ADVANCED AUTOMATIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR MINIMIZING GUSHING

Slug flow of the fluids produced in producing petroleum wells creates major perturbations for production rigs, and leads to major variation in process pressures and levels. In many cases, these perturbations cause unscheduled production stops, and in others may damage equipment such as heat exchangers. Thus slugs have a major impact on the reliability of the operation, as they affect product availability and quality (BSW, TOG and Moisture). Therefore, there exists a complex control problem to use measurements to dynamically act on the production choke valves to set a new type of flow, without major slugs. The object of this invention is to provide an Advanced Automated Control System for minimizing slugs that can quickly act to avoid this type of flow as well as protect the process equipment. This system is comprised of sensors, valves and numerous PID or ONFC type controllers using aggregate computer algorithms to monitor a set of operating variables that enable diagnosing and controlling production well slugs. This advanced control system is efficient and eliminates or minimizes slugs during production well operation.