US 12,252,983 B2
Plunger lift systems and related methods
Michael C. Romer, Tomball, TX (US); Michael C. Tschauner, Odessa, TX (US); Christopher C. Frazier, Midland, TX (US); Andrew D. McFadden, Midland, TX (US); Salvador G. Vela, III, Odessa, TX (US); Billy-Bob K. Walker, Midland, TX (US); and Adam J. Johnson, Midland, TX (US)
Assigned to ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company, Spring, TX (US)
Filed by EXXONMOBIL TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING COMPANY, Spring, TX (US)
Filed on Mar. 4, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/594,702.
Application 18/594,702 is a continuation of application No. 17/658,856, filed on Apr. 12, 2022, granted, now 11,952,887.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/203,264, filed on Jul. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0200442 A1, Jun. 20, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E21B 47/12 (2012.01); E21B 43/12 (2006.01); E21B 47/008 (2012.01); E21B 47/092 (2012.01)
CPC E21B 47/12 (2013.01) [E21B 43/122 (2013.01); E21B 47/008 (2020.05); E21B 47/092 (2020.05)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
18. A method for monitoring plunger parameters within a wellbore corresponding to a plunger-lifted well, wherein the wellbore comprises a production tubing with magnetic sensor systems disposed along the production tubing, and wherein the method comprises:
sensing, via a magnetic sensor within each magnetic sensor system, a passage of a metallic plunger traveling through the production tubing, a plurality of mandrels being disposed along the production tubing, each of the plurality of mandrels having a securing structure that secures a corresponding gas lift valve and a corresponding reverse-flow check valve within each of the mandrels, and wherein the magnetic sensor systems (i) are designed to be installed between each of the securing structures and corresponding reverse-flow check valves, or (ii) are configured to replace the corresponding reserve-flow check valve between the securing structure and the corresponding gas lift valve; and
transmitting resulting electrical sensor signals to a computing system located at the surface, wherein the electrical sensor signals comprise data relating to a time at which the metallic plunger passed each magnetic sensor system.