Control of hydrocarbon wells

• US 20030196790A1
• Filed: 04/07/2003
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Energy Technology UK Limited (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Vetco Gray Controls Limited (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Powell, Steven Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,000,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/65.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/0355 Control systems, e.g. hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, acoustic, for submerged well heads

Abstract

Apparatus for use in controlling the operation of a hydrocarbon production well comprises: supply means (1) for providing an electric power supply; a plurality of electrically operated actuating devices (M1 - - - M10); drive means (8) responsive to the power supply for providing a drive signal for the devices; and control means (3, 5, 8, 12, 14,16 - - - 32) for applying the drive signal to the actuating devices in a multiplexed manner.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in controlling the operation of a hydrocarbon production well, comprising:

supply means for providing an electric power supply

a plurality of electrically operated actuating devices;

drive means responsive to said power supply for providing a drive signal for said devices; and

control means for applying said drive signal to said actuating devices in a multiplexed manner.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said supply means comprises an umbilical electric cable.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power supply is AC.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said power supply is 3-phase AC.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said actuating devices are electric motors.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, including further such drive means, the control means being adapted to select whether to apply the drive signal of the further drive means to said actuating devices in a multiplexed manner or the drive signal from the first-mentioned drive means to said actuating devices in a multiplexed manner.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control means causes the drive signal of the other of the drive means instead of that of the selected drive means to be applied to said actuating devices in a multiplexed manner in the event of a fault.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes means for monitoring said power supply.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means monitors the or each drive means.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, at a well tree of a hydrocarbon production well.