Abstract: A method for automating a process plant includes configuring field components of the process plant as a swarm of self-organizing agents where each agent communicates with adjacently physically connected agents. The method includes reacting on requests generated by requesting agents by responsible agents assigned based on a prioritization mechanism established using a topological representation of the process plant. The prioritization mechanism is established by assigning a penalty value to each request and forwarding the request via one or more paths using the topological representation by incrementing the penalty value at an agent that forwards or reacts on the request depending on the type of request and/or agent. Thereby, a penalty matrix is created indicating how much penalty would be incurred if a particular request is reacted on by a given responsible agent. The penalty matrix is used to assign requests to responsible agents to minimize a total penalty value.

Abstract: An autonomous system includes a vehicle operable to travel from a first point to a second point, a first actuator operable to adjust a speed of the vehicle, and a second actuator operable to adjust a direction of travel of the vehicle. A controller is operable to send control signals to the first actuator and the second actuator to facilitate the transition of the system from a first state to a second state during travel between the first point and the second point. A reachability controller is coupled to the controller to receive the first state and the control signals and to analyze the first state and the control signals to determine if the second state is a safe state.

Abstract: An autonomous system includes a vehicle operable to travel from a first point to a second point, a first actuator operable to adjust a speed of the vehicle, and a second actuator operable to adjust a direction of travel of the vehicle. A controller is operable to send control signals to the first actuator and the second actuator to facilitate the transition of the system from a first state to a second state during travel between the first point and the second point. A reachability controller is coupled to the controller to receive the first state and the control signals and to analyze the first state and the control signals to determine if the second state is a safe state.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for maximizing production of a well with a gas assisted plunger lift. The method comprises obtaining a plurality of measurements associated with operation of the well from sensors associated with various components of the well. The method further comprises determining set points for operation of the production valve and the injection valve based on one or more of the plurality of measurements. The set points may be determined by the controller or by a SCADA system. Optionally, one or more of the set points may be modified according to a comparison of current and optimal values of plunger velocity and gas and liquid production. In addition, the method comprises coordinating the operation of the production valve and the injection valve is coordinated based on the set points and the stage in operation cycle by the controller.

Abstract: Methods and control systems for optimizing production of a hydrocarbon well with a local controller in communication with a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system are disclosed. The presently disclosed methods may include calculating, at the local controller, optimal targets for one or more well parameters using measured values associated with operation of the hydrocarbon well; obtaining, at the local controller, a model that comprises a relationship between an operation of a gas injection choke and an operation of a production choke with the one or more well parameters based on the measurement values and received model parameters from the SCADA system; determining, at the local controller, operating set points based on the model for control of at least one of the production choke and the gas injection choke; and operating at least one of the production choke and the gas injection choke for optimized production.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for maximizing production of a well with a gas assisted plunger lift. The method comprises obtaining a plurality of measurements associated with operation of the well from sensors associated with various components of the well. The method further comprises determining set points for operation of the production valve and the injection valve based on one or more of the plurality of measurements. The set points may be determined by the controller or by a SCADA system. Optionally, one or more of the set points may be modified according to a comparison of current and optimal values of plunger velocity and gas and liquid production. In addition, the method comprises coordinating the operation of the production valve and the injection valve is coordinated based on the set points and the stage in operation cycle by the controller.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for optimizing production of a hydrocarbon well with a local controller supported from a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. The method comprises calculating, at the local controller, optimal targets for one or more well parameters using measured values associated with operation of the hydrocarbon well. The method further comprises obtaining, at the local controller, a model that comprises a relationship between an operation of a gas injection choke and an operation of a production choke with the one or more well parameters based on the measurement values and received model parameters from the SCADA system. The method also comprises determining, at the local controller, operating set points based on the model for control of at least one of the production choke and the gas injection choke; and operating at least one of the production choke and the gas injection choke for optimized production.