Well production optimizing system

• US 7,373,976 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2004
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Danny M. Casey
• Original Assignee: Danny M. Casey
• Inventors: Casey, Danny M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gay; Jennifer H
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOMAR, THOMAS S
• Application Number:
  US10/992,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20060102346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 166/250.03, 166/250.04, 166/53, 166/250.15, 181/102, 181/104, 181/113, 181/121
• US Class Current: 166/250.15
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/121 Lifting well fluids monitoring of down-hole pump systems E21B47/008
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/047 Liquid level measuring depth or liquid level using radioactive markers E21B47/053
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/053 using radioactive markers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/095 by detecting an acoustic anomalies, e.g. using mud-pressure pulses
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/18 through the well fluid , e.g. mud pressure pulse telemetry

Abstract

A method and system for controlling a producing cycle in a well, during the production cycle, for optimizing production from the well including disrupting fluid in a wellbore with a pulse generator to create a pressure pulse transmitted through the fluid in the wellbore, detecting the pressure pulse created and the pressure pulse reflected from objects located within the wellbore, wherein the objects may include a liquid/gas interface and a producing apparatus such as a plunger, converting the detection of the pressure pulse and the reflected pressure pulses to a signal, computing the signals to determine the well status and controlling production of the fluid from the wellbore based on the well status.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a production cycle in a well, during the production cycle, for optimizing production from the well, the optimizing system comprising:

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

a pulse generator positioned in fluid communication with the wellbore such that the fluid flows from the wellbore through the pulse generator, the pulse generator selectively interrupting the fluid flowing from the wellbore causing a pressure pulse to be transmitted in the wellbore;

a receiver in operational connection with the wellbore for receiving the pressure pulse and pressure pulse reflections from a surface in the wellbore 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 a well status determined by the controller from the receipt and analysis of the electrical signals from the receiver.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller signals the pulse generator to create a pressure pulse.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the surface that reflects the pressure pulse includes a liquid surface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the surface that reflects the pressure pulse includes a plunger.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the well status includes the level of the liquid in the wellbore.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the well status includes:

the level of the liquid in the wellbore; and

the volume of the liquid in the wellbore.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the well status includes the position of the plunger in the wellbore.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the well status includes:

the position of the plunger in the wellbore; and

the speed of travel of the plunger in the wellbore.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the well status further includes:

the level of the liquid in the wellbore; and

the volume of the liquid in the wellbore.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the pulse generator corn rises:

a valve body forming a fluid channel through which the fluid from the wellbore flows;

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 to interrupt the fluid flow from the wellbore.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the pulse generator comprises:

a fast-acting valve adapted for releasing a burst of fluid from the wellbore.

12. The system of claim 11, further including a chamber in connection with the fast-acting valve for capturing the burst of fluid from the wellbore.

13. A system for determining the position of a plunger in a tubing string positioned in a wellbore, the system comprising:

a plunger ascending in the tubing string in response to fluid pressure in the wellbore;

a pulse generator positioned in fluid communication with a fluid flowing in the tubing string such that the fluid flows from the wellbore through the pulse generator, the pulse generator selectively interrupting the flowing fluid to cause a pressure pulse to be transmitted down the tubing string;

a receiver in communication with the tubing string adapted to receive the pressure pulse and a reflected pressure pulse from the plunger; and

a controller adapted for receiving signals from the receiver identifying the pressure pulse and the reflected pressure pulse and adapted to analyze the signals to determine the position of the plunger in the tubing string.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the pulse generator comprises:

a valve body forming a fluid channel through which the fluid from the wellbore flows;

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 he channel to interrupt the fluid flow from the well.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the pulse generator comprises:

a fast-acting valve adapted for releasing a burst of fluid from the wellbore.

16. The system of claim 15, further including a chamber in connection with the fast-acting valve for capturing the burst of fluid from the wellbore.

