Well pressure control system

Abstract

The present invention contemplates a choke control system that provides for local and off-site monitoring and control of the annulus flow pressure of a well. The choke control system includes a choke manifold connected to at least one choke and its associated actuator; a variety of instrumental drilling sensors, pump stroke counter switches, and choke position indicators; a local choke and hydraulic pressure control console; and a programmable controller in communication with the local choke and hydraulic pressure control console. The programmable controller handles the logical operations of the choke control system, including processing instrument measurements and operator input data to produce control signals for operating the choke, the choke actuator and the various valves associated with the choke manifold. The programmable controller is typically either an electronic digital computer and/or a programmable logic controller (PLC). The present invention further contemplates the two-way communication between the choke control system and the Internet via a satellite linkage.

1 . A choke control system for the control of an oilfield hydraulic drilling choke comprising: 
 a choke axially reciprocable between a first position and a second position;    a choke actuator for applying reciprocatory motion to the choke;    a programmable controller in communication with the choke actuator, wherein the programmable controller provides operational control of the axial reciprocation of the choke;    a site radio transceiver in communication with the programmable controller;    a central processing unit; and    an offsite radio transceiver in communication with the site radio transceiver and the central processing unit, wherein the central processing unit communicates with the programmable controller to selectably determine the position of the choke between the first and the second position.    
   
   
       2 . The choke control system of  claim 1  having at least two axially reciprocable chokes.  
   
   
       3 . The choke control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a choke manifold.  
   
   
       4 . The choke control system of  claim 3  having at least two axially reciprocable chokes attached to the choke manifold.  
   
   
       5 . The choke control system of  claim 4 , wherein the programmable computer provides coordinated operational control of the axial reciprocation of the chokes attached to the choke manifold.  
   
   
       6 . The choke control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a choke inlet control valve and a choke outlet control valve.  
   
   
       7 . The choke control system of  claim 6 , wherein the programmable computer provides operational control of the choke inlet control valve and the choke outlet control valve.  
   
   
       8 . The choke control system of  claim 1 , wherein the choke actuator is hydraulically operated.  
   
   
       9 . The choke control system of  claim 1 , wherein the programmable controller is a computer.  
   
   
       10 . The choke control system of  claim 1 , wherein the programmable controller is a programmable logic controller.  
   
   
       11 . The choke control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a personal computer in communication with the programmable controller.  
   
   
       12 . The choke control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a proportional-integral-differential control circuit interfacing between the programmable controller and the actuator.  
   
   
       13 . The choke control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a drilling sensor in communication with the programmable controller.  
   
   
       14 . The choke control system of  claim 13 , wherein the drilling sensor is a choke inlet pressure gauge, a well depth monitor, an annular mud density gauge, a choke position monitor, a pump stroke counter, or a combination of the same.  
   
   
       15 . The choke control system of  claim 1 , wherein the offsite radio transceiver communicates with the central processing unit via the Internet.  
   
   
       16 . The choke control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a satellite communication linkage between the site radio transceiver and the offsite radio transceiver.  
   
   
       17 . The choke control system of  claim 1 , wherein the programmable controller transmits information to and receives information from the central processing unit.  
   
   
       18 . The choke control system of  claim 1 , further comprising an onsite personal computer in communication with the programmable controller.  
   
   
       19 . A choke control system for the control of an oilfield hydraulic drilling choke comprising: 
 a drilling choke manifold system having at least two drilling chokes attached to the choke manifold and a choke actuator in communication with each drilling choke;    a programmable controller having a memory, a power supply, and a plurality of data interfaces;    a proportional-integral-differential control circuit interfacing between said logic controller and the drilling choke manifold system;    a plurality of drilling sensors, wherein each sensor communicates with the programmable controller via one of the data interfaces;    a site radio transceiver in communication with the programmable controller;    an offsite central processing unit; and    an offsite radio transceiver in communication with the site radio transceiver through a satellite communication linkage.    
   
