Surface and Pump

Card Reference
Loads
Analysis of Dynamometer Measurements w/
Dyno Cards, Valve Test and Analysis Plots

Need Pumping Unit Information:

Type, Unit Geometry, Direction of
Rotation, Prime Mover Information
Well Bore Tab Need: Rod
Rod Types,
Types, Rod
Rod Lengths,
Lengths, Rod
Rod
Diameters,
Diameters, Pump
Pump Plunger
Plunger Diameter,
Diameter, Pump
Pump Intake
Intake Depth,
Depth,
Polished
Polished Rod
Rod Diameter,
Diameter, Tubing
Tubing Size
Size

Wra
Conditions Tab Need: Producing
Producing &
& Static
Static BHP,
BHP,
Fluids
Fluids’’ gravities,
gravities, and
and Production
Production rates,
rates, Tubing
Tubing Head
Head
Pressure
Pressure ----
---- Tubing
Tubing Fluid
Fluid Gradient
Gradient
Measured & Computed Valve Loads
Wrf = Wra - Wra*0.128G

TV

SV

Wrf
 Buoyancy Force not
Buoyancy Force, Fb depend on depth or
pressure
Steel Rods ~ Fb = Wra*0.128*G

Buoyant force is
due the density of
the fluid displaced
Wrf = Wra – Fb by each rod.
 Symptoms of Well Flowing up Tubing and/or
Casing: Measured
Measured TV
TV and
and SV
SV loads
loads Approximately
Approximately Equal
Equal

Measured SV Load
High Due Light Flowing
Tubing Gradient

2007 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 7

Sept. 11 - 14, 2007 Used Normal
Tbg Fluid
Gradient
Gradient
0.445
0.2psi/ft
psi/ft
 If PRT Used for Valve Checks
1. Verify
Correct SV
Check
Load is
Selected

2. Click
Apply
button to
Adjust SV
to Buoyant
Rod Wgt.
 If PRT Used for Valve Checks
1. After
Clicking
Apply
button to
Adjust SV
to Buoyant
Rod Wgt.

2. The
Selected
SV Check
Load is
adjusted to
exactly
match the
Calc.
Buoyant
Rod Wgt.
Valve Test PRT/ HT
13.75

12.50 BOUYANT WEIGHT + FO MAX

TV SV

11.25

10.00 PRT Load Cell

8.75
BOUYANT WEIGHT
7.50

6.25

5.00
0 25.00 50.00 75.00 100.00 125.00 150.00 175.00

13.75
SV TV
HT Load Cell
12.50 BOUYANT WEIGHT + FO MAX

11.25

10.00

8.75
BOUYANT WEIGHT
7.50

6.25

5.00
0 25.00 50.00 75.00 100.00 125.00 150.00
Standing Valve Check Procedure
Standing valve check load is taken during the down
stroke by gently using the brake to bring the pumping
unit to a stop about ¼ from the bottom of the stroke.
Perform Two Standing Valve Checks
 On Downstroke:
Check Standing Valve Load
1) Pumping cycle was
interrupted on the
Downstroke when the TV 2189 psi
was open and SV was
closed for a standing valve
load check.

2) Static pressures across the

plunger are equal for SV
Load Check(shown). 2189 psi

3) SV load measures the

weight of the rods buoyed
in the tubing fluid.
500 psi
 Standing Valve Test
Standing Valve Load Test (above right) is a representative and correctly
taken standing valve test load. The load trace is located at the standing (SV)
load line and is sometimes called Wrf. The rod string load is measured, not the
load on the “standing valve”. This test records the load on the sucker rod string
when it is immersed in well fluid and the standing valve is not leaking. SV load
trace will usually be a flat line showing no weight gain unless the standing valve
is leaking, or there is leakage from the pump or tubing.
Traveling Valve Check Procedure
The traveling valve check load test is taken during the
upstroke by gently using the brake to bring the pumping
unit to a stop about ¼ from the top of the stroke.
Perform Two Traveling Valve Checks
 On Upstroke:
Check Traveling Valve Load
1) Pumping cycle was
interrupted on the
Upstroke when the TV 2189 psi
was closed and SV
was open for a
traveling valve load
check.

2) Pressure inside the 500 psi

pump are equal to the
pump intake pressure.

3) When stopped on 500 psi

upstroke TV Check
weighs = Wrf + Fo.
 Traveling Valve Test
Traveling Valve Load Test (above right) is a representative and correctly
taken traveling valve load test. This load trace is located at the traveling (TV)
load line and is sometimes called Wrf + Fluid Load. The test records the load
on the rod string immersed in well fluid, plus the fluid load applied to the rod
string by the pump plunger. When the traveling valve is not leaking, the load
trace will usually be a flat line showing very little weight loss of the fluid load.
Normally, the TV load leaks between the pump plunger and barrel clearances.
 Traveling Valve Test
Traveling Valve Load Test showing load loss during the traveling
valve check. The weight loss is usually associated with a leaky traveling valve
or slippage of fluid due to the diametric clearances (0.008” above) between the
pump plunger and the pump barrel. This load must be taken while the pumping
unit is stopped on the upstroke. After the pumping unit stops, the TV load
should be approximately equal to the Wrf + Fo from the Fluid Level.
 Possible problems:
TV Leaks worn plunger or barrel, pitted ball, cut
seat, tubing leak, or well flowing off.
1. Leakage rate indicated by
changes in the polished rod
load due to changes in the 2189 psi
difference in pressure
across the plunger
2. Liquid leaking past traveling
valve and/or plunger enters
pump barrel and increasing
pressure. 700 psi
3. Differential pressure
decreases across plunger.
4. Pump load on the rods
decreases, resulting in a 500 psi
decreasing polished rod
load.
TV Check Shows Leaks

TV

SV
 Possible problems:
SV Leaks pitted ball, cut seat, hole in pump
barrel, or damaged pump parts.
1. Liquid leaking past
standing valve leaves
pump barrel and 2189 psi
decreasing pressure.

2. The leak causes

increasing differential
pressure across
plunger, and results in 1500 psi
the plunger applying
fluid load to rods.

3. Both pump rod load 500 psi

and polished rod load
increases.
SV Check Shows Leak

TV

SV
 Zero Load Line ~ Down Stroke
Pump Card Reference: Fo From Fluid Level ~ Up Stroke
Normal Pump Card Loads:
22.50
SV Open Upstroke:
20.00 Wrf + Fo Max Fo Max = (Pdis – 0)*Ap
17.50 Fo = (Pdis - Pintk)*Ap
TV Open Downstroke:
15.00
Fo = 0
12.50
Wrf Reference Lines:
10.00
Fo Max 1. Fo Max - assumes pump intake
Well pressure is zero, where well provides
7.50 Fo From Fluid Level no help in lifting the fluid to the surface.
2. Fo From Fluid Level - assumes
5.00 pump intake pressure determined from
fluid level shot, where well’s PIP
Fo ~ Height of Pump Card provides help in lifting the fluid.
2.50 Fluid Load Lifted by Rods 3. Zero Load Line – assumes
pressure above and below the plunger
0 are equal; no friction due to fluid
156.0 displacing through SV on down stroke
-2.50
0 168.0
Zero Load Line
Load Reference Line ~ Down Stroke
Down Steps
Steps in
in the
the
Stroke Pump
Pump
Operation
Operation
Pdis B
C
Plunger
Stroke SANDIA
Length
Pb Pump Card
After SV Close A D
and TV Opens:
Pintk Pb = Pdis
Pb > Pintk D - A, the fluid in the
pump is displaced
D) Pump discharge pressure (Pdis) equals the through the traveling
static tubing pressure (Pb), and the traveling valve into the tubing
valve opens. Pdis now carried by tubing. and ZERO fluid load
is on rods.
Fo From Fluid Level
Load Reference Line on Up Stroke
Up Fo = Steps
Steps in
in the
the
Stroke (Pdis-Pintk)*Area Pump Pump
Pump
Operation
Operation
B
C
Plunger
Stroke SANDIA
Length
Pump Card
A D

B-C Plunger applies

B) Standing Valve opens, when rods stretch to pick Fluid load, Fo, to the
up fluid load, Fo, from tubing. rods as well fluids are
C) Standing valve closes. drawn into the pump.
Reference Loads for the Downhole
Pump Card
Understanding the pump card basic loads are critical to
analyzing and troubleshooting downhole problems:
10
Fo Max
8 Fo From Fluid Level
6

2
Zero Load
0

-2
0 156.0
Buoyancy Force
Acting on a sucker rod
was defined long ago.

