Objective
To demonstrate a low cost system for the remote control of subsea wellheads which eliminates the need for electro-hydraulic umbilicals. A Minimum Umbilical Remote Control System (MURCS) provides all the capabilities of current subsea control systems. This system is not limited by water depth or wellhead offset from the production platform. The subsea production (or injection) system is linked to surface with a simple fibre optic umbilical and chemical injection line which is attached to the production flowline. A consortium of European suppliers have combined their equipment developments to create a remote power supply and seawater hydraulic system which form the key elements of this low cost system.L%
The subsea skid demonstrated it's operation underwater and proved reliable. The separator has demonstrated extremely good sand separation performance and has shown that it can protect the expander from sand carried by the gas; the expander suffered very rapid deterioration of performance due to sand erosion. The extent of the damage has been quantified and the expander has been refurbished in preparation for the system tests.
This project demonstrates all the subsystems required to generate and control electrical and seawater hydraulic power. The major subsystems include control, power supply and hydraulically actuated components. Interface engineering, of the concepts which have been previously developed or tested as discrete components, is included to ensure the assembled system is coherent and complete. Representative components will be fabricated and assembled into a working remote control system.
One of the major enabling technologies being demonstrated is a robust, high capacity, subsea power supply driven by produced fluids. A 15 kW gas expander owned by Mobil North Sea Limited is being loaned for this demonstrator project. The backbone of the power supply is the control system which enables the induction generator to operate as a stand alone system and ensures that both voltage and frequency are held between close limits without the need for governing the turbine. Although the gas expander is arobust device which can tolerate a certain level of contamination with sand and liquids in the gas stream, some level of flow conditioning is required to ensure maximum life. A CALTEC in line separator has been developed to remove most of the entrained solids, this device will be demonstrated during testing of the system. This MURCS concept includes seabed valve actuators and accompanying hydraulics. The unique features demonstrated are a complete seawater hydraulic system comprising linear gate valve actuator, a stepping choke actuator and a seawater pump. Unfiltered seawater is used as the power fluid for the hydraulic control systems, which operates as an open loop system. A solenoid operated, surface controlled, electric subsea safety valve is powered and controlled by the electrical control system.
This integration and testing programme will demonstrate the application of above technologies and provide a working example of all elements operating in functional system.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering control systems
- natural sciences physical sciences classical mechanics fluid mechanics fluid dynamics
- natural sciences physical sciences classical mechanics fluid mechanics fluid statics
- natural sciences physical sciences optics fibre optics
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
MK43 0AJ Cranfield
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.