Water And Steam Injection Control With Low-Power RTU Modes

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Solution Overview

Problem

The oil and gas industry faces challenges in controlling the pressure and flow rate of injected fluids, such as water and steam, due to the requirement for Alternating Current (AC) power for programmable logic controllers (PLCs), which is costly and hazardous, leading to inconsistent injection processes and increased costs for AC power provision and licensed electrician services.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize multiple control modes, including primary objective, override objective, and no-flow control modes, to manage the injection of fluids using remote terminal units (RTUs) that can operate with low-power sources, eliminating the need for AC power and allowing consistent control of fluid injection across multiple wellheads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If PLCs are used to control fluid injection, then control functionality is achieved, but AC power requirement increases cost and complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol functionalityVSAvoidAC power requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the power parameter from AC power (PLC requirement) to DC power (RTU requirement), enabling operation without expensive AC power infrastructure at well sites while maintaining control functionality through different control modes (pressure maintenance, rate control, fallback modes)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive PLC systems requiring AC power with more economical RTU systems that can operate on DC power from standard batteries or vehicle electrical systems, reducing infrastructure costs significantly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Ease of operation

If PLCs are used to control fluid injection, then control functionality is achieved, but cost increases due to AC power provision and licensed electrician services

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol functionalityVSAvoidinstallation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If AC power is classified as hazardous, then safety is improved, but serviceability deteriorates requiring licensed electricians

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidserviceability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the hazardous AC power component from the well site control system by using RTUs that operate on DC power from batteries or vehicle electrical systems, eliminating the need for licensed electricians while maintaining safety through intrinsic DC low-voltage operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Adaptability or versatility

If individually programmable PLCs are used at each wellhead, then customization is achieved, but consistency deteriorates between different sites

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization capabilityVSAvoidprocess consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal RTU control system with pre-configured control modes (pressure maintenance, rate control, fallback modes) that can be deployed consistently across multiple wellheads while still allowing site-specific parameter adjustments through a standardized interface, ensuring both consistency and adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3129583B1Injection flow controller for water and steam

Publication Date: 2021.06.02 BRISTOL INC

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AI summary

A method of controlling at least one of a flow rate or pressure of an injected fluid includes receiving a measured value indicative of the at least one of the flow rate or the pressure of the injected fluid, and determining a control mode for controlling the at least one of the flow rate or the pressure. The method further includes controlling the at least one of the flow rate or the pressure of the injected fluid according to the selected control mode including: determining a command signal to be communicated to a field device, and communicating the command signal to the field device.