Trouble Shooting

Trouble ShootingTrouble Shooting Trouble ShootingTrouble Shooting

Lynn RowlanLynn Rowlan

Beam Pumping WorkshopBeam Pumping WorkshopHouston, TexasHouston, Texas

October 4 - 7, 2005October 4 - 7, 2005

A Successful Trouble Shooter A Successful Trouble Shooter A Successful Trouble Shooter A Successful Trouble Shooter Must be a Wizard ........Must be a Wizard ........

..... needs to look ..... needs to look 10,000 feet10,000 feet down a down a 3 inch 3 inch diameter black hole diameter black hole and and “SEE” “SEE” what is happening ......what is happening ......

.................. Use Data to Troubleshoot Problem Use Data to Troubleshoot Problem

Common Techniques forCommon Techniques for Trouble Shooting Trouble Shooting

Common Techniques forCommon Techniques for Trouble Shooting Trouble Shooting

Has Well’s Production Changed?Has Well’s Production Changed? Is the Pumping Unit Running?Is the Pumping Unit Running? Is there a noticeable Leak?Is there a noticeable Leak? Is fluid going into the tank?Is fluid going into the tank? Has the Fluid Level Changed?Has the Fluid Level Changed? Can the Pump Pressure up the Can the Pump Pressure up the

Tubing?Tubing? Does the Pressure Leak Off?Does the Pressure Leak Off?

Physical Trouble Shooting Physical Trouble Shooting IndicatorsIndicators

Physical Trouble Shooting Physical Trouble Shooting IndicatorsIndicators

Pressure GagesPressure Gages Hot Flow LinesHot Flow Lines Hot Polished Rod LoadHot Polished Rod Load Sounds at the WellSounds at the Well Equipment VibrationsEquipment Vibrations Ground ShakesGround Shakes Fluid on the GroundFluid on the Ground

Shock Loads Shake the Ground Shock Loads Shake the Ground

6.5 Klb

Techniques Not Recommended Techniques Not Recommended for Trouble Shooting for Trouble Shooting

Techniques Not Recommended Techniques Not Recommended for Trouble Shooting for Trouble Shooting

Why aren’t we tagging?Why aren’t we tagging? Put on hand and Pump 24 hrs/day.Put on hand and Pump 24 hrs/day. Increase SPM in Order to Maintain Increase SPM in Order to Maintain

Production.Production. Increase SPM because there is a Increase SPM because there is a

Fluid Level Above the Pump.Fluid Level Above the Pump. Pull the Well, because no Fluid in Pull the Well, because no Fluid in

the Tank.the Tank.

Don’t Tag or Run 24 hrs/DayDon’t Tag or Run 24 hrs/Day

2669 Lb TAG

Anchored

Analysis Can ID the ProblemAnalysis Can ID the ProblemAnalysis Can ID the ProblemAnalysis Can ID the Problem

Inflow PerformanceInflow Performance Pump PerformancePump Performance Mechanical LoadingMechanical Loading Prime MoverPrime Mover System Efficiency System Efficiency

AnalysisAnalysis Root Cause of FailureRoot Cause of Failure Data Trends Over TimeData Trends Over Time Dynamometer Dynamometer Rod Pump ControllersRod Pump Controllers

What Should be Known in Order to What Should be Known in Order to Trouble Shoot a Well?Trouble Shoot a Well?What Should be Known in Order to What Should be Known in Order to Trouble Shoot a Well?Trouble Shoot a Well?

Recent and/or Representative Well TestRecent and/or Representative Well Test Pump Capacity (or, Pump Card)Pump Capacity (or, Pump Card) Producing BHP & Static BHPProducing BHP & Static BHP Artificial Lift System DescriptionArtificial Lift System Description Energy EfficiencyEnergy Efficiency Wellbore descriptionWellbore description Artificial Lift System DesignArtificial Lift System Design Fluid PropertiesFluid Properties Past HistoryPast History

Time to Depth RelationshipTime to Depth RelationshipTime to Depth RelationshipTime to Depth Relationship1.1. The The DepthDepth from the gun to from the gun to

an anomaly in the casing an anomaly in the casing annulus is directly annulus is directly proportionaproportional to the l to the timetime, , RTTT, for the acoustic RTTT, for the acoustic pulse to travel from the pulse to travel from the gun down the casing gas gun down the casing gas to the anomaly and reflect to the anomaly and reflect back to the microphone at back to the microphone at the surface.the surface.

