Abstract:
A method of using a variety of sonic transmissions is utilized to determine fluid level in a well. It is known that wells replenish fluid at different rates even in the same formation or well field. Maximum production at minimum pumping cost is achieved for a given well.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to determining the level of a fluid in a well such as an oil well or water well.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Art Practices  
           [0004]    It is known that wells replenish fluid at different rates even in the same formation or well field. The maximum production from a given well occurs when the fluid level in the well bore is as low as possible compared to the level in the surrounding formation. The rate of fluid flow into the well bore (production) is maximized then because the hydrostatic head driving the fluid is at a maximum.  
           [0005]    The preceding observation suggests that the well pump should run constantly to keep the level in the well bore as low as possible thus maximizing production. Of course, this is unsatisfactory for several reasons.  
           [0006]    First, running the pump constantly or at too great a speed is inefficient since, some of the time, the well bore is completely empty and there is nothing to pump. Thus energy conservation becomes a cost consideration. Second, the equipment is subject to wear and damage resulting in costly repairs when pumps are run dry. Third, paraffin build up is more pronounced when a well is allowed to pump dry. In the dry pump condition gases are drawn into the bore. The gases in the bore then expand and cool. As the gases cool, paraffin build up is promoted as these high melting hydrocarbons begin to plate out on the surfaces of the bore.  
           [0007]    Given the above considerations, control strategies aimed at optimizing well production have emerged. Notably, timers have been used to control the pump duty cycle. A timer may be programmed to run the well nearly perfectly if the one could determine the duration of the on cycle and off cycle which keeps the fluid level in the bore low but which does not pump the bore dry, and if steady conditions in the bore and with the equipment prevail.  
           [0008]    The pump on cycle and off cycle can be determined for a group of wells or for an entire well field. Savings in energy may be maximized by knowing which wells fill at what rate and then optimizing pumping to reduce or maintain a constant electric load below the maximum peak available.  
           [0009]    Given fluid level information, deciding when or how fast to run the pump is very straight forward and production can be optimized. Fluid level determinations, particularly for deep down hole (bore) systems, have been implemented. Unfortunately, these deep down hole have been costly and complex to install, unreliable in operation, and costly to repair or service. Although the implementation details will not be discussed here, it is worth noting that these systems, when operating correctly, have proven that significant gains in well production are available when control strategies using fluid level measurement are applied.  
           [0010]    Clearly, what is needed is a control system with the advantages of fluid level measurement which is cost effective to install and operate and which is reliable. Basic features for fluid level measurement should include applicability to oil, water, or other wells and should be applicable to rod, screw, or other pump types.  
           [0011]    An fluid level measurement system should be simple and inexpensive to install in the T-Head and useful for well depths to 10,000 feet. Such a fluid level measurement system should be self calibrating for each installation an accurate to 10 feet (3.1 meters) and robust to harsh environments within and around the well.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    In a first aspect, the present invention deals with a method to set pump activate and pump inactivate conditions, in a well containing a pumpable liquid, to pump the liquid comprising:  
           [0013]    transmitting a first continuous sonic signal at a first frequency to a well casing thereby creating a reflected well casing sonic signal;  
           [0014]    receiving the reflected well casing sonic signal from first sonic signal;  
           [0015]    transmitting a second continuous sonic signal at a second frequency, different than said first frequency, to a well tubing thereby creating a reflected well tubing sonic signal;  
           [0016]    receiving a reflected well tubing sonic signal from said second sonic signal;  
           [0017]    transmitting a third continuous sonic signal at a third frequency, different than said first frequency and different than said second frequency, to the well annulus;  
           [0018]    receiving a reflected well annulus sonic signal from said third sonic signal;  
           [0019]    utilizing at least one of the reflected signals corresponding to the transmitted signal to determine an initial liquid level P 2  of the well;  
           [0020]    pumping the liquid from the well until the well is at a no liquid pumpable state P 0 ;  
           [0021]    utilizing at least one of the reflected signals corresponding to the transmitted signal to determine the no liquid pumpable state P 0 ;  
           [0022]    storing the data generated from the reflected signal used at the no liquid pumpable state P 0 ;  
           [0023]    storing the data generated from the corresponding transmitted signal at the initial liquid level P 2  of the well;  
           [0024]    continuously monitoring the liquid level of the well and converting the data generated to activate the pump to pump the liquid at a liquid level less than or equal to the initial liquid level P 2 ;  
           [0025]    continuously monitoring the liquid level of the well and converting the data generated to inactivate the pump at a liquid level P 1  above the no liquid pumpable state P 0 ;  
           [0026]    thereby activating the pump and inactivating the pump to pump the liquid.  
