Battery powered subsea pumping system

Abstract

A battery powered pumping skid system comprises a frame, comprising a battery compartment and an equipment compartment; a battery disposed within the battery compartment; a motor operatively connected to the battery and disposed within the equipment compartment; a pump operatively connected to the motor and disposed within the equipment compartment; and a motor controller operatively connected to the battery and the motor and disposed within the equipment compartment. Optionally, one or more floatation compartments with one or more floats may be provided. Powered operation may be provided to a subsea device by deploying the battery powered pumping skid system subsea, either on an as needed or longer term basis, maneuvering the battery powered pumping skid system close to a subsea device, and, once in place, using the battery powered pumping skid system to perform one or more predetermined functions with respect to the subsea device, such as supplying a fluid from the pump to the subsea device using electrical power from the battery.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A battery powered pumping skid system, comprising:
 a. a frame, comprising:
 i. a battery compartment; and 
 ii. an equipment compartment; 
   b. a battery disposed within the battery compartment;   c. a motor operatively connected to the battery and disposed within the equipment compartment;   d. a pump operatively connected to the motor and disposed within the equipment compartment; and   e. a motor controller operatively connected to the battery and the motor and disposed within the equipment compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The battery powered pumping skid system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a. a floatation compartment; and   b. a float disposed within the floatation compartment   
     
     
         3 . The battery powered pumping skid system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 a. the floatation compartment comprises a plurality of floatation compartments; and   b. the float comprises a corresponding plurality of floats, each float of the plurality of floats disposed within a corresponding one of plurality of floatation compartments.   
     
     
         4 . The battery powered pumping skid system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is configured to be neutrally buoyant in seawater. 
     
     
         5 . The battery powered pumping skid system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. the frame is substantially rectangular;   b. the battery compartment comprises a first battery compartment and a second battery compartment, each disposed towards an outer perimeter of the frame proximate a middle section of the frame; and   c. the battery comprises a first battery disposed within the first battery compartment and a second battery disposed within the second batter compartment.   
     
     
         6 . The battery powered pumping skid system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. the frame is substantially rectangular;   b. the equipment compartment comprises:
 i. a motor compartment disposed substantially within a middle interior portion of the frame; 
 ii. a pump compartment disposed proximate a middle exterior section of the frame; and 
 iii. a controller compartment disposed proximate a middle exterior section of the frame opposite the pump compartment; 
   c. the motor is disposed within the motor compartment;   d. the pump is disposed within the pump compartment; and   e. the motor controller is disposed within the controller compartment.   
     
     
         7 . The battery powered pumping skid system of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery recharge port operatively connected to the battery, the battery comprising a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         8 . The battery powered pumping skid system of  claim 7 , wherein the battery recharge port comprises a remotely operated vehicle umbilical compatible battery recharge port. 
     
     
         9 . The battery powered pumping skid system of  claim 1 , wherein the battery comprises a pressure tolerant battery. 
     
     
         10 . The battery powered pumping skid system of  claim 1 , wherein the battery comprises a pressure tolerant lithium polymer battery. 
     
     
         11 . The battery powered pumping skid system of  claim 1 , wherein the battery compartment comprises a one atmosphere subsea battery housing. 
     
     
         12 . The battery powered pumping skid system of  claim 1 , wherein the battery comprises a battery module comprising:
 a. a battery housing;   b. a pressure tolerant battery cell disposed within the battery housing; and   c. a contact configured to prevent live pins until everything is plugged in and a signal is received.   
     
     
         13 . A method of providing power to a subsea device, comprising:
 a. deploying a battery powered pumping skid system subsea, the battery powered pumping skid system comprising:
 i. a frame, comprising:
 1. a battery compartment; and 
 2. an equipment compartment; 
 
   ii. a battery disposed within the battery compartment;
 iii. a motor operatively connected to the battery and disposed within the equipment compartment; 
 iv. a pump operatively connected to the motor and disposed within the equipment compartment; and 
 v. a motor controller operatively connected to the battery and the motor and disposed within the equipment compartment; 
   b. maneuvering the battery powered pumping skid system close to a subsea device; and   c. once in place, using the battery powered pumping skid system to perform a predetermined function with respect to the subsea device, the predetermined function comprising supplying a fluid from the pump to the subsea device using electrical power from the battery.   
     
     
         14 . The method of providing power to a subsea device of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined function comprises closing a blowout preventer (BOP) ram by using the pump driven by the motor to deliver fluid pressure and flow to the BOP ram. 
     
     
         15 . The method of providing power to a subsea device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a. providing an instrument; and   b. placing the instrument into communication a monitoring system.   
     
     
         16 . The method of providing power to a subsea device of  claim 15 , further comprising placing the instrument into communication a monitoring system via an umbilical interface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of providing power to a subsea device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a. using the instrument to monitor a predetermined sensed characteristic; and   b. relaying the sensed characteristic in real time via back to the monitoring system.   
     
     
         18 . The method of providing power to a subsea device of  claim 17 , wherein the sensed characteristic comprises pressure, flow, and/or temperature. 
     
     
         19 . The method of providing power to a subsea device of  claim 13 , further comprising deploying the battery powered pumping skid system on as-needed basis. 
     
     
         20 . The method of providing power to a subsea device of  claim 13 , further comprising deploying the battery powered pumping skid system on a long term basis subsea without a need for continuous maintenance and charging of the battery.