Patent EP0533433A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3930752A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil well pumpoff control system utilizing integration timer
Assignee: Dresser Industries Inc
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Filing: 1974-05-13
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Granted: 1976-01-06
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Expires: 1994-05-13
Abstract
Abstract A valve in the production flow line of an oil well closes a reed switch indicative of fluid being pumped through the line. The switch closure activates a first oscillator whose count is compared with a variable frequency oscillator having a frequency of approximately one-half that of the first oscillator. The comparison is made over a given period of time to ascertain the percentage of time the valve has been open and passing fluid. Theoretically, the valve should be open approximately fifty percent of the time because almost that much time is taken on the downstroke of the pumping assembly when no production is occurring. The integrated timer is adjusted to shut down the system when the percentage of time the valve is open drops to the preselected amount, usually equal to or less than around 50 percent. In response to the integration timer producing a signal, a shutdown timer is turned on which restarts the cycle after a preselected amount of time. The length of shutdown time for the pumping unit is preset according to the well fill-in rate. When the system is restarted by the shutdown timer, a pump-up timer is turned on which is adjusted to allow for a desired pump-up time. As the pump-up timer is allowing the system to recycle, the integration timer is reset and the recycling is completed if the requirements of the integration timer are met. Otherwise, the unit is shut down again and the system recycled. A variable electronic scaler is connected to the output of the integration timer which monitors the output signals from this timer. A reset circuit between the integrator and the scaler resets the scaler to zero after a successful recycle of the system. A successful recycle occurs when fluid is pumped at a flow rate equal to or greater than the preset minimum when the pump has been restarted after a shutdown period. If the pumped fluid flow rate achieves the minimum preset flow value during or at the end of the pump-up period, a reset signal is conveyed to the scaler to reset it to zero and continue pump operation and system recycling indefinitely, or until malfunctions interfere with the pumping operation or production drops below a level economically feasible for pumping operations. When malfunctions do occur, such as parting of the sucker rod, the pumped fluid flow rate will remain below the desired preset value and no reset signal will be conveyed to the scaler. At the end of the pump-up cycle the pump will not be pumping fluids and will be shut down in response to the signal from the integrator assembly. Since there will be no reset signal to the scaler, it will begin to accumulate the shutdown signals. After the preset number of times the integration timer produces a shutdown signal, the scaler turns off the whole system. It can then be restarted manually. This provides a safety device for equipment failure such as breaking of the sucker rod. Means are also provided for recording the various timed cycles and also for monitoring the number of signals transmitted to the scaler, thus being indicative of the number of times the system has automatically shut down and successfully recycled. Also a circuit is provided to determine the exact percentage of time that the pump is producing fluid flow, whether above or below the preset minimum percentage. A continuous recorder may be used with this circuit to maintain a constant record of the percentage of time the pump is flowing well fluids to allow the operator to determine if the preset minimum percentage should be lowered, and how much it should be lowered to obtain successful recycling of the pumping system.
