US 12,312,929 B2
System and method for an automated and intelligent frac pad
Zachary Curry, Houston, TX (US); Andrew Cappello, Houston, TX (US); Thiago Machado, Houston, TX (US); James Cook, Houston, TX (US); Sobitha Gunatilleke, Houston, TX (US); Rajeev Pillai, Houston, TX (US); Hernan Anzola, Houston, TX (US); Nathanial Ramsey, Houston, TX (US); Clay Dixon, Houston, TX (US); and Gabriel Tiviroli-Melchert, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to FMC Technologies, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by FMC Technologies, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Mar. 28, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/619,603.
Application 18/619,603 is a continuation of application No. 17/608,093, granted, now 11,976,541, previously published as PCT/US2020/033383, filed on May 18, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/849,375, filed on May 17, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0240549 A1, Jul. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. E21B 43/26 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 43/2607 (2020.05) [E21B 2200/20 (2020.05)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a frac tree having at least one valve and being associated with a red zone surrounding the frac tree;
a manifold in fluid communication with the at least one valve and positioned within the red zone;
a control panel positioned outside the red zone,
wherein the control panel provides pre-made instructions operable to automatically control the at least one valve according to a valve sequencing plan to thereby direct fluids in a selected path to the frac tree;
one or more sensors coupled to the at least one valve, the one or more sensors operable to communicate information indicative of a state of the at least one valve to the control panel; and
an automation box positioned within the red zone, the automation box electrically connected to the control panel and to the manifold,
wherein the automation box receives electrical power from the control panel at a first level and outputs the electrical power to the manifold at a second level, lower than the first level,
wherein the control panel modifies the valve sequencing plan based at least in part on the information indicative of the state of the at least one valve from the one or more sensors.