Method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling on line dynamic operating conditions

In a well pumping operation of the type including a motor driven pump submerged within, and for pumping, the well fluid within a well, a conduit in fluid communication with the pump and extending to the top of the well, and a suspended cable extending into the well for supplying electrical power to the motor driving the pump,

• a system for monitoring and controlling the change in the fluid level in the well during said well pumping operation, said system comprising:
• (a) stored program computer means having memory segments respectively containing encoded data representative of the fixed characteristics of the motor, pump, and well;
• (b) means coupled to said cable at the surface of the well for generating first data signals representative of the motor rpm and characteristics of the power being supplied to the motor;
• (c) means coupled to said conduit for generating second data signals representative of the fluid surface pressure at the output of the well;
• (d) program means within said computer defining the mathematical relationship of the change in fluid level in the well as a function of the said fixed characteristics and the said first and second data signals;
• (e) means under the control of said program means for generating third signals continuously representative of the fluid level within the well in response to the receipt by said computer means of said first and second data signals;
• and
• (f) means responsive to said third signals for varying the rpm of the motor, thereby to regulate the fluid level within the well.

In a well pumping operation of the type including a motor driven pump submerged within, and for pumping, the well fluid within a well, a conduit in fluid communication with the pump and extending to the top of the well, a power distribution network, and a suspended cable extending into the well for supplying electrical power from said power distribution network to the motor driving the pump,

• a system for monitoring and controlling the terminal voltage of the motor during said well pumping operation, said system comprising:
• (a) stored program computer means having memory segments respectively containing encoded data representative of the fixed characteristics of the motor, pump, and well;
• (b) means coupled to said cable at the surface of the well for generating first data signals representative of the motor rpm and characteristics of the power being supplied to the motor;
• (c) program means within said computer defining the mathematical relationship of the motor terminal voltage as a function of the said fixed characteristics and the said first data signals;
• (d) means under the control of said program means for generating second signals continuously representative of the changes in the motor terminal voltage in response to the receipt by said computer means of said first data signals;
• and
• (e) line drop compensator means responsive to said second signals for varying the voltage supplied to the cable, thereby to regulate the motor terminal voltage during the pumping operation.

A system for monitoring and controlling the dynamic operating conditions of events occurring at a location normally inaccessible to direct measurement said system comprising:

• (a) first means providing communication between said inaccessible location and an accessible location;
• (b) stored program computer means having memory segments respectively containing encoded data representative of fixed characteristics at said inaccessible location;
• (c) means coupled to said first communications means at said accessible location for generating first data signals representative of the status of conditions occurring in said first communication means;
• (d) program means within said computer defining the mathematical relationship between a dynamic operating condition as a function of the conditions occurring in said first communication means and said fixed characteristics;
• and
• (e) means under the control of said program means for generating signals continuously representative of said dynamic operating condition in response to the receipt by said computer means of said first data signals.

In a well pumping operating of the type including a motor driven pump submerged within, and for pumping, the well fluid within a well, a conduit in fluid communication with the pump and extending to the top of the well, and a suspended cable extending into the well for supplying electrical power to the motor driving the pump,

• a method for monitoring and controlling the dynamic on line operating conditions of said well pumping operation, the method comprising:
• (a) defining the mathematical relationship between a dynamic on line operating condition as a function of the fixed characteristics of the motor, pump and well and at least one characteristic of the power being supplied to the motor;
• (b) storing information within a computer representative of said fixed characteristics;
• (c) storing instructions in said computer representative of said mathematical relationship;
• and
• (d) generating signals continuously representative of said dynamic on line operating conditions in response to the receipt by said computer of data signals representative of monitored power characteristics.