Ask Echometer Online Seminar – June 24, 2020

How Much Liquid Does

My Sucker Rod Pump
PUMP ?
http://www.echometer.com/Software/Total-Asset-Monitor

“USE OF THE PUMP SLIPPAGE EQUATION TO DESIGN PUMP CLEARANCES”, Rowlan, McCoy, Lea, SWPSC 2012
“EQUIVALENT GAS FREE PUMP FILLAGE LINE”, Rowlan, McCoy, Taylor, Brown, SWPSC 2015
“QRod Design Program WWW.ECHOMETER.COM Download, http://www.echometer.com/Software/QRod
“EXCEL Spreadsheets: Pump Slippage Calculator_SPM_PattersonEq.xls & SlippageViscosityCalculator.xls

O. Lynn Rowlan E-mail: [email protected]

Carrie Anne Taylor [email protected]

Gustavo Fernandez [email protected]

 Why is Pump Displacement 74 BPD and
Only 59 BPD Produced into the Tank

EPT = 38.76 in ~ 74 BPD

Free Gas
in Pump? EPT = Effective Plunger
Travel when TV Opens

Sept. 17 - 20, 2014 2 2014 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 2

Echometer Online_LiquidPumpPumps: FreeGasinPump
Determine the Amount of Stock Tank Oil and
Water Contained in 1 Pump Stroke

3
Incorrect to Assume Pump Filled with Liquid:
TV Open (EPT) OR Max Plunger Travel (MPT)

MPT

EPT

4 Echometer Online_LiquidPumpPumps: Gas Interference

Adj Pump Displacement for a Selected Stroke

5
 Introduction
• Determining the Amount of Stock Tank Oil and Water
Contained in 1 Pump Stroke Requires the Use of
Enhanced Analysis Techniques
• First Step is to Correctly Describe the Existing Wellbore
and Artificial Lift System Configuration.
• Accurate and Representative Oil and Water Rates are
used to determine % Oil
• Gravities are Used to Calculate Produced Fluid Behavior
Inside the Pump Chamber During a Selected Pump Stroke.
• Once Traveling and Standing Valve Opening/Closing
Points are Identified, then the Behavior of the Fluids
Inside the Pump Chamber can be Modeled.
6
Introduction (continued)
• Tubing Pressure, Tubing Fluid Gradient and Deviation
Survey are Required to Determine the Pump Discharge
Pressure
• During the gas compression process no free gas goes is
assumed to go into solution
• Fluids inside the pump assumed to remain at pump
depth temperature
• Free Gas Inside the Pump at Intake conditions is
Compressed to a Smaller Volume to the Discharge
Pressure to Open the Travelling Valve
• Estimate 10% Oil if no Production Rates Entered
• SPM and Plunger Diameter are used in Determining BPD
7
 W.E. Gilbert of Shell an Early Pioneer in the
Interpretation of Pump Dynagraphs (1936)
1. Developed Bottomhole Instrument to Record
Down-hole Action of Pump
2. Interpretation of Dynagraph Cards
3. In Appendix Developed Formulas to Calculate
Intake Liquid and Gas Volumes in Pump
Chamber and Compressed to Discharge

These type of calculations have been published by

Lea, Sandia, TUALP, Gibbs\Nolan and others.
8
“An Oil-Well Pump Dynagraph”, P. 107 W. E. Gilbert, Production Practice, 1936
Incomplete Pump Fillage
Occurs from SV Close to TV Open
Steps from Top of
Stroke to TV Open
in Pump Operation

Pump acts as
a Compressor at [D]
At [C]
Pb =
Pb = Pintk
PDis - Discharge Pressure Pdis
PB - Pressure in Chamber
Pintk - Intake Pressure

