Method and apparatus for control of a plunger lift system
US10151183B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 16, 2016 |
| Grant date | Dec 11, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 10, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B47/008
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method and apparatus for operating a plunger lift system in a well can include: opening a control valve and allowing a plunger to rise to a top of the well; determining an actual rise time of the plunger based on a time it takes the plunger to rise to the top of the well; using actual rise time of the plunger and a target rise time calculating adjustments to the afterflow time or close time; and allowing the afterflow time to pass before closing the control valve and keeping the valve closed for the close time. The methods are repeated, each time calculating a new adjusted afterflow time or adjusted close time to incrementally alter these times.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.