Danny Fisher, Weatherford Artificial Lift Systems
The industry continues to look for automated devices that can assist in optimizing artificial lift performance, with the object of improving efficiency and reducing the workload placed on the level of operator personnel dictated by economic requirements. An intermittent control system has been designed that monitors the critical pressure points of the well and surface facilities, together with flowing condition, and uses them to dictate the Shut In and Flow or Injection cycles in order to optimize its performance. The advantage of this type of intermittent control system (ICS) is that well conditions, rather than time cycles, dictate the intermitting cycle. This control method has been utilized in conjunction with a multiplicity of artificial lift methods and in most cases production increases of 10 to 500% have been achieved, while the amount of operator time required to ensure optimum performance has been greatly reduced. This paper will discuss the critical points of measurement and their relationship to optimum well and lift method performance. The author will also discuss the application of this flow and pressure control system to several artificial lift systems such as plunger lift, intermittent gas production, gas lift and reciprocating rod lift systems.