C) Standing Valve closes, when plunger reaches top C-D) Plunger applies
of stroke, rods start to un-stretch to transfer fluid pressure to fluids inside
load, Fo, from rods [C] onto tubing [D]. pump chamber, to
D) Traveling Valve Opens when pressure in pump compress fluids in
chamber >= Pump Discharge Pressure, PDis. Pump chamber and
increase pressure. 9
During gas compression process no
free gas is assumed to go into solution
Equilibrium Time [SEC] Vs. Oil API (Gas into Solution)
• Gravity causes water, oil, and gas to
segregate inside the pump chamber.
• Free gas volume is not in contact with the oil
• Compression cycle may last only a few
seconds, so gas has very little time to go
into solution in the oil

Hatem Tebourski, “Two-Phase Volumetric Efficiency in Sucker Rod Pumps”, The

10
University of Tulsa Graduate School, 1995
Verify Valves Open and Close Correct

SPM = 4.107

SV Open SV Close

TV Close
TV Open

11
 If Pumping and Card Load Line is
Flat then Valve is Typically Open
and Well Fluids Flowing thru Valve
Tubing anchored, EPT<MPT. Unanchored tubing, EPT<MPT
Fo Max

Fo Fluid Level

Flat Pump card load line B-C, means that SV opens due to
expansion of gas inside pump chamber when Pchamber < Pint
Flat Pump card load line D-A, means that TV opens due to
compression of gas inside pump chamber when Pchamber > Pd
12
 Determine the Tubing Fluid Gradient

PDis = 0.32 x Pump Depth + Tubing Psig = 0.32x7865+70=2586.8

13
Select Representative Stroke to Analyze

Pump Fillage Changes from Startup to Stabilized

37.9 Inch Effective Plunger Travel of

Card #104 is the Stroke to Analyze

14
Determine PIP from Pump Card

15
 PIVI PDVD
Intake (-----) = (------) Discharge
ZI ZD PD

SV Opens when
Pchamber < Pint

Iso-thermal, No
Change in Rs
Liquid Vint
TV Opens When Free Gas
Pchamber > PD
Pint
Compression
Opens TV
16
Gas Compression Curve Results
From Compressing the Free Gas
PD
Volume Inside the Pump Chamber

Equivalent Gas
Free Pump Fillage
Line = 35.99 inch
Vint
Liquid
Free Gas

Pint
Compression
Opens TV
17
Compress Gas Volume 15.8x From Intake
242 Psig to Discharge 2587 Psig Pressure
Free Gas Determined
when TV Opens at EPT

Compress
to 2.77” @ 79 BPD ~ 41.35” Free
5 BPD Gas Enters Pump Intake

18
 Using Fluid and Gas Properties at Both Intake and
Discharge Condition, the Amount of Compressed Gas
Filling the Pump Chamber Can Be Determined.

At 2587 Psig Discharge

Pressure the 41.35 inch
Free Gas Compressed
to a 2.77 inch height
At 242 Psig Intake Condition
Same Free Gas
41.35 inch Free Gas Fills 79
Molecules, but Smaller
BPD Pump Capacity
Compressed Gas

19
 Patterson Pump Slippage Equation
modified ARCO-HF equation to include the effect of SPM on slippage

EXCEL Spreadsheet Available on USB:

“Pump Slippage Calculator_SPM_PattersonEq.xls”

D = nominal pump diameter, inches

C = diametrical clearance, inches
P = Pressure drop across the plunger, psi
L = length of the plunger, inches
SPM = strokes per minute
 = viscosity of fluids, cp
20
Patterson slippage equation
estimates liquid slipping back
into pump chamber BPD Tank = BPD Pump
- Slippage
Slippage, BPD =
1.52
453 0.14  SPM   1
DPC
L
1) Fluid that slips back into
pump between the Plunger OD
and the Barrel ID
2) Slips back into the pump
chamber to reduces pump
capacity
3) When traveling ball is on Seat.
21
21
 Presented at 2007 SWPSC

DO NOT DO THIS
Based on Slippage test, “the following minimum pump
clearances are recommended for a 48” Plunger with a “+1
Barrel”. These clearances have become widely used in the
Permian Basin for well depths up to 8000 feet”

Rule-of-Thumb Table
???? Design: Clearance Using Patterson Eq. w/ 90% Pump
Efficiency 22
 Use Slippage Equation

