Saudi Arabian Oil Company

Fisher Controls International LLC

Patrick Flanders

Abdelghani Daraiseh

Abdullah Al-Nufaii

Saeed Abeediah

Ralph Hartman

Jimmie Lee Snowbarger

Riyaz M Ali

Michael Anthony Picou

Juan R Simeoni

Rienk Tuin

Austin Brell

Michael Picou

A flowline protection system includes a first and second isolation valve connectable to a fully rated pipeline to prevent the flow of fluid through the fully rated pipeline when either of the isolation valves are in a closed position, interrupting the flow of fluids to a downstream underrated piping system to reduce the risk of overpressure or quantity of hydrocarbon released into the environment in the event of a line break. First and second hydraulic control assemblies each include high and low pressure safety pilot valves. Both the isolation valves return to the closed position if either high pressure safety pilot valve senses an operating pressure greater than a high pressure setting or if either low pressure safety pilot valve senses the operating pressure is less than a low pressure setting. The system is self-contained and free of a connection to any component other than the fully rated pipeline.

Self-contained, fully mechanical, 1 out of 2 flowline protection system

Provided in some embodiments are systems and methods for emergency shutdown (ESD) systems. Embodiments provide for receiving, from a central logic solver (CLS) of an emergency shutdown (ESD) system for a plant via a first communication channel, a command indicative of a first state for an ESD valve, in response to receiving the command, controlling the ESD valve to operate in the first state, obtaining, from a central status monitor (CSM) of the ESD system via a second communication channel, current status information for the plant, determining a second state for the ESD valve based at least in part on the current status information obtained from the CSM, and controlling the ESD valve to operate in the second state.

Emergency shutdown system for dynamic and high integrity operations

A valve integrity manager is coupled with a servo or stepper motor to direct micro stroke testing of emergency shutdown valves. During testing, the system orders a closure of 20-25% of an emergency shutdown valve, providing data that either confirms the operability of the valve or a deficiency, while minimizing any effect on process variables.

Adaptive high integrity ESD system

An oil field process control system including a field versatile control gateway component that interfaces with a plurality of field devices using a broad range of hardwired and wireless protocols, offering in-the-field monitoring and control of each of the field devices and communicates with a remote central control room, exchanging data between the control room and the field using a multiplexed protocol that offers high data speeds and bandwidth, enabling a significant reduction of the amount of wiring, and conduits and other infrastructure expenses that would otherwise be incurred for such a highly reliable communications system.

Oil field process control system

An integrated monitoring, control and equipment maintenance and tracking system and method is provided for managing a plurality of field devices. The integrated and coordinated system includes the monitoring and control system that uses safety subsystem field device data and process control subsystem field device data. When a compromised field device is determined, e.g., by the safety system and/or the process control system, information about testing, maintenance, repair or replacement is conveyed to the monitoring and control system. This information is used to modify the work orders created by the equipment maintenance and tracking system processor such that the compromised field device, or a field device at a location of the compromised field device, is not subject to unnecessary or excessively redundant testing.

Integrated monitoring, control and equipment maintenance and tracking system

A method for diagnostics of a high integrity protection system (HIPS) for protection of a pipeline downstream of a wellhead includes: monitoring for initiation of an automatic trip or manual safety shutdown or full shut-off test; determining the process safety time (PST) that elapses between the time at which the upstream pressure reached the trip setpoint and the time at which the upstream pressure reaches the maximum allowable piping pressure (MAPP) of the downstream pipeline; and verifying that the safety critical isolation valves stroked to the fully closed position within &#xbd; PST and that the downstream pressure did not exceed the MAPP. If the verification shows that either of those parameters are not met, then the HIPS signals an alarm to operators, and in the case of a manual safety shutdown or full shut-off test, resets the pressure trip setpoint to a lower level.

Wellhead hips with automatic testing and self-diagnostics

A system and method are provided for monitoring and control of a plurality of field devices separately provided in a safety subsystem and a process control subsystem. The field devices include conventional safety subsystem field devices associated with one or more processes or subprocesses and conventional process control subsystem field devices associated with one or more of the processes or subprocesses. The integrated and coordinated system uses complementary field device data including mappings of safety subsystem field devices and process control subsystem field devices corresponding to the same process or subprocess Signals are received from a compromised field device and its functions are delegated to its complementary field device as indicated by the complementary field device data.

