Autonomous valve system

1 . A control system comprising:

a controller that comprises an interface for receipt of sensor data generated by sensors operatively coupled to a fluid flow system, the controller configured to receive a selection signal that corresponds to an operating mode of the fluid flow system;

memory that comprises sets of tuning parameter values, wherein the sets of tuning parameter values include (i) a first set of tuning parameter values associated with tuning the controller to issue control signals to a choke valve actuator based on sensor data generated by an upstream pressure sensor disposed between a flow head of a well and a choke valve, the first set of tuning parameter values corresponding to an upstream pressure regulation operating mode and (ii) a second set of tuning parameter values associated with tuning the controller to issue control signals to the choke valve actuator based on sensor data generated by a downstream pressure sensor disposed downstream from the choke valve, the second set of tuning parameter values corresponding to a downstream pressure regulation operating mode; and

a loader configured to:

in response to the selection signal indicating a selection of the upstream pressure regulation operating mode:

load the first set of tuning parameter values into the controller for issuance of control signals to the choke valve actuator for the choke valve of the fluid flow system according to the first set of tuning parameter values and sensor data generated by the upstream pressure sensor, and

configure the interface to receive sensor data from the upstream pressure sensor; and

in response to the selection signal indicating a selection of the downstream pressure regulation operating mode:

load the second set of tuning parameter values into the controller for issuance of control signals to the choke valve actuator for the choke valve of the fluid flow system according to the second set of tuning parameter values and sensor data generated by the downstream pressure sensor, and

configure the interface to receive sensor data from the downstream pressure sensor.

2 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the memory comprises at least four sets of tuning parameter values.

3 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the sets of tuning parameter values comprise a slow dynamics set of tuning parameter values associated with an operating mode in which the controller acquires sensor data on a delayed basis and a fast dynamics set of tuning parameter values associated with an operating mode in which the controller acquires sensor data rapidly.

4 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the interface is a serial interface.

5 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller computes mass flow data.

6 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the sets of tuning parameter values comprise a third set of tuning parameter values associated with tuning the controller to issue control signals to the choke valve actuator based on sensor data generated by a downhole pressure sensor, the third set of tuning parameter values corresponding to a downhole pressure regulation operating mode.

7 . The control system of claim 6 , wherein in response to the selection signal indicating a selection of the downhole pressure regulation operating mode, the loader is further configured to:

load the third set of tuning parameter values into the controller for issuance of control signals according to the third set of tuning parameter values and sensor data generated by the downhole pressure sensor, and

configure the interface to receive sensor data from the downhole pressure sensor.

8 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the selection signal is generated by a selector.

9 . The control system of claim 8 , wherein the selector comprises a manual selection feature.

10 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the selector is implemented using a graphical user interface.

11 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein at least one set of the sets of tuning parameter values comprises a proportional tuning parameter value and an integral tuning parameter value.

12 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the upstream pressure regulation operating mode operates according to an upstream pressure set point.

13 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the sets of tuning parameter values comprise a flowrate regulation mode set that operates according to a downstream flow rate set point and that ensures that pressure downstream from the choke valve does not exceed a downstream equipment pressure rating, and wherein feedback comprises one or more of a computed flow rate and a sensor-based flow rate.

14 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the sets of tuning parameter values comprise a downhole pressure regulation mode set that operates according to a downhole pressure value set point, and wherein the sensor data comprise sensor data generated by a downhole pressure sensor.

15 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the sets of tuning parameter values comprise a flowrate regulation mode set and a downhole pressure regulation mode set.

16 . A method comprising:

responsive to a selection signal that corresponds to an operating mode of a fluid flow system, selecting a set of tuning parameter values from a group that comprises (i) a first set of tuning parameter values associated with regulating pressure upstream from a choke valve based on sensor data generated by an upstream pressure sensor, (ii) a second set of tuning parameter values associated with regulating pressure downstream from the choke valve based on sensor data generated by a downstream pressure sensor, and (iii) a third set of tuning parameter values associated with regulating downhole pressure based on sensor data generated by a downhole pressure gauge;

loading the selected set of tuning parameters into a controller;

configuring an interface of the controller to receive sensor data from a sensor that corresponds to the selected set of tuning parameters; and

issuing, by the controller, control signals according to the selected set of tuning parameter values and corresponding sensor data to a choke valve actuator for the choke valve.

17 . One or more computer-readable media comprising processor-executable instructions executable to instruct a control system to:

responsive to a selection signal that corresponds to an operating mode of a fluid flow system, select a set of tuning parameter values from a group that comprises (i) a first set of tuning parameter values associated with regulating pressure upstream from a choke valve based on sensor data generated by an upstream pressure sensor, (ii) a second set of tuning parameter values associated with regulating pressure downstream from the choke valve based on sensor data generated by a downstream pressure sensor, and (iii) a third set of tuning parameter values associated with regulating downhole pressure based on sensor data generated by a downhole pressure gauge;

load the selected set of tuning parameters into a controller;

configure an interface of the controller to receive sensor data from a sensor that corresponds to the selected set of tuning parameters; and

issue, by the controller, control signals according to the selected set of tuning parameter values and corresponding sensor data to a choke valve actuator for the choke valve.