US 12,215,566 B2
Apparatus, system and method for regulating a control mechanism of a well
Bradley Robert Martin, Calgary (CA); Murad Mohammad, Calgary (CA); Sheldon Kryger, Calgary (CA); and Robert Duncan, Calgary (CA)
Assigned to Intelligent Wellhead Systems Inc., Calgary (CA)
Filed by Intelligent Wellhead Systems Inc., Calgary (CA)
Filed on Jul. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/877,327.
Application 17/877,327 is a continuation of application No. 16/638,629, granted, now 11,608,708, previously published as PCT/CA2019/050890, filed on Jun. 27, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/733,355, filed on Sep. 19, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0397016 A1, Dec. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. E21B 34/02 (2006.01); E21B 33/03 (2006.01); E21B 43/26 (2006.01); E21B 47/06 (2012.01)
CPC E21B 34/025 (2020.05) [E21B 33/03 (2013.01); E21B 34/02 (2013.01); E21B 43/2607 (2020.05); E21B 47/06 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
3. A system for use on a well pad, the system comprising:
a first wellhead;
a first valve;
a power system that is operatively coupled to the first valve;
a source of high pressure fluid;
a zipper manifold that is in fluid communication with the source of high pressure fluid, the first wellhead is in fluid communication with the zipper manifold by a first input conduit and fluid communication between the zipper manifold and the first input conduit is regulated by the first valve,
a first sensor that is operatively coupled to the zipper manifold for capturing a first fluid-based information and for generating a first fluid-based information signal;
a second sensor that is operatively coupled to the first input conduit, the second sensor for capturing a second fluid-based information and for generating a second fluid-based information signal;
a processor circuit that is configured to:
receive the first fluid-based information signal and the second fluid-based information signal,
determine whether the first valve is safe to actuate based on the first fluid-based information and the second fluid-based information,
generate, in response to the first valve being not safe to actuate, a first actuator signal, and
generate, in response to the first valve being safe to actuate, a second actuator signal; and
a valve actuator system that controls the power system for actuating the first valve to change an operational position of the first valve between an open position and a closed position or vice versa,
wherein the power system comprises one or more of a pneumatic power system, a hydraulic power system or an electronic motor,
wherein the valve actuator system is configured to receive the first actuator signal and the second actuator signal, and, when the valve actuator system receives the first actuator signal, the valve actuator system will maintain the operational position of the first valve, and, when the valve actuator system receives the second actuator signal, the valve actuator system will change the operational position of the first valve.