WOM is proud to announce its achievement of reaching the pinnacle in Choke Control Systems technology. Danny Spencer, leading the WOM Controls Department, directed the project towards its successful completion through different phases of engineering, design, and development. The system uses the latest hardware and state of the art intelligent software, making it the most advanced Choke & Kill System in the world.
The control system is designed to safely and successfully kill a well if required. Comprising of a local control panel for the drill floor, a remote control panel for the drillers control room and a field Panel-PC for the drill floor, the system is engineered to control: (2) chokes, (4) double acting gate valves and monitor (15) pressures,(7) temperatures, (10) choke/valve positions, (3) mud pumps, and a stripping tank level.
The hardware is made up of the latest Siemens S7-1500 PLC & associated IOs, dual power supply with redundancy module, DP/DP coupler and (4) touchscreen HMIs. The coupler provides communication between the WOM control system and drillers chair, while the redundancy module allows the system to seamlessly operate without interruption upon loss of main power.
This system is ATEX and DNV-OS-E101 certified, which monitors, logs all activities and further simplifies the work by allowing the drilling operator to download all activity on a USB memory stick. The main objective behind the development of the enhanced system is to enable operators to minimize the root causes of “downtime”.
Highlights of the Control Systems are:
- Real-time Integrated System Diagnostics allowing fast error localization and ana
- The Configuration of the diagnostics is integrated into the WOM PLC/ HMI system making it user- friendly and can be activated for a channel at the ease of a click.
- Identical visualization of error messages in the system Portal, on HMIs, on the Web server and on the PLC CPU in plain text information
- It is also 4 times faster than other modern systems
WOM’s Choke and Kill Control System comes equipped with the latest intelligent software which allows mechanization of the well control manifolds. In other words, the gate valves are lined up to the Mud Gas Separator (MGS) and/or overboard lines by use of multiple sensors and minimal operator input. This is achieved through a selection of “split buffer or single buffer” modes in the HMI interface panel.
During a kill cycle, the system monitors differential pressure (liquid seal protection) for abnormal parameters and notifies the operator accordingly. In the likelihood the Liquid Seal (LQS) is under threat, the system will notify the operator via internal/external alarms and on command provide an auto sequence to redirect the flow awayfrom the MGS. It also forces a system interlock whereby the interlocking double acting gate valves cannot be closed at the same time. This ensures safe operation thus eliminating accidental overpressure.
The system was essentially developed for Semi-Sub Blackford Dolphin with a rated drilling depth of 30,000 feet. The technology made its debut in last year’s Offshore Europe Conference (OE 2015).
As of July, the project has been completed and has successfully passed FAT testing. The accomplishment of the FAT test received notable recognition by Dolphin representatives for being conducted efficiently and for the professional aptitude of all WOM personnel involved. The system is scheduled to be delivered in July.
Congratulations to the entire WOM Control’s department for engineering, designing, programming, and manufacturing this project completely in-house. This monumental achievement is due, in large part, to your tireless efforts, hard work and dedication. Your teamwork made the dream work!
