Patent ID: 8201624
Filing Date: 2012-06-19
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. An automated system for the safety testing of a trunkline instrumented protection system connected to a plurality of wellhead piping flowlines employed for the distribution of a fluid stream of gas and/or oil, at least one wellhead piping flowline of the plurality of wellhead piping flowlines pressurized by a downhole electric submersible pump (ESP), the system comprising: a. a common header for a plurality of wellhead piping flowlines; b. an emergency isolation valve (ZV) positioned in a trunkline downstream of the common header; c. a pre-programmed safety logic solver (SLS) for conducting a safety test protocol and recording the results electronically, and for issuing emergency shut-down signals; d. at least one pressure sensor for measuring the internal trunkline pressure in the common header upstream of the ZV and at least one pressure sensor for measuring the internal trunkline pressure downstream of the ZV; e. a valve actuator for partially closing the ZV in response to a test-initiating signal or for closing the ZV in response to an emergency shut-down signal transmitted by the SLS, and for opening the ZV in response to a signal transmitted by the SLS; and f. a variable speed drive controller operatively connected to each ESP and the SLS for varying the speed of the ESP based upon incremental speed reduction/increase commands from the SLS to thereby varying the pressure of the fluid in the flowline, and for providing feedback of the speed of the ESP during normal operations and during system testing to the SLS.