Measuring of fluid level in a well

Abstract

A method of using a variety of sonic transmissions is utilized to determine fluid level in a well. It is known that wells replenish fluid at different rates even in the same formation or well field. Maximum production at minimum pumping cost is achieved for a given well.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method to set pump activate and pump inactivate conditions, in a well containing a pumpable liquid, to pump the liquid comprising: 
 transmitting a first continuous sonic signal at a first frequency to a well casing thereby creating a reflected well casing sonic signal;    receiving the reflected well casing sonic signal from first sonic signal;    transmitting a second continuous sonic signal at a second frequency, different than said first frequency, to a well tubing thereby creating a reflected well tubing sonic signal;    receiving a reflected well tubing sonic signal from said second sonic signal;    transmitting a third continuous sonic signal at a third frequency, different than said first frequency and different than said second frequency, to the well annulus;    receiving a reflected well annulus sonic signal from said third sonic signal;    utilizing at least one of the reflected signals corresponding to the transmitted signal to determine an initial liquid level P 2  of the well;    pumping the liquid from the well until the well is at a no liquid pumpable state P 0 ;    utilizing at least one of the reflected signals corresponding to the transmitted signal to determine the no liquid pumpable state P 0 ;    storing the data generated from the reflected signal used at the no liquid pumpable state P 0 ;    storing the data generated from the corresponding transmitted signal at the initial liquid level P 2  of the well;    continuously monitoring the liquid level of the well and converting the data generated to activate the pump to pump the liquid at a liquid level less than or equal to the initial liquid level P 2 ;    continuously monitoring the liquid level of the well and converting the data generated to inactivate the pump at a liquid level P 1  above the no liquid pumpable state P 0 ; 
 thereby activating the pump and inactivating the pump to pump the liquid.  
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the data generated from the transmitted signals and the reflected signals are averaged to determine at least one of P 0  and P 2 .  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein all three of the reflected signals corresponding to the transmitted signals are utilized to determine the no liquid pumpable state P 0 .  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein all three of the reflected signals corresponding to the transmitted signals are utilized to determine the initial liquid level P 2  of the well.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transmitted signals and the reflected signals are averaged to determine the P 1  level.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transmitted signals and the reflected signals are utilized to determine the P 1  level.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the data generated from the transmitted signals and the reflected signals are averaged to determine at least one of P 0  and P 2 .  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pumpable liquid is petroleum based.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pumpable liquid is aqueous based.  
     
     
         10 . A method to set pump activate and pump inactivate conditions, in a well containing a pumpable liquid, to pump the liquid comprising: 
 selectively transmitting a first sonic signal at a first frequency to a well casing thereby creating a reflected well casing sonic signal;    receiving the reflected well casing sonic signal, when said first sonic signal is transmitted, from said first sonic signal;    selectively transmitting a second sonic signal at a second frequency, different than said first frequency, to a well tubing thereby creating a reflected well tubing sonic signal;    receiving a reflected well tubing sonic signal, when said second sonic signal is transmitted, from said second sonic signal;    selectively transmitting a third sonic signal at a third frequency, different than said first frequency and different than said second frequency, to the well annulus;    receiving a reflected well annulus sonic signal, when said third sonic signal is transmitted;    utilizing at least two of the reflected signals from the corresponding transmitted signals to determine the initial liquid levels P 2  of the well;    pumping the liquid from the well until the well is at a no liquid pumpable state P 0 ;    utilizing at least two of the reflected signals corresponding to the transmitted signals to determine the no liquid pumpable state P 0 ;    storing the data generated from the reflected signals used at the no liquid pumpable state P 0 ;    storing the data generated from the corresponding transmitted signal at the initial liquid level P 2  of the well;    monitoring the liquid level of the well and converting the data generated to activate the pump to pump the liquid at a liquid level less than or equal to the initial liquid level P 2 ;    monitoring the liquid level of the well and converting the data generated to inactivate the pump at a liquid level P 1  above the no liquid pumpable state P 0 ; 
 thereby activating the pump and inactivating the pump to pump the liquid.  
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the data generated from the transmitted signals and the reflected signals are averaged to determine at least one of P 0  and P 2 .  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein all three of the reflected signals corresponding to the transmitted signals are utilized to determine the no liquid pumpable state P 0 .  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein all three of the reflected signals corresponding to the transmitted signals are utilized to determine the initial liquid levels P 2  of the well.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the transmitted signals and the reflected signals are averaged to determine the P 1  level.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the transmitted signals and the reflected signals are utilized to determine the P 1  level.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the data generated from the transmitted signals and the reflected signals are averaged to determine at least one of P 0  and P 2 .  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the pumpable liquid is petroleum based.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the pumpable liquid is aqueous based.