Patent ID: 7819189

Claim:
A plunger lift system for use in a well in the earth, comprising: a) a plunger, the plunger having a transmitter that produces acoustical signals, the plunger capable of exiting a lubricator on the surface and entering the well, and moving up and down in the well, and reentering the lubricator, the plunger transmitter operating while the plunger is in the well and independently of a liquid level in the well; b) a receiver located so as to receive the signals from the plunger transmitter, the receiver receiving the signals when the plunger is in the well; c) a controller that opens and closes the well, the controller operatively connected to the receiver, the controller determining the location of the plunger in the well from the plunger transmitter signals; d) the plunger further comprising a clock, the transmitter producing signals at a constant time interval.