Automated Pumpoff Risk Assessment in Oilfield Operations
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Manual control of pumpdown operations in oilfield operations leads to significant risks of pumpoff due to human reaction time limitations, error, and imprecision, potentially damaging or severing the support line, which is costly and time-consuming to remediate.
Innovation Solution
An automated system assesses pumpoff risk using models such as sand buildup, line speed increase, residual error comparison, and statistical analysis to dynamically adjust pump flow rate and support line feed rate, preventing excessive tension and potential damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual operator control is used to regulate pump pressure and support line feeding speed, then operational flexibility is maintained, but pumpoff risk increases due to human reaction time limitations and error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical control system with an automated electronic control system that uses sensors to monitor pump pressure and support line tension, processes this data through a controller, and automatically adjusts pump pressure and line feeding speed to prevent pumpoff conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring pump pressure and support line tension through sensors, comparing these measurements against safe operating parameters, and automatically adjusting operational parameters to maintain safety margins and prevent pumpoff
2Reliability
If automated control systems are implemented to reduce pumpoff risk, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary component that receives data from sensors monitoring pump pressure and support line tension, processes this information against pre-programmed safety criteria, and automatically actuates adjustments to pump pressure and line feeding speed, thereby automating the control function while managing system complexity through modular design
Data Source
AI summary
An automated system for assessing pumpoff risk can be used to warn operators and/or control machinery in order to avoid pumpoff. Pumpoff risk is assessed through the use and/or comparison of one or more models of pumpoff risk. These models can include a sand build up model (e.g., to determine the threshold buildup size where pumpoff risk is too great), a line speed increase model (e.g., to determine the maximum flow rate allowable given a maximum support line feed rate), a residual error comparison model (e.g., to compare the deviation of predicted tension from actual tension), and a statistical analysis model (e.g., to determine likelihood of pumpoff given statistical probability of each of a multitude of possible scenarios).