Method for well production
US5146991A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 11, 1991 |
| Grant date | Sep 15, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 11, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/86461
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method for producing a plunger lift well which optimizes production through the evaluation of the speed at which a plunger arrives at the wellhead within a fixed on-cycle interval. Time interval windows representing fast, good, and slow plunger performance are established and, based upon plunger performance with respect to these windows, afterflow time and off-cycle intervals are varied toward an achievement of plunger arrivals within the good window. A minimum off-time is established as a limit. The method may be employed with two motor valves, one performing in conjunction with a sales and the other to low pressure such as the atmospheric pressure of a tank or a low pressure sales line. In the event of failure of the plunger to arrive within the on-cycle interval, resort is made to the tank cycle. Additionally, an afterlow delay cycle is provided as well as a delay cycle intended for response to high sales line pressure conditions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.