System and Method for Coordinated Monitoring and Control of Multiple Oil Well Pump Systems

Abstract

A pump monitoring and control system includes a plurality of pumps associated with a well, each of the plurality of pumps including one or more sensors associated therewith, and one or more communication devices linking each of the sensors with a well system controller. The well system controller is configured to process information received from the one or more sensors and control any of the plurality of pumps based on information received from one or more of the plurality of pumps.

1 . A pump monitoring and control system, comprising:
 a plurality of pumps associated with a well;   each of the plurality of pumps including one or more sensors associated therewith; and   one or more communication devices linking each of the sensors with a well system controller;   wherein the well system controller is configured to process information received from the one or more sensors and control any of the plurality of pumps based on information received from one or more of the plurality of pumps.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pumps comprise one of oil pumps and water pumps. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a sensor for sensing information related to one or more of: load, crank position, vibration, acceleration, temperature, atmospheric pressure, distance above the ground, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor information is used to control the power usage of individual pumps. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor information is used to predict the failure of individual pumps. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor information is used to schedule the maintenance of the plurality of pumps. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the communication device includes a wireless communications link. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the wireless communications link is used to upload software updates to the controller. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor information is used to control the operation of said plurality of pumps to reduce pounding for each pump. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor information is used to indicate one of flooding and depth of snow. 
   
   
       11 . A method of monitoring and controlling a pump system, the method comprising:
 initializing, through a well system controller, a plurality of pumps associated with a well, the initializing including one or more of: powering on each of the pumps, configuring each of a plurality of pump controllers associated with the pumps, configuring each of a plurality of sensors associated with the pumps, wherein one or more communication devices link each of the sensors with a well system controller, and initiating a pumping operation with one or more of the pumps;   entering an event-driven loop by polling for fault status events and internal timeout events, the fault status events received from the plurality of sensors from one or more communication devices;   sending a data request to each of the plurality of pumps and waiting for responses therefrom for a specified amount of time;   determining, from data returned by the plurality of the pumps, desired operating parameters for each of the pumps; and   issuing an update command, with new parameters, to each of the pumps and returning to the beginning of the event-driven loop.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of pumps comprise one of oil pumps and water pumps. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sensor senses information related to one of: load, crank position, vibration, acceleration, temperature, atmospheric pressure distance above the ground, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising using the sensor information to control the power usage of individual pumps. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising using the sensor information to predict the failure of individual pumps. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising using the sensor information to schedule the maintenance of the plurality of pumps, wherein a maintenance request is issued in the event the returned data indicates that one or more pumps are to be shut down for maintenance. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said communications devices comprise wireless devices. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising using the wireless devices to upload software updates to the well system controller. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising using the sensor information to control the operation of the plurality of pumps to reduce pounding for each of the pumps. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising using the sensor information to indicate one of flooding and depth of snow.