Device of Remotely Operated, Tethered, Subsea Tools and Method of Launching Such Tools

Abstract

Device of remotely operated, tethered, subsea tools comprising remotely operated tethered tools (hereinafter: ROTTs), and a subsea station adapted thereto, said subsea station being provided with energy from an external energy source at the sea floor, the sea surface or above. The subsea station comprises a parking rack with a number of parking sites, each arranged to receive and releasably hold a ROTT; a housing supporting at least one umbilical drum with an umbilical, and a connection and launching station into which a ROTT is arranged to be pulled from a parking site of the parking rack and to be connected to the umbilical prior to being launched. Each ROTT is provided with a parking surface element adapted to be releasably attached to a parking site of the subsea station between operations, as well as an interface for attachment to the interface of the umbilical.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A system for subsea tools, comprising:
 at least two remotely operated tethered tools  21  (ROTTs);   a subsea station ( 10 ) adapted to the at least two ROTTs, said subsea station being provided with energy from an energy source selected from one or more of an internal energy source and an external energy source at the sea floor, the sea surface or above;   a parking rack ( 11 ) with a number of parking sites, each parking site being arranged to receive and releasably hold a ROTT ( 21 );   a chassis or housing ( 13 ) supporting at least one umbilical drum ( 14 ) with an umbilical ( 15 ) coiled thereon, the umbilical ( 15 ) being connected to the energy source and having a free end with an interface ( 15   a ) for attachment to a corresponding interface ( 21   a ) of a ROTT ( 21 );   at least one connection and launching station ( 12 ) into which a ROTT ( 21 ) is arranged to be pulled from a parking site of the parking rack ( 11 ) and to be connected to the umbilical ( 15 ) prior to being launched, and from which the ROTT ( 21 ) is arranged to be launched for performing an operation, wherein   each ROTT ( 21 ) is provided with a parking surface element ( 21   c,    21   c ′) adapted to be releasably attached to a parking site of the subsea station ( 10 ) between operations, and provided with an interface ( 21   a ) for attachment to the interface ( 15   a ) of the umbilical ( 15 ).   
     
     
         20 . The system claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the energy source is an external energy source. 
     
     
         21 . The system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the connection and launching station ( 12 ) is arranged to receive a ROTT ( 21 ) after a completed operation and optionally to transfer it to the parking rack ( 11 ). 
     
     
         22 . The system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the connection and launching station ( 12 ) is arranged to disconnect the umbilical ( 15 ) from a ROTT ( 21 ) to which it is connected after a completed operation. 
     
     
         23 . The system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the connection and launching station ( 12 ) is provided with a water free zone ( 12   a ) within which the connection and disconnection of the umbilical ( 15 ) is conducted. 
     
     
         24 . The system as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the connection and launching station ( 12 ) is arranged to place a protective cap ( 21   b ) over the ROTT umbilical interface ( 21   a ) after disconnection of the umbilical ( 15 ). 
     
     
         25 . The system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the connection of the ROTT ( 21 ) to the umbilical ( 15 ) is performed using inductive connectors. 
     
     
         26 . The system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein transfer of a ROTT ( 21 ) from a parked position into the connection and launching station ( 12 ) and launch of a ROTT ( 21 ) from the connection and launching station ( 12 ) is performed via an electric motor in combination with at least one actuator. 
     
     
         27 . The system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the connection of the umbilical ( 15 ) to and disconnection of the umbilical ( 15 ) from a ROTT ( 21 ) are performed via a connection device ( 16   c ) operated by an electric motor. 
     
     
         28 . The system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the parking rack ( 11 ) is shaped in a partial or full circle, pivotally arranged around a central axis of the circle. 
     
     
         29 . The system as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the circle shaped parking rack ( 11 ) surrounds the housing ( 13 ). 
     
     
         30 . The system as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the central axis of the parking rack ( 11 ) is vertical. 
     
     
         31 . The system as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the central axis of the parking rack ( 11 ) is vertical. 
     
     
         32 . The system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the parking rack ( 11 ) is arranged in a form selected from the group consisting of a straight line ( 11   a ), a curved line ( 11   b ), and a vertical matrix ( 11   c ) of rows and columns. 
     
     
         33 . The system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the launching station ( 12 ) is arranged within the chassis or housing ( 13 ). 
     
     
         34 . The system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein a dome ( 17 ) is arranged to cover a top side of the subsea station ( 10 ) in its entirety. 
     
     
         35 . A method of launching a remotely operated tethered tool from a subsea station ( 10 ) that is provided with energy from an energy source selected from one or more of an internal energy source and an external energy source at the sea floor, the sea surface or above, said subsea station ( 10 ) having (i) a parking rack ( 11 ) with a number of parking sites, each parking site arranged to receive and releasably hold a remotely operated tethered tool (ROTT) ( 21 ), and (ii) a chassis or housing ( 13 ) supporting at least one umbilical drum ( 14 ) with an umbilical ( 15 ) coiled thereon, the umbilical ( 15 ) being connected to the energy source and having a free end with an interface ( 15   a ) for attachment to an interface ( 21   a ) of a corresponding ROTT ( 21 ), comprising:
 providing at least one connection and launching station ( 12 ) adjacent to the parking rack ( 11 );   turning the parking rack ( 11 ) until the corresponding ROTT ( 21 ) is positioned adjacent to the connection and launching station ( 12 );   transferring the corresponding ROTT ( 21 ) from the parking rack to the connection and launching station ( 12 );   connecting the umbilical ( 15 ) to the corresponding ROTT ( 21 ); and   launching the corresponding ROTT ( 21 ) in a downward movement by unwinding lengths of umbilical ( 15 ) from the umbilical drum.   
     
     
         36 . The method as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein movements of the ROTT ( 21 ) and the umbilical ( 15 ) are conducted or assisted by electric motors and actuators. 
     
     
         37 . The method as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the step of connecting the umbilical ( 15 ) to the ROTT ( 21 ) comprises a step of removing a protecting cap ( 21   b ) covering a ROTT interface ( 21   a ) prior to connecting the umbilical ( 15 ) to the corresponding ROTT ( 21 ). 
     
     
         38 . The method as claimed in  claim 37 , further comprising displacing water from an upper part of the connection and launching station ( 12 ) before removing the protective cap ( 21   b ).