System and Method for Monitoring Subsea Valves

Abstract

A technique facilitates collection of information on desired production related parameters in a subsea valve system. Collected data can be processed in a manner that enables enhanced production and/or an increased knowledge regarding operation of the entire subsea valve system. Sensors are coupled with a plurality of subsea valves, and those subsea valves are positioned at appropriate locations along a subsea hydrocarbon production system. The sensors also may be coupled with a data processing system to process the collected data for use by a well operator.

1 . A system for use in a subsea well environment, comprising:
 a plurality of subsea wells linked by production lines that direct flow of produced hydrocarbon fluids;   a plurality of subsea valves positioned to control flow of the hydrocarbon fluids along the production lines; and   a plurality of sensors with at least one sensor associated with each subsea valve of the plurality of subsea valves to provide real time data on an operational parameter related to the plurality of subsea valves.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of temperature sensors. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of pressure sensors. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of valves comprises a subsea gate valve. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of valves comprises a subsea ball valve. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of valves comprises a subsea safety valve positioned at each subsea well. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a processing system positioned at a surface location and coupled to the plurality of sensors to process real time data provided by the plurality of sensors. 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the processing system receives data from additional production related sensor systems. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the processing system is located on a production platform. 
     
     
         10 . A method, comprising:
 producing a hydrocarbon fluid from a plurality of subsea wells;   controlling flow of the hydrocarbon fluid with a plurality of valves; and   obtaining data from sensors located at the plurality of valves to enable an evaluation of production.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein obtaining data comprises obtaining data in real time. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein controlling comprises adjusting the plurality of valves based on the data obtained from sensors. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein producing comprises producing oil. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein obtaining comprises monitoring valve control signals. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein obtaining comprises obtaining data via a plurality of temperature sensors mounted in the plurality of valves. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein obtaining comprises obtaining data via a plurality of pressure sensors mounted in the plurality of valves. 
     
     
         17 . A system, comprising:
 a computer based data processing system; and   a plurality of sensors to provide data to the computer based data processing system, the plurality of sensors being coupled with a plurality of subsea valves operated to control flow of hydrocarbon-based fluid.   
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of sensors is coupled with subsea valves located in subsea wellbores. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of sensors is coupled with subsea valves located along subsea production lines. 
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises temperature sensors. 
     
     
         21 . The system as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises pressure sensors. 
     
     
         22 . A method for use in a subsea well environment, comprising:
 placing sensors in a plurality of subsea valves;   locating the plurality of subsea valves in a subsea hydrocarbon production system; and   coupling the sensors with a data processing system.   
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , further comprising monitoring a desired parameter at each subsea valve of the plurality of subsea valves; and adjusting selected subsea valves of the plurality of subsea valves based on sensor data processed on the data processing system. 
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , further comprising using the sensors to provide real time data to the data processing system.