If You Use Recommended

Clearances from 2007
Rule-of-Thumb Table

86 API Rod String | Anchored Tubing | Red - D Rod Loading > 100% 23
 - Viscosity is used in Slippage Calculation

24
Pump Speed vs
Pump Efficiency

As the SPM increases the Pump

Efficiency Increases: Slippage Volume
is a Smaller % of Pump Displacement

25
Plunger Length, Diameter,
Clearance Input Important

26
 Viscosity f(P, T, Pb, Oil Wat Gas SG)
What about a mixture viscosity based on %Oil and % Water?

PIP 843

P Avg 2187

EXCEL Spreadsheet Available

PDP 3532 on Ask (((ECHOMETER))) 27
2018 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop
Sept. 11 - 13, 2018 27
Oklahoma City, OK
 Use Oil Only Viscosity at Average of
PDP to PIP at Pump Temp at Oil Pb

? ? ?

? ? ?

28
EXCEL Spreadsheet Available on Ask (((ECHOMETER))) 28
Measured Rate Matches Calculated

Viscosity of
Fluids =2.539 cp

29
Determine Fluid Viscosity for Slippage Eq.
Use Default 0.76 cp water viscosity for a “good” guess.
• Use Oil Only Viscosity when oil gravity is less
than 30-32 Degree API
• Use Total Fluid (based on %Oil and %Water) when
oil gravity is greater than 30-32 Degree API
• For Pressure use Average of (PIP + PDP)
• Use Temperature at Pump Depth
• Must Know Plunger Length, Diameter, Clearance
• Should Know Oil, Water, and Gas Gravities
• Set Bubble Point Pressure equal to Pump Intake
Pressure to determine Gas in Solution going into
the pump.
SlippageViscosityCalculator.xls Available on Ask (((ECHOMETER)))
30
 Patterson
Slippage
11 BPD of
Slippage
Results in 5.6
Inches of
Reduced Pump
Capacity
Input Data:
Clearances,
242
Plunger Length,
Fluid Viscosity
EXCEL Spreadsheet Available on USB:
31
“Pump Slippage Calculator_SPM_PattersonEq.xls”
 Effective Plunger Travel – Free Gas in
Pump – Slippage = Pump Displacement

=
+
-

-
=

32
Adjust Liquid Volumes for Gas in Solution and
P & T Change from Pump to Surface

Standing Fluid Property Correlations used to Determine Gas in Solution at

Intake Pressure and Volume Change due to Temperature and Pressure 33
Gas Volumes Produced Up the
Tubing and Casing
 Gas Produced Up the Tubing Is
Determined From the Pump Card
Calculations
 Free Gas Produced Up the Tubing/Casing
Annulus Is Determined Form the Acoustic
Fluid Level Test Performed While
Acquiring the Dynamometer Test Data
 Total Gas Produced Can Be Determined
 System Gas Separation Efficiency Can Be
Determined By Comparing the Gas
Produced Up the Casing to the Total Gas
Produced. 34
Well’s System Gas Separation Efficiency is 51.2%
Equal to 9.1/17.8 MscfD
9.1
MscfD

8.7
MscfD

35
 Enhanced Analysis Technique Determines
“Equivalent Gas Free Pump Fillage” Line
 “Equivalent Gas Free Pump Fillage” Line
Represents the Amount Of Liquid Fillage In the
Pump When the Traveling Valve Opens During
the Down Stroke.
 Enhanced Analysis Technique Allows
Answering Many Of the Complicated Questions
Concerning Oil, Water And Gas Production With
Respect To the Maximum Plunger Travel, MPT,
and Effective Plunger Travel, EPT.