17. A method for controlling a producing cycle in a well, during the production cycle, for optimizing production from the well, the method comprising the steps of:

interrupting fluid flow from a wellbore with a pulse generator to create a pressure pulse transmitted through the fluid in the wellbore;

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

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

computing the signals to determine well status; and

automatically controlling production of the fluid from the wellbore based on the well status.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the objects that reflect the pressure pulse includes a liquid surface.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the objects that reflect the pressure pulse include a plunger.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the objects that reflect the pressure pulse include a liquid surface.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the well status include a level of the liquid in the wellbore.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the well status include:

a level of a liquid in the wellbore; and

a volume of the liquid in the wellbore.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the well status include;

the position of a plunger in the wellbore.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the well status include:

a position of a plunger in the wellbore; and

the speed of travel of the plunger in the wellbore.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the well status further includes:

a level of a liquid in the wellbore; and

the volume of the liquid in the wellbore.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the pulse generator comprises:

a valve body forming a fluid channel through which the fluid from the wellbore flows;

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 to interrupt the fluid flow from the wellbore.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein the pressure pulse is created by a pulse generator comprising:

a fast-acting valve adapted for releasing a burst of fluid from the wellbore.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the pulse generator further includes a chamber in connection with the fast-acting valve for capturing the burst of fluid from the wellbore.

29. A method of controlling a production cycle of a plunger lift system in a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:

a) operating a flow-control valve to prevent flow of fluid from a tubing disposed in a wellbore;

operating a pulse generator in fluid connection with the tubing string to create a pressure pulse in the tubing string;

sending a signal identifying receipt of the pressure pulse to automated controller;

reflecting the pressure pulse from objects in the tubing;

sending a signal identifying receipt of the reflected pressure pulse to the automated controller;

computing the signal;

by the automated controller to determine the off-time well status;

b) operating the flow-control valve to prevent fluid flow from the tubing and a plunger to ascend in the tubing based on the off-time well status;

operating the pulse generator in fluid connection with the tubing string to create a pressure pulse in the tubing string;

sending a signal identifying receipt of the pressure pulse to the automated controller;

reflecting the pressure pulse from the plunger in the tubing;

sending a signal identifying receipt of the reflected pressure pulse to the automated controller;

computing the signals by the automated controller to determine the plunger well status;

operating the flow-control valve in response to the plunger well status;

c) operating the pulse generator in fluid connection with the tubing string to create a pressure pulse in the tubing string;

sending a signal identifying receipt of the pressure pulse to an automated controller;

reflecting the pressure pulse from objects in the tubing;

sending a signal identifying receipt of the reflected pressure pulse to the automated controller;

computing the signals by the automated controller to determine the after-flow well status; and

d) operating the flow-control valve to prevent fluid flow from the tubing based on the after-flow well status.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the objects that reflect the pressure pulse include a liquid surface.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the off-time well status includes the level of the liquid in the wellbore.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the off-time well status includes:

the level of the liquid in the wellbore; and

the volume of the liquid in the wellbore.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the plunger well status includes:

the position of the plunger in the wellbore; and

the speed of travel of the plunger in the wellbore.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the after-flow well status includes the level of the liquid in the wellbore.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the after-flow well status includes:

the level of the liquid in the wellbore; and

the volume of the liquid in the wellbore.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein:

the off-time well status includes the level of the liquid in the wellbore;

the after-flow well status includes the level of the liquid in the wellbore; and

the plunger well status includes the position of the plunger in the wellbore and the speed of travel of the plunger in the wellbore.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein the pulse generator comprises:

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

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.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein the pulse generator comprises:

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

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.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein the pulse generator comprises:

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

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.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein the pulse generator comprises:

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

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.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the pulse generator comprises:

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

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.

42. The method of claim 29, wherein the pulse generator includes a fast-acting valve adapted for releasing a burst of fluid from the wellbore.

43. The method of claim 31, wherein the pulse generator includes a fast-acting valve adapted for releasing a burst of fluid from the wellbore.

44. The method claim 33, wherein the pulse generator includes a fast-acting valve adapted for releasing a burst of fluid from the wellbore.

45. The method of claim 34, wherein the pulse generator includes a fast-acting valve adapted for releasing a burst of fluid from the wellbore.

46. The method claim 36, wherein the pulse generator includes a fast-acting valve adapted for releasing a burst of fluid from the wellbore.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein the pulse generator further includes a chamber in connection with the fast-acting valve for capturing the burst of fluid from the wellbore.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the pulse generator further includes a chamber in connection with the fast-acting valve for capturing the burst of fluid from the wellbore.