DC3 Control

DC3 Control, also referred to as DCiii, supplies automation products and services for production chemical injection programs from Corpus Christi, Texas. Formed in 2016, it describes itself as a private family business set up to help producers reduce operating expense and keep fields running. Its controllers dose chemical automatically, verify the volume actually pumped, and report rates and tank levels through SCADA or the DC3 cloud portal.

Systems are built to run any pump, new or existing, so an injection point can be automated without swapping out equipment. DC3 states that its automation reduces or eliminates injection variances and lowers safety and environmental exposure, and that typical return on investment falls between three days and three months.

Injection control systems

Four control platforms cover different classes of injection point:

Mirador Variable Speed

The Mirador Variable Speed Controller adjusts pump motor speed in real time as process and pump variables change, in place of timer-based treatment. It calibrates and verifies injection rates continuously, and works with BLDC and brushed DC motors as well as AC systems.

Listed specifications include dimensions of 19 by 13 by 9, power of 10 to 32 VDC or 110/120 VAC, and connectivity over RS485, TCP-IP and an integrated SignalFire 900MHz radio, with the cloud portal optional. Wetted parts are 304 stainless, 316 stainless and Teflon, with other materials available, and the unit is rated for -40C to 85C.

Vista and flush control

Vista is a reduced-size controller for marginal injection points, combining a semi-automated sightglass with an intelligent controller. It adjusts injection volume against real-time production data, compensates algorithmically for pump drift on solar-powered systems (which the company puts at up to 40% daily), offers temperature-based control for methanol applications, and monitors tank levels and battery health.

The Vista Flush Control System adds a slipstream flush valve on the same platform, running flushes on a set schedule, for a set duration, or on demand, with intervals changed locally or remotely. The company notes that drawing flush and carrier fluid from the well limits the introduction of bacteria and incompatible fluids from treater truck operations. The unit carries a C1D2 area classification.

DC Batch

The DC3 Batch Control System automates batch treatments by retrofitting standard continuous-injection equipment, removing the need for a pump truck on site. It runs in four modes:

• Batch Volume Control, fixed volume and interval
• AutoTrack Time Batch Control, volume varied against tracked production at a fixed interval
• AutoTrack Volume Batch Control, frequency varied against tracked production at a fixed dosage
• Batch On Demand, single ad-hoc treatments

An optional flush sequencing valve adds pre-flush, sync-flush and post-flush setpoints. The system verifies batch volumes and records when technicians calibrate pumps.

Tank level monitoring

The tank level monitoring package uses a C1D1 radar sensor that mounts without drilling and reads chemicals, lubricants and other liquids in real time. Programmable alarms cover high and low levels and rapid changes, and cellular units report fills and depletions on a configurable schedule through the DC3 portal. Published figures give a radar range of 3.2 inches to 22 feet, resolution up to 2mm, battery life up to 10 years on a replaceable lithium cell, an operating range of -13F to 122F, and IP68 protection.