System and method for determining pump underperformance
First Claim
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1. A method of identifying underperformance of a pumping system, comprising:
- creating a reference composite curve for a parameter of the pumping system;
determining the parameter through actual measurements during operation of the pumping system;
providing a confidence factor based on the methodology of determining the parameter through actual measurements;
comparing the parameter determined through actual measurements, in conjunction with the confidence factor, to the reference composite curve for identifying underperformance of the pumping system;
calculating a pump performance index (PPI) based on a ratio of the parameter determined through actual measurements and the reference composite curve;
storing PPI values and confidence factor values taken at periodic intervals; and
automatically providing an alert when a combination of PPI values and confidence factor values satisfies underperformance criteria.
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Abstract
A system and method are provided for identifying underperformance in a pumping system used to produce a desired fluid. Various conditions are sensed during operation of the pumping system, and those sensed conditions are used to determine measured parameters that are provided with an associated confidence factor. The measured parameters in conjunction with the confidence factors are compared to a reference composite curve for the specific pumping system to determine whether actual performance has satisfied underperformance criteria or moved across a threshold into underperformance.
14 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of identifying underperformance of a pumping system, comprising:
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creating a reference composite curve for a parameter of the pumping system; determining the parameter through actual measurements during operation of the pumping system; providing a confidence factor based on the methodology of determining the parameter through actual measurements; comparing the parameter determined through actual measurements, in conjunction with the confidence factor, to the reference composite curve for identifying underperformance of the pumping system; calculating a pump performance index (PPI) based on a ratio of the parameter determined through actual measurements and the reference composite curve; storing PPI values and confidence factor values taken at periodic intervals; and automatically providing an alert when a combination of PPI values and confidence factor values satisfies underperformance criteria. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of identifying underperforming pumping systems, comprising:
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comparing a measured parameter of a pumping system to a reference parameter of the pumping system; utilizing a confidence factor to facilitate accurate determination of underperformance of the pumping system; deriving pump performance index (PPI) values over time by determining the ratio of the measured parameter to the reference parameter versus time; and determining a plurality of confidence factor values corresponding to the PPI values. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of identifying underperforming pumping systems, comprising:
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comparing a measured parameter of a pumping system to a reference parameter of the pumping system; utilizing a confidence factor to facilitate accurate determination of underperformance of the pumping system; and determining the measured parameter based on a combination of real time data and episodic data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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testing each pump of a pump unit prior to use of the pump unit in a submersible pumping system to determine a reference parameter for each pump, the testing comprising determining lift data for each pump of the pump unit; and creating a composite reference parameter based on combining reference parameters determined for each pump, wherein creating comprises summing the lift data from each pump of the pump unit to determine the composite reference parameter. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification