LOW PROFILE ROD PUMPING UNIT WITH PNEUMATIC COUNTERBALANCE FOR THE ACTIVE CONTROL OF THE ROD STRING

• US 20160131128A1
• Filed: 08/24/2015
• Published: 05/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ravdos Holdings Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lufkin Industries Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Doyle, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,422,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/12 Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/127 Adaptations of walking-beam pump systems
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 47/02 the driving mechanisms being situated at ground level F04B47/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 47/04 the driving means incorporating fluid means
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 47/14 Counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18182 Pump jack type

Abstract

Adaptable systems for a surface pumping unit that includes a low inertia pumping unit mechanism having a pneumatic counterbalance assembly are described, as well as methods for the use of such systems for subterranean fluid recovery. The system is capable of being integrated with well management automation systems, thereby allowing for response to active control commands, and automatically altering and/or maintaining a counterbalance force in the pumping unit by adding or removing air mass from a containment vessel associated with the pumping unit.

Claims

1-3. -3. (canceled)

4. A device for actuating a rod string of a sucker rod pump assembly, the device comprising:

a motor;

a linear actuator assembly operatively connected to the motor, wherein the linear actuator assembly is not a fixed geometry linkage system; and

a counterbalance assembly operatively connected to the linear actuator assembly capable of adjusting a load imposed on the linear actuator assembly by the rod string.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the counterbalance assembly is capable of automatically adjusting a load imposed on the linear actuator assembly.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the counterbalance assembly is further capable of balancing a load of the motor during the up-stroke of the motor and during the down-stroke of the motor.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein balancing a load of the motor during the up-stroke of the motor and during the down-stroke of the motor includes adjusting a load imposed on the linear actuator assembly if the peak magnitude of the up-stroke torque of the motor is larger than the peak magnitude of the down-stroke torque of the motor.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein larger is greater than 5 percent.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein balancing a load of the motor during the up-stroke of the motor and during the down-stroke of the motor includes adjusting a load imposed on the linear actuator assembly if the peak magnitude of the down-stroke torque of the motor is larger than the peak magnitude of the up-stroke torque of the motor.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein larger is greater than 5 percent.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein balancing a load of the motor during the up-stroke of the motor and during the down-stroke of the motor includes adjusting a load imposed on the linear actuator assembly if the peak magnitude of the up-stroke current of the motor is larger than the peak magnitude of the down-stroke current of the motor.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein larger is greater than 5 percent.

13. The device of claim 6, wherein balancing a load of the motor during the up-stroke of the motor and during the down-stroke of the motor includes adjusting a load imposed on the linear actuator assembly if the peak magnitude of the down-stroke current of the motor is larger than the peak magnitude of the down-stroke up-stroke current of the motor.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein larger is greater than 5 percent.

15. The device of claim 4, wherein the pumping unit includes a rotating screw mechanism.

16. A method of pumping a fluid utilizing a sucker rod assembly, the sucker rod assembly comprising a rod string, a pumping unit that is not a fixed geometry linkage system and has an axis of operation that is substantially parallel with the axis of movement of the rod string, and a counterbalance assembly that includes at least one pressure vessel, the method comprising:

measuring a load of the motor on an up-stroke of the rod string;

measuring a load of the motor on a down-stroke of the rod string;

determining if either the up-stroke load or the down-stroke load is larger; and

balancing the loading of the pumping unit.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein balancing the loading of the pumping unit includes increasing a pressure of the at least one pressure vessel if the down stroke load is larger than the up-stroke load.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein balancing the loading of the pumping unit includes decreasing a pressure of the at least one pressure vessel if the up-stroke load is larger than the down-stroke load.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein larger is greater than five percent.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein larger is greater than five percent.

21. The device of claim 16, wherein the balancing occurs automatically.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the loads are either a current measurement or a current calculation.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the loads are either a torque measurement or a torque calculation.