Multi-Well Controller

• US 20070175640A1
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ChampionX LLC (ChampionX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Production Control Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Atencio, Michael E., Walsh, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,950,464 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/369
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/00 Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells applicable only to water E03B
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

An improved multi-well control system (MWCS) has a centrally based multi-well controller (MWC) acting as a master controller in communication with one or more slave controllers and one or more electronic flow measurement devices (EFMs) for instant data and control monitoring individual wells. Also providing an application host sub-system in communication with the MWC for historical data retention and instant data for override control and monitoring. The system capable of allocating one or more wells assignable to a group and organization of groups dependent on production levels of individual wells. The MWC capable of tracking gas volumes produced by each well independent of groupings and communicating such data to the automated host sub-system. The MWC providing monitoring and tracking data from one or more EFM devices and assigning total flow volume to individual wells. The entire MWCS resulting in reduction of manpower and increase in overall production efficiency.

Claims

1. A well control system for monitoring and controlling at least one hydrocarbon production well, said system comprising:

at least one master well controller capable of communicating with one or more slave well controllers; and

wherein the system monitors data derived from said one or more slave well controllers and adjusts well production parameters based on at least a portion of said data.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising one or more electronic flow measurement devices capable of communicating with said at least one master well controller.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein data derived from said one or more electronic flow measurement devices is monitorable by said at least one master well controller and can be used to adjust well production parameters.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one master well controller further comprises means for accessing said data derived from said one or more slave well controllers.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one master well controller can control and operate a plurality of hydrocarbon production wells.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one master well controller is capable of assigning one or more individual wells to a group.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said group can be characterized based on a production level of said one or more individual wells.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said at least one master well controller synchronizes well production for one or more groups.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein said at least one electronic flow measurement device is capable of monitoring gas volumes produced from one or more individual wells.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one master well controller is capable of monitoring gas rates and/or gas volumes produced from one or more individual wells.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said gas rate and/or gas volume data can be communicated to an automated host for data retention or well control and/or to facilitate system changes.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one master well controller can assign some or all of a total flow volume to one or more individual wells.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one master well controller can assign a portion of a flow volume to one or more individual dummy wells to facilitate an allocation of production.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one master well controller synchronizes well production for one or more individual wells.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more slave well controllers can control and adjust well production based on said data derived from one or more slave well controllers if communication with said at least one master well controller is lost.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising an application host capable of communicating with said at least one master well controller for data retention or well control and/or to facilitate system changes.

17. The system of claim 5, wherein each of said hydrocarbon production wells can be equipped with a plunger lift system controllable by said at least one master well controller or said one or more slave well controllers.

18. The system of claim 6, wherein said at least one master well controller further comprises means for accessing well data derived from said group.

19. The system of claim 8 further comprising a synchronization of one or more groupings of meter runs and/or electronic flow meters in said one or more groups.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein said well synchronization is based on a control of well cycle time.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one master well controller can perform one or more verification tests to determine a communication status with said one or more slave well controllers.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said at least one master well controller can communicate a revised production schedule to said one or more slave well controllers after verifying a communication link with said one or more slave well controllers.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein said data derived from said one or more slave well controllers can be used to determine a well'"'"'s set points.

24. A well control system for remotely monitoring and controlling one or more hydrocarbon production wells, said system comprising:

at least one master well controller in communication with one or more slave well controllers;

one or more electronic flow measurement devices capable of communicating with said at least one master well controller; and

wherein said at least one master well controller monitors data derived from said one or more electronic flow measurement devices and adjusts well production parameters of said one or more wells based on at least a portion of said data.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said at least one master well controller further comprises means for accessing said data derived from said one or more slave well controllers.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said at least one master well controller is capable of assigning one or more individual wells to a group.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said group can be characterized based on a production level of said one or more individual wells.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein said at least one master well controller synchronizes well production for one or more groups.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein said at least one electronic flow measurement device is capable of monitoring gas volumes produced from one or more individual wells.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein said at least one master well controller is capable of monitoring gas rates and/or gas volumes produced from one or more individual wells.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein said gas rate and/or gas volume data can be communicated to an automated host for data retention and/or management.

32. The system of claim 24, wherein said at least one master well controller can assign total flow volume to one or more individual wells.

33. The system of claim 24, wherein said at least one master well controller synchronizes well production for one or more individual wells.

34. The system of claim 24, wherein said one or more slave well controllers can control and adjust well production based on said data derived from one or more slave well controllers if communication with said at least one master well controller is lost.

35. The system of claim 24, wherein said one or more electronic flow measurement devices can be assigned to any one or more wells.

36. The system of claim 24 further comprising an application host capable of communicating with said at least one master well controller for data retention or well control and/or to facilitate system changes.

