Gas-lift system with paired controllers
AssigneeEpic Lift Systems
InventorJason Williams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for controlling operation of a well, of which the method includes receiving an operation setting for operation of a system that provides lift gas into and produces gas from the well, monitoring operation of the system using a first controller, determining, using the first controller, that the system is not operating at the operation setting, and in response to determining that the system is not operating at the operation setting, sending, using a two-way communication link from the first controller to a second controller, a control signal to the second controller. The control signal is configured to cause the second controller to modify an operation of a compressor of the system.
Claims22
A method for controlling operation of a well, comprising:
- introducing a gas into a pressure vessel;
- transmitting the gas into a compressor and compressing the gas;
- assessing when a plunger in the well is at a first predetermined position in the well;
- generating a signal from a wellhead controller when the plunger is assessed to be at the first predetermined position in the well;
- transmitting the signal from the wellhead controller to a compressor controller;
- receiving the signal at the compressor controller;
- based at least in part upon receiving the signal at the compressor controller, changing the speed or suction pressure of the compressor;
- descending the plunger into the well;
- assessing when the plunger reaches a second predetermined position in the well;
- generating a second signal from the wellhead controller after the plunger is assessed to have reached the second predetermined position in the well;
- transmitting the second signal from the wellhead controller to the compressor controller;
- receiving the second signal at the compressor controller;
- based at least in part upon receiving the second signal at the compressor controller, changing the speed or suction pressure of the compressor and injecting the gas compressed by the compressor into the well;
- and
- lifting the plunger from the second predetermined position in the well to the first predetermined position in the well with the aid of the gas compressed by the compressor and injected into the well.
A method for controlling operation of a well, comprising:
- introducing a gas into a pressure vessel;
- transmitting the gas into a compressor and compressing the gas;
- determining when a plunger in the well is at a first predetermined position in the well;
- generating a signal from a wellhead controller when the plunger is at the first predetermined position in the well;
- transmitting the signal from the wellhead controller to a compressor controller;
- receiving the signal at the compressor controller;
- based at least in part upon receiving the signal at the compressor controller, changing the speed or suction pressure of the compressor;
- descending the plunger into the well;
- waiting a predetermined amount of time and changing the speed or suction pressure of the compressor and injecting the gas compressed by the compressor into the well;
- and
- lifting the plunger from the second predetermined position in the well to the first predetermined position in the well with the aid of the gas compressed by the compressor and injected into the well.
A method for controlling operation of a well, comprising:
- introducing a gas into a pressure vessel;
- transmitting the gas into a compressor;
- operating the compressor with a compressor controller at a first setpoint;
- receiving an operation setting at a wellhead controller;
- comparing the operation setting at the wellhead controller with a recorded operation setting by the wellhead controller;
- sending a control signal to the compressor controller from the wellhead controller;
- receiving the control signal at the compressor controller, wherein the control signal contains a second setpoint;
- and
- altering the compressor to run at the second setpoint,
- wherein the sending of the control signal to the compressor controller is performed when the operation setting and the recorded operation setting do not agree.
A method for controlling operation of a well, comprising:
- receiving gas at an inlet of a compressor;
- controlling the compressor with a compressor controller;
- injecting gas compressed by the compressor into the well to assist lifting a plunger in the well;
- using a wellhead controller to assess one or more well conditions or plunger lift parameters;
- and
- sending a signal from the wellhead controller to the compressor controller to alter operation of the compressor based on the one or more well conditions or parameters assessed by the wellhead controller,
- wherein the altered operation of the compressor is its speed or suction pressure, and
- wherein one of the well conditions or plunger lift parameters is based on actual or perceived location of a plunger or plunger cycle time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.