Trouble Shooting Lynn Rowlan Beam Pumping Workshop Houston, Texas October 4 - 7, 2005

A Successful Trouble Shooter u Must be a Wizard u..... needs to look 10,000 feet down a 3 inch diameter black hole and “SEE” what is happening Use Data to Troubleshoot Problem

Common Techniques for Trouble Shooting u Has Well’s Production Changed? u Is the Pumping Unit Running? u Is there a noticeable Leak? u Is fluid going into the tank? u Has the Fluid Level Changed? u Can the Pump Pressure up the Tubing? u Does the Pressure Leak Off?

Physical Trouble Shooting Indicators u Pressure Gages u Hot Flow Lines u Hot Polished Rod Load u Sounds at the Well u Equipment Vibrations u Ground Shakes u Fluid on the Ground

Shock Loads Shake the Ground 6.5 Klb

Techniques Not Recommended for Trouble Shooting u Why aren’t we tagging? u Put on hand and Pump 24 hrs/day. u Increase SPM in Order to Maintain Production. u Increase SPM because there is a Fluid Level Above the Pump. u Pull the Well, because no Fluid in the Tank.

Don’t Tag or Run 24 hrs/Day 2669 Lb TAG Anchored

Analysis Can ID the Problem u Inflow Performance u Pump Performance u Mechanical Loading u Prime Mover u System Efficiency Analysis u Root Cause of Failure u Data Trends Over Time u Dynamometer u Rod Pump Controllers

What Should be Known in Order to Trouble Shoot a Well? u Recent and/or Representative Well Test u Pump Capacity (or, Pump Card) u Producing BHP & Static BHP u Artificial Lift System Description u Energy Efficiency u Wellbore description u Artificial Lift System Design u Fluid Properties u Past History

Time to Depth Relationship 1.The Depth from the gun to an anomaly in the casing annulus is directly proportional to the time, RTTT, for the acoustic pulse to travel from the gun down the casing gas to the anomaly and reflect back to the microphone at the surface. 2.Microphone housed in the gas gun detects the blast from the shot and reflected sound from collars, liners, perforations, liquid level, plus other obstructions in the annulus. 3.Pressures used to determine if Producing to a Wells Max Potential

Direction of Reflected Pulse Defines Anomaly Reflected Pulse – caused by DECREASE in the annular cross- sectional area IS displayed as an downward kick on the acoustic trace. Initial Acoustic Pulse – caused by explosion of compressed gas into the casing annulus, explosion into annulus forms compression traveling wave. Reflected Pulse – caused by INCREASE in the annular cross- sectional area IS displayed as an upward kick on the acoustic trace.

Use Acoustic Surveys Alert You to Trouble 4750’ Tight Spot in Tubing in 5050’ 1/8” Hole in Tubing in Tubing Tight Spot 1/8” Hole LiquidLevel End of Tubing

Match Known Depth of Downhole Anomalies to Reflections on Trace Liquid Level Wt Change LiquidLevel Perfs Casing Wt Change from 26# to 38# at 5913' ID change from 6.276” to 5.92” Perfs:1369.–

Acoustic Liquid Level Test Analysis

Analyze w/ Surface & Pump Cards 1) Surface Dynamometer cards for designing and diagnosing surface problems.  Rod String  Pumping Unit  Pump Problems  Excessive Friction 2) Pump card for analysis of downhole problems.  Unanchored Tubing  Tubing Leak  Pump Problems  Excessive Friction Surface Card Pump Card

Understand Steps Pump Operation B)Standing Valve opens, when rods stretch to pick up fluid load, Fo, from tubing. B-C)Fluid load, Fo, is carried by the rods as well fluids are drawn into the pump. C) Standing valve closes, and the traveling valve remains closed. C-D pressure inside the pump increases until it is slightly greater than the pump discharge pressure. A B C D A) Start of the upstroke, the traveling valve and standing valve are both closed. and standing valve are both closed. D) Pump discharge pressure (Pd) equals the static tubing pressure (Pt), and the traveling valve tubing pressure (Pt), and the traveling valve opens. Fluid load, Fo, is carried by tubing. opens. Fluid load, Fo, is carried by tubing. D - A, the fluid in the pump is displaced through the traveling valve into the tubing and ZERO fluid load is on rods.

Missing Pump No Fo Rods

Pump OK - Tubing Leak, No Fluid to Surface Tubing anchored Fo Rods Fo Well

Fluid Level: Split Tubing Joint 4052’ PIP Fluid Level = 140 psi

SV LoadWrf SV Check

Stroke 4 Overlay of many Dynamometer Cards shows each stroke is different. Worn pump plunger/barrel cards usually overlay. Damaged TV Ball and Seat

Stroke 11 Stroke 13 In time of One Stroke (10 Seconds) Trash Sticks Traveling Valve Open. Looks like a deep Rod Part.

From A to B Rods Stretch to Pickup Load Kr: Change in Load Proportional to Change in Position Illustrate Spring Constant - Kr: Stuck Pump Results in Polished Rod Load Proportional to Change in Polished Rod Position PR(load) = Kr x PR(position) Kr = 190 Lbs/in SKr = Lbs Stuck Pump w/ Anchored Tubing A B

To Trouble Shoot a Well 1.Identify and Troubleshoot Rod String Problems 2.Identify and Troubleshoot Pump Problems 3.Identify and Troubleshoot Tubing Problems 4.Eliminate Shock Loading to Lowers Equipment Operating Costs

Questions ?