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12 Baseline Issue 3
Technology
Acoustic Subsea Control Systems
Cuttingthetiesof
A Wideband BOP System; Dunking transceiver with cable drum, portable control unit, Subsea Electronics Module and either side, two DARTs
Baseline Issue 3
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umbilical control
Well known for providing pinpoint accuracy in positioning systems, Sonardynes Wideband acoustic technology is now being used as the foundation for a range of high integrity wireless control systems utilised in critical subsea applications.The same signalling and receiver processing techniques that offer outstanding positioning performance by allowing precise time-of-arrival measurement, also enable highly reliable acoustic transfer of data through water and Sonardyne has incorporated these techniques into its latest generation of wireless wellhead control systems. Baseline speaks to Ted Kenny, Business Manager, Subsea Control Systems.
acoustic BOP (Blow-Out Preventor) control systems more than 10 years ago. This emergency back-up system allows a subsea well to be shut in and the riser disconnected if control via the riser umbilical is lost. With systems installed in Brazil, West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico, an excellent track record for reliable operation has been established. Building on this reputation, Sonardyne has now incorporated its Wideband acoustic technology into the latest generation of acoustic BOP controllers with the first batch of new systems being delivered to Noble Drilling for
installation on the new-build rigs David Beard, Danny Adkins and Jim Day. A typical installation consists of a surface control system, which may be portable or permanently installed on the vessel, and subsea components fitted to the BOP stack. The permanently installed surface system can operate either via a dedicated hullmounted transceiver or a Sonardyne Wideband USBL positioning system, if one is fitted. The portable surface system is a self-contained, battery powered control unit that is used with a lightweight acoustic transceiver and a strainrelieved deployment cable. It can be operated from a small workboat or even from a life raft. Acoustic commands and their replies use Forward Error Correction techniques combined with Sonardynes proprietary Wideband >>
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Baseline Issue 3
Technology
Acoustic Subsea Control Systems
acoustic telemetry protocol to ensure the highest integrity through-water data transfer. Subsea hardware The subsea components mounted on the BOP stack consist of a Subsea Electronics Module (SEM) and two acoustic transceivers, referred to as DARTs (Deep-rated Acoustic Remote Transceivers). The DARTs are located on opposite sides of the riser to ensure that the structure cannot mask the acoustic signals from the surface system. The SEM contains dual redundant electronics and battery packs for driving the pilot valve solenoids within the BOP and reading back pressure switches to indicate correct actuation of the valves. The SEM can drive up to 12 pilot valve solenoids and read 12 status switches and four 4-20 mA pressure sensors. The dual redundant SEM can operate with up to four DART transceivers to provide multiple acoustic communication paths and ensure reliable communication even under the most
Sonardyne began delivering acoustic BOP control systems over 10 years ago.This emergency back-up system allows a subsea well to be shut in and the riser disconnected if control via the riser umbilical is lost.
The inherent robustness of the Wideband signals achieves an acoustic link with reliability that is comparable to that of a cabled link and may be considered as a direct alternative to an umbilical cable.
demanding conditions. This level of acoustic and functional redundancy, combined with the inherent robustness of the Wideband signals achieves an acoustic link with reliability that is comparable to that of a cabled link and may be considered as a direct alternative to an umbilical cable. This means that the use of acoustics is no longer restricted to that of a back-up system and it is equally suitable for use in applications where it provides a primary control function, for example, as seabed shut-off device, used in conjunction with a Surface BOP system (see opposite). BL
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