Instrumentation system for determining risk factors

Abstract

An instrumentation system ( 300 ) for monitoring one or more valves ( 20 ) of an assembly ( 110 ) includes one or more sensors ( 120 ) coupled to the one or more valves ( 20 ), and a data processing arrangement ( 140 ) for processing sensor signals generated by the one or more sensors ( 120 ) to provide an indication of operation of said one or more valves ( 20 ). The one or more sensors ( 120 ) and the data processing arrangement ( 140 ) are operable to compute one or more risk factors (R) from the sensor signals indicative of operating reliability and/or safety of the one or more valves ( 20 ). The instrumentation system ( 300 ) is, for example, suitable for use with valves of the X-mas tree (Christmas tree) assembly for oil and gas production, for example in a sub-sea environment.

1 . An instrumentation system ( 300 ) for monitoring one or more valves ( 20 ) of an assembly ( 110 ), wherein said system ( 300 ) includes one or more sensors ( 120 ) coupled to said one or more valves ( 20 ), and a data processing arrangement ( 140 ) for processing sensor signals generated by said one or more sensors ( 120 ) to provide an indication of operation of said one or more valves ( 20 ),
 characterized in that   said one or more sensors ( 120 ) and said data processing arrangement ( 140 ) are operable to compute one or more risk factors (R) from said sensor signals indicative of operating reliability and/or safety of said one or more valves ( 20 ).   
     
     
         2 . An instrumentation system ( 300 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said instrumentation system ( 300 ) is adapted for monitoring said one or more valves ( 20 ) incorporated into an oil and/or gas production assembly ( 110 ). 
     
     
         3 . An instrumentation system ( 300 ) as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that said oil and/or gas production assembly ( 110 ) and the system ( 300 ) are adapted for sub-sea operation. 
     
     
         4 . An instrumentation system ( 300 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that each valve ( 20 ) includes a corresponding adjustable flow controlling element ( 310 ), an actuator arrangement ( 420 ) for actuating said flow controlling element ( 310 ), and said one or more sensors ( 120 ) are operable to sense:
 (a) a dynamic pressure difference across said element ( 310 );   (b) a cavity ( 350 ) pressure indicative of leakage of one or more seals of said element ( 310 );   (c) a torque generated by said actuator arrangement ( 420 ) when actuating said element ( 310 ); and   (d) a pressure of actuating fluid supplied to said actuator arrangement ( 420 ).   
     
     
         5 . An instrumentation system ( 300 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said one or more sensors ( 120 ) and a communication arrangement ( 130 ) coupling said one or more sensors ( 120 ) to said data processing arrangement ( 140 ) are arranged to be constructed to an intrinsically safe standard. 
     
     
         6 . An instrumentation system ( 300 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the data processing arrangement ( 140 ) is operable to compute said one or more risk factors (R) taking into account at least flow characteristics of a flow of fluid through said one or more valves ( 20 ) as sensed by said one or more sensors ( 120 ). 
     
     
         7 . A method of employing an instrumentation system ( 300 ) for monitoring one or more valves ( 20 ) of an assembly ( 110 ), characterized in that said method includes:
 (a) including one or more sensors ( 120 ) coupled to said one or more valves ( 20 ), and a data processing arrangement ( 140 ) for processing sensor signals generated by said one or more sensors ( 120 ); and   (b) using said data processing arrangement ( 140 ) for processing sensor signals generated in operation by said one or more sensors ( 120 ) to compute one or more risk factors (R) from said sensor signals indicative of operating reliability and/or safety of said one or more valves ( 20 ).   
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that said method further includes:
 (c) sensing using said one or more sensors ( 120 ) in respect of each valve ( 20 ) for a corresponding adjustable flow controlling element ( 310 ), and an actuator arrangement ( 420 ) for actuating said flow controlling element ( 310 ), following parameters:
 (i) a dynamic pressure difference across said element ( 310 ): 
 (ii) a cavity ( 350 ) pressure indicative of leakage of one or more seals of said element ( 310 ); 
 (iii) a torque generated by said actuator arrangement ( 420 ) when actuating said element ( 310 ); and 
 (iv) a pressure of actuating fluid supplied to said actuator arrangement ( 420 ). 
   
     
     
         9 . A software product ( 150 ) recorded on machine-readable data storage media, characterized in that said software product ( 150 ) is executable on computing hardware ( 140 ) for implementing a method as claimed in  claim 7 . 
     
     
         10 . An assembly ( 110 ) including one or more valves ( 20 ) for controlling fluid flow within said assembly ( 110 ), characterized in that said assembly includes an instrumentation system ( 300 ) as claimed in  claim 1 .