Paper: Automated Well Head Management

More than ten years ago oil and gas producers expressed the need for a generalized system for the automation of well head operations. A well-head supervisory controller has been developed that provides a general, simple, small, low cost hardware platform with extensive firmware capabilities for well head automation. The operating firmware for the system is written in a high level language, which allows flexible application development at reasonable cost in a reasonable time. Communication for the system employs a widely used, well known, standard protocol. To date, firmware applications for the unit include: general RTU, pump off control, AGA-3/NX19 gas flow measurement, gas flow data logging, plunger lift control, intermittent gas lift control, continuous Gas lift control, water injection control, CO2, injection control, liquid flow control, gas flow control, pressure control and tank level measurement. Additional applications including compressor monitoring and control, VRU (vapor recovery unit) control,LACT unit monitoring and control, net oil computer applications, oil theft detector, hydraulic pump monitoring and control and ESP monitoring and control are in the queue for development. The scope of well head and facilities applications for the system are only limited by the types of equipment in the field and imagination of the user and the manufacturer.