Apparatus and Method for Measuring Inclination in Subsea Running, Setting, and Testing Tools

Abstract

A system for jetting a borehole in a seafloor, the system including a tubular, and a jetting tool inserted into the tubular and having an end from which fluid is selectively discharged to excavate the borehole. An electrical inclination sensor is attached to the stem of the tubular, and is in communication a transmitter. A receiver is positioned proximate the sea surface and is in communication with the transmitter through the fluid in a drill pipe, so that when the jetting tool is excavating the borehole, an inclination of the tubular is sensed by the inclination sensor, which inclination is communicated from the transmitter to the receiver.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for jetting a borehole in a seafloor, the system comprising:
 a tubular;   a jetting tool inserted into the tubular and having an end from which fluid is selectively discharged to excavate the borehole;   an electrical inclination sensor attached to the stem of the tubular;   a transmitter in communication with the electrical inclination sensor; and   a receiver proximate the sea surface and in communication with the transmitter through the fluid in a drill pipe, so that when the jetting tool is excavating the borehole, an inclination of the tubular is sensed by the inclination sensor, which inclination is communicated from the transmitter to the receiver.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a display in communication with the receiver that is accessible to an operator, and shows the information transmitted to the receiver. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter transmits, and the receiver receives, information about the inclination of the tubular continuously in real time. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein communication between the receiver and the transmitter comprises acoustic pulses that propagate through the drill pipe. 
     
     
         5 . A system for jetting a borehole in a seafloor, the system comprising:
 running and setting tools, including at least a housing running and jet tool operatively connected to a drilling vessel, and a jetting tool having an end from which fluid is selectively discharged to excavate the borehole;   an electrical inclination sensor attached to the housing running and jet tool, and capable of measuring the relative vertical inclination of the housing running and jet tool;   a transmitter attached to the electrical inclination sensor that receives information related to the inclination of the housing running and jet tool from the electrical inclination sensor, and that transmits an acoustic signal containing information about the inclination of the housing running and jet tool into the sea; and   a receiver located proximate the drilling vessel and at least partially submerged in the sea, the receiver configured to receive the acoustic signal from the transmitter.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a display in communication with the receiver, and accessible to an operator, that shows the information transmitted to the receiver in the acoustic signal. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the transmitter transmits, and the receiver receives, information about the inclination of the housing running and jet tool continuously in real time. 
     
     
         8 . A method for jetting a borehole in a seafloor, the method comprising:
 jetting a borehole by selectively discharging fluid out of a jetting tool directed at the sea floor;   providing an electrical inclination sensor that measures the inclination of the jetting tool;   monitoring the inclination of the jetting tool with the electrical inclination sensor prior to and during jetting activities; and   acoustically transmitting, to a receiver proximate the sea surface, a signal containing information about the inclination of the jetting tool via a transmitter attached to the electrical inclination sensor.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of displaying the information about the inclination of the jetting tool on a display screen in communication with the receiver. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of monitoring the inclination of the jetting tool is carried out continuously in real time during the landing and setting of subsea wellhead consumables on the sea floor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the jetting tool is deployed on a fluid filled tubular string, and wherein the step of acoustically transmitting the signal comprises directing pulses through the fluid in the string. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of acoustically transmitting the signal comprises directing pulses through sea water. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of receiving the signal by the receiver.