Gate Valve Rotary Actuator

Abstract

A subsea system includes a subsea manifold comprising a plurality of well connections, the subsea manifold configured to be in fluid communication with a plurality of wells through the plurality of well connections and a plurality of valves, each corresponding to one of the plurality of well connections, to control fluid flow through the corresponding well connections. The subsea system further includes a valve actuator comprising a transmission and a motor, the valve actuator coupled to at least one of the plurality of valves to move the valve between an open position and a closed position and a remote controller configured to communicate with and control the valve actuator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A subsea system, comprising:
 a subsea manifold comprising a plurality of well connections, the subsea manifold configured to be in fluid communication with a plurality of wells through the plurality of well connections;   a plurality of valves, each corresponding to one of the plurality of well connections, to control fluid flow through the corresponding well connections;   a valve actuator comprising a transmission and a motor, the valve actuator coupled to at least one of the plurality of valves to move the valve between an open position and a closed position; and   a remote controller configured to communicate with and control the valve actuator.   
     
     
         2 . The subsea system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the subsea manifold further comprises a pipeline connection; and   the subsea manifold is configured to direct fluid flow from the plurality of well connections to the pipeline connection.   
     
     
         3 . The subsea system of  claim 2 , wherein the pipeline connection is configured to be in fluid communication with a pipeline or a production riser. 
     
     
         4 . The subsea system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of valves comprises a valve body with a closure member configured to move between the open position and the closed position within the valve body. 
     
     
         5 . The subsea system of  claim 4 , wherein the valve actuator comprises:
 a housing fixably coupled to the valve body;   a sleeve having a first end rotatably coupled to the housing and a second end projecting out of the housing;   a valve stem partially disposed within the sleeve and extending into the valve body;   a screw member coupled to the valve stem and the sleeve so that rotation of the sleeve causes translation of the valve stem;   the transmission coupled to the housing and engaged with the sleeve; and   the motor coupled to the transmission so that operation of the motor causes rotation of the sleeve.   
     
     
         6 . The subsea system of  claim 4 , further comprising a position sensor configured to measure the position of the closure member with respect to the valve body. 
     
     
         7 . The subsea system of  claim 6 , wherein the remote controller is configured to communicate with the position sensor and receive the measured position of the closure member with respect to the valve body from the position sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The subsea system of  claim 7 , wherein the remote controller is configured to control the valve actuator based upon the measured position of the closure member with respect to the valve body received from the position sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The subsea system of  claim 1 , wherein the motor comprises at least one of a hydraulic motor, an electric motor, and a pneumatic motor. 
     
     
         10 . The subsea system of  claim 9 , wherein the motor comprises an electric motor, and wherein the remote controller is configured to send an electric signal to the electric motor to control the valve actuator. 
     
     
         11 . The subsea system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote controller comprises a user interface. 
     
     
         12 . The subsea system of  claim 1 , further comprising a clutch mechanism configured to selectively de-couple the valve actuator from the at least one of the plurality of valves. 
     
     
         13 . A method for controlling fluid flow through a subsea well, the method comprising:
 receiving a control signal from a remote controller at a valve actuator;   moving a valve between an open position and a closed position with the valve actuator based upon the received control signal, the valve actuator comprising a transmission and a motor; and   selectively controlling fluid flow through the subsea well based upon the position of the valve.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the selectively controlling fluid flow through the subsea well comprises selectively producing fluid through a subsea manifold comprising a well connection in fluid communication with the subsea well, a pipeline connection, and the valve. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the valve comprises a valve body and a closure member such that the moving the valve between the open position and the closed position comprises moving the closure member within the valve body between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the valve actuator comprises:
 a housing fixably coupled to the valve body;   a sleeve having a first end rotatably coupled to the housing and a second end projecting out of the housing;   a valve stem partially disposed within the sleeve and extending into the valve body;   a screw member coupled to the valve stem and the sleeve so that rotation of the sleeve causes translation of the valve stem;   the transmission coupled to the housing and engaged with the sleeve; and   the motor coupled to the transmission so that operation of the motor causes rotation of the sleeve.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising measuring a position of the closure member with respect to the valve body with a position sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising receiving the measured position of the closure member with respect to the valve body from the position sensor at the remote controller. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the remote controller comprises a user interface. 
     
     
         20 . A system for use with a subsea well, comprising:
 a valve comprising a valve body with a closure member configured to move between an open position and a closed position within the valve body to selectively control fluid flow through the subsea well;   a valve actuator coupled to the valve and configured to move the valve between the open position and the closed position, the valve actuator comprising:
 a housing fixably coupled to the valve body; 
 a sleeve having a first end rotatably coupled to the housing and a second end projecting out of the housing; 
 a valve stem partially disposed within the sleeve and extending into the valve body; 
 a screw member coupled to the valve stem and the sleeve so that rotation of the sleeve causes translation of the valve stem; 
 a transmission coupled to the housing and engaged with the sleeve; and 
 a motor coupled to the transmission so that operation of the motor causes rotation of the sleeve; and 
   a remote controller configured to communicate with and control the valve actuator.