Blowout Preventer Control

Abstract

An apparatus and method for blowout preventer (BOP) control. The apparatus may include a first control station communicatively connected with and operable to control BOP equipment for controlling pressure within a wellbore at an oil and gas wellsite, and a second control station communicatively connected with and operable to control drilling rig equipment for drilling the wellbore within a subterranean formation at the oil and gas wellsite. The second control station may be communicatively connected with the first control station and operable to control the BOP equipment via the first control station.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first control station communicatively connected with and operable to control blowout preventer (BOP) equipment for controlling pressure within a wellbore at an oil and gas wellsite; and   a second control station communicatively connected with and operable to control drilling rig equipment for drilling the wellbore within a subterranean formation at the oil and gas wellsite, wherein the second control station is communicatively connected with the first control station and operable to control the BOP equipment via the first control station.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second control stations comprises or is communicatively connected with a corresponding processor and a memory storing a computer program code. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the drilling rig equipment comprises one or more of:
 a drill pipe handling system operable to move drill pipe at the oil/gas wellsite; 
 a drill string hoisting system operable to move a drill string within the wellbore; 
 a drill string rotation system operable to rotate the drill string within the wellbore; and 
 a fluid control system operable to pump drilling fluid into the drill string. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the BOP equipment is or comprises a BOP stack and/or a BOP control hydraulic power unit for actuating the BOP stack. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second control station is operable to:
 receive first information from the BOP equipment via the first control station; 
 receive second information from the drilling rig equipment; and 
 transmit control commands to the drilling rig equipment. 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the control commands are based, at least in part, on the first and/or second information. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the control commands are first control commands, and wherein the second control station is operable to transmit second control commands to the BOP equipment via the first control station. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the second control commands are based, at least in part, on the first and/or second information. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second control station is operable to:
 receive first information indicative of operational status of the BOP equipment from the first control station; 
 receive second information indicative of operational status of the drilling rig equipment from the drilling rig equipment; and 
 transmit control commands to the drilling rig equipment to control the drilling rig equipment. 
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the control commands are based, at least in part, on the first and/or second information. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the control commands are first control commands, and wherein the second control station is operable to transmit second control commands to the first control station to control the BOP equipment. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the second control commands are based, at least in part, on the first and/or second information. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein:
 the first information is generated by first sensors disposed in association with or forming at least a portion of the BOP equipment; 
 the second information is generated by second sensors disposed in association with or forming at least a portion of the drilling rig equipment; 
 the second control commands are transmitted to first actuators disposed in association with or forming at least a portion of the BOP equipment; and 
 the first control commands are transmitted to second actuators disposed in association with or forming at least a portion of the drilling rig equipment. 
 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the second control station comprises a video output device operable to display the first and second information. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the first control station comprises a first video output device operable to display the first information, and wherein the second control station comprises a second video output device operable to display the first and second information. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first control station is operable to:
 receive first information indicative of operational status of the BOP equipment from the BOP equipment; and 
 transmit first control commands to the BOP equipment to control the BOP equipment; and 
 
 the second control station is operable to:
 receive the first information from the first control station; 
 receive second information indicative of operational status of the drilling rig equipment from the drilling rig equipment; 
 receive the first control commands from a human wellsite operator; 
 receive second control commands from the human wellsite operator; 
 transmit the first control commands to the first control station to control the BOP equipment; and 
 transmit the second control commands to the drilling rig equipment to control the drilling rig equipment. 
 
 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the first control commands are based, at least in part, on the first and/or second information. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the second control station comprises:
 an input device operable to receive the first and second control commands from the human wellsite operator; and 
 a video output device operable to display the first and second information. 
 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first control station is operable to:
 receive information indicative of operational status of the BOP equipment from the BOP equipment; and 
 transmit control commands to the BOP equipment to control the BOP equipment; and 
 
 the second control station comprises a processor and a memory storing a computer program code, wherein the second control station is operable to:
 receive the information from the first control station; 
 generate the control commands based on the computer program code and the information; and 
 transmit the control commands to the first control station. 
 
