An apparatus operable is a hazardous area for controlling a
choke assembly includes an air source, an air purge
system in fluid communication with the air source, a remote operating panel receiving data from at least one remotely located
wellbore sensor, a local operating panel in
electronic communication with the remote operating panel, and an
actuator coupled to the
assembly to control pressure within the
wellbore. The remote operating panel includes an airtight housing in fluid communication with the air purge
system, wherein air from the air purge
system is circulated through the housing, a plurality of operator controls for manually controlling operation of the
pressure control assembly, and a display for visually displaying values of data received from the
wellbore sensor. The local operating panel includes an airtight panel housing in fluid communication with the air purge system, wherein air from the air purge system is circulated through the panel housing, and a
local operator controller having an
operator interface for receiving operator instruction input into the local panel, and operable to receive operator instructions from the remote panel and transmit operator instructions. The
actuator includes a motor in an explosion-proof housing coupled to the
choke plate and operable to adjust the orifice through the
choke plate, wherein the motor receives
electronic communication of the operator instructions transmitted by the
local operator controller, and a position indicator coupled to the choke plate for sensing the orifice opening and providing feedback of the choke plate position to the motor.