 providing a tool control pod communicatively coupled to the running tool, wherein the tool control pod communicates with hydraulic valves that divert pressure from a hydraulic accumulator of the running tool;   providing an electrical potential through the at least one electrically conductive wire to the tool control pod; then   diverting stored pressure in the hydraulic accumulator to set the subsea wellhead component in response to the electrical potential applied to the tool control pod.   
     
     
         9 . A subsea tool system for performing a remote operation in a subsea wellhead, the system comprising:
 a running tool having at least one electrically operated function for setting a subsea wellhead component coupled to the running tool;   a tubular string coupled to the running tool, wherein the tubular string has at least one electrically conductive transmission line formed in a tubular wall of the tubular string;   a control unit located on a surface platform, wherein the control unit is communicatively coupled to the transmission line to control the electric potential applied to the transmission line; and   wherein the transmission line communicatively couples to the running tool to transmit electric potential between the running tool and the control unit to operate the electrically operated function of the running tool to set the subsea wellhead component.   
     
     
         10 . The subsea tool system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 the running tool having a hydraulic accumulator for storing hydraulic pressure, the accumulator communicatively coupled to at least one hydraulic function of the running tool for setting of the subsea wellhead component;   the running tool having a tool control pod communicatively coupled to the hydraulic accumulator and further communicatively coupled to the control unit through the at least one transmission line; and   wherein the control unit modulates an electric potential signal sent through the transmission line to the tool control pod so that the tool control pod actuates control valves of the accumulator to divert fluid pressure in the accumulator to the at least one hydraulic function of the running tool to set the subsea wellhead component.   
     
     
         11 . The subsea tool system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the running tool has a battery powered sensor package coupled to the running tool, wherein the sensor package generates an electrical signal in response to at least one of the tool position within the wellhead, the torque applied at the tool joint, and the weight suspended from the tool;   the sensor package further communicatively coupled to the control unit through the transmission line; and   wherein the sensor package transmits the electrical signal through the transmission line to the control unit, and the control unit presents the electrical signal in a manner understandable by an operator located on the platform.   
     
     
         12 . The subsea tool system of  claim 11 , wherein the control unit records and stores the electrical signal. 
     
     
         13 . The subsea tool system of  claim 11 , wherein the transmission line comprises a fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         14 . The subsea tool system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the running tool has at least one electric servo motor adapted to operate a tool function for setting the subsea wellhead component;   the at least one transmission line couples to the electric servo motor; and   the control unit controls the flow of electric potential to the electric servo motor through the transmission line to operate the electric servo motor to set the subsea wellhead component.   
     
     
         15 . The subsea tool system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the at least one transmission line comprises a plurality of transmission lines;   the at least one electric servo motor comprises a plurality of electric servo motors adapted to operate separate functions of the running tool for setting the subsea wellhead component;   each at least one transmission line couples to a separate electric servo motor and further couples to the control unit; and   the control unit controls the flow of electric potential to each transmission line and electric servo motor to set the subsea wellhead component.   
     
     
         16 . A subsea tool system for performing a remote operation in a subsea wellhead, the system comprising:
 a running tool having at least one electrically operated function for setting a subsea wellhead component coupled to the running tool;   a tubular string coupled to the running tool;   wherein the tubular string has at least one transmission line formed in a tubular wall of the tubular string;   a control unit located on a surface platform, wherein the control unit is communicatively coupled to the transmission line to control an electric potential applied to the transmission line;   wherein the transmission line communicatively couples to the running tool to transmit the electric potential between the running tool and the control unit;   wherein the running tool has at least one electric servo motor adapted to operate a tool function;   wherein the transmission line further communicatively couples to the electric servo motor; and   wherein the control unit controls the flow of electric potential to the electric servo motor through the transmission line to operate the electric servo motor and set the subsea wellhead component.   
     
     
         17 . The subsea tool system of  claim 16 , wherein the electric servo motor operates a set of locking dogs of the running tool. 
     
     
         18 . The subsea tool system of  claim 16 , wherein the electric servo motor operates porting valves of the running tool. 
     
     
         19 . The subsea tool system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the at least one transmission line comprises a plurality of transmission lines;   the at least one electric servo motor comprises a plurality of electric servo motors adapted to operate separate functions of the running tool;   each at least one transmission line couples to a separate electric servo motor and further couples to the control unit; and   the control unit controls the flow of electric potential to each transmission line and electric servo motor.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the running tool has a battery powered sensor package coupled to the running tool, wherein the sensor package generates an electrical signal in response to at least one of the tool position within the wellhead, the torque applied at the tool joint, and the weight suspended from the tool;   the sensor package further communicatively coupled to the control unit through a separate transmission line of the plurality of transmission lines; and   wherein the sensor package transmits the electrical signal through the transmission line to the control unit, and the control unit communicates the electrical signal in a manner understandable to an operator located on the platform.