Pump integrity monitoring

Abstract

A method of monitoring integrity of a pump. The method may include recording timing information of the pump during operation while simultaneously sampling acoustic data with a high speed equidistant acquisition mechanism or at a rate based on the speed of the pump in operation. The acquisition of acoustic data is followed by evaluation thereof. Such techniques may improve resolution of acquired data while substantially increasing processor capacity for evaluation. A pump integrity monitor for carrying out such techniques is also described.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to and is a Continuation in Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 482,846, filed on Jul. 7, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]Embodiments described relate to the monitoring of pumps in use. In particular, embodiments of oilfield pumps and techniques for their monitoring with a pump integrity monitor are described.BACKGROUND OF THE RELATED ART[0003]Large oilfield operations generally involve any of a variety of positive displacement or centrifugal pumps. Such pumps may be employed in applications for accessing underground hydrocarbon reservoirs. For example, positive displacement pumps are often employed in large scale high pressure applications directed at a borehole leading to a hydrocarbon reservoir. Such applications may include cementing, coiled tubing, water jet cutting, or hydraulic fracturing of underground rock.[0004]A positive displacement pump such as those desc...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]An embodiment of monitoring a pump assembly is disclosed wherein the pump assembly is operated and timing information relative thereto is recorded. Sampling of acoustic data then occurs with a high speed acquisition mechanism followed by an evaluation of the acoustic data in light of the timing information. Sampling of acoustic data may also take place based on a speed of the operating pump assembly.

Problems solved by technology

That is, like any other form of industrial equipment a pump is susceptible to natural wear that could affect uptime or efficiency.

For example, internal valve seals of a pump may be prone to failure, especially where abrasive fluids are directed through the pump during an application.

Issues with other pump components may develop during operation such as plunger wear, loosening engine mounts, deteriorating crankshaft bearings, and transmission breakdown in such forms as a slipping clutch or broken gear teeth.

Issues with wearing pump components such as those indicated above may be accompanied by certain vibrations particular to the type of wear taking place.

The above described technique of monitoring the health of the pump via detection of acoustic information during pump operation faces several practical challenges in implementation.

However, as a practical matter, operating a host of different pumps at a variety of RPM's for an operation may be near impossible to implement as indicated below.

The vast majority of oilfield pumps are only able to operate at a limited number of speeds making the above manner of operation potentially very difficult to achieve depending on the particular level of total output called for in a given operation.

In fact, even if achievable, the operating of pumps at a variety of RPM's for an operation leads to uneven stress on the pumps with significantly greater loads applied to certain pumps.

As a result, there is a greater likelihood of pump failure during the operation.

Furthermore, regardless of the RPM assigned to a particular pump of a multi-pump operation, natural inconsistencies in behavior of pump components may require data collection over a period of operating time before any reliable acoustic analysis may take place.

This delays diagnosis of unhealthy conditions and increases computational complexity of such monitoring, thus requiring significant processing capacity to carry out.

Thus, addressing pump health over the long haul remains primarily addressed through regular manual intervention or acoustic monitoring techniques of limited diagnostic effectiveness.

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