Inventors
- 👤 Bobby L. Douglas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:34
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04B; F04B49/00; F04B49/10; F04B49/106; E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/008; E21B47/009; F04B47/00; F04B47/02; F04B49/02; F04B49/06; F04B2201/00; F04B2201/02; F04B2201/0207; F04B2201/02071; F04B2205/00; F04B2205/13; F04B2205/16; F04B2207/00; F04B2207/04; F04B2207/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A system for controlling the operation of a well pumping installation including a pump, a motor for operating said pump and a pumped fluid flowpipe, said system comprising: flow detection means responsive to the flow of fluid from the well; signal means for generating signals indicative of said response; means for determining if the percentage of time during a given time interval that such signals are occurring is below a predetermined desirable value; means for terminating the pumping operation when the percentage of time said signals are occurring is less than the predetermined desirable value; means for restarting said pumping operation after a predetermined period of shutdown time in said system; and, recycle means in said system for resetting said determining means and said terminating means to allow recycling of the pumping operation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
133 words
A system for controlling the operation of a well pumping installation including a pump, a motor for operating said pump and a pumped fluid flowpipe, said system comprising: flow detection means responsive to the flow of fluid from the well; signal means for generating signals indicative of said response; means for determining if the percentage of time during a given time interval that such signals are occurring is below a predetermined desirable value; means for terminating the pumping operation when the percentage of time said signals are occurring is less than the predetermined desirable value; means for restarting said pumping operation after a predetermined period of shutdown time in said system; and, recycle means in said system for resetting said determining means and said terminating means to allow recycling of the pumping operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The control system of claim 1 further comprising shutdown means for preventing recycling of the operation after such operation has been recycled a predetermined number of times.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The control system of claim 1 wherein said restarting means comprises pump-up timing means in said system arranged to provide a definite period of pumping time immediately after said shutdown time, said pump-up timing means adapted to override said terminating means during said definite period of pumping time and further adapted to remove said override at the end of said pumping period.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The control system of claim 3 further comprising resetting means between said determining means and said recycle preventing means; said resetting means arranged to reset said preventing means to zero when the percentage of time that signals are occurring is at or above said predetermined desirable value, thereby preventing shutdown of the system during successful recycling.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The control system of claim 1 further comprising means for determining the exact percentage of time that fluid is flowing from the pumped well.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The control system of claim 5 wherein said percentage determining means has a continuous recording means and a visible readout, said readout being capable of indicating either the flow-time percentage when the pumping system is operating, or the last flow-time percentage of the previous pumping cycle when the system is not pumping.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The control system of claim 1 wherein said flow detection means comprises valve means having magnetic means therein, with proximity switch means thereon, said magnetic means and proximity switch means adapted to energize said signal means when said valve means is opened by fluid flow from the well.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
The control system of claim 1 wherein said signal means comprises a first oscillator having a known frequency wave-train output; and said determining means comprises a variable frequency oscillator, counter means connected to said oscillators, means for comparing the outputs of said counter means, means connected to said comparing means for generating a pulse signal in response to the output of said comparing means, and clock means connected to said counter means arranged to empty said counter means periodically into said comparing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
The control system of claim 4 wherein said resetting means comprises a logic gate having two inputs and an output, and adapted to emit a reset signal only when receiving signals through both of said inputs; signal inverting means between said determining means and one of said logic gate inputs; clock means arranged to generate a periodic signal pulse to the second of said logic gate inputs; and, signal conducting means from said logic gate output to said recycle preventing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
314 words