System and method for improved coordination between control and safety systems

A high integrity protection system (HIPS) for protection of a pipe downstream of a wellhead includes: an inlet connected to the wellhead; outlet connected to the downstream pipe; two sets of two series-connected surface safety valves (SSVs) in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet, the two sets being in parallel fluid flow relation to each other, either one or both of the sets of SSVs operable as a flowpath for fluids entering the inlet and passing through the outlet to the downstream pipe; two vent control valves (VCVs), each connected to piping intermediate one set of series-connected SSVs, the VCVs being in fluid communication with a vent line, whereby, upon opening of a VCV, process pressure between the two SSVs is vented; a signal-generating safety logic solver, in accordance with preprogrammed safety and operational protocols; and pressure sensing transmitters attached to piping upstream of the HIPS outlet.

Apparatus for wellhead high integrity protection system

The systems and processes of the present invention includes ESP variable speed drive controllers that function in conjunction with a safety logic solver, pressure sensors, and an emergency isolation valve to perform a functional test of the complete wellhead trunkline protection system without interruption of production.

Clustered wellhead trunkline protection and testing system with ESP speed controller and emergency isolation valve

A local logic solver that operates with a local smart valve controller to control, test and monitor performance characteristics of a local field-mounted emergency isolation valve device, outputting a local indication of trouble on the device, which is mounted in the field away from the facility's central control panel for the process. The local logic solver includes a recording function and memory for retrieval of detected faults that are time-stamped and recorded locally to generate documentation and to track the elapsed time, starting when the degraded state of the device was detected and first signaled as a problem; other performance data is also recorded. Accordingly, the operation of the overall system is simplified by eliminating the need for an external computer to diagnose any problems. A local control panel preferably includes pushbuttons and lights used during routine operations of the valve and a fault indicator light substantially adjacent to or in close proximity to the device being monitored to alert personnel of detected faults.

Local emergency isolation valve controller with diagnostic testing and trouble indicator

A high integrity protection system (HIPS) for protection of a pipe downstream of a wellhead includes an inlet connected to the wellhead; outlet connected to the downstream pipe; two sets of two series-connected surface safety valves (SSVs) in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet, the sets being in parallel fluid flow relation to each other, either one or both of the sets of SSVs operable as a flowpath for fluids entering the inlet and passing through the outlet to the downstream pipe; two vent control valves (VCVs), each connected to piping intermediate one set of series-connected SSVs, the VCVs being in fluid communication with a vent line, whereby, upon opening of a VCV, process pressure between the two SSVs is vented; a signal-generating safety logic solver, in accordance with preprogrammed safety and operational protocols; and pressure sensing transmitters attached to piping upstream of the HIPS outlet.

Method for wellhead high integrity protection system

This invention relates to safety instrumented systems ('SIS') for monitoring and controlling chemical and other industrial process field devices, and that are responsive to signals for the emergency shutdown of the process or system. The patent will significantly improve the reliability of communications within an emergency shutdown system, reduce unwanted trips, and adapt to process conditions by failing to a safe mode in dynamic conditions that are not considered by prior art logic solvers.

Distributed and adaptive smart logic with multi-communication apparatus for reliable safety system shutdown

An ESP variable speed drive controller functions in conjunction with a safety logic solver, dedicated pressure sensors and a surface emergency isolation valve, or safety shut-off valve (SSV), to perform a full functional test of the complete wellhead flowline system. The method includes the step of using a plurality of pressure transmitters to monitor the flowline pressure during normal operations and during a full stroke test of the safety shutoff valve and adjusting the speed of the downhole ESP during the test to maintain the pipeline pressure within predetermined safe pressure limits. This wellhead flowline protection system and method utilizes the downhole ESP speed controller and an SSV to ensure that dangerous pressure levels are not reached and provides for full functional safety testing of the wellhead system. The ESP motor speed controller is used to permit functional testing and remove the pressure source from protected downstream flowline piping.

Wellhead flowline protection and testing system with ESP speed controller and emergency isolation valve

A local logic solver operates with a local smart valve controller to control and test a local field-mounted emergency isolation valve device, outputting a local indication of trouble on the device, which is mounted in the field away from the facility's central control panel for the process. Accordingly, the operation of the overall system is simplified by eliminating the need for an external computer to diagnose any problems. A local control panel includes an indicator light substantially adjacent to or in close proximity to the device being monitored to alert personnel of detected faults. Detected faults are time-stamped locally to generate documentation and to track the elapsed time, starting when the degraded state of the device was detected and first signaled as a problem.

Growing community of inventors

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Patrick Flanders