Wellhead controllers improve oil recovery operations
Wellhead controllers could boost enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations by affording local control and equipment protection at the well site. Pump failure is one of the major issues in EOR operations and an artificial lift controller would be called upon to prevent damage to the pump, according to Luis Gamboa, Rockwell Automation's oil and gas market development manager. Another key function of wellhead controllers, such as Rockwell's OptiLift, is the capacity to safely shut down a system to avoid a mechanical failure.

Pump failure is one of the biggest problems operators face in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations.

Wellhead controllers provide local control, or automation, along with equipment protection at the well site to prevent pumps from breaking.

"Pumps fail rather frequently. It’s rather costly so you try to avoid damaging the pump," LuisGamboa, Rockwell Automation’s oil and gas market development lead, says.

"That’s one of the things you want to accomplish with an artificial lift controller."

A secondary function of wellhead controllers is to make the system shut down in a safe way to prevent a mechanical failure.

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