Subsea processor for underwater drilling operations

Abstract

A subsea processor may be located near the seabed of a drilling site and used to coordinate operations of underwater drilling components. The subsea processor may be enclosed in a single interchangeable unit that fits a receptor on an underwater drilling component, such as a blow-out preventer (BOP). The subsea processor may issue commands to control the BOP and receive measurements from sensors located throughout the BOP. The subsea processor may relay information to the surface for recording or monitoring. The subsea processor may also be programmed with a model from which to base operation of the BOP, such as in emergency conditions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an underwater drilling component, in which the underwater drilling component comprises:
 a physical receptor configured to receive a first processor unit; 
 an inductive power device configured to transfer power to the first processor unit through the physical receptor; and 
 a wireless communications system configured to communicate with the first processor unit through the physical receptor. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the apparatus further comprises sensors, in which the wireless communications system is configured to convey signals from the sensors to the first processor unit. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second physical receptor for a second processor unit; and   a third physical receptor for a third processor unit.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , in which the first processor unit, the second processor unit, and the third processor unit are configured to control the apparatus according to a majority voting scheme. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the underwater drilling component is a blow-out preventer (BOP). 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor;   an inductive power device coupled to the processor and configured to receive power for the processor; and   a wireless communications system coupled to the processor and configured to communicate with an underwater drilling component.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , in which the wireless communications system is configured to receive sensor data from the underwater drilling component, and the apparatus further comprises memory configured to store the sensor data. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , in which the wireless communications system is configured to receive remote commands from at least one of an offshore network and an onshore network. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , in which the wireless communications system is configured to transmit commands to the underwater drilling component to control the underwater drilling component. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , in which the processor is configured to control the underwater drilling component according to a model. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , in which the wireless communications system is configured to retrieve an identifier from the underwater drilling component and the processor is configured to control the underwater drilling component according to a model matching the retrieved identifier. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , in which the wireless communications system is configured to communicate with other processors communicating with the underwater drilling component. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , in which the processor is configured to control the underwater drilling component according to a majority vote process with the other processors. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , in which the apparatus is a single-piece seamless unit. 
     
     
         15 . A method of controlling an underwater drilling component, comprising:
 receiving power, at a subsea processor, through an inductive coupling with the underwater drilling component; and   communicating wirelessly, from the subsea processor, with the underwater drilling component to control the underwater drilling component.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising placing the subsea processor in a receptacle of the underwater drilling component. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising receiving, at the subsea processor, sensor measurements from the underwater drilling component. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising issuing control commands to the underwater drilling component to control the underwater drilling component according to a model. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising
 receiving, at the subsea processor, an identifier of the underwater drilling component; and   controlling the underwater drilling component according to a model corresponding to the identifier.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 communicating wirelessly with other subsea processors; and   controlling the underwater drilling component according to a majority voting process between the subsea processor and the other subsea processors.