Well controller and monitor

Claim 1

A control and monitoring system for oil and gas wells comprising: a. pump means for producing, when in operation, an output from a well; b. a positive displacement meter measuring the output of a well; c. time delay device means; d. signal source means responsive to said measured output of a well as measured by said positive displacement meter for producing a transduceable signal from said positive displacement meter for resetting said time delay device means; e. means for energizing a relay device in response to said signal to send a reset signal to said time delay device means; f. means to continually and repeatedly reset said time delay device means, so long as, and if and only if, said reset signal is received from said relay device in response to said signal received from the said positive displacement meter measuring the output of said well within and prior to the expiration of a predetermined time interval established within said time delay device means; g. said time delay device means further including means switching said well to a rest cycle in which the said pump means are shut off for a predetermined period of time in the absence of receiving said reset signal within the said predetermined time interval; and h. said time delay device means additionally including means for returning the well to an operational condition for so long as said time delay device means continues to be reset following said predetermined period of time during which the said pump means are shut off.