| CPC E21B 34/02 (2013.01) [E21B 47/06 (2013.01)] | 13 Claims |
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1. A system for relieving pressure in a wellbore annulus of a hydrocarbon recovery well, said system comprising:
a wellhead disposed at a wellbore;
the wellhead including a wing valve;
a production line extending from the wellhead;
the production line including an insertion valve;
an annulus relief line in communication with the wellbore annulus, wherein the annulus relief line extends between the wing valve and the insertion valve;
a first pressure gauge that measures fluid pressure in the wellbore annulus;
a second pressure gauge that measures fluid pressure in the production line;
a one-way check valve that is disposed in the annulus relief line between the wing valve and the insertion valve and that prevents backflow from the production line to the annulus;
a counter disposed on the annulus relief line between the check valve and the insertion valve; and
a well control system in communication with the first pressure gauge, second pressure gauge and check valve,
wherein the well control system opens and closes the check valve in response to a determined difference between fluid pressure measured by the first pressure gauge and fluid pressure measured by the second pressure gauge, and
wherein the counter:
is configured to count instances of fluid flow through the annulus relief line as a result of opening the check valve,
is configured to communicate, to the well control system and a supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA), a count of a predetermined number of instances of fluid flow through the annulus relief line, and
includes a display that provides direct feedback to an operator regarding annulus integrity issues.
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