37. The system of claim 24, wherein said each of one or more wells can be equipped with a plunger lift system controllable by said at least one master well controller.

38. The system of claim 26, wherein said at least one master well controller further comprises means for accessing well data derived from said group.

39. The system of claim 33 further comprising a synchronization of one or more groupings of meter runs and/or electronic flow meters in said one or more individual wells and/or one or more groups of wells.

40. The system of claim 24, wherein said at least one master well controller can assign a portion of a flow volume to one or more individual wells to facilitate an allocation of production.

41. The system of claim 33, wherein said well synchronization is based on a control of well cycle time.

42. The system of claim 24, wherein said data derived from said one or more electronic flow measurement devices can be extracted during a well'"'"'s shut in time or during a well'"'"'s sales time.

43. A well control system for controlling a plurality of hydrocarbon production wells in a multiple well facility, said system comprising:

at least one master well controller in communication with one or more slave well controllers;

said one or more slave well controllers capable of receiving and recording data from one or more electronic flow measurement devices in communication with said plurality of hydrocarbon production wells; and

wherein said at least one master well controller monitors data derived from said one or more electronic flow measurement devices and adjusts well production parameters in said plurality of production wells based on said data.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein said at least one master well controller further comprises means for accessing said data derived from said one or more slave well controllers.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein each of said plurality of hydrocarbon production wells can be equipped with a plunger lift system controllable by said at least one master well controller.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein said at least one master well controller can assign at least a portion of a flow volume to one or more individual wells to facilitate an allocation of production.

47. The system of claim 43, wherein said at least one master well controller can synchronize well production for one or more individual wells based on a control of well cycle time.

48. A method of synchronizing one or more wells, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing production data associated with one or more wells;

assigning said one or more wells to one or more well groups in a well grouping configuration; and

synchronizing said one or more wells within said one or more well groups to operate in relation one to another.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the step of establishing production data further comprises categorizing said one or more wells as a high producer or a lower producer.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the step of assigning said one or more wells further comprises combining one or more lower producers to optimize well production.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the step of assigning said one or more wells further comprises regulating high producers to optimize production.

52. The method of claim 48, wherein the step of synchronizing said one or more wells further comprises assigning a dynamic time slot based on said production data to said one or more wells, said dynamic time slot useful for calculating a sequence in which said one or more wells can be opened.

53. The method of claim 48, wherein the step of synchronizing said one or more wells further comprises enabling lower producers to open in view of high producers.

54. The method of claim 48, wherein the step of assigning said one or more wells further comprises grouping meter runs and/or electronic flow measurement devices within said one or more well groups.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein the step of synchronizing said one or more wells further comprises modifying said dynamic time slot assigned to said one or more wells based on production data.

56. The method of claim 48 further comprising the step of reassigning said one or more wells in said well grouping configuration based on modified production data.

57. The method of claim 56 further comprising the step of resynchronizing said one or more wells within said one or more well groups.

58. The method of claim 48 further comprising the step of dynamically resynchronizing said one or more wells within said one or more well groups based on one or more algorithms, thereby allowing for customization and/or optimization of well production.

59. A multi-well control system capable of synchronizing one or more groups of wells based on production characteristics, said system comprising:

at least one master well controller capable of communicating with one or more slave well controllers each capable of receiving production data from one or more wells;

wherein said production data can be used to establish a well grouping configuration comprising of one or more wells assignable to one or more well groups; and

wherein said one or more wells can be synchronized to operate in relation to one another in said well grouping configuration.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein said assignment of wells can be based on a production level of said one or more wells.

61. The system of claim 60 further comprising a grouping of one or more wells to regulate one or more higher producing wells in view of lower producing wells, thereby enabling said lower producing wells an opportunity to produce for a period of time.

62. The system of claim 59, wherein said at least one master well controller can modify said synchronization of said one or more wells based on an analysis of said well production data.

63. The system of claim 59, wherein said one or more slave well controllers can control said well synchronization based on said data derived from one or more slave well controllers if communication with said at least one master well controller is lost.

64. The system of claim 59, wherein said synchronization further comprises assigning a dynamic time slot based on said production data to said one or more wells, said dynamic time slot useful for calculating a sequence in which said one or more wells can be opened.

65. The system of claim 64 further comprising modification of said dynamic time slot assigned to said one or more wells based on production data.

66. The system of claim 59, wherein said at least one master well controller can remove one or more wells in said well grouping configuration if communication with one or more associated slave well controllers is lost.

