Remotely-Operated Subsea Control Module

Abstract

Methods of replacing a subsea control module (SCM) associated with a subsea equipment comprising: identifying a condition indicating need for replacing the SCM; activating a remotely-operated subsea control module (ROSCM) located in a first location in a subsea field; maneuvering the ROSCM from the first location to a second location in the subsea field, wherein the ROSCM is self-propelled; connecting the ROSCM to a distribution system for the subsea equipment; providing at least one of hydraulic power, electrical power, and communications to the subsea equipment; and replacing the ROSCM with a second SCM. Also described are ROSCMs and subsea systems including such ROSCMs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of replacing a subsea control module (SCM) associated with a subsea equipment comprising:
 identifying a condition indicating need for replacing the SCM;   activating a remotely-operated subsea control module (ROSCM) located in a first location in a subsea field;   maneuvering the ROSCM from the first location to a second location in the subsea field, wherein the ROSCM is self-propelled;   connecting the ROSCM to a distribution system for the subsea equipment;   providing at least one of hydraulic power, electrical power, and communications to the subsea equipment; and   replacing the ROSCM with a second SCM.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the steps of identifying, activating, maneuvering, and connecting occur autonomously. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the condition indicating need for replacing the SCM comprises a loss of control of the subsea equipment, and wherein providing at least one of hydraulic power, electrical power, and communications to the subsea equipment via the distribution system restores control of the subsea equipment. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein connecting the ROSCM to the distribution system for the subsea equipment comprises connecting to at least one of:
 a spare umbilical termination assembly connection near the subsea equipment;   a hydraulic distribution system associated with the subsea equipment;   a power distribution system associated with the subsea equipment; and   a communication distribution system associated with the subsea equipment; and   receiving an operating instruction for the subsea equipment from a master control station (MCS).   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the operating instruction is an instruction to execute an emergency shut-down (ESD). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the time separating identifying the condition and connecting the ROSCM to the distribution system is less than 24 hours. 
     
     
         7 . A remotely-operated subsea control module (ROSCM) apparatus comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive an operating instruction from a remote location;   a propulsion mechanism configured to move the ROSCM from a first location in a subsea field to a second location in a subsea field;   a subsea electronics module (SEM) configured to provide local control instructions for a subsea equipment; and   an interface configured to provide at least one of hydraulic power, electrical power, and communications to the subsea equipment.   
     
     
         8 . The ROSCM apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a transmitter configured to transmit a wireless communication signal to the subsea equipment;   a wireless receiver configured to receive a wireless health monitoring signal from the subsea equipment; or   both.   
     
     
         9 . The ROSCM apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the interface comprises at least one of: a hot stab connection, an electrical connection, a fiber optic connection, a flying lead, and a stab plate. 
     
     
         10 . The ROSCM apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the interface is configured at least in part to manipulate a manual override at the subsea equipment. 
     
     
         11 . The ROSCM apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the interface is configured to couple to a distribution system for the subsea equipment. 
     
     
         12 . The ROSCM apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a buoyancy control component configured to periodically operate so as to place the ROSCM in a neutrally buoyant condition.   
     
     
         13 . The ROSCM apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the receiver is configured to communicate with a master control station (MCS). 
     
     
         14 . A subsea system comprising:
 a subsea wellhead;   a subsea equipment coupled to the subsea wellhead;   a subsea control module (SCM) operatively coupled to the subsea equipment;   a remotely-operated subsea control module (ROSCM) disposed at a first location in a subsea field, wherein the ROSCM comprises:   a receiver configured to receive an operating instruction from a remote location;   a propulsion mechanism configured to move the ROSCM from the first location in the subsea field to a second location in the subsea field; and   an interface configured to connect to at least one of:   a spare umbilical termination assembly (UTA) connection near the subsea equipment;   a hydraulic distribution system associated with the subsea equipment;   a power distribution system associated with the subsea equipment; and   a communication distribution system associated with the subsea equipment.   
     
     
         15 . The subsea system of  claim 14 , wherein the first location is a wet storage location. 
     
     
         16 . The subsea system of  claim 14 , further comprising a master control station (MCS), wherein the MCS is configured to communicate with the ROSCM. 
     
     
         17 . The subsea system of  claim 14 , wherein the remote location is a host platform. 
     
     
         18 . The subsea system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a power generation component configured to generate power using at least one of: tidal power, wave power, and geothermal power.   
     
     
         19 . The subsea system of  claim 14 , wherein the interface is configured to connect to the power distribution system associated with the subsea equipment, and wherein the connection transmits power wirelessly to the power distribution system associated with the subsea equipment.