Chris Cavazos, Occidental Petroleum Corp
Daily run time on beam pumped wells is a leading indicator of equipment performance as well as reservoir performance. Changes in run time can point to many different causes. Some are due to failed down hole equipment, but not always. Misdiagnosing these changes can lead to unnecessary OPEX spend and production loss. Beam pumped wells with variable speed drives can be analyzed in the same manner by evaluating the daily average SPM. Methods, Procedures, Process Run time changes can be easily identified with multiple programs, reports, etc. Once identified, they must be analyzed. By simplifying what could be the cause of the change into two basic categories (Inflow change or Outflow change), diagnosing the root cause can be made much easier. By utilizing run time along with other performance indicators (loads, calculated FAP, dynomometer cards) the operator will then be able to filter down to the actual root cause. A matrix has been developed to show how the combination of indicators tell us what the actual issue is. Results, Observations, Conclusions: Once an operator has become familiar with what these run time changes are tell them, they are able to identify opportunities, failures, and production losses, much more quickly. This in turn provides for more effective OPEX use and minimized downtime on producers. Operators’ time is a priceless commodity, so being able to pin point beam wells that actually need attention and being able to easily diagnose the problem saves time, which allows for them to get to more activities in their daily routes. Novel/Additive Information The idea of monitoring run times is not a novel idea and has been a method of well analysis for decades. However, simplifying the reasons for those changes can make this method much more effective and efficient.