Gas well controller system
OwnerWilliam L. Norwoodinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A controller system for a flowing gas well utilizing battery powered solid state production and cycle time-out circuitry. In addition to expanded cycle interval capabilities, the system permits a broad range of automated controls over well production through the continuous monitoring of and reaction to such parameters as casing pressure, tubing string pressure, plunger elevation, sales line pressure and flow rate, as well as liquid level monitoring within separation and storage facilities. The solid state circuitry incorporates such features as liquid crystal readout, battery voltage level monitoring and automatic reset at the commencement of each timing cycle. Motor valve actuation is provided by electromagnetic actuation of a controller mounted shuttle piston valve.
Claims17
In a flowing gas well installation of a variety having a casing, a tubing string therein having its lower end open adajcent the lower level of the casing, said tubing string being connectable to a sales line and having a motor valve positioned intermediate said tubing string and sales line actuable in response to an on or off designated pneumatic state between open and closed orientations to derive respective producing and shut-in conditions of performance for said installation the improved controlled for actuating said motor valve, comprising:
- means providing a d.c. source of power;
- pneumatic valve means connectable between a source of gas under pressure and said motor valve and including first and second electromagnetically actuated valve means energizable from said source of power to direct said gas under pressure to effect respective said motor valve actuating on and off pneumatic states;
- oscillator means coupled with said power supply for deriving a pulse train of predetermined stable frequency;
- frequency divider means including multi-stage solid-state ripple carry counters for deriving at least one pulse train of frequency f.sub.1 ;
- display means selectively energizable from a plurality of driver input signals thereto to provide multi-segment derived visible indicia representative of time in hours and subdivisions thereof;
- manually programmable switch means coupled with said source of power for generating binary coded decimal signals representative of selected time intervals represented in hours and subdivisions thereof for each said designated pneumatic state;
- multiplexer means for receiving said binary coded decimal signals and responsive to a selected state input select signal and for transferring corresponding binary coded decimal signals at the outputs thereof;
- binary counter means coupled for receiving said corresponding binary coded decimal signals from said multiplexer means and responsive in the presence of an asserted load signal and count command signal to in-crementally alter said received binary coded decimal signals in diminishing arithmetic progressional fashion and provide the initial received and altered binary coded decimal signals at outputs thereof and deriving a carry-out signal at the termination of said diminishing arithmetic progression;
- driver means connected for receiving said binary counter means initially received and altered binary coded decimal signals to derive said driver input signals asserted at said display means;
- off-state switch means actuable to derive an off-start signal;
- on-state switch means actuable to derive an on-start signal;
- and
- control circuit means responsive to a said off-start signal and a said carry-out signal occurring at the termination of an on designated pneumatic state and including timed switching means for effecting the energization of said second electromagnetically actuated valve means for a predetermined interval, for simultaneously generating said load signal and said count command signal at said frequency, f.sub.1 and responsive to a said on-start signal and a said carry-out signal occurring at the termination of an off designated pneumatic state for effecting the energization by said timed switching means of said first electromagnetically actuated valve means for a predetermined interval for simultaneously generating said load signal and said count command signal at said frequency, f.sub.1.
A control system for use in conjunction with flowing gas well installations of a variety having as components, a casing, a tubing string therein, the lower level thereof being adjacent the lower level of the casing, a plunger movable between said lower level and a bumper situate at a well head through which said tubing string extends and is connected with the upper level of said casing, said tubing string being connected in gas and liquid flow relationship through a motor valve and separator facility to a sales line, and a liquid storage facility connected to receive liquid from said separator facility, said motor valve being pneumatically actuable between open and closed orientations to derive respective producing and shut-in states of performance, select said components exhibiting a sensible physical phenomenum representing an operational condition for which actuation of said motor valve to said closed orientation is appropriate, said system comprising:
- a controller, including:
- means providing a d.c. source of power;
- pneumatic valve means connected between a source of gas under pressure and said motor valve and including first and second electromagnetically actuated valve means energizable from said source of power to direct said gas under pressure to effect respective said motor valve open and closed orientations;
- manually programmable switch means coupled with said source of power for generating binary coded decimal signals representative of selected time intervals represented in hours and subdivisions thereof for each said state;
- solid state timing means responsive to said binary coded decimal signals and to a count command signal to commence the timing of a said selected time interval and deriving a carry-out signal at the termination of said interval;
- solid state display means responsive to said timing means for providing multi-segment derived visible indicia representative of time in hours and subdivisions thereof;
- a normally open off-state switch having contact means closeable upon actuation to derive an off-start signal;
- a normally open on-state switch having contact means closeable upon actuation to derive an on-start signal;
- first terminal means electrically coupled with said off-state switch contact means for providing an auxiliary normally open switching function actuable to derive said off-start signal;
- control circuit means responsive to a said off-start signal and a carry-out signal occurring when said motor valve is in said open orientation and including timed switching means for effecting the energization of said second electromagnetically actuated valve means for a predetermined interval and for simultaneously generating said count command signal, and responsive to said on-start signal and a carry-out signal occurring when said motor valve is in said closed orientation for effecting the energization by said timed switching means of said first electromagnetically actuated valve means for a predetermined interval and for simultaneously generating said count command signal;
- and
- detector means coupled with a select said component and including normally open switch means electrically associated with said first terminal means off-state switch contact means and responsive to a sensed said physical phenomenum of said select component to close for deriving said off-start signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.