A device for controlling injection of treatment fluids in plunger lift systems includes a lubricator cap coupleable to a lubricator. The lubricator cap defines a fluid inlet coupleable to a fluid injection system. A sensor coupled to the lubricator cap detects arrival of a plunger within the lubricator a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor transmits an indicator corresponding to arrival of plunger to a fluid injection control system. In response, the fluid injection system injects fluid into the fluid inlet to recharge the plunger. In certain implementations, the sensor detects arrival of the plunger at the lubricator by detecting movement of a lubricator spring or a component of a lubricator spring, such as a spring follower.

Methods of increasing efficiency of plunger lift operations and hydrocarbon wells that perform the methods are disclosed herein. The methods include monitoring an acoustic output from the hydrocarbon well. The methods also include calculating a plunger speed of a plunger of the hydrocarbon well as the plunger travels toward a surface region and calculating a discharge duration of a liquid discharge time period during which liquid is discharged from the hydrocarbon well. The methods further include correlating the plunger speed and the discharge duration to a discharge volume of liquid discharged from the hydrocarbon well

A machine learning device that searches for a first parameter of a component of a servo control device that controls a servo motor includes: a solution detection unit that acquires a set of evaluation function values used during machine learning or after machine learning, plots the set of evaluation function values in a search range of the first parameter or a second parameter used for searching for the first parameter, and detects whether a search solution is at an edge of the search range or is in a predetermined range from the edge; and a range changing unit that changes the search range to a new search range of the first parameter or the second parameter based on the estimation made on evaluation function values of an evaluation function expression when the search solution is at the edge of the search range or is in the predetermined range.

A system and method for predicting failures of rod pumps using a scaled load ratio is configured to: optimize the size of a rolling window, the upper and lower bounds of the normal range of the scaled load ratio, an alert period, and an alert frequency ratio; receive data of a current maximum/minimum loads on a surface rod, and a current speed; remove outliers showing an abnormality; scale the current maximum/minimum loads on the surface rod using the maximum/minimum loads on the surface rod in normal operation; calculate a scaled load ratio; calculate the average of scaled load ratios in the rolling window; determine whether the average of scaled load ratios is in the normal range, and classify the values as normal and abnormal events; calculate the ratio of the abnormal events in the alert period, and generate an alert when the calculated ratio exceeds the alert frequency ratio; and monitor a pump state using the pump failure prediction system.

A system and method for predicting failures of rod pumps using a scaled load ratio is configured to: optimize the size of a rolling window, the upper and lower bounds of the normal range of the scaled load ratio, an alert period, and an alert frequency ratio; receive data of a current maximum/minimum loads on a surface rod, and a current speed; remove outliers showing an abnormality; scale the current maximum/minimum loads on the surface rod using the maximum/minimum loads on the surface rod in normal operation; calculate a scaled load ratio; calculate the average of scaled load ratios in the rolling window; determine whether the average of scaled load ratios is in the normal range, and classify the values as normal and abnormal events; calculate the ratio of the abnormal events in the alert period, and generate an alert when the calculated ratio exceeds the alert frequency ratio; and monitor a pump state using the pump failure prediction system.

A system and method for optimizing performance of an artificial lift system are provided. The optimization process can be performed automatically by a controller configured to receive optimization parameters from the user and information regarding the performance of the system. The optimization process adjusts the pumping speed of the system in response to measured rod load and a position of the downhole pump or surface pumping unit. More particularly, the optimization process can increase or decrease the pump speed of the system in response to the measured rod load at a reference position relative to a reference rod load at the reference position. The reference load and position can be selected to indicate pump inefficiencies. For example, the target reference load and position can indicate fluid pounding if the measured rod load at the reference position is greater than the reference rod load at the reference position.

A system and method for optimizing performance of an artificial lift system are provided. The optimization process can be performed automatically by a controller configured to receive optimization parameters from the user and information regarding the performance of the system. The optimization process adjusts the pumping speed of the system in response to measured rod load and a position of the downhole pump or surface pumping unit. More particularly, the optimization process can increase or decrease the pump speed of the system in response to the measured rod load at a reference position relative to a reference rod load at the reference position. The reference load and position can be selected to indicate pump inefficiencies. For example, the target reference load and position can indicate fluid pounding if the measured rod load at the reference position is greater than the reference rod load at the reference position.

An apparatus and method for performing automated pump-down operations. An apparatus may include a control system configured to be communicatively connected with a fluid pump disposed at a wellsite surface and with a conveyance device disposed at the wellsite surface. The control system may be operable to cause the conveyance device to unwind a conveyance line connected with a tool string disposed within a wellbore, and cause the fluid pump to pump a fluid into the wellbore such that the fluid moves the tool string along the wellbore while the conveyance device unwinds the conveyance line.

An apparatus and method for performing automated pump-down operations. An apparatus may include a control system configured to be communicatively connected with a fluid pump disposed at a wellsite surface and with a conveyance device disposed at the wellsite surface. The control system may be operable to cause the conveyance device to unwind a conveyance line connected with a tool string disposed within a wellbore, and cause the fluid pump to pump a fluid into the wellbore such that the fluid moves the tool string along the wellbore while the conveyance device unwinds the conveyance line.

Systems and methods for exchanging fracturing components of a hydraulic fracturing unit and may include an exchangeable fracturing component section to facilitate quickly exchanging a fracturing component of a hydraulic fracturing unit. The fracturing component section may include a section frame including a base, and a fracturing component connected to the base. The fracturing component section also may include a component electrical assembly and a component fluid assembly connected to the section frame. The fracturing component section further may include a coupling plate connected to the section frame. The fracturing component section also may include one or more of a plurality of quick-connect electrical couplers or a plurality of quick-connect fluid couplers connected to a coupling plate. The quick-connect electrical and fluid couplers may be positioned to receive respective electrical and fluid connections of the component electrical and fluid assemblies and connect to other portions of the hydraulic fracturing unit.