Automatic shutdown systems and methods for autonomous winch operations of independent winch units

Abstract

Systems and methods presented herein include coordinating behavior with independent winch systems and a wireline wellsite automation (WWA) platform, consisting of a variety of distributed services and applications, and that is completely separate from the independent winch systems, such that the coordination enables the WWA platform and an independent winch system to effect shutdown of the independent winch system, based on operating parameters received from the WWA platform and autonomous operating parameters transmitted to the independent winch system. For example, in certain embodiments, a WWA platform that is completely separate from a multiline unit winch system may be configured to continuously receive data relating to operating parameters and transmit control signals to the winch units of the multiline unit, in order to effect a multiline winch shutdown.

1 . A control system, comprising:
 an independent winch system comprising a winch configured to cause a respective cable to be unspooled from a respective drum; and   a wireline wellsite automation (WWA) platform configured to continuously receive data relating to operating parameters of the winch, and to automatically take control of the winch based at least in part on the data relating to the operating parameters of the winch, wherein the WWA platform is completely separate from the independent winch system.   
     
     
         2 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the WWA platform is configured to set a speed of the winch to zero upon receiving data indicative of the winch being switched from a WWA-controlled mode to a manual mode. 
     
     
         3 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein a winch system interface of the WWA platform is configured to send periodic messages with an incrementing value to the independent winch system, and the independent winch system is configured to automatically switch to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the independent winch system detects an interruption of receipt of the periodic messages. 
     
     
         4 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein a winch system interface of the WWA platform is configured to receive one or more speed setpoints from a winch controller of the WWA platform and to send the one or more speed setpoints to the independent winch system, and the independent winch system is configured to automatically switch to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the independent winch system detects an interruption of receipt of the one or more speed setpoints. 
     
     
         5 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein a winch system interface of the WWA platform is configured to receive periodic messages from a conveyance domain, and to instruct the independent winch system to automatically switch to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the winch system interface of the WWA platform detects an interruption of receipt of the periodic messages. 
     
     
         6 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein a winch system interface of the WWA platform is configured to receive one or more speed setpoints from a winch controller of the WWA platform and periodic messages from a conveyance domain, and the independent winch system is configured to automatically switch to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the winch system interface of the WWA platform detects an interruption of receipt of the one or more speed setpoints and/or of receipt of the periodic messages. 
     
     
         7 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the WWA platform is configured to continuously receive data relating to operating parameters of winches of a plurality of independent winch systems, and to automatically take control of a first winch of a first independent winch system of the plurality of independent winch systems based at least in part on the data relating to the operating parameters of the winches of the plurality of independent winch systems, wherein the WWA platform is completely separate from each of the plurality of independent winch systems. 
     
     
         8 . A method of controlling an independent winch system, comprising:
 continuously receiving, via a wireline wellsite automation (WWA) platform, data relating to operating parameters of a winch of an independent winch system, wherein the WWA platform is completely separate from the independent winch system; and   automatically taking, via the WWA platform, control of the winch based at least in part on the data relating to the operating parameters of the winch.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising setting, via the WWA platform, a speed of the winch to zero upon receiving data indicative of the winch being switched from a WWA-controlled mode to a manual mode. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising:
 sending, via a winch system interface of the WWA platform, periodic messages with an incrementing value to the independent winch system; and   automatically switching the independent winch system to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the independent winch system detects an interruption of receipt of the periodic messages.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising:
 receiving, via a winch system interface of the WWA platform, one or more speed setpoints from a winch controller of the WWA platform;   sending, via the winch system interface of the WWA platform, the one or more speed setpoints to the independent winch system; and   automatically switching the independent winch system to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the independent winch system detects an interruption of receipt of the one or more speed setpoints.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising:
 receiving, via a winch system interface of the WWA platform, periodic messages from a conveyance domain; and   instructing, via the winch system interface of the WWA platform, the independent winch system to automatically switch to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the winch system interface of the WWA platform detects an interruption of receipt of the periodic messages.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising:
 receiving, via a winch system interface of the WWA platform, one or more speed setpoints from a winch controller of the WWA platform;   receiving, via the winch system interface of the WWA platform, periodic messages from a conveyance domain; and   automatically switching the independent winch system to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the independent winch system detects an interruption of receipt of the one or more speed setpoints and/or an interruption of receipt of the periodic messages.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising:
 continuously receiving, via a winch system interface of the WWA platform, data relating to operating parameters of winches of a plurality of independent winch systems, wherein the WWA platform is completely separate from each of the plurality of independent winch systems; and   automatically taking, via the WWA platform, control of a first winch of a first independent winch system of the plurality of independent winch systems based at least in part on the data relating to the operating parameters of the winches of the plurality of independent winch systems.   
     
     
         15 . A wireline wellsite automation (WWA) platform, comprising:
 one or more processors configured to execute instructions stored on memory media of the WWA platform, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the WWA platform to:
 continuously receive data relating to operating parameters of a winch of an independent winch system, wherein the WWA platform is completely separate from the independent winch system; and 
 automatically take control of the winch based at least in part on the data relating to the operating parameters of the winch. 
   
     
     
         16 . The WWA platform of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the WWA platform to set a speed of the winch to zero upon receiving data indicative of the winch being switched from a WWA-controlled mode to a manual mode. 
     
     
         17 . The WWA platform of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the WWA platform to:
 send, via a winch system interface of the WWA platform, periodic messages with an incrementing value to the independent winch system, wherein the winch is configured to automatically switch to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the independent winch system detects an interruption of receipt of the periodic messages.   
     
     
         18 . The WWA platform of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the WWA platform to:
 receive, via a winch system interface of the WWA platform, one or more speed setpoints from a winch controller of the WWA platform;   send, via the winch system interface of the WWA platform, the one or more speed setpoints to the independent winch system; and   instruct, via the winch system interface of the WWA platform, the independent winch system to automatically switch to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the independent winch system detects an interruption of receipt of the one or more speed setpoints.   
     
     
         19 . The WWA platform of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the WWA platform to:
 receive, via a winch system interface of the WWA platform, periodic messages from a conveyance domain; and   instruct, via the winch system interface of the WWA platform, the independent winch system to automatically switch to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the winch system interface of the WWA platform detects an interruption of receipt of the periodic messages.   
     
     
         20 . The WWA platform of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the WWA platform to:
 receive, via a winch system interface of the WWA platform, one or more speed setpoints from a winch controller of the WWA platform;   receive, via the winch system interface of the WWA platform, periodic messages from a conveyance domain; and   automatically switch the independent winch system to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the independent winch system detects an interruption of receipt of the one or more speed setpoints and/or an interruption of receipt of the periodic messages.