 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first and second control stations are disposed within or form at least a portion of a wellsite control center. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the first control station comprises a touchscreen operable by a human wellsite operator sitting in a driller's chair within the wellsite control center to control the BOP equipment and the rig equipment. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the touchscreen is mounted to and/or otherwise carried with the driller's chair. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first control station communicatively connected with blowout preventer (BOP) equipment for controlling pressure within a wellbore at an oil and gas wellsite, wherein the first control station is operable to:
 receive information indicative of operational status of the BOP equipment from the BOP equipment; and 
 control the BOP equipment to control the pressure within the wellbore; and 
   a second control station communicatively connected with the first control station and operable to:
 receive the information from the first control station; 
 receive control commands from a human wellsite operator; and 
 transmit the control commands to the first control station for transmission by the first control station to the BOP equipment to control the BOP equipment. 
   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein each of the first and second control stations comprises or is communicatively connected with a corresponding processor and a memory storing a computer program code. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the BOP equipment is or comprises a BOP stack and/or a BOP control hydraulic power unit for actuating the BOP stack. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the second control station is communicatively connected with drilling rig equipment for drilling the wellbore within a subterranean formation at the oil and gas wellsite. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the drilling rig equipment comprises one or more of:
 a drill pipe handling system operable to move drill pipe at the oil/gas wellsite; 
 a drill string hoisting system operable to move a drill string within the wellbore; 
 a drill string rotation system operable to rotate the drill string within the wellbore; and 
 a fluid control system operable to pump drilling fluid into the drill string. 
 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the information is first information, and wherein the second control station is operable to receive second information indicative of operational status of the drilling rig equipment from the drilling rig equipment. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the control commands are based, at least in part, on the first and/or second information. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the second control station comprises a video output device operable to display the first and second information. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the first control station comprises a first video output device operable to display the first information, and wherein the second control station comprises a second video output device operable to display the first and second information. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the control commands are first control commands, and wherein the second control station is further operable to transmit second control commands to the drilling rig equipment to control the drilling rig equipment. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32  wherein the second control commands are based, at least in part, on the first and/or second information. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 32  wherein:
 the first information is generated by first sensors disposed in association with or forming at least a portion of the BOP equipment; 
 the second information is generated by second sensors disposed in association with or forming at least a portion of the drilling rig equipment; 
 the first control commands are transmitted to first actuators disposed in association with or forming at least a portion of the BOP equipment; and 
 the second control commands are transmitted to second actuators disposed in association with or forming at least a portion of the drilling rig equipment. 
 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 32  the second control station is further operable to receive the first and second control commands from the human wellsite operator. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the second control commands are based, at least in part, on the first and/or second information. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the second control station comprises:
 an input device operable to receive the first and second control commands from the human wellsite operator; and 
 a video output device operable to display the first and second information. 
 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the second control station comprises a processor and a memory storing a computer program code, and wherein the second control station is operable to generate the control commands based on the computer program code and the information. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the first and second control stations are disposed within or form at least a portion of a wellsite control center. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39  wherein the first control station comprises a touchscreen operable by the human wellsite operator sitting in a driller's chair within the wellsite control center to control the BOP equipment and the rig equipment. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40  wherein the touchscreen is mounted to and/or otherwise carried with the driller's chair. 
     
