System and method for automating or metering fluid recovered at a well

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods, apparatus and systems for automating or metering fluid recovered at a well. According to one example, a system is described for automating the fluid recovery of oil wells using a pump jack or oil extractor. A communications device is installed with each system to allow remote bi-directional communications to monitor, control, and diagnose problems with the device or system.

In view of the above discussion I claim:  
     
         1 . A fluid recovery system comprising: 
 a. a recovery device for retrieving fluid from a well;    b. a meter connected to the recovery device for receiving flluid from the recovery device and measuring the amount of fluid recovered; and    c. a control module for controlling the operation of the recovery device and the meter.    
     
     
         2 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 1  wherein the control module is integrated into the recovery device.  
     
     
         3 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 1  wherein the control module is integrated into the meter.  
     
     
         4 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 1  wherein the recovery device is extractor.  
     
     
         5 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 1  wherein the recovery device is jack.  
     
     
         6 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 1  wherein the control module stamps the measured amount of fluid recovered by the recovery device.  
     
     
         7 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 1  wherein the control module includes a communications interface for transmitting data to and from fluid recovery system.  
     
     
         8 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 7  where in the communications interface is wireless communications.  
     
     
         9 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 8  wherein the wireless communications permits remote monitoring and control of the fluid recovery system.  
     
     
         10 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 1  wherein the control module diagnostic operations and communicates the results of those operations to a user.  
     
     
         11 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 1  wherein the meter is a tank to separate air and fluid.  
     
     
         12 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 1  wherein the meter further include sensors for detecting water.  
     
     
         13 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 1  wherein the fluid recovered is oil.  
     
     
         14 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 13  wherein the control module tunes the oil recovery rate of the recovery device to recover oil at a rate approximately equal to the recovery rate of oil in the well.  
     
     
         15 . A fluid recovery network comprising: 
 a. two or more recovery systems, each having 
 i. a recovery device for retrieving fluid from a well;  
 ii. a meter connected to the recovery device for receiving fluid from the recovery device and measuring the amount of fluid recovered;  
 iii. a control module for controlling the operation of he recovery device and the meter; and  
 iv. a communications interface for transmitting data to and from the recovery system;  
   b. a storage tank for storing fluid retrieved by the recovery systems; and    c. flow lines interconnecting the two or more recovery systems and the storage tank.    
     
     
         16 . A meter comprising: 
 a. means for measuring fluid;    b. a control module for controlling the operation of the meter and other devices connected to the meter; and    c. a communications interface for communicating data to and from the meter.    
     
     
         17 . The meter of  claim 16  wherein the control module includes diagnostic routines for the meter and the other devices.  
     
     
         18 . The meter of  claim 16  wherein the meter is placed at a well for measuring fluid recovered from the well.  
     
     
         19 . The meter of  claim 16  wherein the communications interface includes wireless communications.  
     
     
         20 . The meter of  claim 16  wherein the meter is a Coriolis flow meter.  
     
     
         21 . The meter of  claim 16  wherein the meter is a tank meter for separating air and fluids for measuring the fluid, the tank meter comprising: 
 a. a tank having an inlet for receiving air and fluid, a drain for emptying the tank of fluid, and a vent for air;  
 b. at least one valve for opening and closing the drain and vent; and  
 c. level meter to measure the fluid in the tank.  
 
     
     
         22 . The tank meter of  claim 21  wherein the valve is a three-way valve.  
     
     
         23 . The tank meter of  claim 21  further comprising a sensor for detecting the presence of water in the tank.  
     
     
         24 . A method of recovering fluid from a well comprising the steps of: 
 a. recovering fluid from a well using a pump jack or oil extractor;    b. measuring the amount of fluid recovered by the recovery system; and    c. communicating the amount recovered at the well by the recovery system to an operator.    
     
     
         25 . A method of doing business comprising, 
 a. recovering fluid at a well;    b. metering the amount of fluid recovered; and    c. charging a fee based on the amount of fluid recovered.    
     
     
         26 . A fluid recovery system comprising: 
 a. an oil extractor device for retrieving fluid from a well; and    b. a control module for controlling the operation of the recovery device and having a communications interface for transmitting data to and from the oil extractor device.    
     
     
         27 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 26  wherein the data transmitted from the oil extractor device is diagnostic information.  
     
     
         28 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 26  further including a meter connected to the oil extractor for receiving fluid and measuring the amount of fluid recovered by the oil extractor.  
     
     
         29 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 26  wherein the control module time stamps the measured amounts of fluid recovered.  
     
     
         30 . A fluid recovery system comprising: 
 a. a pump jack for retrieving fluid from a well; and    b. a control module for controlling the operation of the recovery device and having a communications interface for transmitting data to and from the pump jack.    
     
     
         31 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 30  wherein the data transmitted from the oil extractor device is diagnostic information.  
     
     
         32 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 30  further including a meter connected to the oil extractor for receiving fluid and measuring the amount of fluid recovered by the pump jack.  
     
     
         33 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 30  wherein the control module time stamps the measured amounts of fluid recovered.  
     
     
         34 . A fluid recovery system of  claim 30  further comprising a bi-directional communication device that enables an operator to monitor and control the recovery device remotely.  
     
     
         35 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 34 , wherein the bi-directional communications device is a modem for cellular connection.  
     
     
         36 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 34 , wherein the bi-directional communications device is a radio.  
     
     
         37 . The fluid recovery system of  claim 34  wherein the communications device includes both a bi-directional communications radio and a modem for cellular connection.