# US 8,543,245 B2 · Systems and methods for specifying an operational parameter for a pumping system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,245 B2 - Document ID: US8543245B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/623,166 - Filed: 2009-11-20 - Published: 2011-05-26 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2009-11-20 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Applicants: Chad Heitman; Stanley V. Stephenson; David W. Looper; Kenneth G. Neal - Inventors: Chad Heitman; Stanley V. Stephenson; David W. Looper; Kenneth G. Neal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543245B2 ## CPC - F04B 49/065: {and making use of computers} - Y10T 137/224: With particular characteristics of control input - F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Systems and methods for specifying one or more operational parameters for a pumping system are disclosed. A first suction pressure loss profile for a first pump in a pumping system is determined. A second suction pressure loss profile for a second pump in the pumping system is determined. The first suction pressure loss profile is compared with the second suction pressure loss profile. One or more operational parameters are specified based, at least in part, on the comparison. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of specifying one or more operational parameters for a pumping system, the method comprising: determining a first suction pressure loss profile for a first pump in a pumping system, wherein the first suction pressure loss profile shows a relationship between a pump suction pressure in a suction line of the first pump and a pump rate of the first pump; determining a second suction pressure loss profile for a second pump in the pumping system, wherein the second suction pressure loss profile shows a relationship between a pump suction pressure in a suction line of the second pump and a pump rate of the second pump; comparing the first suction pressure loss profile with the second suction pressure loss profile; and specifying one or more operational parameters to modify the operation of the pumping system based, at least in part, on the comparison; and controlling one or more of the first pump and the second pump based, at least in part, on the one or more operational parameters. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining an first operating point of the first pump along the first suction pressure loss profile; determining a second operating point of the second pump along the second suction pressure loss profile; and comparing the first operating point with the second operating point. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the specifying one or more operational parameters is further based, at least in part, on the comparison of the first operating point and the second operating point. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first suction pressure loss profile is based, at least in part, on two or more measurements of pressure associated with the suction line of the first pump, and wherein the second suction pressure loss profile is based, at least in part, on two or more measurements of pressure associated with the suction line of the second pump. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: monitoring one or more of a pressure and a flow rate associated with a suction line of the first pump in real-time; and monitoring one or more of a pressure and a flow rate associated with a suction line of the second pump in real-time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first pump and the second pump is selected from a group consisting of a positive displacement pump, a plunger pump, a triplex pump, and a quintuplex pump. ### Claim 7 A computer program stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium specifying one or more operational parameters for a pumping system, comprising executable instructions to cause at least one processor to: determine a first suction pressure loss profile for a first pump in a pumping system, wherein the first suction pressure loss profile shows a relationship between a pump suction pressure in a suction line of the first pump and a pump rate of the first pump; determine a second suction pressure loss profile for a second pump in the pumping system, wherein the second suction pressure loss profile shows a relationship between a pump suction pressure in a suction line of the second pump and a pump rate of the second pump; compare the first suction pressure loss profile with the second suction pressure loss profile; and specify one or more operational parameters to modify the operation of the pumping system based, at least in part, on the comparison. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The computer program of claim 7, further comprising executable instructions to cause the at least one processor to: determine a first operating point of the first pump along the first suction pressure loss profile; determine a second operating point of the second pump along the second suction pressure loss profile; and compare the first operating point with the second operating point. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The computer program of claim 8, wherein the specifying one or more operational parameters is further based, at least in part, on the comparison of the first operating point and the second operating point. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The computer program of claim 9, further comprising executable instructions to cause the at least one processor to: control one or more of the first pump and the second pump based, at least in part, on the one or more operational parameters. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The computer program of claim 7, wherein the first suction pressure loss profile is based, at least in part, on two or more measurements of pressure associated with the suction line of the first pump, and wherein the second suction pressure loss profile is based, at least in part, on two or more measurements of pressure associated with the suction line of the second pump. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The computer program of claim 7, further comprising executable instructions to cause the at least one processor to: monitor one or more of a pressure and a flow rate associated with a suction line of the first pump in real-time; and monitor one or more of a pressure and a flow rate associated with a suction line of the second pump in real-time. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The computer program of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first pump and the second pump is selected from a group consisting of a positive displacement pump, a plunger pump, a triplex pump, and a quintuplex pump. ### Claim 14 An information handling system, comprising: a processor communicatively coupled to a memory; and a computer readable medium comprising instructions that cause at least one processor to: determine a first suction pressure loss profile for a first pump in a pumping system, wherein the first suction pressure loss profile shows a relationship between a pump suction pressure in a suction line of the first pump and a pump rate of the first pump; determine a second suction pressure loss profile for a second pump in the pumping system, wherein the second suction pressure loss profile shows a relationship between a pump suction pressure in a suction line of the second pump and a pump rate of the second pump; compare the first suction pressure loss profile with the second suction pressure loss profile; and specify one or more operational parameters to modify the operation of the pumping system based, at least in part, on the comparison. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The information handling system of claim 14, where the instructions further cause the at least one processor to: determine a first operating point of the first pump along the first suction pressure loss profile; determine a second operating point of the second pump along the second suction pressure loss profile; and compare the first operating point with the second operating point. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The information handling system of claim 15, wherein the specifying one or more operational parameters is further based, at least in part, on the comparison of the first operating point and the second operating point. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The information handling system of claim 15, where the instructions further cause the at least one processor to: control one or more of the first pump and the second pump based, at least in part, on the one or more operational parameters. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The information handling system of claim 14, where the instructions further cause the at least one processor to: monitor one or more of a pressure and a flow rate associated with a suction line of the first pump in real-time; and monitor one or more of a pressure and a flow rate associated with a suction line of the second pump in real-time. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The information handling system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first pump and the second pump is selected from a group consisting of a positive displacement pump, a plunger pump, a triplex pump, and a quintuplex pump.