67. A multi-well control system capable of monitoring and allocating production from one or more wells, said system comprising:

at least one master well controller capable of communicating with one or more slave well controllers, each capable of receiving production data from one or more wells;

wherein product from one or more open wells can flow across a respective meter during production, before said one or more open wells shut in and one or more successor wells opens, thereby becoming known as predecessor wells;

wherein an amount of product attributable to said one or more predecessor wells can continue to flow across a respective meter; and

wherein said attributable amount of product can be allocated to a specific target.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein said target further comprises said one or more predecessor wells which originate said amount of product before said one or more successor wells opens.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein said one or more successor wells may not be allowed to be open until product flow through said respective meter has diminished to a predetermined set point.

70. The system of claim 67, wherein said target further comprises at least one phantom well.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein said at least one phantom well represents product measured between the time that said one or more predecessor wells shuts in and said one or more successor wells opens.

72. The system of claim 70, wherein at least a portion of said amount of product in said at least one phantom well can be apportioned to an owner/investor.

73. In conjunction with a system having at least one master well controller capable of communicating with one or more slave well controllers, a method comprising the steps of:

signaling said one or more slave well controllers to verify an integrity of a communication link with said at least one master well controller; and

allowing said one or more slave well controllers to control at least one hydrocarbon production well if said communication link is broken.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein said one or more slave well controllers can operate based on data derived from said one or more slave well controllers and can adjust well production parameters based on at least a portion of said data.

75. The method of claim 73, wherein said one or more slave well controllers can operate to maintain well production based on a stored electronic file of data.

76. The method of claim 73, wherein said one or more slave well controllers can determine a last cycle time of a respective well and/or an allocated time slot for said respective well.

77. The method of claim 73 further comprising the step of performing a number of verification tests to determine a communication status.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein one of said verification tests comprises recording a behavior of said one or more slave well controllers to indicate that a communication failure has occurred.

79. The method of claim 73 further comprising the step of incorporating a host system capable of recognizing a communication loss with said at least one master well controller controlling said at least one hydrocarbon production well if said communication link is broken.

80. A method of scheduling one or more wells to open in relation to each other, said method comprising the steps of:

assigning a value to one or more wells, said value representing a scheduling priority of said one or more wells;

wherein said one or more wells assigned a highest priority in relation to another of said one or more wells can be scheduled to open before said another of said one or more wells; and

determining if said one or more wells assigned a highest priority is ready to open.

81. The method of claim 80 further comprising the step of opening said one or more wells assigned a highest priority for production if well conditions are ready.

82. The method of claim 81 further comprising the step of reassigning a value representing a lowest scheduling priority to said one or more opened wells.

83. The method of claim 82 further comprising the step of reassigning a value representing a highest scheduling priority to another of said one or more wells, signifying that said another of said one or more wells can be the next well to open if well conditions are ready.

84. The method of claim 83 further comprising the step of opening said another one or more wells if well conditions are ready and changing its scheduling priority.

85. The method of claim 83 further comprising the step of bypassing one or more wells assigned a highest priority but not ready to open and determining if one or more wells assigned a next highest priority is ready to open.

86. The method of claim 85 further comprising the step of determining if said one or more bypassed wells is ready to open.

87. The method of claim 80, wherein one or more wells that has been shut in for the longest period of time in relation to another of said one or more wells is assigned a highest priority.

88. The method of claim 80 further comprising the step of bypassing one or more wells assigned a highest priority but not ready to open and determining if one or more wells assigned a next highest priority is ready to open.

89. The method of claim 88 further comprising the step of determining if said one or more bypassed wells is ready to open.

90. A well control system comprising:

at least one master well controller capable of utilizing production data associated with one or more wells to establish a well'"'"'s operational status and assigning a value to said one or more wells, said value representing a changeable scheduling hierarchy of said one or more wells;

wherein one or more wells assigned a highest priority in relation to another of said one or more wells can be scheduled to open before said another of said one or more wells;

wherein said highest priority is designated for said one or more wells shut in for the longest period of time in relation to another of said one or more wells; and

said at least one master well controller capable of determining if well conditions are suitable for one or more wells to open.

91. The system of claim 90, wherein said at least one master well controller can schedule a bypass of said one or more wells assigned a highest priority but not ready to open and allow one or more wells assigned a next highest priority to open if well conditions are suitable.

92. The system of claim 91, wherein said at least one master well controller can determine if said one or more bypassed wells is ready to open.

93. The system of claim 90, wherein said scheduling hierarchy comprises moving one or more open wells to a bottom of a priority list and moving another of said one or more wells to a higher position on said priority list.

94. The system of claim 90, wherein said at least one master well controller can determine a well'"'"'s suitability for opening based on a well'"'"'s set points.

95. The system of claim 90, wherein said at least one master well controller can remove one or more non-communicating wells from said scheduling hierarchy.