WHCP is the main equipment in the oil & gas industry to prevent oilfield facilities and the environment from occurring wellhead fire and emergency incidents, one of the central control systems to ensure oilfield oil production and transportation are safely operational according to international standards and national regulations.
Various Types of WHCP
1 Single wellhead control panel
A single control panel for wellheads is able to control only one wellhead. It controls all equipment at the wellhead and can be used for manual and automated shutdowns. This wellhead control panel is used for remote or monotomous wells, which are located far from the other wells. The single control panel for wellheads is further subdivided into these categories:
- Manual control system
- Pneumatic control system
- Electrical control system
- Solar-powered control system
2 Manual Control System
A manual hydraulic pump is used to provide the required pressure for SSV. The main functions of this system are remote ESD fusible plugs, high-pressure and low-pressure monitoring, as well as manual shut-off on the panel.
3 Electronic Control System
An electrical motor regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid to SSV. Control systems for electrical power have been designed and are reliable even in harsh environments or when handling dangerous substances in the flowline. Electrical shutdown devices are adaptable and easy to set up and cost less than pneumatic shutdown devices in situations where the signaling that the sensor shuts down is vital. Electric systems are a lot more streamlined to connect to the Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system to provide remote monitoring as well as control.
4 Pneumatic control system
It performs all the major duties that other systems have to perform. However, the control that the hydraulic pump performs happens by means of pneumatic energy. This type is designed for high-power operation.
5 Solar-powered control system
This kind of control method is appropriate for wells in remote areas. It helps conserve energy and can reduce operating expenses, two power sources, regular control features, and so on.
Designing A WHCP
1 sizing
The proper sizing of the parts comprising the accumulator tubing, as well as the reservoir, has to be carried out to ensure the controlled and continuous functioning of the pump. Designers can make use of various software to assist in the exact sizing of components. The software can do the sizing according to the specifications.
2 Flowline safety
To ensure safety, every end of the flowlines must be fitted with an inline choke to decrease the pressure. The following factors must be taken into consideration for the safety of the flowline:
- Make sure that the first choke device that is in the first flowline segment is not more than 10 feet away from the wellhead. If there is a distance of fewer than 10 feet between the choke device and the initial section of the line downstream of it is not more than 10 feet, the pressure sensors on the flow line that runs downstream of the bottleneck aren’t required. If the distance is more than 10 feet, then a low-pressure sensor is all that’s required to detect ruptures and leaks.
- Low- and high-pressure sensors are required to identify the presence of a blockage in the line or a flow control issue, as well as a rupture or leak if it is determined that the tubing’s shut-in pressure (SITP) exceeds the maximum allowed work pressure (MAWP) of the final section of the flowline following the choke.
- If the MAWP for the flowline section at the end is lower than SITP, a relief valve as well as low- and high-pressure sensors will be required.
3 Testability
When sensors are being tested or calibrated, or even replaced, the panel has a three-way valve that the panel could be installed to switch off the high and low-pressure pilots and also Sand probes. The use of indicators mounted on the panel will indicate how the bypass valve is changed for safety reasons.
A three-way valve in the panel could be used to turn off the high and low-pressure pilots and the sand probes while sensors are being tested or calibrated. They can also be replaced. Panel-mounted indicators will clearly indicate to you that the bypass valve is switched off due to safety reasons from an in-depth distance.
Needle valves should be installed in the supply gas as well as the hydraulic oil tube lines to allow for the replacement of components without shutting down one wellhead or the entire system.
Bottom Line
While the WHCP can be powered by hydraulic, pneumatic electric, solar, or energy, The system is hydraulic because of the hydraulic power it produces. When it comes to oil & gas engineering company installations, the process of pumping gas or oil from the reservoir is an important responsibility. A WHCP will control the wellhead more precisely and efficiently, allowing the continuous production of gas and oil.
