US 12,241,348 B2
Artificial lift system with under pumping mitigation
Peter Westerkamp, Friendswood, TX (US); Doneil M Dorado, Missouri City, TX (US); and Eric S Oestreich, Sugarland, TX (US)
Assigned to Ravdos Holdings, Inc., Missouri City, TX (US)
Filed by Peter Westerkamp, Friendswood, TX (US); Doneil M Dorado, Missouri City, TX (US); and Eric S Oestreich, Sugarland, TX (US)
Filed on Apr. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/302,348.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/363,158, filed on Apr. 18, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0340864 A1, Oct. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 47/009 (2012.01); E21B 43/12 (2006.01); F04B 47/02 (2006.01); F04B 49/20 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 43/127 (2013.01) [E21B 47/009 (2020.05); F04B 47/026 (2013.01); F04B 49/20 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
8. A method of operating pump positioned within a wellbore to detect and mitigate under pumping conditions, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) determining the fillage level of the pump;
(b) determining whether the pump fillage level is equal to or above a pre-determined fillage level;
(c) determining whether the fluid level in the wellbore is decreasing; and
(d) increasing the pump rate of the pump if: (i) the pump fillage level is determined to be equal to or above the predetermined fillage level and (ii) the fluid level in the wellbore is determined to be not decreasing; wherein the step of determining whether the fluid level in the wellbore is decreasing includes steps of:
(1) determining a first average pump intake pressure over a first window of pump intake pressures, wherein the first window corresponds to a first time period; and
(2) determining a second average pump intake pressure over a second window of pump intake pressures, wherein the second window corresponds to a second time period, and wherein the second period of time follows the first period of time; and
(3) determining that the fluid in the wellbore is not decreasing if the second average pump intake pressure not less than the first average intake pressure.