   
       20 . The choke control system of  claim 19 , wherein the programmable computer provides coordinated operational control of the axial reciprocation of the chokes attached to the choke manifold.  
   
   
       21 . The choke control system of  claim 19 , further comprising a choke inlet control valve and a choke outlet control valve.  
   
   
       22 . The choke control system of  claim 21 , wherein the programmable computer provides operational control of the choke inlet control valve and the choke outlet control valve.  
   
   
       23 . The choke control system of  claim 21 , wherein the programmable computer provides coordinated operational control of the choke inlet control valve, the choke outlet control valve, and the axial reciprocation of the chokes attached to the choke manifold.  
   
   
       24 . The choke control system of  claim 19 , wherein the choke actuator is hydraulically operated.  
   
   
       25 . The choke control system of  claim 19 , wherein the programmable controller is a computer.  
   
   
       26 . The choke control system of  claim 19 , wherein the programmable controller is a programmable logic controller.  
   
   
       27 . The choke control system of  claim 19 , further comprising a personal computer in communication with the programmable controller.  
   
   
       28 . The choke control system of  claim 19 , wherein the drilling sensors include one or more of (a) a choke inlet pressure gauge, (b) a well depth monitor, (c) an annular mud density gauge, (d) a choke position monitor, and (e) a pump stroke counter.  
   
   
       29 . The choke control system of  claim 19 , wherein the offsite radio transceiver communicates with a central processing unit via the Internet.  
   
   
       30 . The choke control system of  claim 29 , wherein the programmable controller transmits information to and receives information from the central processing unit.  
   
   
       31 . The choke control system of  claim 19 , further comprising an onsite personal computer in communication with the programmable controller.  
   
   
       32 . A system for maintaining a fluid pressure within a well bore comprising: 
 a mud pump for pumping fluid into the well bore, wherein a flow rate of the pump is proportional to the fluid pressure within the well bore;    an axially reciprocable choke in fluid communication with an annulus of the well bore;    a choke inlet pressure gauge for measuring a choke inlet pressure;    a programmable controller providing operational control of the flow rate of the pump and the axial position of the choke; and    an offsite central processing unit in communication with the programmable controller via a communication satellite.    
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 32  having at least two axially reciprocable chokes.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising a choke manifold.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 34  having at least two axially reciprocable chokes attached to the choke manifold.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the programmable computer provides coordinated operational control of the axial reciprocation of the chokes attached to the choke manifold.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising a choke inlet control valve and a choke outlet control valve.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the programmable computer provides operational control of the choke inlet control valve and the choke outlet control valve.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the programmable computer provides coordinated operational control of the choke inlet control valve, the choke outlet control valve, and the axial reciprocation of the choke.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising a choke actuator  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the choke actuatoris hydraulically operated.  
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the programmable controller is a computer.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the programmable controller is a programmable logic controller.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising a personal computer in communication with the programmable controller.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising a proportional-integral-differential control circuit interfacing between the programmable controller and the actuator.  
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising a drilling sensor in communication with the programmable controller.  
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the drilling sensor is a choke inlet pressure gauge, a well depth monitor, an annular mud density gauge, a choke position monitor, a pump stroke counter, or a combination of the same.  
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising a site radio transceiver, in communication with the programmable controller and the communication satellite, and an offsite radio transceiver, in communication with the communication satellite and the central processing unit.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the offsite radio transceiver communicates with the central processing unit via the Internet.  
   
   
       50 . A method of maintaining fluid pressure control of a well bore using the system of  claim 32 , the method comprising: 
 determining the flow rate of the pump;    determining the choke inlet pressure;    reporting the flow rate of the pump and the choke inlet pressure to the offsite central processing unit;    calculating the fluid pressure in the annulus of the well bore;    comparing the calculated fluid pressure with a desired annular fluid pressure;    calculating adjustments needed in the flow rate of the pump or the axial position of the choke to achieve the desired annular fluid pressure; and    transmitting the calculated adjustments to the programmable controller for implementation.