Granted Patent B2

US 12,359,557 · App. 17/582,665 · Granted Jul 15, 2025

Inventors: Pedro Alejandro Mujica (Dhahran, SA); Kiran Patel (Al Khobar, SA); Chan Eldon Miller (Dhahran, SA); Herman Roberto Cipriano (Dhahran, SA)

Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company

E21B47/06E21B34/16E21B41/0021E21B47/117G01V11/002E21B33/03

Abstract

Claims (55)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving a selection of a hydrocarbon well of a hydrocarbon production system at a safety logic solver (SLS) for proof testing;

activating test mode pressure sensors attached to a common header of the hydrocarbon production system to monitor a live process condition status of the common header from all wells of the hydrocarbon production system;

inducing a simulated overpressure condition in operation pressure sensors;

receiving an indication of overpressure at the SLS from at least two operation pressure sensors, wherein the at least two operation pressure sensors read pressure values at or above a pressure trip set point;

signaling final elements associated with the hydrocarbon well to close while leaving other wells in the hydrocarbon production system in operation;

restoring the operation pressure sensors to a normal pressure condition; and

signaling the final elements associated with the selected hydrocarbon well to re-open the hydrocarbon well.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the monitored live process condition is whether the hydrocarbon production system is below a high-pressure set point value.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the simulated overpressure condition is induced using a pump attached to valve arrangements at inlets of operation pressure sensors.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that proof testing of the hydrocarbon well has failed;

troubleshooting and fixing a cause of a failure; and

initiating a repeat of the proof testing of the hydrocarbon well.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the test mode pressure sensors are not healthy; and

signaling final elements associated with all wells in the hydrocarbon production system to close for safety reasons.

6. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing one or more instructions executable by a computer system to perform operations comprising:

receiving a selection of a hydrocarbon well of a hydrocarbon production system at a safety logic solver (SLS) for proof testing;

activating test mode pressure sensors attached to a common header of the hydrocarbon production system to monitor a live process condition status of the common header from all wells of the hydrocarbon production system;

inducing a simulated overpressure condition in operation pressure sensors;

receiving an indication of overpressure at the SLS from at least two operation pressure sensors, wherein the at least two operation pressure sensors read pressure values at or above a pressure trip set point;

signaling final elements associated with the hydrocarbon well to close while leaving other wells in the hydrocarbon production system in operation;

restoring the operation pressure sensors to a normal pressure condition; and

signaling the final elements associated with the selected hydrocarbon well to re-open the hydrocarbon well.

7. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein the monitored live process condition is whether the hydrocarbon production system is below a high-pressure set point value.

8. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein the simulated overpressure condition is induced using a pump attached to valve arrangements at inlets of operation pressure sensors.

9. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that proof testing of the hydrocarbon well has failed;

troubleshooting and fixing a cause of a failure; and

initiating a repeat of the proof testing of the hydrocarbon well.

10. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that the test mode pressure sensors are not healthy; and

signaling final elements associated with all wells in the hydrocarbon production system to close for safety reasons.

11. A computer-implemented system, comprising:

a computer memory; and

a hardware processor interoperably coupled with the computer memory and configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving a selection of a hydrocarbon well of a hydrocarbon production system at a safety logic solver (SLS) for proof testing;

activating test mode pressure sensors attached to a common header of the hydrocarbon production system to monitor a live process condition status of the common header from all wells of the hydrocarbon production system;

inducing a simulated overpressure condition in operation pressure sensors;

receiving an indication of overpressure at the SLS from at least two operation pressure sensors, wherein the at least two operation pressure sensors read pressure values at or above a pressure trip set point;

signaling final elements associated with the hydrocarbon well to close while leaving other wells in the hydrocarbon production system in operation;

restoring the operation pressure sensors to a normal pressure condition; and

signaling the final elements associated with the selected hydrocarbon well to re-open the hydrocarbon well.

12. The computer-implemented system of claim 11 , wherein the monitored live process condition is whether overall hydrocarbon production system is below a high-pressure set point value.

13. The computer-implemented system of claim 11 , wherein:

the simulated overpressure condition is induced using a pump attached to valve arrangements at inlets of operation pressure sensors; and

the at least two operation pressure sensors read pressure values at or above a pressure trip set point.

14. The computer-implemented system of claim 11 , wherein the operations comprise:

determining that proof testing of the hydrocarbon well has failed;

troubleshooting and fixing a cause of a failure; and

initiating a repeat of the proof testing of the hydrocarbon well.

15. The computer-implemented system of claim 11 , wherein the operations comprise:

determining that the test mode pressure sensors are not healthy; and

signaling final elements associated with all wells in the hydrocarbon production system to close for safety reasons.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (85)