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.
Claims21
1-20. (canceled)
A method for controlling operation of a well, comprising:
- introducing a gas into a pressure vessel;
- transmitting the gas into a compressor;
- determining when a plunger in a well is at a first predetermined position a 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;
- upon receiving the signal at the compressor controller, switching the compressor controller to a non-compression state and opening a first valve at an outlet of the compressor such that uncompressed gas exits the compressor and enter the pressure vessel;
- descending the plunger into the well;
- determining when the plunger reaches a second predetermined position in the well;
- generating a second signal from the wellhead controller after a time when the plunger reaches 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;
- upon receiving the second signal at the compressor controller, switching the compressor controller to a compression state and closing the first valve at the outlet of the compressor such that compressed gas exits the compressor and enters the well;
- and
- lifting the plunger from the second predetermined position in the the first predetermined position in the well.
A method for controlling operation of a well, comprising:
- introducing a gas into a pressure vessel;
- transmitting the gas into a compressor;
- determining when a plunger in a well is at a first predetermined position in a 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;
- upon receiving the signal at the compressor controller, switching the compressor controller to a non-compression state and opening a first valve at an outlet of the compressor such that uncompressed gas exits the compressor and enter the pressure vessel;
- descending the plunger into the well;
- waiting a predetermined amount of time and switching the compressor controller to a compression state and closing the first valve at the outlet of the compressor such that compressed gas exits the compressor and enters the well;
- and
- lifting the plunger from the second predetermined position in the well to the first predetermined position in 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 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.