Calculating Production

From Dynamometer Data

By: John G. Svinos
Theta Enterprises, Inc.

www.gotheta.com
Theta Enterprises, Inc.

Basic Functions of Wave

Equation Diagnostic
Computer Programs

Input:
Measured dynamometer card
Pumping speed (SPM)
Pump size
Rod string design
Pumping unit type and size

Theta Enterprises, Inc.

Basic Functions of Wave

Equation Diagnostic
Computer Programs

Output:
Peak & min. Pumping
polished
unitrod
type loads
and size
Rod stresses and rod loading
Gearbox loading
CB moment to balance unit
System efficiency
Downhole pump dynamometer
card
X

Theta Enterprises, Inc.

Full
Pump

Theta Enterprises, Inc.

Fluid Pound (Anchored Tubing)

Low
pressure
gas

Upstroke
A

Upstroke
B

Downstroke
C

Downstroke
D

B
C
X

D
Theta Enterprises, Inc.

Group 1 - Downhole pump dynamometer cards

Full pump
Anchored tubing

Slight fluid pound

Anchored tubing

Severe fluid pound

Anchored tubing

Completely pumped off

Anchored tubing

Leaking traveling valve

or plunger

Full pump - Unanchored tubing

or tubing anchor not holding

Slight fluid pound

Unanchored tubing
Severe fluid pound
Unanchored tubing

Malfunctioning
tubing anchor

Leaking standing valve

Theta Enterprises,
Enterprises, Inc.
Inc.
Theta

Plunger hitting bottom

Plunger hitting top
(pump spaced too low)
(pump spaced too high)
Group 1 - Downhole pump dynamometer cards - Page 3

Gas locked pump

Bent or sticking
pump barrel

Gas InterferenceInterference- Plunger

spaced too far from bottom

Worn or split
pump barrel

Worn out pump

Slightly worn pump

Severe traveling valve leak

Severely worn out pump,
parted rods, or flowing well

Theta Enterprises, Inc.

Incomplete pump fillage for upper

ring valve pump or delayed TV closure
Stuck Pump
Plunger
Group 1 - Downhole pump dynamometer cards Page 2

Pump plunger sticking

on the upstroke

Full pump
high rodrod-onon-tubing friction

Full pump
High fluid friction

Flowing and pumping

Combined unanchored tubing

and leaking traveling valve

Full pump - Shallow friction

(tight stuffing box, paraffin, etc.)

Full pump - Excessive

Shallow friction

Severely worn pump

Theta Enterprises, Inc.

What else can we get from a

downhole dynamometer card?
Pump intake pressure and effective
fluid level.
Net Stroke and production rate based
on net stroke.

Theta Enterprises, Inc.

Pump intake pressure and fluid level calculation

Pa = pressure above plunger
Pt = tubing head pressure
L = Pump Depth (ft)

Fo = Fluid load

Pa

SGt = tubing fluid

specific gravity
SGc = casing fluid specific
gravity
Pi = pump intake
pressure (psi)
Ap = pump plunger
area (in^2)
dp = plunger diameter (in)
Pc = casing pressure (psi)

Fo = (Pa - Pi) Ap
Pa = (0.433 SGt) L + Pt

Pb
H

Ap =

dp2
4

Fo
= Pa - Pi
Ap

Fo
Pi = Pa Ap

Pi = H(0.433 SGc) + Pc
Pi

Pi - Pc
H=
0.433 SGc

Theta Enterprises, Inc.

Calculation of Fluid Load and Pump Stroke

From a Calculated Dynamometer Card With
Exact Friction Modeling

Fo = Fluid Load

Snet
Sgross

193

Theta Enterprises, Inc.

Normally, the downhole

Pumping unit type and size
Pump Card Contains Left
Over Rod-tubing Friction Not
Removed by the Wave
Equation Because the User
Does Not Know What to Use
for Rod-tubing Friction.
Theta Enterprises, Inc.

Calculation of Fluid Load and Pump Stroke From

a Calculated Downhole Dynamometer Card
= Friction

Fo = Fluid Load

Snet
Sgross

Theta Enterprises, Inc.

Example Line Settings

Theta Enterprises, Inc.

How to Determine the Correct

Rod-tubing Friction Coefficient
1) Run Wave Equation software with different rodrodtubing friction coefficients (trial and error) until the
top and bottom of the downhole pump card is
straight.
2) Reduce rodrod-tubing friction if loops start to form at
the ends of the card or if top or bottom of card
becomes concave.
3) Do not do this if there are severe downhole
problems such as: Leaking traveling or standing
valves, gas lock, stuck pump, etc.
Theta Enterprises, Inc.

Rod-tubing Friction Coefficient

Must Be Increased

Theta Enterprises, Inc.

Correct Rod-tubing Friction

Coefficient

Theta Enterprises, Inc.

Rod-tubing Friction Coefficient

Is Too High

Theta Enterprises, Inc.

This Procedure Can Be

Automated by Using Expert
Analysis Software (XDIAG)
XDIAG uses pattern recognition to determine if
rod-tubing friction used by wave equation is
too much or too little, and can converge on the
right answer.
Quality of results depend on quality of data
and pump condition. Some error correction is
performed by XDIAG.
Theta Enterprises, Inc.

Example XDIAG report, Page 1

Theta Enterprises, Inc.

10

Example XDIAG report, Page 2

Rod-tubing
friction
coefficient
determined by
XDIAGs expert
knowledge

XDIAG

Theta Enterprises, Inc.

SAM
Controller
By:
By: Lufkin
Lufkin Automation
Automation

Theta Enterprises, Inc.

11

Detecting Fluid Pound with Downhole

Pump Dynamometer Cards

65% Fillage

Pumped
off
Shut down @75% fillage

Theta Enterprises, Inc.

SAM Inferred Production

Can accurately calculate the gross
fluid production.
Uses the downhole card to calculate
pump production from each stroke.
The calculation is totaled at a set time
each day to give the daily total fluid
produced.

Theta Enterprises, Inc.

12

XSPOC Card Viewer Screen

Easy
Easy to
to create
create
dynamic
dynamicexception
exception
groups
groups

Theta Enterprises, Inc.

Theta Enterprises Internet

Home Page and E-mail
http://www.gotheta.com or:
http://www.xspoc.com
E-mail Addresses:
jsvinos@gotheta.com - John G. Svinos
Rod Pumping Optimization, RODSTAR, RODIAG, XDIAG,
CBALANCE, XTOOLS, DYNOSTAR, T1 Dyno.

terry@xspoc.com - Terry Treiberg

XSPOC questions, XSPOC Installation
Theta Enterprises, Inc.

13