2.2. Microphone housed in the Microphone housed in the gas gun gas gun detectsdetects the blast the blast from the shot and reflected from the shot and reflected sound from sound from collars, liners, collars, liners, perforations, liquid level, perforations, liquid level, plus other obstructionsplus other obstructions in in the annulus.the annulus.

3.3. Pressures used to Pressures used to determine if determine if Producing to a Producing to a WellsWells Max PotentialMax Potential

Direction of Reflected Pulse Defines AnomalyDirection of Reflected Pulse Defines AnomalyDirection of Reflected Pulse Defines AnomalyDirection of Reflected Pulse Defines Anomaly

Reflected PulseReflected Pulse – – caused by caused by DECREASEDECREASE in the in the annular cross-annular cross-sectional area sectional area ISIS displayed as an displayed as an downward kickdownward kick on on the acoustic trace.the acoustic trace.

Initial Acoustic PulseInitial Acoustic Pulse – caused by explosion of compressed gas into the casing – caused by explosion of compressed gas into the casing annulus, explosion into annulus forms compression traveling wave.annulus, explosion into annulus forms compression traveling wave.

Reflected PulseReflected Pulse – – caused by caused by INCREASEINCREASE in the in the annular cross-annular cross-sectional area sectional area ISIS displayed as an displayed as an upward kickupward kick on the on the acoustic trace.acoustic trace.

Use Acoustic Surveys Alert You to Use Acoustic Surveys Alert You to TroubleTrouble Downhole Downhole

Use Acoustic Surveys Alert You to Use Acoustic Surveys Alert You to TroubleTrouble Downhole Downhole

@ 4750’@ 4750’Tight SpotTight Spot in Tubingin Tubing

@ 5050’@ 5050’1/8” Hole1/8” Hole in Tubingin Tubing

Tight SpotTight Spot

1/8” Hole1/8” Hole

Liquid Liquid LevelLevel

End of End of TubingTubing

Match Known Depth of Downhole Match Known Depth of Downhole Anomalies to Reflections on TraceAnomalies to Reflections on TraceMatch Known Depth of Downhole Match Known Depth of Downhole Anomalies to Reflections on TraceAnomalies to Reflections on Trace

Liquid LevelLiquid Level

Wt ChangeWt ChangeLiquid Liquid LevelLevel

PerfsPerfs

Casing Wt Casing Wt Change from Change from 26# to 38# at 26# to 38# at 5913'5913'

ID change ID change from 6.276” from 6.276” to 5.92”to 5.92”

Perfs: Perfs: 1369.–1371.1369.–1371.1530.5-33.5 1530.5-33.5 1807.5-09.51807.5-09.5

Acoustic Liquid Level Test AnalysisAcoustic Liquid Level Test AnalysisAcoustic Liquid Level Test AnalysisAcoustic Liquid Level Test Analysis

Analyze w/ Surface & Pump Cards Analyze w/ Surface & Pump Cards 1)1) Surface Dynamometer Surface Dynamometer

cards for designing and cards for designing and diagnosing surface diagnosing surface problems.problems. Rod StringRod String Pumping UnitPumping Unit Pump ProblemsPump Problems Excessive FrictionExcessive Friction

2)2) Pump card for analysis Pump card for analysis of downhole problems.of downhole problems. Unanchored TubingUnanchored Tubing Tubing LeakTubing Leak Pump ProblemsPump Problems Excessive FrictionExcessive Friction

Surface Card

Pump Card

Understand Understand Steps Pump Steps Pump OperationOperation

Understand Understand Steps Pump Steps Pump OperationOperation

B)B) Standing Valve opens, when Standing Valve opens, when rods stretch to pick up fluid rods stretch to pick up fluid load, Fo, from tubing. load, Fo, from tubing.

