Abstract: A system and method for automatically preventing a collision between objects is described. One or more images of a working space may be collected, and a first object may be identified based on the one or more images. Three-dimensional coordinates of the first object may be determined, and a virtual boundary enclosing the identified first object in a three-dimensional coordinate system may be generated based on the three-dimensional coordinates of the first object, wherein the virtual boundary specifies a volume in the working space that a second object in the working space should not occupy. The coordinates in the three-dimensional coordinate system corresponding to the generated virtual boundary may be transmitted to a second processor, and the second processor may control the second object to perform an operation in the working space that includes the first object without contacting the virtual boundary of the first object.

Abstract: A hybrid power plant is characterized by a substantially constant load on generators regardless of momentary swings in power load. Short changes in power load are accommodated by DC components such as capacitors, batteries, resistors, or a combination thereof. Resistors are used to consume power when loads in the power plant are generating excess power. Capacitors are used to store and deliver power when the loads in the power plant demand additional power. Reducing rapid changes in power load as seen by the generators allows the generators to operate at higher efficiencies and with reduced emissions. Additionally, power plants employing combinations of generators, loads, and energy storage devices have increased dynamic performance.

Abstract: A subsea energy storage for well control equipment, wherein stored energy near a well on the sea floor monitors and activates well control equipment independently of, or in conjunction with, hydraulic energy. Energy to the subsea energy storage can be supplied by surface umbilical, remotely-operated vehicle, or by subsea electrical generation from stored hydraulic energy. Stored electrical energy may also recharge stored hydraulic energy. A subsea control system is configured to record data, compare the data to predetermined event signatures, and operate the well control equipment with stored electrical energy.

Abstract: A derrick structure may include a plurality of drilling rotating/hoisting/circulation (RHC) traveling block/top drive like systems that can move between and are fully functional on multiple well centers. With such a configuration, one RHC can be disconnected from the drill lines and suspended in the drilling derrick allowing two hoisting systems with separate motors to function simultaneously on a single well center, thus doubling the lifting capability on that well center. For example, one traveling block may be suspended and its associated drill line and winch coupled to another traveling block on a different well center.

Abstract: Pressure in subsea systems, and accumulators of the subsea systems, may be increased through the use of a supercharge cylinder to generate higher pressures from an initial pressure provided from a surface vessel. The supercharge cylinder may include a piston that can be stroked to increase pressure stored in accumulators located near subsea systems, such as a blowout preventer (BOP). The increased pressure provided by the supercharge cylinder may allow the same number of accumulators to be used in the subsea system but allow additional effective hydraulic fluid to be stored in the accumulators.

Abstract: A tubular connection made during various oil and/or gas operations such as a tripping operation can be identified based on received data such as hookload and/or block position data. A type of tubular connected can also identified by comparing hookload and/or block position data to a tubular specification database. The identification of the tubular connection and/or type of tubular connected can be used to measure a machine sequence, such as a tripping sequence. The measurement of the machine sequence can be used to optimize an operation such as a tripping or drilling operation.

Abstract: An enhanced riser control system may employ electrical tensioners coupled to a drilling riser by wires. The electrical tensioners may provide quick response to a tension controller to handle positioning of the drilling riser. The electrical tensioners of the enhanced riser control system may be combined with hydro-pneumatic tensioners in a riser hybrid tensioning system. A controller within the enhanced riser control system may be configured to distribute tension to electrical tensioners and to control electrical tensioners to adjust the length of the first and second wires. Energy from an electrical tensioner may be transferred to an energy storage system or to power dissipaters for dissipating the energy generated by the electrical tensioner. The energy transferred from an electrical tensioner may be energy that has been generated by the electrical tensioner.

Abstract: A riser data logging system can be installed on the riser top to provide real time information of the riser, instead of or in addition to relying on sensors installed on a tensioner. The riser recoil detection system can thus be made independent of any motion of the vessel. This logging system can feedback the riser top acceleration, velocity, position, and the wire-line tensions into a controller. By comparing the acceleration difference between the riser top and the vessel body, the controller can provide more reliable and faster detection of events occurring on a vessel, potentially detecting the condition within one second. If the acceleration exceeds a certain limit, the electrical tensioners are able to reduce the wire-line tension nearly instantaneously, providing a much more effective anti-recoil control that conventional hydro-pneumatic tensioners.

Abstract: A riser data logging system can be installed on the riser top to provide real time information of the riser, instead of or in addition to relying on sensors installed on a tensioner. The riser recoil detection system can thus be made independent of any motion of the vessel. This logging system can feedback the riser top acceleration, velocity, position, and the wire-line tensions into a controller. By comparing the acceleration difference between the riser top and the vessel body, the controller can provide more reliable and faster detection of events occurring on a vessel, potentially detecting the condition within one second. If the acceleration exceeds a certain limit, the electrical tensioners are able to reduce the wire-line tension nearly instantaneously, providing a much more effective anti-recoil control that conventional hydro-pneumatic tensioners.

