Apparatus, system and process for regulating a control mechanism of a well

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an apparatus, a system and a process for regulating a wellhead control mechanism. The apparatus is configured to control actuation of a wellhead control mechanism by moving a moveable body of the apparatus between a first position and a second position. When the apparatus is in the first position a valve actuator is actuatable and when the apparatus is in the second position the valve actuator is physically interfered from actuating. When the apparatus is in the second position, the wellhead control mechanism cannot be actuated and is held in either an open, a partially open or a closed position. Other embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a system that directly controls actuation of a wellhead actuation mechanism.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A position regulator apparatus for regulating a position of a wellhead control mechanism, through or from a wellhead, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a frame that is operatively connectible to an actuator for the valve, wherein the actuator controls whether the valve is in an open position, a closed position or therebetween; and   (b) a moveable body that is configured to move between a first position and a second position, when the moveable body is in the first position the actuator is actuatable and when the moveable body is in the second position the actuator is physically interfered from actuating.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable body is an elongate body for physically interfering with the actuator by extending into the second position and blocking actuation of at least one portion of the actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable body is a cover for physically interfering with the actuator by moving into the second position and overlaying the control mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . A system for regulating a position of a wellhead control mechanism, the system comprising:
 (a) an apparatus that comprises:
 (i) a frame that is connectible to an actuator for the valve, wherein the actuator controls whether the valve is in an open position, a closed position or therebetween; and 
 (ii) a moveable body that is configured to move between a first position and a second position, when the moveable body is in the first position the actuator is actuatable and when the moveable body is in the second position the actuator is physically interfered from actuating; and 
   (b) an actuating system that is configured for moving the moveable body between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the actuating system is one of a pneumatic-based actuating system, a hydraulic-based actuating system, an electronic-based actuating system and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a sensor that is configured for detecting a first condition within the well head and for generating a condition-based information signal. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the sensor is a pressure-sensor and the first condition is the fluid pressure within a conduit that is in fluidily communicatable with the wellhead and the condition-based information signal is a fluid-based information signal. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the sensor is a sensor assembly that is configured to detect a presence of an object within the well head and the condition-based information signal is an object-based information signal. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the sensor is a sensor assembly that is configured to detect a depth and line tension of a well-operation tool or a supporting line thereof within a portion of the well and the condition-based information signal is an object-based information signal. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the sensor is a sensor assembly that is configured to detect a position of a wellhead control mechanism and the condition-based information signal is a position-based information signal. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor assembly comprises a magnetic field generator and a magnetic sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the sensor is a sensor that is configured to detect a detectable signal that is generated by a detectable signal generator that is affixable to an object that is passable through the wellhead and the condition-based information signal is an object-based information signal. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a detectable signal generator that is affixable to a section of the wellhead and wherein the sensor assembly is affixable to an object that is passable through the wellhead and the sensor assembly is configured to detect a detectable signal generated by the detectable signal generator the condition-based information signal is an object-based information signal. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the sensor is a position sensor that is configured to detect a position of a valve that regulates the flow of fluids through, to or from the wellhead and the condition-based information is a position based information signal. 
     
     
         15 . The system of any one of  claims 6 through 14 , further comprising a controller circuit for receiving the conditions-based information signal and for generating a display command that represents the condition-based information signal and sending the display command to a display unit. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the display unit is part of a user interface. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller circuit also generates a valve-position regulator command for actuating the moveable body between the first position and the second position and vice versa. 
     
     
         18 . A system for regulating a wellhead control mechanism, the system comprising:
 (a) a valve position regulator that is configured to move between a first position and a second position for physically interfering with actuation of the control mechanism;   (b) a valve actuation panel that receives power from a power source and that comprises an actuator that is configured to regulate the flow of power to the valve position regulator for moving the valve position regulator between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a conduit for communicating the power from the power source to the valve actuation panel and for communicating the power from the valve actuation panel to the valve position regulator. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the valve actuation panel further comprises a controller that is configured to operatively connect at least a second valve actuation panel with the valve actuation panel. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the power source is a hydraulic power source, a pneumatic power source, an electronic power source or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The system of any one of  claim 18, 19, 20 or 21 , further comprises a controller circuit for controlling a position of the actuator of the valve actuation panel for regulating the flow of power to the valve position regulator. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising a sensor that is configured to send object-based information to the controller circuit for regulating the flow of power to the valve position regulator. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 or claim 23 , further comprising a further sensor that is configured to send fluid-based information to the controller circuit for regulating the flow of power to the valve position regulator. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the fluid-based information is pressure-based information or flow-based information. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising a sensor that is configured to send position-based information to the controller circuit for regulating the flow of power to the valve position regulator. 
     
     
         27 . The system of any one of  claims 18 through 26 , further comprising a user interface device. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the user interface device comprises the controller circuit 
     
     
         29 . A system for regulating a wellhead control mechanism, the system comprising:
 (a) an actuator system that is configured to directly actuate the wellhead control mechanism;   (b) a controller circuit that is operatively connected to the actuator system and the controller circuit is configured for sending regulatory commands to the actuator system.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , further comprising a user interface that is operatively communicatable with the controller circuit. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , further comprising a sensor that is configured for providing object-based information to the controller circuit and/or the user interface. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 29 , further comprising a sensor that is configured for providing fluid-based information to the controller circuit and/or the user interface. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the actuator system comprises an electronic actuator that is operatively coupled to the wellhead control mechanism for actuating the wellhead control mechanism under direction of the controller circuit. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the actuator system comprises a valve panel and the valve panel comprises an actuator that is actuatable under direction of the controller circuit so that when the actuator actuates to one position a power fluid can actuate the wellhead control mechanism and when the actuator actuates to another position the wellhead control mechanism is locked in a position. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the power fluid is either a hydraulic power-fluid or a pneumatic power-fluid. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the actuator system comprises a valve panel and the valve panel comprises an actuator that is actuatable under direction of the controller circuit so that when the actuator actuates to one position an electrical power can actuate the wellhead control mechanism and when the actuator actuates to another position the wellhead control mechanism is locked in a position. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the wellhead control mechanism is: a swab valve, a pump-down valve, a hydraulic master-valve, a side port valves, a zipper manifold valve, a flow-back valve, a pump-down valve, a choke or a blowout preventer. 
     
     
         38 . A process for regulating a wellhead control mechanism, the process comprising steps of:
 (a) receiving fluid-based information or object-based information; and   (b) assessing whether the wellhead control mechanism can be actuated.   
     
     
         39 . The process of  claim 37 , further comprising a step of locking the wellhead control mechanism. 
     
     
         40 . The process of  claim 38 , further comprising a step of satisfying requirements of a handshake protocol. 
     
     
         41 . A process for regulating a wellhead control mechanism, the process comprising the steps of:
 (a) locking out the wellhead control mechanism so that it cannot actuate; and   (b) performing a handshake protocol to determine if the locked out wellhead control mechanism can be released and then actuated.   
     
     
         42 . The process of  claim 40 , wherein the locking out step is performed indirectly. 
     
     
         43 . The process of  claim 40 , wherein the locking out step is performed directly.