Control of hydrocarbon wells
AssigneeVetco Gray Controls Limited
InventorSteven Robert Powell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus controls the operation of a hydrocarbon production well. The apparatus includes a supply means for providing an electric power supply. The apparatus also includes a plurality of electrically operated actuating devices. The actuating devices can be a plurality of electric motors. The apparatus includes drivers responsive to the power supply for providing a drive signal for the actuating devices. The apparatus also includes a control assembly for applying the drive signal to the actuating devices in a multiplexed manner. The power from each driver creates a power input signal. When there are more than one input signals, they are multiplexed so that a single signal is received by the actuating devices.
Claims8
Apparatus for use in controlling the operation of a hydrocarbon production well, comprising:
- supply means for providing an electric power supply
- a plurality of electrically operated actuating devices;
- a first drive means responsive to said power supply for providing a drive signal for said actuating devices;
- control means for multiplexing said drive signal and applying said multiplexed drive signal to said actuating devices;
- a second drive means, the control means being adapted to select whether to apply the drive signal of the second drive means to said actuating devices in a multiplexed manner or the drive signal from the first drive means to said actuating devices in a multiplexed manner;
- and
- wherein said control means causes the drive signal of the non-selected drive means of the first and second drive means instead of that of the selected drive means of the first and second drive means to be applied to said actuating devices in a multiplexed manner in the event of a fault.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.