Abstract: An enhanced riser control system may employ electrical tensioners coupled to a drilling riser by wires. The electrical tensioners may provide quick response to a tension controller to handle positioning of the drilling riser. The electrical tensioners of the enhanced riser control system may be combined with hydro-pneumatic tensioners in a riser hybrid tensioning system. A controller within the enhanced riser control system may be configured to distribute tension to electrical tensioners and to control electrical tensioners to adjust the length of the first and second wires. Energy from an electrical tensioner may be transferred to an energy storage system or to power dissipaters for dissipating the energy generated by the electrical tensioner. The energy transferred from an electrical tensioner may be energy that has been generated by the electrical tensioner.

Abstract: A power system may include autonomous breakers coupling generators to a main bus. The autonomous breakers may detect deviation of power parameters of the main bus from a predetermined range and couple generators to the main bus to bring the power parameters within the predetermined range. Autonomous breakers may further couple loads to the main bus and may adjust loads to bring the power parameters back within the predetermined range. Breakers may also check for faults in buses and within themselves before closing and coupling power system components to each other.

Abstract: Provided is a locking apparatus for a damping device of a moonpool, which can automatically lock and unlock an opened state of the damping device of the moonpool. The locking apparatus includes: one or more first locking members installed in a sidewall of the moonpool; one or more second locking members installed in a side of the damping device; and a holding unit separably holding the first locking members and the second locking members when the damping devices are in the opened state.

Abstract: A derrick structure may include a plurality of drilling rotating/hoisting/circulation (RHC) traveling block/top drive like systems that can move between and are fully functional on multiple well centers. With such a configuration, one RHC can be disconnected from the drill lines and suspended in the drilling derrick allowing two hoisting systems with separate motors to function simultaneously on a single well center, thus doubling the lifting capability on that well center. For example, one traveling block may be suspended and its associated drill line and winch coupled to another traveling block on a different well center.

Abstract: Provided is a ventilating apparatus for a drill ship, which allows a drill ship sailing around an arctic region to maintain appropriate temperature and pressure. The ventilating apparatus for the drill ship includes: a derrick forming an enclosed space blocked from the exterior; a moonpool formed under the derrick; an air supply device supplying outside air to the moonpool or the derrick; and an air exhaust device exhausting the supplied outside air out of the top of the derrick.

Abstract: A load and stress of a tensioner may be determined from the change in the strain of the tensioner. The strain of the tensioner may be detected by an optical device having a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) that is attached to the tensioner. An electrical signal may be generated in response to the detected change in the mechanical strain of the tensioner by processing the light reflected from an optical fiber coupled to the optical device. The electrical signal may be processed to calculate a load on the tensioner. The calculated load may be stored and analyzed, along with previously-stored values for the load, to determine the condition of the tensioner system, and whether the tensioner system requires maintenance.

Abstract: An autonomous breaker can apply a current through a high impedance source to a bus coupled to either end of a breaker in order to measure an impedance of the bus. The status of the bus can be determined from the measurement. Based on the determined status, a fault detection procedure can be selected and implemented to determine if a fault exists on the bus. When the fault detection procedure has been implemented and no fault has been detected, the breaker can close, and thus couple the bus to another bus.

Abstract: A subsea energy storage for well control equipment, wherein stored energy near a well on the sea floor monitors and activates well control equipment independently of, or in conjunction with, hydraulic energy. Energy to the subsea energy storage can be supplied by surface umbilical, remotely-operated vehicle, or by subsea electrical generation from stored hydraulic energy. Stored electrical energy may also recharge stored hydraulic energy. A subsea control system is configured to record data, compare the data to predetermined event signatures, and operate the well control equipment with stored electrical energy.

Abstract: Two or more rotating towers on a drilling rig may be configured to rotate between one or more wells. The rotating towers may have a common well center, such that the two or more towers can operate over the same well to provide redundant or cooperative operations. Some example cooperative operations include heavy lifting and/or isochronous tripping operations. Redundancy can be provided by the two or more rotating towers to prevent equipment failures from halting operations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining if a vessel is experiencing a drive-off event, identifying a subsystem causing the drive-off event, and controlling a vessel to correct the drive-off event are disclosed. The determining may include processing, with a processor of the dynamic positioning control system, a modeled vessel motion and a measured vessel motion to determine whether there is a discrepancy between the modeled vessel motion and the measured vessel motion. The dynamic positioning (DP) control system may then take action to control vessel motion based, at least in part, on the processing of the modeled vessel motion and the measured vessel motion.

Abstract: A subsea energy storage for well control equipment, wherein stored energy near a well on the sea floor monitors and activates well control equipment independently of, or in conjunction with, hydraulic energy. Energy to the subsea energy storage can be supplied by surface umbilical, remotely-operated vehicle, or by subsea electrical generation from stored hydraulic energy. Stored electrical energy may also recharge stored hydraulic energy. A subsea control system is configured to record data, compare the data to predetermined event signatures, and operate the well control equipment with stored electrical energy.