Hierarchical pressure management for managed pressure drilling operations

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising software instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method of hierarchical pressure management for managed pressure drilling operations comprising:

• receiving a measured pressure value;
• if the measured pressure exceeds an MPD pressure set point, commanding one or more choke valves of an MPD choke manifold to open until the measured pressure is approximately equal to the MPD pressure set point or is commanded to a fully opened choke aperture setting;
• if at any time the measured pressure exceeds a pressure control valve set point, parking the MPD choke manifold and commanding one or more pressure control valve system valves to open until the measured pressure is less than the pressure control valve set point or is commanded to a fully opened pressure control valve setting;
• and
• if at any time the measured pressure exceeds a pressure release valve set point, commanding a pressure release valve to open.

A system for hierarchical pressure management for managed pressure drilling operations comprising:

• an annular sealing system that provides an annular seal surrounding a drillstring.
• a pressure sensor that measures pressure;
• an MPD choke manifold comprising a plurality of choke valves with at least one choke valve in fluid communication with a flow line that diverts returning fluids from or below the annular seal to apply surface backpressure;
• an MPD control system that commands one or more choke valves of the MPD choke manifold to an MPD pressure set point.
• one or more pressure control valves with at least one pressure control valve in fluid communication with the flow line that discharges returning fluids to a mud-gas-separator, shale shaker, or other fluids processing system;
• a pressure control valve control system that commands one or more pressure control valves to open when the measured pressure exceeds a pressure control valve set point;
• a pressure relief valves that discharges returning fluids to the mud-gas separator, shale shaker, or overboard;
• and
• a pressure relief valve control system that commands the pressure relief valve to open when the measured pressure exceeds a pressure relief valve set point.