Development of the Downhole Dynamometer Database
Authors: Waggoner John R. , Mansure A.J. 
Published: December 2007

The Downhole Dynamometer Database is a compilation of test data collected with a set of five downhole tools built by Albert Engineering under contract to Sandia National Laboratories. The downhole dynamometer tools are memory tools deployed in the sucker rod string with sensors to measure pressure, temperature, load, and acceleration. The acceleration data is processed to yield position, so that a load vs. position dynagraph can be generated using data collected downhole. With five tools in the hole at one time, all measured data and computed dynagraphs from five different positions in the rod string are available.

The purpose of the Database is to provide industry with a complete and high quality measurement of downhole sucker rod pumping dynamics. To facilitate use of the database, Sandia has developed a Microsoft Windows-based interface that functions as a visualizer and browser to the more than 40 MBytes of data. The interface also includes a data export feature to allow users to extract data from the database for use in their own programs.

This paper includes a description of the downhole dynamometer tools, data collection program, database content, and a few illustrations of the data contained in the downhole dynamometer database.

Introduction

The Downhole Dynamometer Database (DDDB) is a compilation of test data collected by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) using downhole dynamometer tools built by Albert Engineering (AE). The purpose of the DDDB is to provide industry with a complete and high quality measurement of downhole sucker rod pumping dynamics. To facilitate use of the DDDB, Sandia developed a Microsoft Windows-based interface that functions as a visualizer and browser to the more than 40 MBytes of data. The interface also includes a data export feature to allow users to extract data from the database for use in their own programs.

Database Interface

The DDDB Interface program, Downyn, is a Microsoft Visual Basic version 3.0 program designed to run on a Microsoft Windows version 3.11 platform. Figure 1 shows DownDyn's main screen. The program includes graphing utilities necessary to generate and display plots. Instructions for installation and how to import user data for viewing, or add user data to the database, are contained in a readme.txt file. Other help information is contained in the help facility built into the program.

The program has been beta tested by over 15 industry experts for six months, resulting in a number of improvements that have been incorporated into the program. Current information about the status of the database and interface can be found at http://www.sandia.gov/apt/.

The DDDB Interface performs four functions: selecting a data file, choosing information from the file, plotting, and importing/exporting information.

Selecting a Data File. Data files are selected by scrolling through lists of the wells in the database and of the tests performed on each well. The list of tests comes from the tool program schedule shown, for example, in Fig. 2.

Choosing Information from the File. If the data file chosen is for a surface dynamometer test, there is no information that must be selected before plotting, Fig. 3. If the data file chosen is a downhole test, there are a number of choices to be made before plotting. First the Plot Type must be chosen to be a time dependent plot showing selected Plot Variables verses time, Fig 4, or a dynagraph showing load or velocity versus position, Fig. 5. Since the data files contain a number of cycles the Plot Window containing the interval of data to be examined must be chosen.

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