Automated standpipe pressure relief valve

Abstract

A system that can include a standpipe on a rig that supplies mud from one or more mud pumps to a tubular string, a rig controller, and a valve in fluid communication with the standpipe and communicatively coupled to the rig controller, where the rig controller is configured to detect a first signature of conditions of the rig based on data sources received at the rig controller, and where the rig controller causes the valve to open or close or partially open to control pressure in the standpipe based on the first signature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for managing pressure in a standpipe during a subterranean operation, the system comprising:
 a standpipe on a rig that supplies mud from one or more mud pumps to a tubular string;   a rig controller; and   a valve in fluid communication with the standpipe and communicatively coupled to the rig controller, wherein the rig controller is configured to detect a first signature of conditions of the rig based on data sources received at the rig controller, and wherein the rig controller causes the valve to open or close or partially open to control pressure in the standpipe based on the first signature.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rig controller causes the valve to be closed based on the first signature and a delay timer after the first signature is detected, and wherein the valve prevents pressure loss through the valve from the standpipe when closed. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rig controller causes the valve to be opened based on the first signature and releases pressure through the valve from the standpipe. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first signature comprises a condition which indicates that pressure in the standpipe is below a first pre-determined pressure level. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first pre-determined pressure level is a pressure that reduces damage to the valve when the valve is opened. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the rig controller is configured to detect a second signature of the conditions of the rig based on the data sources received at the rig controller, and wherein the rig controller causes the valve to open or close or partially open based on the second signature. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the rig controller causes the valve to be closed based on the second signature and a time delay after the first signature is detected, and wherein the valve prevents pressure loss through the valve from the standpipe. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the second signature comprises a condition which indicates that pressure in the standpipe is below a second pre-determined pressure level, wherein the second pre-determined pressure level is below the first pre-determined pressure level, and wherein the second pre-determined pressure level indicates that the pressure in the standpipe is at a level where a connection to the tubular string can be made. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first signature indicates that strokes per minute of the one or more mud pumps is non-zero, and wherein the rig controller causes the valve to close regardless of other conditions of the rig. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a safety check, wherein the safety check indicates that at least a portion of a well event has occurred, and the rig controller causes the valve to close or remain closed in response to the safety check. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first signature indicates a mud pulse telemetry mode, wherein the rig controller receives data for transmission downhole and controls the valve to produce pressure pulses in the standpipe that are representative of the data, and wherein the pressure pulses are transmitted downhole through mud in the tubular string. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rig controller is configured to compare the first signature to one or more historical signatures stored in a signature database, and wherein the one or more historical signatures indicate an action to be taken if the first signature matches one of the one or more historical signatures. 
     
     
         13 . A method for managing pressure in a standpipe during a subterranean operation, the method comprising:
 stopping a mud pump that supplies pressurized mud to the standpipe on a rig;   monitoring, via a pressure sensor, the pressure in the standpipe;   opening, via a rig controller, a valve when the pressure is below a first pre-determined pressure level, wherein the valve is in pressure communication with the standpipe;   releasing the pressure through the valve until the pressure is decreased to a level below a second pre-determined pressure level;   initiating a delay timer when the pressure is below the second pre-determined pressure level;   closing the valve, via the rig controller, when the delay timer has expired; and   adding a tubular to a tubular string while the pressure is below the second pre-determined pressure level.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising starting the mud pump, and increasing the pressure back above the first pre-determined pressure level. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising repeating stopping, monitoring, opening, releasing, closing, adding, and starting for each time a tubular is added to the tubular string, and performing the stopping, monitoring, opening, releasing, closing, adding, and starting automatically via the rig controller. 
     
     
         16 . A method for managing pressure in a standpipe during a subterranean operation, the method comprising:
 monitoring, via a rig controller, data sources from the rig;   detecting a first signature of conditions of the rig based on the data sources, wherein the first signature indicates that the pressure in the standpipe is below a first pre-determined pressure level;   opening, via the rig controller, a valve in pressure communication with the standpipe in response to detecting the first signature;   releasing the pressure from the standpipe through the valve;   detecting a second signature of conditions of the rig based on the data sources, wherein the second signature indicates that the pressure in the standpipe is below a second pre-determined pressure level;   initiating, via the rig controller, a delay timer when the pressure is below the second pre-determined pressure level; and   closing the valve, via the rig controller, when the delay timer has expired.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first signature further indicates that strokes per minute of a mud pump is zero, and wherein the mud pump delivers mud to the standpipe. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first signature further indicates that a mud saver valve and a lower well control valve are closed. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first signature further indicates a time mode is enabled and that an open timer delay has expired, which indicates that it is time to open the valve. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second signature further indicates at least one of strokes per minute of a mud pump is non-zero and a time mode is enabled and that a bleed pressure delay has expired, wherein the mud pump delivers mud to the standpipe.