Well pump-off control apparatus for controlling the operation of a well pumping installation having a pump, pump motor, and pumped fluid flowpipe; said apparatus comprising: sensing means in said flowpipe adapted to sense the flow of fluid therethrough; signal means responsive to said sensing means and adapted to generate signals indicative of said fluid flow; comparison means for receiving said generated signals and comparing the time of fluid flow during a given interval to a predetermined reference value; terminating means in communication with said comparison means and arranged to terminate the pumping operation when the time of fluid flow during the given interval drops below said predetermined reference value; shutdown timing means in said apparatus arranged to maintain the well pumping operation shutdown for a predetermined period of time; pump-up timing means communicating with said shutdown timing means and arranged to restart the pumping operation after said shutdown period and maintain the pumping for a predetermined period of time regardless of the flow condition from the well; recycle means in communication with said pump-up timing means and said comparison means and arranged to recycle said well control apparatus to begin another pumping cycle; system shutdown means in said well control apparatus, communicating with said recycle means and said terminating means, and adapted to count the number of times the pumping operation has been terminated and arranged to completely shut down the well control apparatus upon counting a predetermined number of times the pumping has been terminated; and resetting means between said comparison means and said system shutdown means and arranged to generate and transmit a resetting signal to said system shutdown means when said time of fluid during a given interval is greater than said predetermined reference value; said system shutdown means further adapted upon receiving said resetting signal to restart counting from zero the number of times the pumping operation has been terminated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
314 words
Well pump-off control apparatus for controlling the operation of a well pumping installation having a pump, pump motor, and pumped fluid flowpipe; said apparatus comprising: sensing means in said flowpipe adapted to sense the flow of fluid therethrough; signal means responsive to said sensing means and adapted to generate signals indicative of said fluid flow; comparison means for receiving said generated signals and comparing the time of fluid flow during a given interval to a predetermined reference value; terminating means in communication with said comparison means and arranged to terminate the pumping operation when the time of fluid flow during the given interval drops below said predetermined reference value; shutdown timing means in said apparatus arranged to maintain the well pumping operation shutdown for a predetermined period of time; pump-up timing means communicating with said shutdown timing means and arranged to restart the pumping operation after said shutdown period and maintain the pumping for a predetermined period of time regardless of the flow condition from the well; recycle means in communication with said pump-up timing means and said comparison means and arranged to recycle said well control apparatus to begin another pumping cycle; system shutdown means in said well control apparatus, communicating with said recycle means and said terminating means, and adapted to count the number of times the pumping operation has been terminated and arranged to completely shut down the well control apparatus upon counting a predetermined number of times the pumping has been terminated; and resetting means between said comparison means and said system shutdown means and arranged to generate and transmit a resetting signal to said system shutdown means when said time of fluid during a given interval is greater than said predetermined reference value; said system shutdown means further adapted upon receiving said resetting signal to restart counting from zero the number of times the pumping operation has been terminated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The well control apparatus of claim 10 further comprising means for calculating the actual percentage of time that well fluid is being pumped from the well, said calculating means also comprising recorder means for continuously recording said calculated percentage, and display means for displaying the most recently calculated flow time percentage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
76 words
The well control apparatus of claim 10 wherein said signal means comprises a magnetic proximity switch connected to a first oscillator, and said comparison means comprises a variable frequency oscillator, counter means connected to said oscillators, comparator means receiving the outputs of said counter means and comparing them, pulse signal means connected to said comparator means, and, clock means connected to said counter means and arranged to empty said counter means periodically into said comparing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The well control apparatus of claim 11 wherein said calculating means comprises a multiplier circuit, a divide circuit, a gang tuner, and a recorder.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
The well control apparatus of claim 12 wherein said resetting means comprises a logic gate having two inputs and an output and adapted to emit a reset signal to said system shutdown means when receiving signals through both inputs; signal inverting means between said comparator means and one of said logic gate inputs; signal conducting means from said clock means to the other of said logic gate inputs; and signal conductor means from said logic gate output to said system shutdown means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for controlling the operation of a well pumping installation utilizing a pump, pump motor, and pumped fluid flowpipe; said apparatus comprising: flow sensing means responsive to the flow of fluid through the flowpipe; signal generating means arranged to generate signals indicative of the flow of fluid; means for determining if the percentage of time during a given time interval that such signals are occurring is below a predetermined desirable value; means for terminating the pumping operation when the percentage of time said signals are occurring is less than the predetermined desirable value; means for generating a pumping signal indicative of the duration of pump on-time during a given cycle; means for restarting the pumping operation after a period of shutdown time; and, means functionally related to said on-time signal for automatically adjusting the period of time the pump will be shutdown during a subsequent pumping cycle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for controlling the operation of a well pumping installation utilizing a pump, pump motor, and pumped fluid flowpipe; said apparatus comprising: flow sensing means responsive to the flow of fluid through the flowpipe; signal generating means arranged to generate signals indicative of the flow of fluid; means for determining if the percentage of time during a given time interval that such signals are occurring is below a predetermined desirable value; means for terminating the pumping operation when the percentage of time said signals are occurring is less than the predetermined desirable value; means for generating a pumping signal indicative of the duration of pump on-time during a given cycle; means for restarting the pumping operation after a period of shutdown time; and, means functionally related to said on-time signal for automatically adjusting the period of time the pump will be shutdown during a subsequent pumping cycle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
