Knowing correct pump fillage is pivotal in well control as well as in estimating pump efficiency and thereby optimizing the production of a beam pumping well. The pump fillage is often approximated from the graphical representation of the downhole card, which can sometimes be inaccurate.

This paper focuses on a method to compute pump fillage using downhole position versus time and load versus time data either calculated from the measured surface data or measured by a downhole dynamometer. Accurately calculating the pump fillage involves correctly locating the transfer point, the point at which the load is transferred from the standing valve to the traveling valve.

This paper proposes a method comprised of four algorithms to locate the transfer point. The combination of these methods correctly locates the transfer point, accurately determines the pump fillage and therefore optimizes well control and production. Results from application of the method over numerous data sets covering a wide range of conditions are discussed and they demonstrate effectiveness of the method for optimization of beam well assets.

Keywords:
downhole card, downhole position data, downhole position, beam pumping, pump fillage value, pump fillage, final pump fillage value output, pump fillage calculation, example 1, fillage value
Subjects:
Artificial Lift Systems, Beam and related pumping techniques
Copyright 2010, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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