Inventors:
Mark C. Flohr - Irvine CA
Assignee:
Smith International, Inc. - Newport Beach CA
International Classification:
E21B 3408
Abstract:
A pneumatic pressure regulating system controls a choke having a hydraulic operator actuator for selectively opening or closing the choke to control pressure in a well casing. The system applies periodic pulses of pneumatic pressure for opening an output valve in one direction when the actual casing pressure is greater than a selected control pressure for opening the choke, and applies periodic pulses of pneumatic pressure for opening the output valve in another direction when casing pressure is less than the set pressure for closing the choke. The interval between sucessive pulses is adjusted to be long enough for the pressure in the casing to equilibrate before the next pulse occurs.