CPC E21B 21/106 (2013.01) [E21B 21/001 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
1. A hydraulic protection system for preventing collapse of a hydraulic line in the event of a loss of pressure occurring, the system comprising:
a pressure sensing assembly which is arranged, in use, to monitor a pressure differential between fluid external to the hydraulic line and fluid contained within the hydraulic line; and
a pressure compensation assembly which is adapted to be coupled to the hydraulic line and which is exposed, in use, to the fluid external to the hydraulic line;
in which, in the event of a loss of pressure in the hydraulic line occurring, the pressure compensation assembly is operable to employ the pressure of the fluid external to the hydraulic line to increase the pressure of the fluid contained within the hydraulic line and thereby compensate for the loss;
in which the system is arranged so that the pressure compensation assembly is operated when the pressure differential monitored by the pressure sensing assembly reaches a predetermined level, which is below a collapse pressure of the hydraulic line, so that exposure of the hydraulic line to the collapse pressure is avoided and collapse of the line prevented;
in which the pressure compensation assembly is arranged so that:
in a main operational state, it can communicate the pressure of the external fluid to the fluid within the hydraulic line; and
in a further operational state, it permits fluid communication between the external fluid and the fluid in the hydraulic line.
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