Automatic managed pressure drilling utilizing stationary downhole pressure sensors

Abstract

Undertaking a wellbore operation while monitoring wellbore pressure with stationary pressure sensors coupled to tubing extended within the wellbore and thereby generating downhole annulus signals in real-time. The wellbore pressure is also monitored at or near a surface location during the wellbore operation with surface pressure sensors that generate a measured wellhead pressure. The downhole annulus pressure signals are received at an outer loop controller that provides a desired wellhead pressure based on a difference between the real-time downhole annulus pressure signals and a desired pressure setpoint. The measured and desired wellhead pressures are received with an inner loop controller that provides command signals based on a difference between the measured and desired wellhead pressures. The command signals are received by flow control devices that adjust a backpressure within the wellbore based on the command signals.

1 . A managed pressure well system, comprising:
 one or more stationary pressure sensors coupled to a tubing positioned within a wellbore extending from a surface location, the one or more stationary pressure sensors being positioned at a corresponding one or more locations within the wellbore to monitor wellbore pressure and thereby generate downhole annulus pressure signals in real-time;   one or more surface pressure sensors in fluid communication with the wellbore to monitor the wellbore pressure at or near the surface location and generate a measured wellhead pressure;   a pressure control system that includes:   an outer loop controller that receives and calculates a downhole annulus pressure from the downhole annulus pressure signals and provides a desired wellhead pressure based on a difference between the downhole annulus pressure and a desired pressure setpoint; and   an inner loop controller that receives the measured and desired wellhead pressures and provides one or more command signals based on a difference between the measured and desired wellhead pressures; and   one or more flow control devices fluidly coupled to the wellbore at the surface location and communicably coupled to the inner loop controller to receive the one or more command signals and adjust a backpressure within the wellbore based on the one or more command signals.   
     
     
         2 . The managed pressure well system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more stationary pressure sensors are hardwired to the surface location via a corresponding one or more wired telecommunication lines. 
     
     
         3 . The managed pressure well system of  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the inner and outer loop controllers comprises a closed-loop control mechanism or program. 
     
     
         4 . The managed pressure well system of  claim 1 , wherein the desired pressure setpoint comprises a desired wellbore pressure at the corresponding one or more locations within the wellbore. 
     
     
         5 . The managed pressure well system of  claim 1 , wherein the desired pressure setpoint comprises a desired bottom-hole wellbore pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The managed pressure well system of  claim 1 , wherein the desired pressure set point is derived from a computer system communicably coupled to the outer loop controller. 
     
     
         7 . The managed pressure well system of  claim 1 , wherein the desired pressure set point is manually inputted by a well operator. 
     
     
         8 . The managed pressure well system of  claim 1 , wherein the desired wellhead pressure comprises a desired pressure applied to the wellbore at or near the surface location that results in a wellbore pressure at or near the desired pressure setpoint at the corresponding one or more locations. 
     
     
         9 . The managed pressure well system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pressure control devices comprise at least one of a choke or control valve manifold and a backpressure pump. 
     
     
         10 . The managed pressure well system of  claim 1 , wherein, when the measured wellhead pressure is less than the desired wellhead pressure, the one or more command signals trigger the one or more pressure control devices to increase the wellbore pressure. 
     
     
         11 . The managed pressure well system of  claim 1 , wherein, when the measured wellhead pressure is greater than the desired wellhead pressure, the one or more command signals trigger the one or more pressure control devices to decrease the wellbore pressure. 
     
     
         12 . The managed pressure well system of  claim 1 , wherein the desired wellhead pressure is further based on real-time data provided by one or more pieces of surface equipment to the outer loop controller. 
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising:
 undertaking a wellbore operation within a wellbore extending from a surface location and having tubing positioned therein;   monitoring wellbore pressure with one or more stationary pressure sensors coupled to the tubing at a corresponding one or more locations within the wellbore and thereby generating in real-time downhole annulus pressure signals during the wellbore operation;   monitoring the wellbore pressure at or near the surface location during the wellbore operation with one or more surface pressure sensors and generating a measured wellhead pressure;   calculating a downhole annulus pressure from the downhole annulus pressure signals with an outer loop controller and providing a desired wellhead pressure based on a difference between the downhole annulus pressure and a desired pressure setpoint;   receiving the measured and desired wellhead pressures with an inner loop controller and providing one or more command signals based on a difference between the measured and desired wellhead pressures;   receiving the one or more command signals with one or more flow control devices fluidly coupled to the wellbore at the surface location; and   adjusting a backpressure within the wellbore with the one or more flow control devices based on the one or more command signals.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising transmitting the downhole annulus pressure signals to the surface location via a corresponding one or more wired telecommunication lines. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein providing the desired wellhead pressure comprises determining the desired wellbore pressure at the corresponding one or more locations within the wellbore. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein providing the desired wellhead pressure comprises determining the desired wellbore pressure at a bottom of the wellbore. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein providing the desired wellhead pressure comprises determining a desired pressure applied to the wellbore at or near the surface location that results in a wellbore pressure at or near the desired pressure setpoint at the corresponding one or more locations. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein adjusting the backpressure within the wellbore with the one or more flow control devices comprises increasing the wellbore pressure when the measured wellhead pressure is less than the desired wellhead pressure. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein adjusting the backpressure within the wellbore with the one or more flow control devices comprises decreasing the wellbore pressure when the measured wellhead pressure is greater than the desired wellhead pressure. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein providing the desired wellhead pressure comprises processing with the outer loop controller real-time data provided by one or more pieces of surface equipment. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled)