Emergency shutdown and disconnect of subsea tools using orientation

Abstract

Initiating an emergency shutdown and disconnect (ESD) sequence includes measuring an angle of the tubular member with respect to vertical using a sensor that is coupled to the tubular member. It may also be determined whether the angle exceeds a predetermined threshold for a predetermined amount of time. The ESD sequence is initiated when the angle exceeds the predetermined threshold for the predetermined amount of time.

1 . A method for initiating an emergency shutdown and disconnect (ESD) sequence, comprising:
 measuring an angle of the tubular member with respect to vertical using a sensor that is coupled to the tubular member;   utilizing a controller positioned within the tubular member to determine whether the angle exceeds a predetermined threshold for a predetermined amount of time; and   utilizing the controller to automatically initiate the ESD sequence when the angle exceeds the predetermined threshold for the predetermined amount of time.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount of time comprises a single, continuous interval of time. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount of time comprises multiple intervals of time in the aggregate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the angle exceeds the predetermined threshold for the predetermined amount of time comprises:
 determining whether the angle exceeds a first predetermined threshold for a first predetermined amount of time; and   determining whether the angle exceeds a second predetermined threshold for a second predetermined amount of time.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first predetermined threshold is greater than the second predetermined threshold, and wherein the first predetermined amount of time is less than the second predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises:
 a first sensor that is coupled to the tubular member proximate to an upper flex joint; and   a second sensor that is coupled to the tubular member proximate to a lower flex joint.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined threshold comprises:
 a first predetermined threshold for the first sensor; and   a second predetermined threshold for the second sensor, wherein the first and second predetermined thresholds are different.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising measuring a depth of the first sensor, the second sensor, or both using a depth sensor, wherein a weight assigned to the angle is dependent upon the depth. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a weight assigned to the angle is pre-programmed. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the angle comprises three angles, one with respect to a vertical axis, one with respect to a first horizontal axis, and one with respect to a second horizontal axis. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the three angles exceeding the predetermined threshold for the predetermined amount of time indicates a corkscrewing movement of the tubular member. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the angle exceeds the predetermined threshold for the predetermined amount of time indicates a fatigue level of the tubular member. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least three accelerometers and at least three gyroscopes. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein initiating the ESD sequence comprises disconnecting at least a portion of the tubular member from subsea well equipment. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein initiating the ESD sequence comprises shutting-in a well. 
     
     
         16 . A method for initiating an emergency shutdown and disconnect (ESD) sequence, comprising:
 measuring a first angle of the tubular member using a first sensor that is coupled to the tubular member at a first location;   measuring a second angle of the tubular member using a second sensor that is coupled to the tubular member at a second location that is different than the first location;   utilizing a controller positioned within the tubular member to determine whether the first angle exceeds a first predetermined threshold a first predetermined number of times that is greater than one, or the second angle exceeds a second predetermined threshold a second predetermined number of times that is greater than one; and   initiating the ESD sequence when the first angle exceeds the first predetermined threshold the first predetermined number of times or when the second angle exceeds the second predetermined threshold the second predetermined number of times.   
     
     
         17 . A system, comprising:
 a tubular member;   an instrumentation module coupled to the tubular member, wherein the instrumentation module comprises one or more sensors configured to measure an angle of the tubular member; and   a controller positioned within the tubular member and configured to determine whether the angle exceeds a predetermined threshold for a predetermined amount of time, a predetermined number of times that is greater than one, or both, and wherein, in response to the angle exceeding the predetermined threshold for the predetermined amount of time, the predetermined number of times that is greater than one, or both, the controller is configured to disconnect at least a portion of the tubular member from subsea well equipment, shut-in a well, or both.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise:
 a first sensor configured to measure a first angle of the tubular member with respect to a vertical axis;   a second sensor configured to measure a second angle of the tubular member with respect to a first horizontal axis; and   a third sensor configured to measure a third angle of the tubular member with respect to a second horizontal axis that is perpendicular to the first horizontal axis.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more sensors also comprise:
 a first accelerometer and a first gyroscope corresponding to a vertical axis;   a second accelerometer and a second gyroscope corresponding to a first horizontal axis; and   a third accelerometer and a third gyroscope corresponding to a second horizontal axis that is perpendicular to the first horizontal axis.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the instrumentation module comprises:
 a first instrumentation module coupled to the tubular member at a first location; and   a second instrumentation module coupled to the tubular member at a second location that is below the first location.