B-C)B-C) Fluid load, Fo, is carried by Fluid load, Fo, is carried by the rods as well fluids are the rods as well fluids are drawn into the pump. drawn into the pump.

C) C) Standing valve closes, and Standing valve closes, and the traveling valve remains the traveling valve remains closed. C-D pressure inside closed. C-D pressure inside the pump increases until it is the pump increases until it is slightly greater than the slightly greater than the pump discharge pressure. pump discharge pressure.

AA

BBCC

DD

A) A) Start of the upstroke, the traveling valveStart 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 staticD) Pump discharge pressure (Pd) equals the static tubing pressure (Pt), and the traveling valvetubing 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 D - A, the fluid in the pump is displaced pump is displaced through the traveling through the traveling valve into the tubing valve into the tubing and and ZEROZERO fluid load fluid load is on rods.is on rods.

Missing Pump

No Fo Rods

Pump OK - Tubing Leak, No Fluid to SurfacePump OK - Tubing Leak, No Fluid to SurfacePump OK - Tubing Leak, No Fluid to SurfacePump OK - Tubing Leak, No Fluid to Surface

Tubing anchored

Fo Rods

Fo Well

Fluid Level: Split Tubing Joint 4052’Fluid Level: Split Tubing Joint 4052’

PIP Fluid Level = 140 psiPIP Fluid Level = 140 psi

SV LoadWrf

SV Check

Stroke 4Stroke 4

Overlay of many Dynamometer Overlay of many Dynamometer Cards shows each stroke is Cards shows each stroke is different.different.

Worn pump plunger/barrel Worn pump plunger/barrel cards usually overlay. cards usually overlay.

Damaged TV Ball and SeatDamaged TV Ball and SeatDamaged TV Ball and SeatDamaged TV Ball and Seat

Stroke 11Stroke 11 Stroke 13Stroke 13

In time of One Stroke (10 Seconds) In time of One Stroke (10 Seconds) TrashTrash Sticks Sticks Traveling Valve Open. Looks like a deep Rod Traveling Valve Open. Looks like a deep Rod

Part.Part.

In time of One Stroke (10 Seconds) In time of One Stroke (10 Seconds) TrashTrash Sticks Sticks Traveling Valve Open. Looks like a deep Rod Traveling Valve Open. Looks like a deep Rod

Part.Part.

From A to B Rods Stretch to Pickup Load From A to B Rods Stretch to Pickup Load Kr: Change in Load Proportional to Change in PositionKr: Change in Load Proportional to Change in PositionFrom A to B Rods Stretch to Pickup Load From A to B Rods Stretch to Pickup Load Kr: Change in Load Proportional to Change in PositionKr: Change in Load Proportional to Change in Position

Illustrate Spring Constant - Kr:Illustrate Spring Constant - Kr: Stuck Pump Results in Polished Rod Stuck Pump Results in Polished Rod Load Proportional to Change in Polished Load Proportional to Change in Polished Rod PositionRod Position

PR(load) = Kr x PR(position)PR(load) = Kr x PR(position)

Kr = 190 Lbs/inKr = 190 Lbs/inSKr = 12160 LbsSKr = 12160 Lbs

Stuck Pump w/ Stuck Pump w/ Anchored TubingAnchored Tubing

AA

BB

To Trouble Shoot a Well To Trouble Shoot a Well To Trouble Shoot a Well To Trouble Shoot a Well

1.1. Identify and Troubleshoot Identify and Troubleshoot Rod String ProblemsRod String Problems

2.2. Identify and Troubleshoot Pump Identify and Troubleshoot Pump ProblemsProblems

3.3. Identify and Troubleshoot Tubing Identify and Troubleshoot Tubing ProblemsProblems

4.4. Eliminate Shock Loading to Eliminate Shock Loading to Lowers Equipment Operating Lowers Equipment Operating CostsCosts

Questions ?Questions ?