The well control apparatus of claim 15 further comprising: recycle means in said apparatus for resetting said determining means and said terminating means to allow recycling of the pumping operation; and system shutdown means for counting the number of system recycles and for preventing recycling of the operation after such operation has been recycled a predetermined number of times.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
69 words
The well control apparatus of claim 16 further comprising: resetting means between said determining means and said system shutdown means arranged to reset said system shutdown means to zero when the percentage of time that signals are occurring is at or above said predetermined desirable value; and means for determining and recording the exact percentage of time during a given interval that fluid is flowing from the pumped well.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
95 words
The well control apparatus of claim 15 wherein said adjusting means comprises: means for determining the pump running time fo the immediately preceding cycle; means for dividing said pump running time into a preset value of desirable running time; means for multiplying the obtained quotient by the shutdown time of the immediately preceding cycle; and, timing means in communication with said multiplying means adapted to receive a signal proportional to the product of said multiplying means to establish a time period directly proportional thereto and emit a signal at the end of said time period.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said adjusting means further comprises comparator means between said multiplying means and said timing means adapted to receive said product signal and compare it to a preset minimum value signal, thereafter transmitting a signal proportional to the larger of said two incoming signal values to said timing means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said adjusting means further comprises second comparator means communicating with said multiplying means and adapted to receive a signal proportional to a preset minimum shutdown time and a signal proportional to the shutdown time of the immediately preceding pump cycle and to transmit to said multiplying means a signal proportional to the larger of the two values represented by the two incoming signals.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said timing means is adapted to receive a signal proportional to a precalculated shutdown time and deliver a startup signal to said restarting means at the end of said precalculated shutdown period.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
325 words
A well control system for automatically controlling the operation of a well pumping installation having a pump, a pump motor, and a pump motor power supply source; said well control system comprising: flow sensing means on the well adapted for sensing the flow of pumped well fluids therefrom; signal generating means communicating with said sensing means and adapted to transmit signals indicative of said sensed flow; integrator means adapted to receive said signals and compare them to a preset minimum flow value, said integrator means having means for generating a shutdown signal when the pumped fluid flow value drops below the preset minimum flow value; cycle shutdown means communicating with said integrator means and located between the pump motor and its power supply source, said shutdown means adapted to receive said shutdown signal and interrupt the flow of power from the power supply source to the pump motor; restart means in communication with said shutdown means and adapted to reestablish flow of power to the pump motor and recycle said well control system; system shutdown means communicating with said cycle shutdown means and arranged to completely shut down said well control system after counting a preset number of system recycles; resetting means between said integrator means and said system shutdown means arranged to reset said system shutdown means to zero when the pumped fluid flow value equals or exceeds said preset minimum flow value; means for generating a pumping signal indicative of the duration of pump on-time during a given cycle; pump-up timing means communicating with said restart means and adapted to operate the pumping assembly by overriding said cycle shutdown means for a predetermined period of time; and analyzing means in communication with said integrator means and said restart means, said analyzing means adapted to energize said restart means after determining and timing a shutdown period calculated to alter the actual pump running time to a value closer to a preset desirable running time.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
325 words
