Automated system and method for use in well control

Abstract

An automated system for use in well control comprises a controller configured to receive an input signal indicative of a fluid flow rate or fluid volumetric rate from a wellbore. The controller is configured to determine from the input signal whether the fluid flow rate or fluid volumetric rate exceeds a preselected threshold indicative of a fluid influx condition in the wellbore system. On determining that the fluid flow rate or fluid volumetric rate exceeds the preselected threshold, the controller is configured to automatically output one or more command signals initiating an initial well control protocol.

1 . An automated system for use in well control, the system comprising:
 a controller configured to receive an input signal indicative of a fluid flow rate or fluid volumetric rate from a wellbore, the controller configured to determine from said input signal whether the fluid flow rate or fluid volumetric rate exceeds a preselected threshold indicative of a fluid influx condition in the wellbore system,   wherein, on determining that said fluid flow rate or fluid volumetric rate exceeds said preselected threshold, the controller is configured to automatically output one or more command signals initiating an initial well control protocol.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the initial well control protocol comprises a well shut-in protocol. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the initial well control protocol comprises one or more preselected well control operations. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the initial well control protocol comprises a plurality of well control operations. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured for coupling to, to communicate with or may be operatively associated with components of an oil and/or gas installation. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the system is configured for coupling to, to communicate with or may be operatively associated with a drawworks of the installation, the initial well control protocol comprising a command signal to the drawworks to raise the drill string off the bottom of the wellbore. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the system is configured for coupling to, to communicate with or may be operatively associated with a top drive of the installation, the initial well control protocol comprising a command signal to the top drive to stop rotation of the top drive. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the system is configured for coupling to, to communicate with or may be operatively associated with one or more mud pumps of the installation, the initial well control protocol comprising a command signal to the mud pumps to stop the mud pumps, or a preselected subset of the mud pumps. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to monitor the fluid flow rate over a preset test period. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured for coupling to, to communicate with or may be operatively associated with a blow out preventer (BOP) of the installation, the initial well control protocol comprising a command signal to the BOP to close the BOP. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to action a further well control protocol. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the further well control protocol comprises or takes the form of an influx circulation operation. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the further well control protocol comprises or takes the form of a well kill operation. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the further well control protocol comprises or takes the form of a fluid pumping operation. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises, is coupled to or may communicate with, a sensor arrangement for detecting the fluid flow rate or fluid volumetric rate from the wellbore. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor arrangement further comprises at least one of: a sensor configured to measure fluid volumetric displacement; a pressure sensor; a depth sensor configured to measure the rate of penetration of the drillstring; a weight sensor configured to measure weight of the drillstring; a gas detection sensor configured to detect the presence and/or percentage of gas in the drilling fluid; one or more sensors configured to measure drilling fluid weight, yield point and/or plastic viscosity; a speed sensor configured to measure equipment speed; a condition sensor configured to measure equipment condition; a movement sensor configured to measure heave, sway, surge, roll, pitch and yaw of the installation; and a wind speed and/or direction sensor configured to wind speed and/or direction. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises, is coupled to, or operatively associated with a human machine interface (HMI) arrangement. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a communication arrangement configured to communicate said command signal to the well control infrastructure. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises, is configured for connection to or is operatively associated with a managed pressure drilling system of the installation. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 the system comprises an early kick detection system;   the system is configured for connection to and/or operatively associated with an early kick detection system of the installation.   
     
     
         21 . An offshore or onshore oil and/or gas installation comprising the automated system for use in well control of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         22 . An automated method for use in well control, the method comprising:
 receiving a signal indicative of a fluid flow rate or fluid volumetric rate from a wellbore;   determining from said signal whether the fluid flow rate or fluid volumetric rate exceeds a preselected threshold,   wherein, on determining that said received fluid flow rate or fluid volumetric rate exceeds said preselected threshold, the method comprises automatically initiating an initial well control operation.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the controller additionally receives one or more input signal in the form of: fluid volume data; fluid volumetric displacement data; pressure data; depth data; drillstring weight data; gas detection data; data indicative of the gas percentage in the drilling fluid; drilling fluid property data; equipment speed data; equipment condition data; movement data regarding the installation; environmental data; tidal data; GPS and/or other positioning system data. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the controller additionally receives one or more input signal in the form of managed pressure drilling (MPD) system data and/or early kick detection system (EKDS) data. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the controller may be configured to receive one or more input signal in the form of a manual confirmation input, e.g. from the operative. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the controller is configured to receive one or more input signal in the form of well control procedure data and/or leak-off test data. 
     
     
         27 . A processing system configured to implement the method of  claim 22 . 
     
     
         28 . A computer program product configured such that when processed by a suitable processing system configures the processing system to implement the method of  claim 22 . 
     
     
         29 . A carrier medium, the carrier medium comprising a signal, the signal when processed by a suitable processing system causes the processing system to implement the method of  claim 22 .