Method and system for controlling a mechanical pump to monitor and optimize both reservoir and equipment performance
First Claim
1. In a system for preventing damage resultant from pump-off of a well pump for pumping an essentially incompressible fluid mixture made up of a substantially homogeneous mingling of solids, liquids and gases, said liquids constituting the major portion of said mixture, the relative proportions of said solids, liquids and gases being subject to change over time, from a well casing replenished by the fluid mixture from a surrounding earth formation, a flow-rate sensor for measuring in real time the volumetric flow-rate of the fluid mixture, said sensor comprising:
- housing means having an internal fluid passageway, and inlet and outlet ports, said passageway for directing said fluid mixture between said inlet and outlet ports;
a backpressure valve means in fluid communication with said passageway for maintaining a wellhead discharge pressure at or above the highest bottom hole pressure that will act upon the downhole inlet of the well pump at any time during a regular pump operating cycle as said mixture passes through said passageway;
a barrier wall defined within said passageway, said wall including a fixed area orifice through which all of said mixture passes from said inlet port to said outlet port;
a smooth seating surface surrounding the outlet side of said orifice;
a flow-sensing element mounted for movement within said passageway and operative between first and second positions, said element oriented to assure that the movement of said element from said first position is proportional to the velocity of said mixture as said mixture passes through said passageway from said inlet port to said outlet port, said element including a substantially planar surface that completely covers said fixed area orifice when said element is in said first position, said planar surface having a sealing surface that mates with said seating surface for providing a tight seal when said element is in said first position; and
transducer means for producing an electrical signal that is continuously proportional to the real time movement of said sensing element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for optimizing the overall production efficiency of any pumping well based on accurate measurements of the time-averaged rate that fluid exists the wellhead. The improved apparatus includes temperature compensated, hermetically sealed electronic sensors that accurately measure the instantaneous rate of both pulsating and steady-state flow, and devices for processing measured flow-rate information to ascertain the performance of downhole equipment and fluid reservoirs. The apparatus is self-calibrating on any well, and automatically compensates for normal changes in both downhole equipment and reservoir performances that typically limit the operation of conventional well-control devices. The apparatus may be easily installed at ground level without major changes to existing wellhead equipment, and readily adapts to the efficient control of pumping equipment utilized with any other type of fluid reservoir.
191 Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a system for preventing damage resultant from pump-off of a well pump for pumping an essentially incompressible fluid mixture made up of a substantially homogeneous mingling of solids, liquids and gases, said liquids constituting the major portion of said mixture, the relative proportions of said solids, liquids and gases being subject to change over time, from a well casing replenished by the fluid mixture from a surrounding earth formation, a flow-rate sensor for measuring in real time the volumetric flow-rate of the fluid mixture, said sensor comprising:
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housing means having an internal fluid passageway, and inlet and outlet ports, said passageway for directing said fluid mixture between said inlet and outlet ports; a backpressure valve means in fluid communication with said passageway for maintaining a wellhead discharge pressure at or above the highest bottom hole pressure that will act upon the downhole inlet of the well pump at any time during a regular pump operating cycle as said mixture passes through said passageway; a barrier wall defined within said passageway, said wall including a fixed area orifice through which all of said mixture passes from said inlet port to said outlet port; a smooth seating surface surrounding the outlet side of said orifice; a flow-sensing element mounted for movement within said passageway and operative between first and second positions, said element oriented to assure that the movement of said element from said first position is proportional to the velocity of said mixture as said mixture passes through said passageway from said inlet port to said outlet port, said element including a substantially planar surface that completely covers said fixed area orifice when said element is in said first position, said planar surface having a sealing surface that mates with said seating surface for providing a tight seal when said element is in said first position; and transducer means for producing an electrical signal that is continuously proportional to the real time movement of said sensing element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. The flow-rate sensor comprising:
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a check valve having a housing containing an internal chamber, with inlet and outlet openings for directing fluid through said chamber, and a flapper pivotally mounted within said chamber and exposed to fluid flowing therethrough, an angle of deflection of the flapper being a function of the instantaneous rate of fluid through said chamber; an enclosure extending from said valve housing and containing a cylindrical magnet and Hall-effect sensor; a pivot pin passing through said housing and said enclosure and connected to said flapper and said magnet; one end of said magnet having an axial bore formed therein, the Hall-effect sensor positioned within said bore, the magnetic poles of said magnet formed on opposite sides of said end of said magnet; and said Hall-effect sensor being located within a jacket formed of a non-magnetic material, the jacket in turn positioned within said enclosure, a fluid impervious seal being retained between said jacket and said enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification