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 method for evaluating data from a reciprocating downhole pump includes the steps of acquiring downhole position and load data, providing the position and load data to a processing unit, normalizing the position and load data, converting the position and load data to a calculated polar coordinate data set, evaluating the calculated polar coordinate data set to determine a condition or occurrence at the reciprocating pump, and outputting calculated key parameters for controlling and optimizing the reciprocating pump and beam pumping unit. The method further comprises a step of creating a library of reference data sets, comparing the calculated polar data set against the library of ideal and reference data sets, identifying one or more reference data sets that match one or more portions of the calculated polar data set, and outputting the probability of one or more of the known conditions within the calculated polar data set.

A method for evaluating data from a reciprocating downhole pump includes the steps of acquiring downhole position and load data, providing the position and load data to a processing unit, normalizing the position and load data, converting the position and load data to a calculated polar coordinate data set, evaluating the calculated polar coordinate data set to determine a condition or occurrence at the reciprocating pump, and outputting calculated key parameters for controlling and optimizing the reciprocating pump and beam pumping unit. The method further comprises a step of creating a library of reference data sets, comparing the calculated polar data set against the library of ideal and reference data sets, identifying one or more reference data sets that match one or more portions of the calculated polar data set, and outputting the probability of one or more of the known conditions within the calculated polar data set.

A pump apparatus has a downhole pump disposed in a wellbore and has a motor at the surface, and a rod string operatively moved by the motor reciprocates the downhole pump in the wellbore. Downhole data indicative of load and position of the downhole pump is generated using surface measurements and a wave equation model having an upstroke damping factor and a downstroke damping factor. Actual fluid load lines are determined from the downhole data for upstrokes and downstrokes of the downhole pump, and calculated fluid load lines for from the strokes are determined from the distribution of the load values in the downhole data. The actual fluid load lines are compared to the calculated fluid load lines to determine if the downhole card is over or under-damped. Then, at least one of the upstroke or downstroke damping factors of the wave equation model is adjusted so that new downhole data can be generated with appropriate damping.

A controller for operating a rod pumping unit at a pump speed. The controller includes a processor configured to operate a pump piston of the rod pumping unit at a first speed. The processor is further configured to determine a pump fillage level for a pump stroke based on a position signal and a load signal. The processor is further configured to reduce the pump speed to a second speed based on the pump fillage level for the pump stroke.

A sucker rod pump automated control method comprising measuring the sucker rod pump parameters, counting the sucker rod pump geometry, forming a dynamometer card of the sucker rod pump parameters. Measuring an angle of the sucker rod pump walking beam, and based on the walking beam angle value, forming a real time value of the sucker rod pump crank angle and a polished rod velocity with using geometry dependences of the sucker rod pump components. The walking beam is equipped with an angle sensor connected to a PC input and is formed to detecting position of the walking beam.

A controller for operating a rod pumping unit at a pump speed. The controller includes a processor configured to operate a pump piston of the rod pumping unit at a first speed. The processor is further configured to determine a pump fillage level for a pump stroke based on a position signal and a load signal. The processor is further configured to reduce the pump speed to a second speed based on the pump fillage level for the pump stroke.

A controller for operating a rod pumping unit at a pump speed. The controller includes a processor configured to operate a pump piston of the rod pumping unit at a first speed. The processor is further configured to determine a pump fillage level for a pump stroke based on a position signal and a load signal. The processor is further configured to reduce the pump speed to a second speed based on the pump fillage level for the pump stroke.

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 method for evaluating data from a reciprocating downhole pump includes the steps of acquiring downhole position and load data, providing the position and load data to a processing unit, normalizing the position and load data, converting the position and load data to a calculated polar coordinate data set, evaluating the calculated polar coordinate data set to determine a condition or occurrence at the reciprocating pump, and outputting calculated key parameters for controlling and optimizing the reciprocating pump and beam pumping unit. The method further comprises a step of creating a library of reference data sets, comparing the calculated polar data set against the library of ideal and reference data sets, identifying one or more reference data sets that match one or more portions of the calculated polar data set, and outputting the probability of one or more of the known conditions within the calculated polar data set.