System and method for optimizing transferred fluid volume during an oil well pumping cycle

Abstract

A system and method for optimizing transferred fluid volume during an oil well pumping cycle. The speed of a traveling valve, which lifts the petroleum from the well, is monitored to determine at what point during its downstroke the traveling valve contacts the hydrocarbon fluid that has accumulated in the bottom of a petroleum pipe. The system then analyzes speed data returned by a lift sensor and adjusts the speed of the traveling valve either upward or downward during the next upstroke to optimize the amount of hydrocarbon fluid transferred. The system can be configured to handle different ascent speeds, and chooses the most suitable speed depending on the petroleum level detected within the production pipe during the route of the traveling valve downwards.

1 . A method for optimizing transferred fluid volume during an oil well pumping cycle having an upstroke and a downstroke, said method comprising: 
 calculating the amount of petroleum that has been communicated through the traveling valve during said downstroke of said pumping cycle; and    adjusting the speed of said traveling valve during the upstroke of said pumping cycle.    
   
   
       2 . A method for optimizing transferred fluid volume, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said calculating step further comprises: 
 receiving the speed of a lift anchor driving said traveling valve throughout said downstroke;    analyzing changes of speed of said lift anchor to determine the level of hydrocarbon fluid present in said well; and    determining a desired speed of said lift anchor for transferring an optimal amount of petroleum during next the upstroke.    
   
   
       3 . A system for optimally removing hydrocarbon fluid from a well comprising: 
 a casing pipe extending from the surface of said well to beneath a hydrocarbon production zone and having a perforated section for permitting petroleum ingression into said casing pipe from said hydrocarbon production zone;    a filtering material surrounding said perforated section of said casing pipe;    a production pipe nested within said casing pipe;    a pump assembly for transferring said hydrocarbon fluid upwell; and    a lift assembly attached to said pump assembly for causing pumping action thereof.    
   
   
       4 . A system for optimally removing hydrocarbon fluid from a well, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said pump assembly comprises: 
 a main valve for allowing fluid communication only in an upwell direction, said main valve being affixed to said production pipe;    a fixed valve positioned upwell from said main valve and attached to said production pipe, said fixed valve allowing fluid communication only in an upwell direction;    a traveling valve interposed between said main valve and said fixed valve for transferring hydrocarbon fluid in an upwell direction during an upstroke of a pumping cycle; and    a pumping rod having a first end affixed to said traveling valve and a second end affixed to said lift assembly, the longitudinal axis of said pumping rod being parallel to the longitudinal axis of said production pipe.    
   
   
       5 . A system for removing hydrocarbon liquid from a well, as recited in  claim 3 , said lift assembly comprising: 
 a hydraulic lift moveable along a vertical axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said pumping rod;    a lift anchor affixed to said hydraulic lift to be moveable therewith and affixed to said pumping rod to move said pumping rod upward and downward;    a lift tower for providing said hydraulic lift with structural support and guidance for the movement of said hydraulic lift, said lift tower being positioned relative to said pumping rod for attachment of said lift anchor to said pumping rod;    a lift controller functionally connected to said hydraulic lift for controlling the velocity thereof according to a predefined program; and    a lift sensor for measuring the speed of said hydraulic lift, said pumping rod, or said traveling valve, said lift sensor being functionally connected to said lift controller for communicating said speed measurement thereto.    
   
   
       6 . A system for removing hydrocarbon liquid from a well, as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said predefined program applies the method of  claim 1  for optimizing the amount of hydrocarbon fluid transferred during an upstroke of a pumping cycle.  
   
   
       7 . A system for removing hydrocarbon liquid from a well, as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said predefined program applies the method of  claim 2  for optimizing the amount of hydrocarbon fluid transferred during an upstroke of a pumping cycle.  
   
   
       8 . A system for optimally removing hydrocarbon liquid from a well, as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said hydraulic controller is configurable to move said hydraulic lift at different velocities.  
   
   
       9 . A system for optimally removing hydrocarbon liquid from a well, as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising a collection reservoir being connected to said casing pipe to receive fluid communication therefrom and connected to said production pipe to receive fluid communication therefrom.  
   
   
       10 . A method for optimally recovering hydrocarbon fluid from a well comprising: 
 drilling a generally cylindrical borehole into a surface to the depth of a hydrocarbon producing zone therein, said borehole having a wall and a bottom;    extending said borehole deeper than said hydrocarbon producing zone;    introducing a casing pipe into said borehole, a portion of said casing pipe being perforated to allow hydrocarbon fluid to enter said casing pipe through said portion, said casing being generally cylindrical and having a smaller diameter than said borehole;    filling the space between said casing pipe and the wall and bottom of said borehole with a filtering material, said filtering material extending from the bottom of said borehole up to a depth less than the depth of said hydrocarbon producing zone; and    filling the remaining space between said casing pipe and the wall of said borehole with cement.    
   
   
       11 . A method for optimally recovering hydrocarbon fluid from a well, as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising pumping hydrocarbon fluid from the bottom of said casing pipe to a collection reservoir, said pumping step further comprising calculating the amount of petroleum that has been communicated through the traveling valve during said downstroke of said pumping cycle; and adjusting the speed of said traveling valve to a desired speed during the upstroke of said pumping cycle.  
   
   
       12 . A method for optimally recovering hydrocarbon fluid from a well, as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising pumping hydrocarbon fluid from the bottom of said casing pipe to a collection reservoir, said pumping step further comprising 
 receiving the speed of a lift anchor driving said traveling valve throughout said downstroke;    analyzing changes of speed of said lift anchor to determine the level of hydrocarbon fluid present in said well; and    determining a desired speed of said lift anchor for transferring an optimal amount of petroleum during next the upstroke. adjusting the speed of said traveling valve to said desired speed during the upstroke of said pumping cycle.