Sucker Rod Antibuckling System: Development and Field Application

Langbauer, Clemens; Frühwirth, R.; Volker, Lukas Johannes

doi:10.2118/205352-pa

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This publication builds on the knowledge of existing FEM analysis and presents a novel dynamic finite element method to evaluate the sucker rod pump downhole equipment's performance. Downhole pump and rod string parameters can be determined for standard and new advanced designs, like the SRABS Sucker Rod Anti-Buckling System [21], [22], [23], [24].…”

Section: Dynamic Finite Element Methods Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In June 2018, the standard sucker rod pump was replaced by the sucker rod anti-buckling system (SRABS). SRABS is a new system that reduces the compression in the rod string during the downstroke and effectively prevents buckling without using sinker bars and similar equipment [24]. The SRABS pump is installed with a similar rod string as the standard pump to enable a simple comparison of the downhole pump performance.…”

Section: Vertical Well -Standard Srp and Srabsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Sucker rod pump downhole dynamometer card determination based on a novel finite element method

Eisner¹,

Langbauer²,

Frühwirth³

2021

Liq., gas. energy resour.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

An advanced dynamic finite element model is presented that diagnoses the downhole pump performance of sucker rod pumping systems, applicable for any pumping conditions and equipment used. The results are compared to downhole measurements and other evaluation techniques. Buckling is an undesirable phenomenon occurring in sucker rod pumping. It essentially depends on the plunger load, which is a function of time and typically not measured but evaluated by diagnostic tools. Existing diagnostic tools exhibit specific limitations that reduce their applicability and output quality. This paper introduces a diagnostic tool, which can predict the rod string's stress field and its movement not only at the pump plunger but all along the rod string. Moreover, this tool can account for the interaction between rod guides and tubing as well as rod string and tubing. To this end, innovative tube-to-tube contact modeling is applied. The high precision results are accomplished by running a dynamic finite element simulation. The basic principle is to evaluate the plunger load incrementally by consecutively applying restarts of each time step, fully automated and computation time optimized. This publication shows that both the plunger load and the rod string's dynamic behavior can be determined for any given wellbore as long as the borehole trajectory and surface dynamometer measurements are known. The dynamic finite element model is evaluated for a deviated system and a vertical system equipped with two different downhole pump types. Comparing the simulation results with the available downhole measurements and the analytical solution shows an excellent match, whereas the proposed solution provides a considerable amount of details about the overall system's behavior. The evaluation has shown that the performance of standard and novel downhole pump types can be successfully diagnosed in detail, which is just possible under limitations with commercial software solutions. This tool can correctly predict whether or not the sucker rod string is subjected to buckling during the downstroke, which has a considerable effect on increasing the mean time between failures of a sucker rod pumping system. From the economic point of view, this means that the economic limit of a wellbore can be postponed. The novelty of the shown technique is the consideration of the full 3D trajectory and the implementation of only physical properties, result in an excellent accuracy of the output.

show abstract

Section: Dynamic Finite Element Methods Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Vertical Well -Standard Srp and Srabsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sucker rod pump downhole dynamometer card determination based on a novel finite element method

Eisner¹,

Langbauer²,

Frühwirth³

2021

Liq., gas. energy resour.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The main component that can be used is centralizers. Also, proper design of the sucker rod string can reduce the collision significantly (Langbauer et al 2021).…”

Section: Tubing Failure and Frictionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The main problem that can occur is buckling of the string especially during the downstroke. This can lead to severe collision with the tubing string, and eventually string and tubing wear and failure (Langbauer et al 2021). Figure 20 provides an illustration of string buckling and collision with tubing.…”

Section: Pressure Differential Problemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comprehensive review of sucker rod pumps’ components, diagnostics, mathematical models, and common failures and mitigations

Fakher

Khlaifat

Hossain

et al. 2021

J Petrol Explor Prod Technol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In many oil reservoirs worldwide, the downhole pressure does not have the ability to lift the produced fluids to the surface. In order to produce these fluids, pumps are used to artificially lift the fluids; this method is referred to as artificial lift. More than seventy percent of all currently producing oil wells are being produced by artificial lift methods. One of the most applied artificial lift methods is sucker rod pump. Sucker rod pumps are considered a well-established technology in the oil and gas industry and thus are easy to apply, very common worldwide, and low in capital and operational costs. Many advancements in technology have been applied to improve sucker rod pumps performance, applicability range, and diagnostics. With these advancements, it is important to be able to constantly provide an updated review and guide to the utilization of the sucker rod pumps. This research provides an updated comprehensive review of sucker rod pumps components, diagnostics methods, mathematical models, and common failures experienced in the field and how to prevent and mitigate these failures. Based on the review conducted, a new classification of all the methods that can fall under the sucker rod pump technology based on newly introduced sucker rod pump methods in the industry has been introduced. Several field cases studies from wells worldwide are also discussed in this research to highlight some of the main features of sucker rod pumps. Finally, the advantages and limitations of sucker rod pumps are mentioned based on the updated review. The findings of this study can help increase the understanding of the different sucker rod pumps and provide a holistic view of the beam rod pump and its properties and modeling.

show abstract

“…The wellbore is equipped with an 800 meter long anchored 3 1/2 in tubing string. The downhole pump is a 30-225-RHAC-18-4 SRABS pump type [37], set at 800 m and operated with a conventional VSD drive at 8.57 strokes per minute. The rod string comprises 280 m of 1" rods grade D, 490 m of 7/8" rods grade D, and 30 m of 2" sinker bars.…”

Section: Experiment: Frequency -Elastic Drive Mode Field Testmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sucker rod pump frequency-elastic drive mode development – from the numerical model to the field test

Langbauer¹,

Langbauer²,

Frühwirth³

et al. 2021

Liq., gas. energy resour.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A frequency-elastic drive mode for a sucker rod pumping system is introduced to reduce its polished rod peak loads and the total energy consumption. Numerical modeling and an extensive field test verify the concept. The frequency-elastic drive mode is a software solution for variable speed drive systems, which can be applied in the controller and does not require any hardware adjustments. The novel drive mode adjusts the set frequency, sent by the controller to the frequency converter, depending on the actual power requirements. An increase in power consumption results in a reduction of the set frequency, which is proportional to the power consumption increase. A reduction in power consumption results in the opposite effect to achieve a similar pumping speed as for regular operation. The frequency-elastic drive mode is simulated by a numerical model, which covers the entire pumping system. An extensive field test was performed to verify the concept and the numerical model. The simulation and the field test have confirmed the concept of the frequency-elastic drive mode and quantified its saving potential. The evaluation of the field test has shown that the energy-saving potential can reach five percent. In addition, a peak polished rod load reduction of up to three percent was seen. At the tested pumping system the frequency elastic drive mode under optimized parameters yields the best results in terms of total energy savings in the pumping speed range between 7 to 10 strokes per minute. A downhole system efficiency increase was seen for any pumping speed. The numerical model matches the field test data and allows the performance prediction of the novel drive mode for changed parameters and wellbore configurations without extensive field testing. The novelty of the presented paper is the concept of the frequency-elastic drive mode, which is a pure software solution for variable speed drive sucker rod pumping systems. The holistic model includes the entire pumping system and matches the field test data at remarkable accuracy.

show abstract

Sucker Rod Antibuckling System: Development and Field Application

Cited by 6 publications

References 7 publications

Sucker rod pump downhole dynamometer card determination based on a novel finite element method

Sucker rod pump downhole dynamometer card determination based on a novel finite element method

A comprehensive review of sucker rod pumps’ components, diagnostics, mathematical models, and common failures and mitigations

Sucker rod pump frequency-elastic drive mode development – from the numerical model to the field test

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About