A well control system for automatically controlling the operation of a well pumping installation having a pump, a pump motor, and a pump motor power supply source; said well control system comprising: flow sensing means on the well adapted for sensing the flow of pumped well fluids therefrom; signal generating means communicating with said sensing means and adapted to transmit signals indicative of said sensed flow; integrator means adapted to receive said signals and compare them to a preset minimum flow value, said integrator means having means for generating a shutdown signal when the pumped fluid flow value drops below the preset minimum flow value; cycle shutdown means communicating with said integrator means and located between the pump motor and its power supply source, said shutdown means adapted to receive said shutdown signal and interrupt the flow of power from the power supply source to the pump motor; restart means in communication with said shutdown means and adapted to reestablish flow of power to the pump motor and recycle said well control system; system shutdown means communicating with said cycle shutdown means and arranged to completely shut down said well control system after counting a preset number of system recycles; resetting means between said integrator means and said system shutdown means arranged to reset said system shutdown means to zero when the pumped fluid flow value equals or exceeds said preset minimum flow value; means for generating a pumping signal indicative of the duration of pump on-time during a given cycle; pump-up timing means communicating with said restart means and adapted to operate the pumping assembly by overriding said cycle shutdown means for a predetermined period of time; and analyzing means in communication with said integrator means and said restart means, said analyzing means adapted to energize said restart means after determining and timing a shutdown period calculated to alter the actual pump running time to a value closer to a preset desirable running time.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
The well control system of claim 22 further comprising percentage determining and recording means for determining and recording the amount of time during a given time interval that the well fluid is being pumped from the well.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
61 words
The well control system of claim 22 wherein said analyzing means comprises means for performing the calculation: ##EQU3## where t n is the time of the upcoming shutdown period, T s is a preset desirable running time, I.sub.(n -1 ) is the runtime of the preceding pump cycle, and t n -1 is the shutdown period of the preceding pumping cycle.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
199 words
The well control system of claim 24 wherein said analyzing means further comprises: means for determining the pump running time of the immediately preceding cycle; means for dividing said pump running time into the value of a preset desirable run time; means for multiplying the obtained quotient by the shutdown time of the immediately preceding cycle; timing means in communication with said multiplying means adapted to receive a signal proportional to the product of said multiplying means to establish a time period directly proportional thereto and emit a signal at the end of said time period; comparator means between said multiplying means and said timing means adapted to receive said product signal and compare it to a preset minimum value signal, thereafter transmitting a signal proportional to the larger of the said two incoming signal values to said timing means; and, second comparator means communicating with said multiplying means and adapted to receive a signal proportional to a preset minimum shutdown time and a signal proportional to the shutdown time of the immediately preceding pump cycle and to transmit to said multiplying means a signal proportional to the larger of the two values represented by the two incoming signals.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of controlling an oil well pumping installation having an oil well pump, a prime mover, a power supply and a pumped fluid flowpipe, said method comprising: sensing the flow of fluid pumped through the flowpipe; comparing the time fluid flows through the flowpipe during a given unit of time to a predetermined desirable flow time; disconnecting the power supply from the prime mover when said fluid flow time drops below the predetermined desirable flow time thereby shutting down the pumping installation; reconnecting the power supply to the prime mover after a predetermined shutdown time, thereby restarting the pumping installation; and repeating the above steps an indefinite number of times.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of controlling an oil well pumping installation having an oil well pump, a prime mover, a power supply and a pumped fluid flowpipe, said method comprising: sensing the flow of fluid pumped through the flowpipe; comparing the time fluid flows through the flowpipe during a given unit of time to a predetermined desirable flow time; disconnecting the power supply from the prime mover when said fluid flow time drops below the predetermined desirable flow time thereby shutting down the pumping installation; reconnecting the power supply to the prime mover after a predetermined shutdown time, thereby restarting the pumping installation; and repeating the above steps an indefinite number of times.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 26 further comprising the steps of: counting the number of times the pumping installation has been shut down; and completely shutting down the pumping installation and control apparatus and preventing reconnecting of the power supply to the prime mover when the counted number of shutdowns reaches a predetermined amount.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 27 further comprising: restarting said counting step at zero each time the fluid flow time exceeds said preset flow time after the power supply has been reconnected to the prime mover.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising varying the shutdown time of the pumping installation to achieve a predetermined, desirable continuous pumping run-time.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said varying step is performed automatically and comprises: measuring the run-time of a preceding pumping cycle; measuring the shutdown time of a preceding cycle; and determining a new shutdown time according to the formula: ##EQU4## where: t n is the time of the upcoming shutdown period, T s is a preset desirable runtime, T.sub.(n -m ) is the runtime of a preceding cycle, t.sub.(n -p ) is the shutdown of a preceding cycle.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said preceding cycles are both the same cycle which is the immediately preceding cycle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-01-05 | 1979-07-07 | 1980-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-01-05 | 1983-07-07 | 1984-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-01-05 | 1987-07-07 | 1988-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |