# US 11,078,755 B2 · HIPS proof testing in offshore or onshore applications > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,755 B2 - Document ID: US11078755B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/437,810 - Filed: 2019-06-11 - Published: 2020-12-17 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-11 - Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Inventors: Pedro Alejandro Mujica; Herman Roberto Cipriano; Michael Anthony Picou - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078755B2 ## CPC - E21B 41/0021: {Safety devices, e.g. for preventing small objects from falling into the borehole} - E21B 41/00: Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00 - E21B 43/12: Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00) - E21B 43/128: {Adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives} - E21B 47/008: Monitoring of down-hole pump systems, e.g. for the detection of "pumped-off" conditions - E21B 47/06: Measuring temperature or pressure - F17D 5/00: Protection or supervision of installations (arrangements for protecting foundations E02D31/00; protecting pipes from damage or internal or external wear F16L57/00, against corrosion and scale F16L58/00; investigation of the fluid-tightness of structures G01M3/00) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - F17D: PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES (pumps or compressors F04; fluid dynamics F15D; valves or the like F16K; pipes, laying pipes, supports, joints, branches, repairing, work on the entire line, accessories F16L; steam traps or the like F16T; fluid-pressure electric cables H01B9/06) ## Abstract Systems, methods, and devices for maintaining production during proof testing of a safety system are disclosed. More particularly, systems, methods, and devices for maintaining production of fluids, such as hydrocarbons or water, during proof testing of High Integrity Protection Systems (HIPS) used to prevent overpressure scenarios during production, such as production of fluid by artificial lift, are described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control system for maintaining a production fluid flow during proof testing of a High Integrity Protection System (HIPS), the control system comprising: a HIPS comprising: a first pressure sensor operable to sense a fluid pressure of the production fluid flow; a first circuit breaker operable selectively to open to prevent a flow of electrical power along the first electrical path or close to permit the flow of electrical power along the first electrical path; and a first data processor, the data processor operable to: receive a first pressure signal from the first pressure sensor, the pressure signal indicative of a fluid pressure of a production fluid flow; compare the received first pressure signal to a predetermined fluid pressure to determine the presence of an overpressure condition of the production fluid flow; and open the first circuit breaker to discontinue the production fluid flow if the received first pressure signal meets or exceeds the predetermined fluid pressure; and an auxiliary system comprising a second circuit breaker arranged in a bypass of the first electrical path, the second circuit breaker operable selectively to open to prevent a flow of electrical power along the bypass and close to permit the flow of electrical power along the bypass, the auxiliary system operable to close the second circuit breaker prior to the first circuit breaker being opened by the first data processor in response to a test pressure signal received by the first data processor from the first pressure sensor during the proof test. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary system further comprises a second data processor and a second pressure sensor, the second data processor operable to receive a pressure signal from the second pressure signal of the production fluid flow during the HIPS proof testing, the second data processor operable to open the second circuit breaker when the second pressure signal exceeds the predetermined fluid pressure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The control system of claim 2, wherein the first data processor and the second data processor comprise the same data processor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The control system of claim 1, wherein the HIPS comprises a third circuit breaker coupled to the first data processor, and wherein the first circuit breaker and the third circuit breaker operate in a one-out-of-two (1oo2) channel voting arrangement. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The control system of claim 1, wherein the HIPS comprises a third pressure sensor coupled to the first data processor, and wherein the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor operate in a 1oo2 channel voting arrangement. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The control system of claim 5, wherein the HIPS comprises a fourth pressure sensor coupled to the first data processor, and wherein the first pressure sensor, the third pressure sensor, and the fourth pressure sensor operate in a two-out-of-three (2oo3) channel voting arrangement. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The control system of claim 1, wherein the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor are pressure transducers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The control system of claim 1 further comprising an electric submersible pump, the electric submersible pump operable to generate the production fluid flow, wherein the electric submersible pump is coupled to the first electrical path and the bypass. ### Claim 9 A method of maintaining a production fluid flow during proof testing of a High Integrity Protection System (HIPS), the method comprising: forming a bypass of a first electrical path that extends between a power source and a pump, the first electrical path being selectively opened or closed by the HIPS in response to a pressure condition of the production fluid flow; initiating proof testing of the HIPS such that the HIPS detects an overpressure condition and opens the first electrical path; and maintaining flow of electrical power from the power source to the pump along the bypass prior to the first electrical path being opened. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein forming a bypass of the first electrical path comprises closing a circuit breaker disposed on a second electrical path that bypasses the first electrical path, the closed circuit breaker permitting flow of electrical power along the second electrical path. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein initiating proof testing of the HIPS comprises: receiving a simulated production fluid pressure signal by the HIPS; comparing the simulated production fluid pressure signal to a predetermined fluid pressure indicative of an overpressure condition; and opening the first electrical path to prevent passage of electrical power along the first electrical path when the simulated production fluid pressure meets or exceeds the predetermined fluid pressure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein receiving a simulated production fluid pressure signal by the HIPS comprises receiving the simulated production fluid pressure from a first pressure sensor of the HIPS by a data processor of the HIPS; wherein comparing the simulated production fluid pressure to the predetermined fluid pressure indicative of an overpressure condition comprises comparing the simulated fluid pressure to the predetermined fluid pressure with the data processor; and wherein opening the first electrical path to prevent passage of electrical power along the first electrical path when the simulated production fluid pressure meets or exceeds the predetermined fluid pressure comprises opening a circuit breaker in the first electrical path in response to a signal sent by the data processor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the first pressure sensor forms a part of a two-out-of-three (2oo3) channel voting arrangement. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the circuit breaker forms a part of a one-out-of-two (1oo2) channel voting arrangement. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising continuing to monitor a pressure of the production fluid flow with an auxiliary system comprising a circuit breaker disposed in the bypass, a pressure sensor operable to sense the pressure of the production fluid flow, and a data processor operably coupled to the pressure sensor and the bypass, wherein continuing to monitor the pressure of the production fluid flow comprises: sensing the pressure of the production fluid flow with the pressure sensor; comparing the sensed pressure of the production fluid flow with a predetermined fluid pressure indicative of an overpressure condition; and opening the circuit breaker to prevent flow of electrical power along the bypass when the sensed pressure of the production fluid flow meets or exceeds the predetermined fluid pressure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein opening the circuit breaker comprises de-energizing an under-voltage relay coupled to the circuit breaker. ### Claim 17 A computer program product encoded on a non-transitory medium, the product comprising computer readable instructions for causing one or more processors to perform operations comprising: forming a bypass of a first electrical path that extends between a power source and a pump, the first electrical path being selectively opened or closed by the HIPS in response to a pressure condition of the production fluid flow; initiating proof testing of the HIPS such that the HIPS detects an overpressure condition and opens the first electrical path; and maintaining flow of electrical power from the power source to the pump along the bypass when the first electrical path is open. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The computer program product of claim 17, wherein forming a bypass of the first electrical path comprises closing a circuit breaker disposed on a second electrical path that bypasses the first electrical path, the closed circuit breaker permitting flow of electrical power along the second electrical path. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The computer program product of claim 17, wherein initiating proof testing of the HIPS comprises: receiving an simulated production fluid pressure signal by the HIPS; comparing the simulated production fluid pressure signal to a predetermined fluid pressure indicative of an overpressure condition; and opening the first electrical path to prevent passage of electrical power along the first electrical path when the simulated production fluid pressure meets or exceeds the predetermined fluid pressure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The computer program product of claim 19, wherein receiving an simulated production fluid pressure signal by the HIPS comprises receiving the simulated production fluid pressure from a first pressure sensor of the HIPS by a data processor of the HIPS; wherein comparing the simulated production fluid pressure to the predetermined fluid pressure indicative of an overpressure condition comprises comparing the simulated fluid pressure to the predetermined fluid pressure with the data processor; and wherein opening the first electrical path to prevent passage of electrical power along the first electrical path when the simulated production fluid pressure meets or exceeds the predetermined fluid pressure comprises opening a circuit breaker in the first electrical path in response to a signal sent by the data processor.