Method and Apparatus for Utilizing Pressure Signature in Conjunction with Fall Time As Indicator in Oil and Gas Wells
AssigneeProduction Control Services, Inc.
InventorJeffrey L. Giacomino
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method of utilizing a pressure signature in conjunction with a plunger's fall time as an indicator of plunger location. The disclosed method can also indicate well and/or plunger conditions. A controller that can see and interpret slope change and/or pressure signature and automatically make changes to plunger fall time is also disclosed.
Claims19
A well control methodology comprising:
- monitoring tubing and/or casing pressure in a well utilizing a plunger;
- looking for one or more slope changes or pressure anomalies to establish a known plunger location;
- establishing a plunger fall time/rate for said well based on said plunger's well bottom location;
- adjusting said fall time/rate as needed to minimize instances where said plunger is not at well bottom or where a plunger is at well bottom for an extended period.
A method of controlling and operating one or more hydrocarbon production wells by utilizing a pressure signature in conjunction with a plunger's fall time as an indicator of plunger location in a well, said method comprising:
- placing said plunger in a tubing of said well, said plunger capable of traveling to a bottom of said well;
- obtaining tubing and/or casing pressure data associated with said well;
- correlating said pressure data with an established plunger fall time or on bottom location;
- and
- confirming said plunger is on bottom before opening a flowline to enable said plunger to flow upward along with liquids in the tubing even if other production parameters signal that said flowline should be opened.
A system for using plunger fall time or plunger location to control the shut in time of a hydrocarbon production well, said system comprising:
- means for obtaining well tubing and/or casing pressure data as a plunger travels to a bottom of said well;
- means for detecting a slope change or pressure signature/anomaly in said data;
- means for determining plunger fall time or plunger location from said slope change or pressure signature/anomaly;
- and
- means for adjusting said plunger fall time or said shut in time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.