           [0027]    A second aspect of the invention is a method to set pump activate and pump inactivate conditions, in a well containing a pumpable liquid, to pump the liquid comprising:  
           [0028]    selectively transmitting a first sonic signal at a first frequency to a well casing thereby creating a reflected well casing sonic signal;  
           [0029]    receiving the reflected well casing sonic signal, when said first sonic signal is transmitted, from said first sonic signal;  
           [0030]    selectively transmitting a second sonic signal at a second frequency, different than said first frequency, to a well tubing thereby creating a reflected well tubing sonic signal;  
           [0031]    receiving a reflected well tubing sonic signal, when said second sonic signal is transmitted, from said second sonic signal;  
           [0032]    selectively transmitting a third sonic signal at a third frequency, different than said first frequency and different than said second frequency, to the well annulus;  
           [0033]    receiving a reflected well annulus sonic signal, when said third sonic signal is transmitted;  
           [0034]    utilizing at least two of the reflected signals from the corresponding transmitted signals to determine the initial liquid levels P 2  of the well;  
           [0035]    pumping the liquid from the well until the well is at a no liquid pumpable state P 0 ;  
           [0036]    utilizing at least two of the reflected signals corresponding to the transmitted signals to determine the no liquid pumpable state P 0 ;  
           [0037]    storing the data generated from the reflected signals used at the no liquid pumpable state P 0 ;  
           [0038]    storing the data generated from the corresponding transmitted signal at the initial liquid level P 2  of the well;  
           [0039]    monitoring the liquid level of the well and converting the data generated to activate the pump to pump the liquid at a liquid level less than or equal to the initial liquid level P 2 ;  
           [0040]    monitoring the liquid level of the well and converting the data generated to inactivate the pump at a liquid level P 1  above the no liquid pumpable state P 0 ;  
           [0041]    thereby activating the pump and inactivating the pump to pump the liquid. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0042]    Further features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates from reading the following specification with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 1 is a schematic of the electronic components.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of a well head system; and  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0045]    The basic components of an acoustical measurement system are a Digital Signal Generator  10  which is a programmable generator capable of generating arbitrary wave forms in the sub-sonic to ultra-sonic bands. An Output Amplifier  20 —drives a transmitter at varying amplitudes with the signals from the Digital Signal Generator  10 .  
         [0046]    A series of Acoustic Transmitters  30 ,  32 , and  34  converts the drive signal from the Output Amplifier  20  into a pressure wave. A series of Acoustic Receivers  40 ,  42  and  44  receives reflected acoustic signals from the Acoustic Transmitters  30 ,  32 , and  34 .  
         [0047]    An Input Amplifier  50  conditions and amplifies signals from the Acoustic Receivers  40 ,  42  and  44  and provides appropriate output levels to a Digital Signal Analyzer  60 .  
         [0048]    The Digital Signal Analyzer  60  digitizes the signals received from the Acoustic Receivers  40 ,  42  and  44  and performs processing upon the resulting information in order to yield accurate fluid level data. A High Resolution Digital Clock  70  resolution digital clock used for both signal generation and analysis phases. A Data Storage Device  80  is employed to receive and retrieve data.  
         [0049]    In practice the distance from the acoustical transmitter location (at the well head) to the fluid level in the bore below is essentially the entire depth of the bore. Differences in this distance correspond directly to changes in fluid level.  
         [0050]    Referring to FIG. 2, a partial sectional view of a well head system  120  is shown. The well head system  120  comprises a well casing  160  as is known in the art. The well casing  160  is located within the well bore (not shown). Within the well casing  160  is the well tubing  170 . The well tubing  170  extends downward in the well casing  160  forming an annulus  180  between the outer surface of the well tubing  170  and the inner surface of the well casing  160 .  
         [0051]    The well casing  160  is capped with a standard T-Head connection  190 . The T-Head connection  190  has two openings  192  and  194 . One of the two openings  192  in the T-Head connection  190  is utilized to remove, in the case of an oil and gas well, the oil and gas through pipe  200 . The second opening  194  is utilized to insert various components of the present invention into an existing well casing  160 . Where the well is new the various components of the present invention directly into the bore, or through the T-Head connection  190 .  
