Apparatus for controlling a submarine well head

1,060,774. Control of several motors. HYDRIL CO. Feb. 6, 1964, No. 31758/66. Divided out of 1,060,773. Heading H2J. [Also in Divisions E1 and F2] The valves 235, 236, 239 of an underwater wellhead are each actuated by electrical circuits (272), (272a) on a vessel 256. The valves 235, 236 control the flow of production fluid to a barge 238, and the valve 239 controls the flow of mud or other fluid through the pipe 240 to the well. Fluid is supplied by a pipe 255 to a chamber 250 which contains motors and valves controlling flow to the actuators 241, 242, 243 of the valves 235, 236, 239 respectively, the current for the motors being supplied by cable 292. In a modification (Fig. 2, not shown) the valves 235, 236, 239 are directly coupled to actuating motors. A reversible motor (271) (Fig. 3, not shown) is typical of one of the motors in the chamber 250, or one of the valve actuating motors in the modified construction. With the current switched on the power is insufficient to move the motor but lamps (290), (290a) glow dimly. When the switch (287a) only is depressed the motor rotates its valve and the lamp (290a) glows brightly before going out as the motor operates a pressure or a torque switch (295a) when the valve closes fully. The valve is opened by depressing switch (287) only, the lamp (290) glowing brightly before going out as the valve is fully opened. An emergency D.C. supply 301 is provided. In a modified circuit pressure switches adjacent the switches (295), (295a) cause further lamps to indicate that the valve is between open and closed positions.