     
         42 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a first control station at an oil and gas wellsite, first information indicative of operational status of drilling rig equipment at an oil and gas wellsite, wherein the first control station is manually and/or automatically operable to control the drilling rig equipment;   receiving, by the first control station, second information indicative of operational status of blowout preventer (BOP) equipment at the oil and gas wellsite, wherein:
 the drilling rig equipment does not include the BOP equipment; 
 the second information is received from a second control station at the oil and gas wellsite; and 
 the second control station is operable to control the BOP equipment but not the drilling rig equipment; 
   transmitting first control commands from the first control station to the second control station for transmission to the BOP equipment to control the BOP equipment; and   transmitting second control commands from the first control station to the drilling rig equipment to control the drilling rig equipment to drill a wellbore within a subterranean formation at the oil and gas wellsite.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the drilling rig equipment comprises one or more of:
 a drill pipe handling system operable to move drill pipe at the oil/gas wellsite; 
 a drill string hoisting system operable to move a drill string within the wellbore; 
 a drill string rotation system operable to rotate the drill string within the wellbore; and 
 a fluid control system operable to pump drilling fluid into the drill string. 
 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the BOP equipment is or comprises a BOP stack and/or a BOP control hydraulic power unit for actuating the BOP stack. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42  further comprising transmitting from the second control station to the BOP equipment the first control commands to control the BOP equipment. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the first control commands are based, at least in part, on the first and/or second information. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the second control commands are based, at least in part, on the first and/or second information. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 42  wherein:
 the first information is generated by first sensors disposed in association with or forming at least a portion of the drilling rig equipment; 
 the second information is generated by second sensors disposed in association with or forming at least a portion of the BOP equipment; 
 the second control commands are transmitted to first actuators disposed in association with or forming at least a portion of the drilling rig equipment; and 
 the first control commands are transmitted to second actuators disposed in association with or forming at least a portion of the BOP equipment. 
 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 42  further comprising displaying the first and second information on a video output device of the first control station. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 42  further comprising:
 displaying the first and second information on a first video output device of the first control station; and 
 displaying the second information on a second video output device of the second control station. 
 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 42  further comprising receiving by the first control station the first and second control commands from a human wellsite operator. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51  wherein the second control commands are based, at least in part, on the first and/or second information. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 42  further comprising automatically generating by the second control station the second control commands based, at least in part, on the first and/or second information. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the first and second control stations are disposed within or forming at least a portion of a wellsite control center. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54  wherein the first control station comprises a touchscreen, and wherein the method further comprises operating the touchscreen by a human wellsite operator sitting in a driller's chair within the wellsite control center to enter the first and second commands. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the touchscreen is mounted to and/or otherwise carried with the driller's chair. 
     
     
         57 . A method comprising:
 controlling drilling rig equipment by operating a first control station in response to receipt, by the first control station, of first information indicative of operational status of the drilling rig equipment; and   controlling blowout preventer (BOP) equipment by operating the first control station in response to receipt, by the first control station, of second information indicative of operational status of the BOP equipment, wherein the second information is received by the first control station from a second control station that is operable to control the BOP equipment but not the drilling rig equipment.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57  wherein controlling the drilling rig equipment causes the rig equipment to drill a wellbore within a subterranean formation at an oil and gas wellsite, and wherein controlling the BOP equipment causes the BOP equipment to control pressure within the wellbore at the oil and gas wellsite. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the drilling rig equipment comprises one or more of:
 a drill pipe handling system operable to move drill pipe at the oil/gas wellsite; 
 a drill string hoisting system operable to move a drill string within the wellbore; 
 a drill string rotation system operable to rotate the drill string within the wellbore; and 
 a fluid control system operable to pump drilling fluid into the drill string. 
 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the BOP equipment is or comprises a BOP stack and/or a BOP control hydraulic power unit for actuating the BOP stack. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 57  wherein:
 controlling the BOP equipment by operating the first control station further comprises transmitting first control commands from the first control station to the second control station; 
 controlling the drilling rig equipment by operating a first control station further comprises transmitting second control commands from the first control station to the drilling rig equipment to control the drilling rig equipment to drill a wellbore within a subterranean formation at the oil and gas wellsite; and 
 the method further comprises transmitting the first control commands from the second control station to the BOP equipment to control the BOP equipment. 
 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the first control commands are based, at least in part, on the first and/or second information. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the second control commands are based, at least in part, on the first and/or second information. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 57  wherein:
 the first information is generated by first sensors disposed in association with or forming at least a portion of the drilling rig equipment; 
 the second information is generated by second sensors disposed in association with or forming at least a portion of the BOP equipment; 
 the second control commands are transmitted to first actuators disposed in association with or forming at least a portion of the drilling rig equipment; and 
 the first control commands are transmitted to second actuators disposed in association with or forming at least a portion of the BOP equipment. 
 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 57  further comprising receiving by the first control station the first and second control commands from a human wellsite operator. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 61  wherein the second control commands are based, at least in part, on the first and/or second information. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 61  further comprising automatically generating by the second control station the second control commands based, at least in part, on the first and/or second information. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 61  wherein the first and second control stations are disposed within or forming at least a portion of a wellsite control center. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68  wherein the first control station comprises a touchscreen, and wherein the method further comprises operating the touchscreen by the human wellsite operator sitting in a driller's chair within the wellsite control center to enter the first and second commands. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69  wherein the touchscreen is mounted to and/or otherwise carried with the driller's chair. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 57  further comprising displaying the first and second information on a video output device of the first control station. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 57  further comprising:
 displaying the first and second information on a first video output device of the first control station; and 
 displaying the second information on a second video output device of the second control station.