Well sensing and control system and method

Abstract

A system and method are provided for measuring, at a fluid flow rate gauge, a fluid flow rate returning from a well, for providing, by the fluid flow rate gauge, a fluid flow rate output, for measuring, by a sand flow rate gauge, a sand flow rate of sand entrained in the fluid providing, by the sand flow rate gauge, a sand flow rate output, for receiving, at input circuits of a control system, the fluid flow rate output and the sand flow rate output, for providing, at a display controller of the control system, a display output; receiving, at a display panel, the display output, and for displaying, at the display panel, the fluid flow rate and the sand flow rate, in accordance with at least one embodiment. Embodiments can also include selecting between a first and second plug catcher or a first and second choke.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a fluid flow rate gauge for measuring a fluid flow rate of a fluid returning from a well and for providing a fluid flow rate output;   a sand flow rate gauge for measuring a sand flow rate of stand entrained in the fluid and for providing a sand flow rate output;   a control system coupled to the fluid flow rate gauge and to the sand flow rate gauge for receiving the fluid flow rate output and the sand flow rate output and for providing a display output; and   a display panel for receiving the display output and for displaying the fluid flow rate and the sand flow rate.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plug catcher assembly comprising a first plug catcher; and 
 a plug catcher inlet pressure gauge coupled to the plug catcher assembly for measuring a plug catcher inlet pressure at an inlet of the plug catcher assembly, the plug catcher inlet pressure gauge coupled to the control system, wherein the control system is configured to receive the plug catcher inlet pressure and wherein the display panel is configured to display the plug catcher inlet pressure. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the control system is further configured to provide a plug catcher assembly control output in response to receiving the plug catcher inlet pressure and wherein the plug catcher assembly is configured to receive the plug catcher assembly control output and to select between operation of the first plug catcher and a second plug catcher in response to receiving the plug catcher assembly control output. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a well head pressure gauge for measuring a well head pressure and for providing a well head pressure output, wherein the control system further configured to receive the well head pressure output, to compare the fluid flow rate of the fluid to a difference between the well head pressure and the plug catcher inlet pressure, and to provide the plug catcher assembly control output in response to the comparing. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a choke manifold comprising a first choke; and 
 a choke manifold inlet pressure gauge coupled to the choke manifold for measuring a choke manifold inlet pressure at an inlet of the choke manifold, the choke manifold inlet pressure gauge coupled to the control system, wherein the control system is configured to receive the choke manifold inlet pressure and wherein the display panel is configured to display the choke manifold inlet pressure. 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the control system is further configured to provide a choke manifold control output in response to receiving the choke manifold inlet pressure and wherein the choke manifold is configured to receive the choke manifold control output and to select between operation a first choke of the choke manifold and a second choke of the choke manifold in response to receiving the choke manifold control output. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the control system is adapted to determine a sand concentration based on the fluid flow rate output and the sand flow rate output and for controlling a fracturing blender to adjust a sand quantity relative to a fluid quantity for injection into the well. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 measuring, at a fluid flow rate gauge, a fluid flow rate returning from a well;   providing, by the fluid flow rate gauge, a fluid flow rate output;   measuring, by a sand flow rate gauge, a sand flow rate of sand entrained in the fluid;   providing, by the sand flow rate gauge, a sand flow rate output;   receiving, at input circuits of a control system, the fluid flow rate output and the sand flow rate output;   providing, at a display controller of the control system, a display output;   receiving, at a display panel, the display output; and   displaying, at the display panel, the fluid flow rate and the sand flow rate.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 measuring, at a plug catcher inlet pressure gauge coupled to a plug catcher assembly, a plug catcher inlet pressure at an inlet of the plug catcher assembly, the plug catcher inlet pressure gauge coupled to the control system; 
 receiving, at the control system, the plug catcher inlet pressure; and 
 displaying, at the display panel, the plug catcher inlet pressure. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 providing, at the control system, a plug catcher assembly control output in response to receiving the plug catcher inlet pressure; 
 receiving, at the plug catcher assembly, the plug catcher assembly control output; and 
 selecting between operation of the first plug catcher and a second plug catcher in response to receiving the plug catcher assembly control output. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 measuring, at a well head pressure gauge, a well head pressure; 
 providing, at the well head pressure gauge, a well head pressure output; 
 receiving, at the control system, the well head pressure output; 
 comparing, at the control system, the fluid flow rate of the fluid to a difference between the well head pressure and the plug catcher inlet pressure; and 
 providing, at the control system, the plug catcher assembly control output in response to the comparing. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 providing a choke manifold comprising a first choke; 
 measuring, at a choke manifold inlet pressure gauge coupled to the choke manifold, a choke manifold inlet pressure at an inlet of the choke manifold, the choke manifold inlet pressure gauge coupled to the control system; 
 receiving, at the control system, the choke manifold inlet pressure; and 
 displaying, at the display panel, the choke manifold inlet pressure. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 providing, at the control system, a choke manifold control output in response to receiving the choke manifold inlet pressure; 
 receiving, at the choke manifold, the choke manifold control output; and 
 selecting, at the choke manifold, between operation a first choke of the choke manifold and a second choke of the choke manifold in response to receiving the choke manifold control output. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 determining, at the control system, a sand concentration based on the fluid flow rate output and the sand flow rate output; and 
 controlling, at the control system, a fracturing blender to adjust a sand quantity relative to a fluid quantity for injection into the well. 
 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a first means for measuring a fluid flow rate of a fluid returning from a well and for providing a fluid flow rate output;   a second means for measuring a sand flow rate of stand entrained in the fluid and for providing a sand flow rate output,   a third means coupled to the first means and to the second means for receiving the fluid flow rate output and the sand flow rate output and for providing a display output; and   a fourth means for receiving the display output and for displaying the fluid flow rate and the sand flow rate.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising:
 a fifth means comprising a first plug catcher; and 
 a sixth means coupled to the plug catcher assembly for measuring a plug catcher inlet pressure at an inlet of the fifth means, the plug catcher inlet pressure gauge coupled to the third means, wherein the third means is configured to receive the plug catcher inlet pressure and wherein the fourth means is configured to display plug catcher inlet pressure. 
 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the third means is further configured to provide a plug catcher assembly control output in response to receiving the plug catcher inlet pressure and wherein the fourth means is configured to receive the plug catcher assembly control output and to select between operation of the first plug catcher and a second plug catcher in response to receiving the plug catcher assembly control output. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising:
 a seventh means for measuring a well head pressure and for providing a well head pressure output, wherein the third means is further configured to receive the well head pressure output, to compare the fluid flow rate of the fluid to a difference between the well head pressure and the plug catcher inlet pressure, and to provide the plug catcher assembly control output in response to the comparing. 
 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising:
 an eighth means comprising a first choke; and 
 a ninth means coupled to the eighth means for measuring a choke manifold inlet pressure at an inlet of the choke manifold, the ninth means coupled to the third means, wherein the third means is configured to receive the choke manifold inlet pressure and wherein the fourth means is configured to display the choke manifold inlet pressure. 
 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the third means is further configured to provide a choke manifold control output in response to receiving the choke manifold inlet pressure and wherein the eighth means is configured to receive the choke manifold control output and to select between operation a first choke of the choke manifold and a second choke in response to receiving the choke manifold control output.