A method for controlling a well pumping system is provided. The method includes the steps of entering a pump intake depth, a minimum fill preset, a maximum fill preset, and a gain value into a controller for the well pumping system, and determining a fluid over pump level. If the fluid over pump level is zero, the method calls for setting a target pump fill equal to the maximum fill preset. If the fluid over pump level is not zero, the method calls for calculating a fluid over pump ratio using the pump intake depth, and calculating the target pump fill using the fluid over pump ratio and the gain value. Further, the method includes calculating a pump fill error as the difference between the target pump fill and an actual pump fill. The method further includes controlling a pumping speed of the well pumping system based on the pump fill error.

A method for controlling a well pumping system is provided. The method includes the steps of entering a pump intake depth, a minimum fill preset, a maximum fill preset, and a gain value into a controller for the well pumping system, and determining a fluid over pump level. If the fluid over pump level is zero, the method calls for setting a target pump fill equal to the maximum fill preset. If the fluid over pump level is not zero, the method calls for calculating a fluid over pump ratio using the pump intake depth, and calculating the target pump fill using the fluid over pump ratio and the gain value. Further, the method includes calculating a pump fill error as the difference between the target pump fill and an actual pump fill. The method further includes controlling a pumping speed of the well pumping system based on the pump fill error.

A well bore fluid sensor is provided that includes an inner plate, a plurality of outer plates, first and second cable fixtures, and an electronics module. The inner plate defines a sensor interior cavity. The outer plates include a first outer plate and a second outer plate. The electronics module includes a resonant circuit and a power supply and is in signal communication with the inner plate and at least one of the first and second cable fixtures. The inner plate, the first and second outer plates, and the first and second cable fixtures are coupled together to form a unitary structure. The inner plate is electrically insulated from the first and second outer plates, the first and second cable fixtures. The first and second outer plates are electrically insulated from one another. The inner plate is capacitively coupled to the first and second outer plates.

A well bore fluid sensor is provided that includes an inner plate, a plurality of outer plates, first and second cable fixtures, and an electronics module. The inner plate defines a sensor interior cavity. The outer plates include a first outer plate and a second outer plate. The electronics module includes a resonant circuit and a power supply and is in signal communication with the inner plate and at least one of the first and second cable fixtures. The inner plate, the first and second outer plates, and the first and second cable fixtures are coupled together to form a unitary structure. The inner plate is electrically insulated from the first and second outer plates, the first and second cable fixtures. The first and second outer plates are electrically insulated from one another. The inner plate is capacitively coupled to the first and second outer plates.

There is disclosed in one implementation a method of or for use in or for detecting, measuring and/or determining at least one variable or characteristic in a space, such as a well, container or vessel. In one implementation the method comprises: transmitting a first electromagnetic signal from a first position to a feature within the space; receiving a second electromagnetic signal at a second position after reflection of the transmitted first electromagnetic signal from the feature; transmitting a third electromagnetic signal from a third position to a calibration feature within the space; receiving a fourth electromagnetic signal at a fourth position after reflection of the transmitted third electromagnetic signal from the calibration feature. The method further comprises: subsequently transmitting a further first electromagnetic signal from the first portion to the feature; receiving a further second electromagnetic signal at the second position after reflection of the transmitted further first electromagnetic signal from the feature; transmitting a further third electromagnetic signal from the third position to the calibration feature; receiving a further fourth electromagnetic signal at the fourth position after reflection of the transmitted further third electromagnetic signal from the calibration feature. In so doing one can determining (the) at least one variable or characteristics from a difference or variation in time between the transmission of the first electromagnetic signal and reception of the second electromagnetic signal and the transmission of the further first electromagnetic signal and receipt of the further second electromagnetic signal and a difference or variation in time between the transmission of the third electromagnetic signal and receipt of the fourth electromagnetic signal and the transmission of the further third electromagnetic signal and receipt of the further fourth electromagnetic signal.

There is disclosed in one implementation a method of or for use in or for detecting, measuring and/or determining at least one variable or characteristic in a space, such as a well, container or vessel. In one implementation the method comprises: transmitting a first electromagnetic signal from a first position to a feature within the space; receiving a second electromagnetic signal at a second position after reflection of the transmitted first electromagnetic signal from the feature; transmitting a third electromagnetic signal from a third position to a calibration feature within the space; receiving a fourth electromagnetic signal at a fourth position after reflection of the transmitted third electromagnetic signal from the calibration feature. The method further comprises: subsequently transmitting a further first electromagnetic signal from the first portion to the feature; receiving a further second electromagnetic signal at the second position after reflection of the transmitted further first electromagnetic signal from the feature; transmitting a further third electromagnetic signal from the third position to the calibration feature; receiving a further fourth electromagnetic signal at the fourth position after reflection of the transmitted further third electromagnetic signal from the calibration feature. In so doing one can determining (the) at least one variable or characteristics from a difference or variation in time between the transmission of the first electromagnetic signal and reception of the second electromagnetic signal and the transmission of the further first electromagnetic signal and receipt of the further second electromagnetic signal and a difference or variation in time between the transmission of the third electromagnetic signal and receipt of the fourth electromagnetic signal and the transmission of the further third electromagnetic signal and receipt of the further fourth electromagnetic signal.

Systems include a floating device disposed on a top of a column of drilling fluid in an annulus of a wellbore. The floating device includes a capsule. A transmitter or a reflector may be coupled to the capsule. The floating device may transmit signals to a surface region from the annulus or receive signals from the surface region and reflect at least a portion of the received signals. A receiver in the surface region receives transmitted signals or reflected signals from the floating device and determines a distance between the floating device and a reference point in the surface region. The distance indicates a level of the drilling fluid in the annulus.

Systems include a floating device disposed on a top of a column of drilling fluid in an annulus of a wellbore. The floating device includes a capsule. A transmitter or a reflector may be coupled to the capsule. The floating device may transmit signals to a surface region from the annulus or receive signals from the surface region and reflect at least a portion of the received signals. A receiver in the surface region receives transmitted signals or reflected signals from the floating device and determines a distance between the floating device and a reference point in the surface region. The distance indicates a level of the drilling fluid in the annulus.

A method for cementing a borehole includes pumping a collection of fluids into the borehole through a tubular string in the borehole and flowing the collection of fluids up an annulus positioned between the tubular string and a sidewall of the borehole. The method additionally includes monitoring a volume of the fluids pumped into the borehole, and performing a first estimation of a position of the fluids based on the volume of the collection of fluids pumped into the borehole, and an initial estimate of an average diameter of the sidewall of at least a portion of the borehole. The method further includes calculating a corrected estimate of the average diameter based on the first estimation and a pressure of the fluids measured at an inlet of the tubular string, and performing a second estimation of the position of the fluids based on the corrected estimate of the average diameter.

A method for cementing a borehole includes pumping a collection of fluids into the borehole through a tubular string in the borehole and flowing the collection of fluids up an annulus positioned between the tubular string and a sidewall of the borehole. The method additionally includes monitoring a volume of the fluids pumped into the borehole, and performing a first estimation of a position of the fluids based on the volume of the collection of fluids pumped into the borehole, and an initial estimate of an average diameter of the sidewall of at least a portion of the borehole. The method further includes calculating a corrected estimate of the average diameter based on the first estimation and a pressure of the fluids measured at an inlet of the tubular string, and performing a second estimation of the position of the fluids based on the corrected estimate of the average diameter.