Abstract:
Methods and apparatus to determine production of a downhole pump are described herein. An example method includes measuring a first amount of liquid produced from a well by a pump during a first stroke of the pump, computing a first pump card based on the first stroke, determining a first area of the first pump card and determining a leakage proportionality constant of the pump based on the first amount of liquid produced and the first area. The example method also includes computing a second pump card based on a second stroke of the pump, determining a second area of the second pump card and determining a second amount of liquid produced by the pump during the second stroke based on the leakage proportionality constant and the second area.
Abstract:
Techniques and apparatus are provided for production enhancement with downhole monitoring for an artificial lift system, such as a reciprocating rod lift system. In aspects, a method for controlling a rod pump used to produce fluids from a wellbore is provided. The method generally includes monitoring one or more downhole parameters in the wellbore and adjusting one or more pump parameters used to control the rod pump based, at least in part, on the monitored downhole parameters.
Abstract:
Methods and techniques for calculating a pump card in synchronization with the surface card are described. The techniques are developed on a platform in which the finite difference method or the Fourier series method is used to solve the wave equation of a rod string for oil wells. Calculation of the first pump data point can be based on part or the complete set of the data points of the first surface stroke. A variety of techniques for displaying and erasing the surface and pump cards are described. The redundant or unnecessary calculation in both the finite difference algorithm and the Fourier series algorithm for real-time pump diagnostic is eliminated. The wave propagation delay concept is applied to the real-time pump diagnostic algorithms. The proposed methods are verified in the simulations for oil wells with single taper or multi-taper rod strings and with various pumping conditions. The proposed real-time pump diagnostic algorithm is not only suitable for the demonstrated mathematical methods but also suitable for the other mathematical methods.
Abstract:
A pump apparatus has a downhole pump disposed in a wellbore and has a motor at the surface, and a rod string operatively moved by the motor reciprocates the downhole pump in the wellbore. A downhole card indicative of load and position of the downhole pump is generated using surface measurements and a wave equation model having an upstroke damping factor and a downstroke damping factor. Actual fluid load lines are determined from the downhole card for upstrokes and downstrokes of the downhole pump, and calculated fluid load lines for from the strokes are determined from load values distributed on the downhole card.
Abstract:
A reciprocating pump system is utilized. The system facilitates the prediction of failure modes due to degradation of pump components. A sensor system is used to monitor parameters indicative of abnormal events or wear occurring in specific components, such as pump valves. The indications of wear can be used to predict valve failure or other component failure within the reciprocating pump.
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods for measuring cross sectional area and flaws in a continuous sucker rod string (20) as the string is conveyed within a borehole (32). These measured parameters are useful in monitoring the physical integrity of the sucker rod string. A magnet (44) is used to saturate an increment (48) of continuous sucker rod, and a coil (45) is used to measure induced flux. Cross sectional area of the rod increment is computed from the flux measurement. One or more Hall effect transducers (42) are used to measure leakage from the increment as a function of distance along the increment. This measurement is used to detect and quantify the type of flaw within the rod increment being investigated. The process is repeated as the sucker rod string is conveyed into or out of the borehole.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a mechanical oil recovery method and system with a sucker rod pump. Through the method the technological parameters are directly calculated based on the lowest power loss or the lowest cost principle. The method comprises sequentially arranging internal diameter, steel grade of rod, pump diameter, pumping depth and stroke amplitude, searching the combinations of rods to calculate pump efficiency and the number of strokes, on the basis of Pru=Pyou-Ppeng + Psun, and calculating, corresponding to the input power Pru, active power Pyou, expansion power Ppeng, ground power loss Pd, slide power loss Ph and viscose power loss Pv and the sum of losses Psun. The mechanical oil-recovering cost is then calculated for each combination, and each mechanical oil-recovering parameter is chosen. The invention still discloses a mechanical oil recovery system with a sucker rod pump.
Abstract:
A method of producing gas through liquid level detection in an oil or gas well uses various types of artificial lift systems (10) that include subsurface gas lift, beam pumps, progressive cavity pump and submersible pumps. The artificial lift systems (10) are controlled in response to a known liquid level (34) within the wellbore to prevent the well from pumping off and damaging the artificial lift system (10) or from reducing the liquid level (34) in the wellbore to an unnecessarily low level to thereby increase the energy required by the artifical lift system (10) to remove the liquid (32) from the wellbore. The liquid level detection method includes the detection of at least the pressure on a side string tube in the wellbore to determine the level of liquid in the wellbore for automated control of liquid removal from the wellbore to be removed to the surface through a production tube to allow improved gas or oil production, increase artificial lift efficiency and to allow for control of the artificial lift system to prevent damage to the system. Another method measures production from the well in conjuction with automated liquid level control to maximize liquid level in the wellbore without interfering with production. A timing method allows for control of the quantity of gas injected during the gas injection cycle of a subsurface gas lift artificial lift system.
Abstract:
An automated sucker rod spacing device comprising a housing, a screw set within the housing and connected to a sucker rod string via a polished rod, a nut which is in threaded engagement with the screw, a means to transmit a rotation force to the nut, wherein the rotation of the nut can lower or raise the screw and thus lower or raise the sucker rod string. The device can be used to stop tagging, ensure full pump fillage, and avoid gas lock.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for pairing load and position values are disclosed. An example method includes determining, via a rod pump controller, a first position value of a polished rod of a pumping unit, assigning a first time value to the determined first position value, receiving first load values of the polished rod, assigning second time values to respective ones of the first load values, adjusting each of the second time values to respective third time values based on a wireless communication delay value, and determining a second load value associated with the first position value at the first time value based on the first load values and the third time values.