Patent ID: 8122963

Claim:
A method of monitoring a solenoid of a directional control valve in a subsea hydrocarbon production control system, the directional control valve being associated with a subsea control module of a subsea well and the solenoid having a coil and an armature for actuating the valve, the method comprising: applying a voltage across the coil subsea by means in a subsea electronics module of the subsea control module for moving the armature; sampling an actuation current of the coil of the solenoid subsea by means in the subsea electronics module of the subsea control module over a predetermined period of time to produce measurements providing an indication of if and when the armature is moved; storing the measurements for the solenoid in a storing means in the subsea electronics module of the subsea control module to create a digitized profile for the solenoid of the directional control valve; and remotely monitoring the profile by means at a topside installation to assess degradation of the solenoid.