Electric drive valve control and safety system for gas injection in oil production column

1 . An electric drive valve control and safety system for gas injection in an oil production column of an oil well, said oil well having a set of primary safety barriers of the well, said system comprising:

a surface data acquisition module;

said oil production column including an annular space and a mandrel having a gas lift valve housed within said mandrel;

said gas lift valve configured for gas injection from said annular space in said oil production column;

said surface data acquisition module configured for sending and receiving monitoring and command data;

a control and safety module having a communication module which is configured to communicate with said surface data acquisition module;

said control and safety module further including a monitoring module, an actuation module, a safety module and a locking module;

said control and safety module being housed within said mandrel;

said monitoring module having sensors and is configured to communicate with said communication module in real time, for monitoring operating parameters of said oil production column;

said actuation module is configured to communicate with said communication module, and control said safety module;

said safety module configured to control said locking module in an open position for gas injection or a closed position for blocking the gas injection from said annular space in said oil production column; and

wherein said system is configured to be operated from the surface to control communications and the pressurization of the gas in said gas lift valve in said annular space, which when communications are provided through said control and safety module, to enable or disable said gas lift valve, for gas injection into the production column, and

wherein said actuation module is configured to keep said locking module in the fully open position during the gas injection operation, through residual energy consumption, and, in the event of an interruption in the supply of electricity or by emergency command, the instantaneous closing of said locking module with occur, through said safety module, blocking the injection of the gas from the annular space to the production column, ensuring the tightness and integrity of the set of primary safety barriers of the well.

2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein said control and safety module constitutes, and functions as, a protective sealing barrier between the annular space and the production column, and is configured to be operated electrically, with fail-safe-close, and

that upon receipt of a surface communication or power failure, said safety module and said locking module is configured to disable said gas lift valve for blockage of gas injection.

3 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein said locking module is in a closed position, by communication with the surface or in an emergency, occurs as a function of de-energization, said control and safety module ensures the integrity of a first joint set of safety barriers (JSB) of the well.

4 . The system according to claim 1 further comprising: an electric cable, and the system configured to be actuated from the surface by means of the electric cable, and the electric cable configured to provide communications for the ongoing monitoring of the well operating parameters.

5 . The system according to claim 1 , having at least one sensor for monitoring desired parameters involved in said oil well production column operation, including one or more sensors for pressure, temperature, vibration, flow, and flow direction.

6 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein said control and safety module is housed within said mandrel as a separate module, independent of said gas lift valve and not integrated therein;

wherein, said control and safety module can be independently, serviced, maintained or replaced apart from said gas lift valve without affecting the gas lift valve, its components or functions.