A New Intermitting Device Which Continuously Measures Bottom-Hole Pressure and Regulates Pump Submergence

Abstract

Fall Meeting of the Southern California Petroleum Section of AIME, 17–18 October, Los Angeles, California Abstract An instrument is described which will regulate the fluid level in oil wells. Through proper calibration, the bottom-hole pressure may be obtained periodically or continuously as recorded on a 24-hour recording drum. An electrode is submerged below the desired operating fluid level and a pressure-diaphragm-variable resistor activates a writing indicator in a control panel. The moving indicator on the instrument dial can be limited between two adjustable brackets which will automatically stop or start the pumping action according to the minimum or maximum fluid level desired in relationship to the pump intake. A single control panel is capable of regulating as many as five wells under as many different operating conditions. The electrode device is presently designed to operate in oil wells producing from a reservoir having pressures between 10 psi and 1,400 psi. Control of the subsurface fluid level, together with the automation of stop-cocking, can contribute toward increasing operating profits by increasing the ultimate recovery by the way of decreasing operating costs and increasing the productive life of oil wells. Introduction In that portion now developed and for all practical purposes, California has passed the stage of "flush" crude oil production. Many of the once prolific fields are in the stripper stage and a survey made by the Inter-State Oil Compact Commission indicated that 70 per cent of all oil wells in the United States are stripper wells. The oil operator can afford to produce these wells only so long as he receives a net operating profit. One of the factors involved in determining the magnitude of the operating profit is the cost of lifting production.