US 12,140,014 B2
System and method for determining pump intake pressure or reservoir pressure in an oil and gas well
John M. Raglin, Fredericksburg, TX (US); Kenneth B. Nolen, Midland, TX (US); and Russell J. Messer, Montgomery, TX (US)
Filed by WellWorx Energy Solutions LLC, Midland, TX (US)
Filed on Sep. 28, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/034,769.
Prior Publication US 2022/0098971 A1, Mar. 31, 2022
Int. Cl. E21B 47/008 (2012.01); E21B 47/047 (2012.01)
CPC E21B 47/008 (2020.05) [E21B 47/047 (2020.05)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for calculating a pressure at a producing well having a fluid level of a fluid and a well casing gas, the method comprising:
determining a well casing gas flow rate at the surface of the well by measuring a well casing gas build up pressure in a casing annulus when a valve from the casing annulus is closed;
determining a fluid level in a casing of the well from the surface using a pressure wave created in the well casing gas by closing a valve at the surface to create an overpressure in the casing annulus and then temporarily opening the valve a length of time to thus generate the pressure wave, a transit time for the pressure wave is then measured and the fluid level in the casing is calculated from the transit time;
determining a fluid gradient correction factor using an actual fluid level in the casing, wherein determining the fluid gradient correction factor includes removing gas entrained in the fluid below the fluid level from the determination;
calculating the pressure using the well casing gas flow rate, the fluid level and the fluid gradient correction factor; and
pumping the fluid with a pump, wherein the pump uses an operating parameter that is based on the calculated pressure to pump the fluid.