diff --git a/opm/autodiff/WellInterface.hpp b/opm/autodiff/WellInterface.hpp
index c084e9ab0..a47aab56a 100644
--- a/opm/autodiff/WellInterface.hpp
+++ b/opm/autodiff/WellInterface.hpp
@@ -350,6 +350,10 @@ namespace Opm
         // whether a well is specified with a non-zero and valid VFP table number
         bool isVFPActive() const;
 
+        struct OperabilityStatus;
+
+        OperabilityStatus operability_status_;
+
         void wellTestingEconomic(Simulator& simulator, const std::vector<double>& B_avg,
                                  const double simulation_time, const int report_step, const bool terminal_output,
                                  const WellState& well_state, WellTestState& welltest_state);
@@ -366,6 +370,65 @@ namespace Opm
 
     };
 
+
+
+
+    // definition of the struct OperabilityStatus
+    template<typename TypeTag>
+    struct
+    WellInterface<TypeTag>::
+    OperabilityStatus {
+        bool isOperable() const {
+            if (!operable_under_only_bhp_limit) {
+                return false;
+            } else {
+                return !negative_well_rates && (isOperableUnderBHPLimit() || isOperableUnderTHPLimit());
+            }
+        }
+
+        bool isOperableUnderBHPLimit() const {
+            return operable_under_only_bhp_limit && !violate_thp_limit_under_bhp_limit;
+        }
+
+        bool isOperableUnderTHPLimit() const {
+            return obtain_solution_with_thp_limit && !violate_bhp_limit_with_thp_limit;
+        }
+
+        void reset() {
+            operable_under_only_bhp_limit = true;
+            violate_thp_limit_under_bhp_limit = false;
+            obtain_solution_with_thp_limit = true;
+            violate_bhp_limit_with_thp_limit = false;
+            // TODO: the following one might need to be different
+            negative_well_rates = false;
+        }
+
+        // TODO: re-design the boolean variables so that they have meaning in the same directions.
+        // For example, true are all for positive situation, and false are all for negative circumstances.
+
+        // whether the well can be operated under bhp limit
+        // without considering other limits.
+        // if it is false, then the well is not operable for sure.
+        bool operable_under_only_bhp_limit = true;
+        // if the well can be operated under bhp limit, will it violate
+        // the thp limit when operated under bhp limit
+        bool violate_thp_limit_under_bhp_limit = false;
+        // whether the well operate under the thp limit only
+        bool obtain_solution_with_thp_limit = true;
+        // whether the well violate bhp limit when operated under thp limit
+        bool violate_bhp_limit_with_thp_limit = false;
+
+        // we get negatvie well rates
+        // currently, we are trying to address the one result from updateWellStateWithTHPTargetIPR
+        bool negative_well_rates = false;
+
+        // could not get converged, maybe at the end of the time step, after chopping for some steps.
+        // TODO: the best way is that this well can not get converged during local iterations.
+        bool could_not_get_converged = false;
+    };
+
+}
+
 }
 
 #include "WellInterface_impl.hpp"