Power and Communication Gateway Module for intelligent systems

The All-Electric system architecture is based on a distributed controls topology with intelligence and energy storage located directly on the safety barrier element, the valve. From the XT level, The main interface towards the rest of the Subsea Production System (SPS) is the Power and Communication Gateway Module (PCGM) which acts as a media, protocol and voltage converter to the intelligent nodes on the valves, the Actuator Control Modules (ACM). PCGM is connected to SPS (normal production mode) or WOS (installation/intervention modes) from where power and communication to the eXT is established. The PCGM converts the communication and voltage from topside to the appropriate protocols within the eXT distributed SEM. Connection to the ACMs is via physically redundant harnesses. The PCGM unit is capable of interfacing with instrumentation. The module is fully developed, built and qualified. It has gone through the qualification process where the electronics were qualified individually and also as unit level. The module was tested individually and on a system level integrated with the All-Electric XT and has successfully provided all the functionalities that it was agreed in the design requirements. The technology is ready and qualified for subsea application.

Kvalifiseringen av denne teknologien er en game changer for olje- og gassundersjøisk virksomhet, da den gjør det mulig for bransjen å utvikle seg på en mer bærekraftig måte. Bruken av PCGM i undersjøiske XT-er er et første skritt, da det finnes andre muligheter for å anvende teknologien i annet undersjøisk utstyr. Kontinuerlig designutvikling vurderes for å gi enda bredere anvendelse av Power and Communication Gateway Module i undersjøisk virksomhet.

More stringent requirements for SPS systems is pushing the industry to replace hydraulics with electrical motors to operate subsea valves (all-electric actuator system). An all-electric eXT system shows merit of being better by reducing size/weight/cost while increasing flexibility and uptime and safety. Aker Solutions' underlying idea to achieve these benefits for a eXT is to 1) use electrical motor; (2) use battery for failsafe closing; (3) use distributed and smart controls on each valve to enable real-time monitoring, better valve control, and flexible adding of new components; and (4) make the distributed controls retractable and replaceable to allow cost efficient system upgrades as digitalization technology develops. To enable distributed controls on the all electric eXT it is need for a smaller more robust and flexible Power and Communication Gateway Module that can be used to convert different input power to a stable supply power for the intelligent actuators. The gateway will also enable different standard communication interfaces to the system. The main objective is to ensure the possibility to integrate the system solution into various field architectures with different power interfaces without re-qualification. This gives a more flexible system to enable integration both into brownfield and green field solution. The goal is the enable standard solution to give increased volumes higher availability and uptime while lowering cost (CAPEX/OPEX) For Aker Solutions and partners DEMO2000 funding is crucial; without it the launch-target will not be met and Norwegian engineering and manufacturing jobs are put at risk. If launch-target is met, Aker Solutions can bring contracts to Norway from a global all-electric market estimated to 7 BNOK over the next 10 years.