Subsea open-standard control systems and methods

Abstract

This disclosure includes embodiments of a subsea open standard (SOS) control system and methods of operating and expanding the same that are suitable for controlling subsea production equipment directly from a topsides master control station (MCS). For example, this disclosure includes a network using an open and non-propriety networking protocol to send and receive control commands directly between the MCS and a subsea networked end device having a unique network address via a subsea network router module (SRM).

1 . A subsea open-standard control system, the system comprising:
 a topsides master control station (MCS) comprising:
 a human-machine interface including a computing device having at least one processor configured to execute instructions, and 
 a network interface configured to communicate commands to a network using an open and non-proprietary network protocol; 
   at least one subsea network router module (SRM) comprising:
 a modular housing configured to be disposed on a subsea structure, and 
 a plurality of network switches disposed within the housing, the network switches configured to operate using the open and non-proprietary networking protocol; and 
   at least one subsea networked end device connected to the at least one SRM, each subsea networked end device having a unique network address and configured to communicate directly with the MCS via the at least one SRM using the open and non-proprietary networking protocol.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one topsides hydraulic power unit configured to control hydraulic fluid flow to the at least one subsea networked end device.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one subsea power and communications unit configured to interface with the MCS and interface with at least one subsea umbilical to provide clean power and network communications to the at least one subsea umbilical.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 at least one subsea distribution unit (SDU) configured to connect the at least one SRM to the at least one subsea umbilical.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a plurality of multi quick connection (MQC) plates configured to:
 connect the at least one SDU to the at least one SRM, and 
 connect the at least one SRM to the at least one subsea networked end device. 
   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 at least one remotely operated vehicle (ROV) configured to communicate directly with the MCS via the at least one SRM using the open and non-proprietary networking protocol;   where the at least one ROV is configured to install and remove the plurality of MQC plates and the at least one SRM.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , comprising a plurality of SRMs and a plurality of subsea networked end devices, where each of the plurality of subsea networked end devices is connected to a separate one of the plurality of SRMs and at least one of the plurality of SRMs is connected to the at least one SDU. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , where the at least one SRM is configured to be directly mounted on the at least one subsea networked end device. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , where the at least one SRM further comprises at least one connection port configured to connect an additional subsea networked end device having a unique network address to the at least one SRM. 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a subsea open-standard control system comprising a topsides master control station (MCS) including a computing device having at least one processor, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the MCS, at least one communication indicating that at least one subsea network router module (SRM) and at least one subsea networked end device having a unique network address are connected to a network using an open and non-proprietary networking protocol;   receiving, by the MCS via a human-machine interface, at least one control command for controlling the at least one subsea networked end device;   sending, by executing one or more instructions with the at least one processor, the at least one control command to the at least one SRM using the open and non-proprietary networking protocol, where the at least one SRM routes the at least one control command to the at least one subsea networked end device and enables direct communication between the MCS and the at least one subsea networked end device; and   implementing a function of the at least one subsea networked end device corresponding to the at least one control command.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , where the at least one SRM comprises at least one connection port configured to connect an additional subsea networked end device having a unique network address to the at least one SRM via a separate network connection, the separate network connection using the open and non-proprietary networking protocol. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , where at least one subsea distribution unit (SDU) comprises at least one expansion port configured to connect an additional SRM to the network via a separate network connection, the separate network connection using the open and non-proprietary networking protocol. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , where each of a plurality of subsea networked end devices is connected to a separate one of a plurality of SRMs and at least one of the plurality of SRMs is connected to the at least one SDU. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 analyzing, by the at least one SRM, a destination network address of the at least one control command;   matching, by the at least one SRM, the destination network address of the at least one control command to the unique network address of the at least one subsea networked end device; and   routing, by the at least one SRM, the at least one control command to the subsea networked end device having the unique network address that matches the destination network address.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 controlling, by the MCS, hydraulic fluid flow to the at least one subsea networked end device.   
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a subsea open-standard control system comprising a topsides master control station (MCS) including a computing device having at least one processor, the method comprising:
 determining, by the MCS, that a network using an open and non-proprietary networking protocol can support an addition of at least one expansion network node to the network, the at least one expansion network node including one or more of a subsea network router module (SRM) and a subsea networked end device having a unique network address; and   expanding, by the MCS, the network by adding the at least one expansion network node to the network.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , where expanding the network includes attaching the SRM to an expansion port of a subsea distribution unit (SDU) connected to the network. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , where expanding the network includes attaching the subsea networked end device to a connection port of a SRM connected to the network. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , where expanding the network includes connecting the at least one expansion network node to the network in a daisy chain network configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 adding a redundant network connection to the at least one expansion network node in a mesh network configuration.   
     
     
         21 . A method of operating a subsea open-standard control system comprising a topsides master control station (MCS) including a computing device having at least one processor, the method comprising:
 sending, by the MCS via an open and non-proprietary networking protocol, at least one control command directly to a subsea networked end device connected to a network, where the at least one control command is routed to the subsea networked end device by a subsea network router module (SRM) using a unique network address of the subsea networked end device.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , where the at least one control command is sent directly to the subsea networked end device from the MCS without sending the at least one control command through a subsea control module (SCM).