Design and Performance Evaluation of an Ultradeepwater Subsea BlowoutPreventer Control System Using Shape Memory Alloy Actuators (2006)

Design and Performance Evaluation of an Ultradeepwater Subsea Blowout Preventer Control System Using Shape Memory Alloy Actuators Ning Ma; Ning Ma University of Houston Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar ziping hu; ziping hu Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Robello Samuel; Robello Samuel Halliburton Digital and Consulting Solutions Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Christine A. Ehlig-Economides; Christine A. Ehlig-Economides Texas A&M University Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Gangbing Song Gangbing Song University of Houston Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas, USA, September 2006. Paper Number: SPE-101080-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/101080-MS Published: September 24 2006 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Ma, Ning, hu, ziping, Samuel, Robello, Ehlig-Economides, Christine A., and Gangbing Song. "Design and Performance Evaluation of an Ultradeepwater Subsea Blowout Preventer Control System Using Shape Memory Alloy Actuators." Paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas, USA, September 2006. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/101080-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition Search Advanced Search AbstractAs drilling moves to ultradeepwater, conventional blowout preventers (BOP) actuation technologies based on full or partial hydraulics are unable to meet the API standard for control system response times because of long hydraulic fluid communication path between an offshore platform and a BOP stack on the sea floor. Now that an ultradeepwater subsea blowout preventer (SSBOP) control system using shape memory alloy actuators has been demonstrated in the laboratory, several practical issues can be addressed.The experimental device uses nitinol smart alloy material (SMA). It can be actuated by electrical heating, thereby replacing hydraulic actuation and hydraulic lines with electric cables. Alternatively, the SMA actuator system can be activated by chemical heating. With significantly fewer components, the SMA system will dramatically reduce total cost and will increase operation reliability. The new device can easily be retrofitted to existing conventional subsea control system thus enabling other methods to be used as a backup. Most importantly, the innovative all-electric BOP will provide a much faster response than its hydraulic counterpart and will improve safety for subsea drilling. The BOP actuator uses strands of SMA wires to achieve large force and large displacement in a remarkably small space. Experimental results demonstrate that the BOP can be activated and fully closed in less than 15 seconds.This paper considers chemical and thermal energy sources as alternatives to electricity and ways to trigger an automatic mechanism. Additionally, a model is used to calculate the SMA length and diameter that will be required to provide sufficient force for different types and diameters of BOP rams (blind, pipe, or shear) or the annular BOP, and the energy requirements in each case. The model also addresses the range of pressures and temperatures that can be handled. Simple guidelines are presented along with practical field examples for different types of BOP hook ups. Introduction As drilling moves from land to offshore, to deepwater, and to ultradeepwater, blowout preventers (BOP) inevitably are challenged to act faster and more reliably in severe ocean conditions. Ultradeepwater rigs require a faster and more sophisticated control system for the subsea BOP (SSBOP) that connects the riser and the wellhead thousands feet down from the surface. API RP16E1 mandates that an annular SSBOP shuts down within 60 seconds and a ram SSBOP closes in 45 seconds or less. Norsok standard2 response time for closing subsea rams is 30 seconds except for annuli above 20″, which has up to 45 seconds to close. The industry's preference is to close wells as soon as possible. Keywords: closing force, control system, SMA actuator, well control equipment, ram preventer, preventer, Drilling Equipment, Ssbop, requirement, transformation Subjects: Drilling Equipment, Well control equipment This content is only available via PDF. 2006. Society of Petroleum Engineers You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.