         [0052]    Affixed to the well tubing  170  is the Acoustic Transmitters  30 . The Acoustic Receiver  40  is affixed to the opposite side of the well tubing  170 . The choice of the location of the Acoustic Receiver  40  is simply for convenience as it may also be affixed to the inner surface of the T-Head connection  190 . It is preferred that Acoustic Receivers such as Acoustic Receiver  40  is directly connected to the component to which the signal from the acoustical receiver is delivered.  
         [0053]    The second Acoustic Transmitter  32  is affixed to the outer surface of the well casing  160 . A second Acoustic Receiver  42  is connected to the outer surface of the well casing  160 .  
         [0054]    The third Acoustic Transmitter  34  is attached to the inner surface of the well casing  160 . A third Acoustic Receiver  44  is attached to the inner surface of the T-Head connection  190 .  
         [0055]    The present invention determines the fluid level  210  of the well, whether, P 2 , P 1 , or P 0 , by determining the distance directly or by harmonics according to well known equations. The present invention operates to check each determination. For instance, the well casing  160  is surrounded on its outer surface by voids, rock strata, sand, water, petroleum, drilling cements and all other manner of material found in and around a bore. The inner surface of the well casing  160  is in contact with gases from the surrounding formations and at the lower reaches of the bore of the well casing  160  is the fluid level  210 . The inner surface of well casing  160  is also subject over time to build up of paraffin, scale, and leakage of elements from outside of the well casing  160 .  
         [0056]    The annulus  180  contains primarily gases and at the lower reaches of the annulus  180  is the fluid level  210 . The annulus  180  is also subject to the well tubing  170 . The well tubing  170  contains primarily fluid at the lower reaches of the bore. At the upper reaches of the bore. or below the residual liquid level in the bore there is the potential for a build up of scale and paraffin.  
         [0057]    The fluid level  210  to be determined is thus subject to many parameters, some predicable and some not. In short the various conditions within the well casing  160 , the well tubing  170  and the the annulus  180  are dynamic.  
         [0058]    In practice a electronic event originated at Digital Siganl Generator  10  in FIG. 1 is fed to the Output Amplifier  20 . From the Output Amplifier  20 , a series of Acoustic Transmitters  30 ,  32 , and  34  converts the amplified electronic event to a sonic event.  
         [0059]    In this example each of the Acoustic Transmitters  30 ,  32 , and  34  simultaneously and continuously emit a signal from their respective positions according to FIG. 2. The sonic events from the Acoustic Transmitters  30 ,  32 , and  34  are reflected in the bore at a time when the fluid level  210  is at P 2 . The reflected signals are received by the Acoustic Receivers  40 ,  42  and  44 . The characteristics of each signal received by the Acoustic Receivers  40 ,  42  and  44  is fed to the Input Amplifier  50  to condition and amplify each signal. The data for a P 2  level is analyzed by the Digital Signal Analyzer  60  and transmitted to the Data Storage Device  80 .  
         [0060]    The well is then pumped to a well dry condition, which would occur anyway for many wells, to obtain a P 0  level. Each of the Acoustic Transmitters  30 ,  32 , and  34  simultaneously and continuously emit a signal from their respective positions according to FIG. 2. The sonic events from the Acoustic Transmitters  30 ,  32 , and  34  are reflected in the bore at a time when the fluid level  210  is at P 0 . The reflected signals are received by the Acoustic Receivers  40 ,  42  and  44 . The characteristics of each signal received by the Acoustic Receivers  40 ,  42  and  44  at the P 0  level is fed to the Input Amplifier  50  to condition and amplify each signal. The data for a P 0  level is analyzed by the Digital Signal Analyzer  60  and transmitted to the Data Storage Device  80 .  
         [0061]    The well is then allowed to refill to an arbitrary level between the P 0  and P 2  level. One or more further measurements are taken as described above and are processed accordingly into the Data Storage Device  80 . From the foregoing data pump on and pump off times may be set to minimize pumping time, minimize pumping costs in energy and repair, and to maximize fluid output. In one aspect of the invention the data generated can be utilized to check, and recheck, components subject to the greatest ware and abuse, e.g. the Acoustic Transmitters  30 ,  32 , and  34 ; and the Acoustic Receivers  40 ,  42  and  44 . Well conditions down hole may be analyzed by comparing recent data to stored data to determine, for example, paraffin build up.