Optimizing Plunger Lifted Wells By Acoustically Tracing The Plunger Fall
O. Lynn Rowlan, J.N. McCoy & Dieter Becker, Echometer Company, A.L. Podio, University of Texas, & Norman Hein, Conoco Inc.
Tracing the fall of the plunger down the tubing can be used to optimize the operation of plunger lifted wells. On plunger lifted wells an acoustic liquid level instrument can be used to collect a series of liquid level shots down the tubing. These measurements are used to monitor the position of the plunger, as the plunger falls down the tubing during the time period the controller has closed the surface valves and the well is shut-in. The collected data is used to determine the 1) fall velocity of the plunger and 2) time for the plunger to fall to liquid. By accurately measuring the plunger fall velocity with an acoustic liquid level instrument, then the minimum shut-in time for the plunger lift installation can be determined. The plunger trace measurements will ensure that the plunger has reached the liquid at the bottom of the tubing by the end of the shut-in period. Setting the well's controller to have the shortest possible shut-in time period can maximize oil and gas production from plunger lift installations.