36
Select Representative Stroke 197?
Production 16 BPD
Calculated 98 BPD

37
Echometer Online_LiquidPumpPumps: RepresentativeStroke
Notice How Pump Fillage Changes

Average Effective
Plunger Stroke 67.6”

38
To Match Reported Production Rate
Must Select Stroke with 29” EPT

Matches 16 BPD w/ EPT = 29.0”

39
Representative Stroke 53.75 EPT?

40
56 BPD Calculated vs 20 BPD Measured

Echometer Online_LiquidPumpPumps: RunTime 41

Low Pump Fillage Causes Overtravel
on Downhole Stroke Length

Overtravel

42
12 Hour Run Time Must be Considered
in Production Rate Calculations

24 Hour 12 Hour
Run Time Run Time

43

43
 EXCEL Spreadsheet Available on USB:
“Pump Slippage Calculator_SPM_PattersonEq.xls”

44
Design Pump Clearance of 0.005” to Achieve
90% Pump Efficiency with 65 BPD Slippage

45
Recommended Procedure to Select
Pump Clearances
1. Use predictive sucker rod design program to
calculate pump displacement, assume 100%
liquid pump fillage.
2. Input correct well parameters into QRod Tool
- “Pump Slippage Calculator”, be sure to
adjust water viscosity for the temperature at
the pump
3. Examine Plot of “Patterson Equation Pump
Slippage vs Clearance” and select pump
clearance that gives the desired percentage
of pump slippage.

46
 651 BPD

Echometer Online_LiquidPumpPumps: Calculate_PlungerClearance 47

Design 651 BPD Pump Displacement

48
Patterson Slippage 155.5 BPD

49
 Field Example of 0.009 Pump
Why only 402 barrels per day is being produced to the tank, when the
effective downhole pump displacement is 577 BPD?
1. New pump w/ no wear or damage
2. Installed 0.009 in. clearance w/
2.25 inch diameter & 4 foot
plunger
3. Patterson Eq. Slippage 155 BPD
4. 576 BPD Full Pump dynamometer
card (No correction for slippage or
gas in solution).
5. Tested Rates are 106 BOPD & 296
BWPD ~ 26.4% Oil
6. Production is 175 BPD less than
the 577 BPD pump displacement.
7. (106+296)/577 = 70% Pump Eff.
8. 14 MscfD gas up tubing (245
GOR), at 3307 psi discharge
Used a Viscosity of pressure, then water swelled 1.7%
due P&T. Oil swelled 6.8% due to
Fluids = 0.76 cp P&T and gas in solution. Liquid
from P&T and solution gas looses
12 BPD.
9. Patterson Equation appears to
calculate slippage fairly
accurately. 50
50
Measured Rate Matches Calculated

Viscosity of Fluids
= 0.76 cp

51
How to Use
• Troubleshoot when Adj Pump Displacement
does not match what's produced into tank.
• Determine Pump Wear and Wear Rate as
Equipment Operates in the Well
• Design Pump Clearance for New Installation to
Match Inflow from Well
• As Pump Wears Increase SPM to Maintain Full
Pump and Obtain Long Run Life
• Know Expected Performance of Every Well

52
Conclusions
• Knowing the Amount Of Gas Pumped Into the Tubing
Helps Determine Tubing Fluid Gradient
• Representative Dynamometer Card should be
Selected for Analysis, if You Wish to Match Calculated
Production to Reported Production
• More Input Data is Required to make Calculation Work
• Pump Clearance is Difficult to Find Out
• Differences between Liquid in the Tank and Pump
Displacement from EPT, NOW easier to explain.
• Difference from MPT and Equivalent Gas Free Pump
Fillage Equals Displacement Consumed by Free Gas
• Equivalent Gas Free Pump Fillage Line Helps Trouble
Shoot Sucker Rod Lifted Wells
53
Recommendation
Handbook for those that would
like to learn more, please click
on following link:
https://www.amazon.com/Acoustic-Fluid-Level-Measurements-
Handbook/dp/0886982790/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1505073594&sr=1-
1&keywords=Acoustic+fluid+level+handbook

to “Acoustic Fluid Level

Measurements in Oil and Gas
Wells Handbook Paperback –
January 1, 2017” by Dr. A. L.
Podio (Author), Jim
McCoy (Author)

A comprehensive technical
handbook that discusses the
importance, application, and
interpretation of acoustic fluid
level measurements for all
types of wells and
measurement instrumentation,
ranging from strip charts to
digital sensors.
54