Walking Beam Pumping Unit Combined Operation Method

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional walking beam pumping units face issues with high plunger leakage rates and low motor driving efficiency due to limited operation modes, requiring manual startup and shutdown, which is labor-intensive and resource-consuming, and are prone to sand blocking, wax deposition, and freezing issues during incomplete-cycle operations.

Innovation Solution

A combined operation method that integrates crank complete-cycle, incomplete-cycle pumping, and incomplete-cycle no-pumping operations, allowing for noticeable crank swings while avoiding manual startup and reducing cycle strokes, with specific time and angle constraints to manage sand, wax, and freezing risks, and maintaining motor efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the working strokes are reduced to lower theoretical displacement, then the single-well production capacity is improved, but the plunger leakage rate increases and motor driving efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesingle-well production capacityVSAvoidplunger leakage rate and motor driving efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by enabling the crank to operate in multiple modes: complete-cycle motion for normal production and incomplete-cycle motion for reduced displacement. This dynamic switching allows the system to adapt to different production requirements while maintaining optimal plunger leakage rates and motor driving efficiency through frequency conversion control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the crank by introducing incomplete-cycle motion with adjustable angles and durations. By modifying the crank rotation angle and motion duration, the system can reduce theoretical displacement without causing plunger leakage or motor efficiency degradation, thus resolving the contradiction between production capacity and system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If interval pumping work mode is used to reduce plunger leakage and maintain motor efficiency, then the leakage and efficiency problems are solved, but manual startup and shutdown operations are required which increase labor intensity and resource consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplunger leakage rate and motor driving efficiencyVSAvoidlabor intensity and resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service through automated control systems that manage the switching between complete-cycle and incomplete-cycle crank motions. The frequency conversion device automatically adjusts motor speed based on production requirements, eliminating the need for manual startup and shutdown operations, thereby reducing labor intensity and resource consumption while maintaining system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs feedback control where the control device monitors production parameters and automatically adjusts the crank motion mode and motor speed accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures optimal plunger leakage rates and motor efficiency are maintained without requiring manual intervention for startup and shutdown operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If frequent manual startup and shutdown operations are performed, then the plunger leakage and motor efficiency are maintained, but the dynamic fluid level and downhole flow pressure fluctuate significantly affecting production capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplunger leakage rate and motor driving efficiencyVSAvoidproduction capacity and pay zone development
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent ensures continuity of useful action by using incomplete-cycle crank motion that keeps the pumping unit continuously operating without complete shutdowns. The crank continues to rotate through adjustable angles, maintaining continuous fluid level and downhole flow pressure while still achieving reduced theoretical displacement, thus avoiding the harmful fluctuations caused by frequent manual startup and shutdown operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Reliability

If the crank swings noticeably for safety warning purposes, then safety compliance is improved, but the polished rod moves beyond the elastic deformation range making it hard to ensure incomplete-cycle no-pumping motion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety complianceVSAvoidtheoretical displacement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by precisely controlling the crank rotation angle parameter. The incomplete-cycle motion is designed with specific angle ranges that provide noticeable swings for safety warnings while staying within the polished rod's elastic deformation range. This parameter optimization ensures both safety compliance and theoretical displacement accuracy are maintained simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10502038B2Combined operation method for work modes of walking beam pumping unit
Publication Date: 2019.12.10 HARBIN SURFICS ELECTRICAL TECH INC

AI summary

The present invention discloses a combined operation method for work modes of a walking beam pumping unit, which relates to the field of oil production engineering. According to the number of the theoretical full-stroke pumping in a cycle, the number of the crank complete-cycle operation time, the times of respective complete-cycle operation, the number of the crank incomplete-cycle pumping operation times, travelling distances of the polished rod in respective incomplete-cycle pumping operation, the time of respective incomplete-cycle pumping operation, the number of the crank incomplete-cycle no-pumping operation times, the time of respective incomplete-cycle no-pumping operation, and the order of the crank complete-cycle operation, the crank incomplete-cycle pumping operation, and the crank incomplete-cycle no-pumping operation are arranged in the present invention.