Controlling, Monitoring, and Optimizing Production from Multiple Oil and Gas Pumps

Abstract

A single pump control system monitors and controls oil and gas production operations at multiple wells. The pump control system analyzes operation data from multiple well pumps to independently and concurrently control operation of each well pump. The system obtains the operation data from sensors mounted at suitable locations around the wells. The data is then processed by pump control algorithms in the pump control system, each control algorithm applicable to and operable on a separate well pump. The pump control algorithms determine whether a well pump should be started, stopped, continue to run, and an optimal speed at which each running pump should run to maintain a cost-effective operation. Such an arrangement allows a single pump control system to automatically and independently control multiple different well pumps to optimize oil and gas production at each well.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of monitoring and controlling oil and gas production at multiple wells, comprising:
 connecting multiple well pumps concurrently to a pump control system, each well pump providing pumping operations for a different one of the multiple wells, at least two of the well pumps being a different pump type from one another;   receiving, by the pump control system, operation data relating to each well pump, the operation data reflecting current operation parameters for the pumping operations provided by each well pump;   performing, by the pump control system, an evaluation on the pumping operations provided by each well pump based on the operation data relating to each well pump;   determining, whether the pumping operations provided by each well pump needs to be modified based on the evaluation of the pumping operations by each well pump; and   issuing, by the pump control system, a control signal to at least one well pump, the control signal causing the at least one well pump to modify at least one operation parameter for the pumping operations thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing at regular intervals, by the pump control system, the operation data relating to each well pump and the evaluation on the pumping operations provided by each well pump. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operation data received by the pump control system is provided by sensors mounted at the multiple wells and the multiple well pumps. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the current operation parameters include one or more of the following: rod displacement, tension load, and wellbore fluid flow rate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each well pump includes a prime mover and a pump mechanism, and the control signal issued by the pump control system is issued to the prime mover of the well pump. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the control signal issued to the prime mover by the pump control system causes the prime mover to perform one of the following: start running, stop running, change running speed. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pump control system determines whether the pumping operations provided by each well pump needs to be modified using a control algorithm that is specific to each well pump. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising connecting, to the pump control system, a replacement well pump that replaces a given one of the multiple well pumps. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising performing, by the pump control system, an evaluation on pumping operations provided by the replacement well pump based on operation data relating to the given well pump. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising determining, by the pump control system, whether the pumping operations provided by the replacement well pump needs to be modified using a control algorithm that is specific to the given well pump. 
     
     
         11 . A system for monitoring and controlling oil and gas production at multiple wells, comprising:
 a processor;   a storage device coupled to communicate with the processor, the storage device storing computer-readable instructions thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:   connect to multiple well pumps concurrently, each well pump providing pumping operations for a different one of the multiple wells, at least two of the well pumps being a different pump type from one another;   receive operation data relating to each well pump, the operation data reflecting current operation parameters for the pumping operations provided by each well pump;   perform an evaluation on the pumping operations provided by each well pump based on the operation data relating to each well pump;   determine whether the pumping operations provided by each well pump needs to be modified based on the evaluation of the pumping operations by each well pump; and   issue a control signal to at least one well pump, the control signal causing the at least one well pump to modify at least one operation parameter for the pumping operations thereof.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the system to store at regular intervals the operation data relating to each well pump and the evaluation on the pumping operations provided by each well pump. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the operation data is provided to the system by sensors mounted at the multiple wells and the multiple well pumps. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the current operation parameters include one or more of the following: rod displacement, tension load, and wellbore fluid flow rate. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each well pump includes a prime mover and a pump mechanism and the control signal issued by the system is issued to the prime mover of the well pump. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the control signal issued to the prime mover by the system causes the prime mover to perform one of the following: start running, stop running, change running speed. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the system determines whether the pumping operations provided by each well pump needs to be modified using a control algorithm that is specific to each well pump. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the system to connect to a replacement well pump that replaces a given one of the multiple well pumps. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein computer-readable instructions further cause the system to perform an evaluation on pumping operations provided by the replacement well pump based on operation data relating to the given well pump. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the system to determine whether the pumping operations provided by the replacement well pump needs to be modified using a control algorithm that is specific to the given well pump.