Well production optimizing system

• US 7,243,730 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2004
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dan Casey
• Original Assignee: Danny M. Casey
• Inventors: Casey, Danny M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bates; Zakiya W.
• Application Number:
  US11/031,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20060144597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 166/372
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/121 Lifting well fluids monitoring of down-hole pump systems E21B47/008
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/122 Gas lift

Abstract

A well optimizing system and method for lifting fluid that accumulates and retards production in a well. The system includes a plunger having a piston and a detachable plugh. The piston has a sealing section and a retrieval end and defines a passage through the length thereof. One or more pads are radially extendable from the sealing section. The detachable plug is positional in the retrieval end in a position to substantially block the flow of fluid through the passage from below the plunger. The system may further include a production control system.

Claims

1. A plunger for optimizing well production, the plunger comprising:

a piston having a sealing section and a retrieval end, the piston defining a passage therethrough;

one or more pads radially extendable from the sealing section; and

a detachable plug positionable in the retrieval end in a blocking position to the passage,

wherein the plus detaches from the piston and descends independent from the piston in a well.

2. The plunger of claim 1, wherein the one or more pads are biased radially outward from the piston to a sealing and sliding engagement with a tubing.

3. The plunger of claim 2, wherein the retrieval end defines an angular shaped cavity to receive and align the detachable plug in the blocking position of the passage.

4. The plunger of claim 3, wherein the detachable plug has a spherical shape to be received within the retrieval end.

5. The plunger of claim 1, wherein the retrieval end defines an angular shaped cavity to receive and align the detachable plug in the blocking position of the passage.

6. The plunger of claim 1, wherein the detachable plug has a spherical shape to be received within the retrieval end.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the well status includes the level of a liquid in the tubing.

7. A well optimizing system, the system comprising:

a plunger comprising a piston having a sealing section and a retrieval end, the piston defining a passage therethrough, one or more pads radially extendable from the sealing section and a detachable plug positionable in the retrieval end in a blocking position substantially eliminating fluid flow through the passage, the plunger moveably positioned within a tubing of a wellbore;

a flow-control valve in fluid connection with the tubing, the flow-control valve moveable between a closed position to prevent fluid flow from the tubing and an open position allowing fluid flow from the tubing;

a pulse generator in fluid communication with the tubing adapted for transmitting a pressure pulse into rue fluid in the tubing;

a receiver in operational connection with the tubing for receiving the pressure pulse and pressure pulse reflections from a surface in the tubing and for sending an electrical signal in response to the received pressure pulses; and

a controller in functional connection with the flow-control valve, the pulse generator and the receiver;

wherein the controller operates the position of the flow-control valve in response to the well status determined by the controller from the receipt and analysis of the electrical signals from the receiver.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more pads are biased radially outward from the piston to a sealing and sliding engagement with the tubing.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the pulse generator comprises:

a valve body forming a fluid channel in communication with the fluid in the tubing;

a cross-bore having a first end and a second end, the cross-bore intersecting the channel; and

a piston having a piston head, the piston moveably disposed in the cross-bore in a manner such that the piston bead may be selectively moved to a position in the channel.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the well status includes the speed of travel of the plunger in the tubing.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the well status further includes:

the position of the piston in (the tubing; and

the speed of travel of the piston in the tubing.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the well status includes the speed of travel of the piston in the tubing.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the well status includes at least one of the position of the plunger in the tubing, the position of the detachable plug in the tubing and the speed of travel of the detachable plug in the tubing.

13. The system of clam 7, wherein the well status includes the position of the piston in the tubing.

16. A method of optimizing the production from a well, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plunger comprising a piston having a sealing section and a retrieval end, the piston defining a passage therethrough, one or more pads radially extendable from the sealing section and a detachable plug positionable in the retrieval end in a blocking position substantially eliminating fluid flow through the passage;

b) positioning the plunger within a tubing at the top of the tubing, wherein the piston is positioned above the detachable plug relative to the well and the pads are in sliding engagement with the tubing and substantially seal between the tubing and the piston;

c) dropping the detachable plug in the tubing independent of the piston;

d) dropping the piston in the tubing wherein fluid in the well passes through the passage of the piston;

e) nesting the detachable plug in the blocking position in the retrieval end of the piston effecting a substantial seal across the diameter of the tubing;

f) allowing formation gas pressure below the nested plunger to push the plunger and liquid above the plunger toward the top of the tubing;

g) producing the liquid above the plunger from the well; and

h) repeating steps c) through g).

17. The method of claim 16, further including the steps of:

providing a flow-control valve in fluid connection with the tubing, the flow-control valve moveable between a closed position to prevent fluid flow from the tubing and an open position allowing fluid flow from the tubing;

disrupting fluid in the tubing with a pulse generator to create a pressure pulse transmitted through the fluid in the tubing;

detecting the pressure pulse created and the pressure pulse reflected from objects located within the tubing;

converting the detection of the pressure pulse and the reflected pressure pulses to a signal;

computing the signals to determine a well status; and

controlling the position of the flow-control valve in response to the well status determined by the controller from the receipt and analysis of the electrical signals from the receiver.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the well status includes the level of a liquid in the tubing.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the well status further includes:

the position of the piston in the tubing; and

the speed of travel of the piston in the tubing.

20. The method 18, wherein the pulse generator comprises:

a valve body forming a fluid channel in communication with the fluid in the tubing;

a cross-bore having a first end and a second end, the cross-bore intersecting the channel; and

a piston having a piston head, the piston moveably disposed in the cross-bore in a manner such that the piston head may be selectively moved to a position in the channel.