Optimized natural gas production control system with actual flow and set point tracking features

A natural gas production system comprising:

• a Joule-Thomson valve;
• at least one expander;
• one or more processors;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the following:
• receive an upset event signal corresponding to an upset event within the natural gas production system;
• obtain a flow rate through the at least one expander prior to the upset event;
• calculate, based on the flow rate, a percent opening of the Joule-Thomson valve;
• provide a first control signal to the Joule-Thomson valve to open the Joule-Thomson valve to the percent opening;
• provide a second control signal to the Joule-Thomson valve to control the Joule-Thomson valve by a PID controller in a set point tracking mode for a period of time;
• and
• provide a third control signal to the Joule-Thomson valve to control the Joule-Thomson valve by the PID controller in an automatic mode after the period of time.

A system for controlling a natural gas facility, the system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the following:
• receive an upset event signal corresponding to an upset event within the natural gas production system;
• obtain a flow rate through at least one expander prior to the upset event;
• calculate, based on the flow rate, a percent opening of a Joule-Thomson valve;
• provide a first control signal to the Joule-Thomson valve to open the Joule-Thomson valve to the percent opening;
• provide a second control signal to the Joule-Thomson valve to control the Joule-Thomson valve by a PID controller in a set point tracking mode for a period of time;
• and
• provide a third control signal to the Joule-Thomson valve to control the Joule-Thomson valve by the PID controller in an automatic mode after the period of time.