Method for monitoring and optimizing the performance of a well pumping system

A system for controlling a speed of a pump jack system having a variable speed prime mover, the system comprising:

• a sensor attached to the pump jack system capable of detecting an absolute position and/or a velocity and/or an acceleration of a first component of the pump jack system relative to a second component of the pump jack system and configured to send a signal proportional to the sensed absolute position;
• process circuitry configured to accept the signal from the sensor and configured to calculate detecting an absolute position and/or a velocity and/or an acceleration of the first component relative to the second component, the process circuitry configured to send a signal proportional to the calculated absolute position and/or velocity and/or acceleration;
• and
• a controller configured to receive the signal from the process circuitry and configured to send a signal to the prime mover to adjust the speed of the prime mover to adjust a rotational speed of the prime mover and detecting the absolute position and/or the velocity and/or the acceleration of the first component relative to the second component.

A pump jack system with feedback control comprising:

• a variable speed prime mover;
• a gear box coupled to the prime mover;
• a crank arm couple to the gearbox;
• a Pittman arm coupled to the crank arm;
• a base;
• a walking beam pivotally supported by the base and having a first end and a second end, an end of the Pittman arm pivotally attached to the first end of the walking beam;
• a horsehead attached to a second end of the walking beam;
• at least one cable having a first end and a second end, the first end of the cable attached to the horsehead;
• a bridle bar attached to the second end of the at least one cable;
• a polished rod having a first end and a second end, the first end of the polished rod engaging the bridle bar;
• a sucker rod having a first end and a second end, the first end of the sucker rod attached to the second end of the polished rod;
• a down-hole pump section attached to the second end of the sucker rod;
• and
• a sensor attached to the pump jack system capable of detecting an absolute position and/or a velocity and/or an acceleration of the walking beam relative to the base and configured to send a signal proportional to the sensed absolute position and or velocity and/or acceleration;
• process circuitry configured to accept the signal from the sensor and configured to calculate a sensed position and/or a velocity and/or an acceleration of the walking beam relative to the base, the process circuitry configured to send a signal proportional to the calculated sensed position and/or the velocity and/or the acceleration;
• and
• a controller configured to receive the signal from the process circuitry and configured to send a signal to the prime mover to adjust the speed of the prime mover to adjust a rotational speed of the prime mover and the sensed position and/or the velocity and/or the acceleration of the walking beam relative to the base.

A pump jack system with feedback control comprising:

• a variable speed prime mover;
• a gear box coupled to the prime mover;
• a crank arm couple to the gearbox;
• a Pittman arm coupled to the crank arm;
• a base;
• a walking beam pivotally supported by the base and having a first end and a second end, an end of the Pittman arm pivotally attached to the first end of the walking beam;
• a horsehead attached to a second end of the walking beam;
• at least one cable having a first end and a second end, the first end of the cable attached to the horsehead;
• a bridle bar attached to the second end of the at least one cable;
• a polished rod having a first end and a second end, the first end of the polished rod engaging the bridle bar;
• a sucker rod having a first end and a second end, the first end of the sucker rod attached to the second end of the polished rod;
• a down-hole pump section attached to the second end of the sucker rod;
• and
• a sensor attached to the pump jack system capable of detecting an absolute position and/or a velocity and/or an acceleration of the bridle bar relative to the polished rod and configured to send a signal proportional to the sensed absolute position and or velocity and/or acceleration;
• process circuitry configured to accept the signal from the sensor and configured to calculate a sensed position and/or a velocity and/or an acceleration of the bridle bar relative to the polished rod, the process circuitry configured to send a signal proportional to the calculated sensed position and/or the velocity and/or the acceleration;
• and
• a controller configured to receive the signal from the process circuitry and configured to send a signal to the prime mover to adjust the speed of the prime mover to adjust a rotational speed of the prime mover and the sensed position and/or the velocity and/or the acceleration of the bridle bar relative to the polished rod.