Archimedes’ Principle:
Defines the buoyancy force to be
equal to the weight of the volume
of fluid displaced by an object.

Impact of the buoyancy force:

• Rods suspended in a fluid appears to weigh less, Wrf.

• Wrf = Wra, minus the buoyant force, 0.128xSGxWra.
• Buoyant force does not depend on the depth
(pressure) at which the object is submerged, but the
specific gravity, SG, of the fluid displaced.
True Load = Dynamic Load - Buoyancy Force
‹ Solved Wave
Eq. without
gravity term

‹ No Buoyancy
Effective on
Dynamic
Pump Loads

‹ Pump Card
loads shifted
1226 Lb Buoyancy Force down below
the zero load
line.

Predicting Behavior Sucker Rod Systems, S. Gibbs, SPE588, July 1963

Load(true
Load(true)) = Load(eff
Load(eff)) - PoAo
1. Ao is the
outside
cross
sectional
area
2. Po is the
hydrostatic
pressure @
Ao

- PoAo

Interpretation of Calculated Forces on Sucker Rods, J.F.Lea, SPE25416, Feb 1995

Where does ““PoAo”
PoAo” come from?
API RP 11L Equation for Calculating Wrf by Displaced Volume
Wrf = Wra – Fbuoy = Wra(1 – 0.128G)
Fbuoy = Wra * 0.128 * SG
Density Ratio (Water/Steel) = 62.4/487.5 = 0.128
Volume(Rod) = Wra/487.5
Fbouy = Volume(Rod) * 62.4 * SG
Volume = Length * Area
Fbouy = Length * Area * Gradient

Buoyancy Force calculated by Pressure Equilibrium PoAo

P1 = Pressure
P2 = P1 + Length * Gradient
Fbuoy = (P2 -P1) * Area = (P1 + Length*Gradient - P1) * Area
Fbuoy = Length*Area*Gradient
Wrf = Wra – AoPo
Ao = (wt/ft) / density
= 2.90 / 487.5 x 144 = 0.8566 sq in
Diameter 1” Rod = 1.044” (True Diameter)
 Buoyancy – Tubing Fluid Gradient
Tubing
22.50 Fluid Gradient = 0.432 Tubing
22.50 Fluid Gradient = 0.0
20.00 Wrf + Fo Max 20.00

17.50 17.50
TV (measured)
15.00 Wra = 11942 15.00

12.50 12.50
Wrf 10424
10.00 10.00
Fo Max

7.50 Fo From Fluid Level 7.50

5.00 5.00
Fbuoy = Wra - Wrf
2.50 2.50
Fbuoy = 1518
0 0
155.6 155.6

-2.50 -2.50
0 168.0 0 168.0
 Missing Buoyancy – Hole in Tubing
22.50 Wrf + Fo Max 5.63
Wrf + Fo Max
20.00 5.00

4.38
17.50 Rod Loads Heavier than Wrf
Wrf
3.75
15.00
Rods Lighter than 3.13
12.50 Wra because Rods Wrf

Above Hole in Air 2.50 Fo Max

10.00
and Rods Below 1.88
Fo From Fluid Level

7.50
Hole Rods in Fluid
Fo Max 1.25

5.00
0.63
Fo From Fluid Level
2.50 0
99.7
Missing Buoyancy Missing Buoyancy
0 -0.63
0 128.9
120.0 0 100.0
 Tubing Fluid Gradient – Wrf & Pdisp
17.50 Wrf + Fo Max

15.00
Wrf + Fo Max

12.50

10.00 Kt
Wrf
Wrf
Fo Max
Kt
7.50
Kt
Fo Max Fo From Fluid Level

5.00 Fo Max
Fo From Fluid Level

Fo From Fluid Level

2.50
Grad
Grad = 0.3
= 0.442 psi/ft
psi/ft
Grad = 0.221
0
136.5

-2.50
0 144.0
Questions ?