Well pump control using multiple sonic level detectors

• US 6,085,836 A
• Filed: 10/15/1997
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Reservoir Management Services, LLC
• Original Assignee: David R. Hill, Karl F. Scheucher, Sanford A Burris
• Inventors: Scheucher, Karl F., Burris, Sanford A., Hill, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): KRECK, JOHN J
• Application Number:
  US08/950,856
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 166/53, 166/369, 166/250.03, 166/250.15, 73/152.18, 73/290 V, 367/86, 367/31, 181/124
• US Class Current: 166/250.03
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/008 Monitoring of down-hole pump systems, e.g. for the detection of "pumped-off" conditions
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/047 Liquid level measuring depth or liquid level using radioactive markers E21B47/053
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2962 Measuring transit time of reflected waves

Abstract

A method of using a variety of sonic transmissions is utilized to determined fluid level in a well. It is known that wells replenish fluid at different rates even in the same formation or well field. The fluid levers, which may be determined include water and petroleum. The sonic signals may be transmitted through the annulus in a well where the medium is a gas such as methane. The sonic signals may be also be transmitted through the casing or tubing of the well, which is typically steel pipe. Signals are generated, reflected, received, and converted into data. The data is then utilized to determine an initial liquid level P2, a no liquid pumpable state P0, and to activate the pump to pump the liquid, and inactivate the pump at a liquid level P1 above the no liquid pumpable state P0. [Maximum production at minimum pumping cost is achieved for a given well.]

Claims

1. A method to set pump activate pump inactivate conditions, in a well containing a pumpable liquid, to pump the liquid comprising:

transmitting a first continuous sonic signal at a first frequency to a well casing thereby creating a reflected well casing sonic signal;

receiving the reflected well casing sonic signal from first sonic signal thereby generating data;

transmitting a second continuous sonic signal at a second frequency, different than said first frequency, to a well tubing thereby creating a reflected well tubing sonic signal;

receiving a reflected well tubing sonic signal from said second sonic signal thereby generating data;

transmitting a third continuous sonic signal at a third frequency, different than said first frequency and different than said second frequency, to the well annulus;

receiving a feflected well annulus sonic signal from said third sonic signal thereby generating data;

utilizing at least one of the reflected signals corresponding to the transmitted signal to determine an initial liquid level P2 of the well from said data;

pumping the liquid from the well until the well is at a no liquid pumpable state P0;

utilizing at least one of the reflected signals corresponding to the transmitted signal to determine the no liquid pumpable state P0;

storing said data generated from the reflected signal used at the no liquid pumpable state P0;

storing said data generated from the corresponding transmitted signal at the initial liquid level P2 of the well;

continuously monitoring the liquid level of the well and converting said data generated to activate the pump to pump the liquid at a liquid level less than or equal to the initial liquid level P2;

continuously monitoring the liquid level of the well and converting said data generated to inactivate the pump at a liquid level P1 above the no liquid pumpable state P0;

thereby activating the pump and inactivating the pump to pump the liquid.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said data generated from the transmitted signals and the reflected signals are averaged to determine at least one of P0 and P2.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein all three of the reflected signals corresponding to the transmitted signals are utilized to determine the no liquid pumpable state P0.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein all three of the reflected signals corresponding to the transmitted signals are utilized to determine the initial liquid level P2 of the well.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said data generated from the transmitted signals and the reflected signals are averaged to determine at least one of P0 and P2.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitted signals and the reflected signals are averaged to determine the P1 level.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitted signals and the reflected signals are utilized to determine the P1 level.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the pumpable liquid is petroleum based.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the pumpable liquid is aqueous based.

10. A method to set pump activate and pump inactivate conditions, in a well containing a pumpable liquid, to pump the liquid comprising:

selectively transmitting a first sonic signal at a first frequency to a well casing thereby creating a reflected well casing sonic signal;

receiving the reflected well casing sonic signal, when said first sonic signal is transmitted, from said first sonic signal;

selectively transmitting a second sonic signal at a second frequency, different than said first frequency, to a well tubing thereby creating a reflected well tubing sonic signal;

receiving a reflected well tubing sonic signal, when said second sonic signal is transmitted, from said second sonic signal;

selectively transmitting a third sonic signal at a third frequency, different than said first frequency and different than said second frequency, to the well annulus;

receiving a reflected well annulus sonic signal, when said third sonic signal is transmitted;

utilizing at least two of the reflected signals from the corresponding transmitted signals to determine the initial liquid levels P2 of the well;

pumping the liquid from the well until the well is at a no liquid pumpable state P0;

utilizing at least two of the reflected signals corresponding to the transmitted signals to determine the no liquid pumpable state P0;

storing said data generated from the reflected signals used at the no liquid pumpable state P0;

storing said data generated from the corresponding transmitted signal at the initial liquid level P2 of the well;

monitoring the liquid level of the well and converting said data generated to activate the pump to pump the liquid at a liquid level less than or equal to the initial liquid level P2;

monitoring the liquid level of the well and converting said data generated to inactivate the pump at a liquid level P1 above the no liquid pumpable state P0;

thereby activating the pump and inactivating the pump to pump the liquid.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said data generated from the transmitted signals and the reflected signals are average to determine at least one of P0 andP2.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein all three of the reflected signals corresponding to the transmitted signals are utilized to determine the no liquid pumpable state P0.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein all three of the reflected signals corresponding to the transmitted signals are utilized to determine the initial liquid levels P2 of the well.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said data generated from the transmitted signals and the reflected signals are averaged to determine at least one of P0 and P2.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the transmitted signals and the reflected signals are averaged to determine the P1 level.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the transmitted signals and the reflected signals are utilized to determine the P1 level.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the pumpable liquid is petroleum based.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the pumpable liquid is aqueous based.