Multi Well head control panel

A Multi-well  Wellhead Control Panel identical to a single-well control panel, but in this case the panel will control more than one well.

A multi-well Wellhead Control Panel is a cabinet that is a free-standing type and it is used to operate all safety valves that are attached to one Christmas Tree including the Downhole Safety Valve, which is installed below the surface in the Well.

• Controlled valves could be as follows:
• SSSV = Subsurface Safety Valve / DHSV = Downhole Safety Valve
• SSV = Surface Safety Valve
• UMV = Upper Master Valve
• WV = Wing Valve

The built up of this panel can be split in several section, namely the hydraulic power unit and the control section.

The hydraulic power unit consist out of a hydraulic reservoir, a pump that can be either air/gas or electric driven. Accumulators to store the generated hydraulic energy for later use and to maintain pressure.

The HPU will have various pressure levels required to operate the system, the various levels can be achieved by use of pressure regulators or various pumps with different outputs.

The control section is usually operated at a low pressure, which can be pneumatic or hydraulic. It consist out of various possible sequences in operation and various shutdown levels, but in the end will be open/close the safety valves in the field in the correct way.

The control section can be a drawer type of system, which means that the controls for every well can be isolated separately and then removed from the WHCP for testing, overhaul or replacement.

Nowadays most WHCP have only high pressure solenoid valves for opening/closing the Safety Valves and having these in a drawer is not preferred, due to a lot of cables that should be disconnected at time of replacement.

WHCPs may have multiple applications, which include, but are not limited to

• Safe and Sequential Operation of Wellhead Valves (SCSSV/SSV/Wing Etc.)
• Emergency (ESD station) and Fire Shutdown (Fusible Loop)
• Safe Operation of Riser Valves
• Flow line Pressure control (High/Low Pilot)
• Well Test Operation (Wireline Bypass)
• Hydraulic supply to SDV (HIPPS) /ESD/ Choke Valve
• Partial Stroking of field installed actuators
• Depending upon the pressure requirement for valves, HP, MP, and LP headers are envisaged.

The WHCP internal hydraulic circuit has tubing (small bore pipe), tube fittings (twin ferrule or threaded), check valves, isolation valves, quick exhaust valves, etc as per requirement.

A fusible loop with fusible plugs are used to hold hydraulic pressure and installed around the wellhead. In case of heat (fire), the fusible plug melts and oil pressure will be released and will cause a shutdown in the panel which will ensure that the Safety Valves will be closed.

Sizing of the hydraulic lines between the WHCP and the Safety Valves, swept volume of each actuator and required closing times are important for overall WHCP design.