Abstract
Wireless surveillance of rod pumped oil wells has typically involved mating high power radios with pump off controllers. These combinations are very effective but economic application is limited due to cost. A need exists for a simpler wireless surveillance system that can be economically applied to stripper wells. Continued breakthroughs in the technology sector have lead to lowered cost and improved quality for a variety of electronic components. This study involves a low cost, small, self-contained wireless vibration surveillance unit that can be bolted directly to the pumping unit. The device includes a shear-sensing transducer, battery, pre-programmed microchip, and low power radio transmitter. Signals related to the vibration behavior of the pumping unit are transmitted to a base station computer that will indicate an alarm condition when the well deviates from normal, pumped off performance.
