Well Lockout Automation With Parallel Valve Sequencing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coordination between different operator groups in a well system, such as wireline operators, pressure pumpers, and service technicians, often results in operational inefficiencies due to inappropriate sequencing of operations and equipment handling, leading to bottlenecks and corrective actions.
Innovation Solution
A control sub-system is implemented to coordinate operations by determining an operation schedule, transitioning fluid valves between states, and automating control action steps, while ensuring sequential and expedited performance parameters are met, and incorporating sensor feedback and timeouts to manage equipment states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple operator groups perform operations sequentially around a well system, then coordination between operators is simplified, but operational efficiency and production time are reduced due to bottlenecks
Solution Approach 1:
The control sub-system determines an operation schedule that indicates control action steps in advance, allowing operators to prepare and coordinate their actions beforehand. This preliminary planning enables multiple operator groups to work in a coordinated manner without real-time coordination bottlenecks, improving operational efficiency while maintaining simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control sub-system acts as an intermediary that receives operation requests from multiple operator groups, determines an optimized operation schedule, and issues control action steps to the well system equipment. This intermediary coordinate sub-system resolves conflicts between operators and enables parallel operations without direct coordination between operator groups.
2Reliability
If control action steps are performed sequentially in accordance with an operation schedule, then operational safety and coordination are improved, but operational time is increased due to waiting for each step to complete
Solution Approach 1:
The control sub-system dynamically adjusts the execution of control action steps based on real-time system state and sensor feedback. When safety conditions are met, the system can accelerate execution or enable parallel operations. The operation schedule is determined dynamically, allowing the system to maintain safety while reducing unnecessary waiting time between steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The control sub-system ensures that control action steps are executed continuously without unnecessary interruptions or delays. By determining an optimized operation schedule and monitoring system state continuously, the system maintains continuous useful action while ensuring safety requirements are met, thereby reducing total operational time.
3Measurement precision
If the system waits for each control action step to complete before initiating the next step, then equipment state accuracy is maintained, but operational speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control sub-system uses sensor feedback to monitor equipment state in real-time during the execution of control action steps. This feedback mechanism allows the system to verify equipment state accuracy continuously without stopping operations. The system can determine when steps are complete based on sensor readings, maintaining measurement precision while enabling faster operational execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The control sub-system determines the operation schedule and planned control action steps in advance, including preliminary assessment of equipment states and required transitions. This preliminary planning allows the system to execute steps faster by having pre-calculated optimal sequences, while still verifying actual equipment states through feedback to maintain accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for adaptively performing an operation in a well system that include determining, using a control sub-system, an operation schedule that indicates control action steps in the operation; instructing, using the control sub-system, the well system to initiate a first control action step of the operation that transitions a first fluid valve from a first current valve state to a first target valve state; determining, using the control sub-system, whether an expedited performance parameter associated with the operation is set in the operation schedule; and in response to determining that the expedited performance parameter associated with the operation is set, instructing, using the control sub-system, the well system to initiate a second control action step of the operation that transitions a second fluid valve from a second current valve state to a second target valve state before the first fluid valve achieves the first target valve state.