Fluid level sensing for artificial lift control systems
US5735346A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 29, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 7, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 29, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/10
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The artificial lift control system utilizes a piggy back line, flow computer, pressure transmitter, and software control to control artificial lift of wellbore fluids. The piggy back line is a medium to high pressure line strapped to the outside of the tubing. Supply, make-up gas or other fluids are pumped down the piggy back line at the lowest flow rate possible. Extremely low flow rates are utilized to minimize friction of flow in the piggy back line. A pressure or differential pressure transmitter is installed to monitor pressure on the piggy back line or to measure the differential pressure between the piggy back line and the casing pressure. The flow computer monitors pressures or differential pressures, utilizes software instruction sets to calculate fluid levels in the casing tubing annulus, and cycles artificial lift on and off based on parameters set in the flow computer software.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.