公开(公告)号：US11174856B2

公开(公告)日：2021-11-16

申请号：US15345288

申请日：2016-11-07

Applicant: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC

Inventor： Clark E. Robison ,  Jeffrey John Lembcke ,  Ross E. Moffett ,  Bryan A. Paulet ,  Phillip Andrew Briggs ,  Brent Wesley Pickens ,  Benson Thomas ,  Robert McDonald

IPC: F04B47/14 ,  F04B47/02 ,  E21B43/12

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to apparatus and methods for counterbalancing a pumping unit. One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for operation a pumping unit. The method includes measuring an orientation of a component and one or more parameters of the pumping unit while running the pumping unit, and determining an imbalance of the pumping unit according to the measured orientation and one or more parameters.

公开(公告)号：US10400761B2

公开(公告)日：2019-09-03

申请号：US15011330

申请日：2016-01-29

Applicant: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC

Inventor： Clark E. Robison ,  Benson Thomas ,  William Kevin Hall ,  Sean M. Christian

IPC: F04B47/14 ,  F04B49/20 ,  E21B43/12 ,  F04B17/03 ,  F04B47/02 ,  F04B19/22

Abstract: A long stroke pumping unit includes a tower, a counterweight assembly movable along the tower, a crown mounted atop the tower, and a drum supported by the crown and rotatable relative thereto. A belt has a first end connected to the counterweight assembly and a second end connectable to a rod string, and the belt extends over the drum. A linear electromagnetic motor is used to reciprocate the counterweight assembly along the tower. The linear electromagnetic motor includes a traveler mounted to an exterior of the counterweight assembly and a stator extending from a base of the tower to the crown and along a guide rail of the tower. The pumping unit further includes a sensor for detecting position of the counterweight assembly.

公开(公告)号：US10197050B2

公开(公告)日：2019-02-05

申请号：US15004260

申请日：2016-01-22

Applicant: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC

Inventor： Clark E. Robison ,  Benson Thomas ,  Michael Gilbert Chavira ,  Luis Alberto Garcia ,  Jeffrey Wing Lun Seto ,  Michael Charles Ramsey

IPC: E21B47/02 ,  F04B49/02 ,  E21B43/12 ,  F04B17/03 ,  F04B19/22 ,  F04B47/02 ,  F04B47/14 ,  F04B49/10 ,  F04B51/00 ,  F04B53/14 ,  F04B53/18

Abstract: A reciprocating rod pumping unit includes a tower; a counterweight assembly movable along the tower; and a drum connected to an upper end of the tower and rotatable relative thereto. The unit also includes a belt having a first end connected to the counterweight assembly, extending over the drum, and having a second end connectable to a rod string. The unit further includes a prime mover for reciprocating the counterweight assembly along the tower; a sensor for detecting a condition of the pumping unit; a brake system for halting movement of the counterweight assembly; and a controller in communication with the at least one of the sensors and operable to activate the brake system in response to detection of the faulty condition of the pumping unit.

公开(公告)号：US11512582B2

公开(公告)日：2022-11-29

申请号：US17022380

申请日：2020-09-16

Applicant: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC

Inventor： Behrouz S. Ebrahimi ,  Jeffrey John Lembcke ,  Clark E. Robison

IPC: E21B47/009 ,  F04B47/02 ,  F04B49/10 ,  E21B43/12 ,  E21B41/00 ,  G01M13/045

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating a rod pumping unit for a wellbore are provided. One example method includes measuring vibration data in the time domain using at least one sensor coupled to a housing for a moving component of the rod pumping unit; converting the vibration data in the time domain to vibration data in the frequency domain; determining that: (1) at least one frequency component of the frequency-domain vibration data in a first frequency band has a power above a first threshold; or (2) a number of frequency components of the frequency-domain vibration data in a second frequency band having power above a second threshold is above a third threshold; and outputting an indication based on the determination.

公开(公告)号：US11187064B2

公开(公告)日：2021-11-30

申请号：US14947919

申请日：2015-11-20

Applicant: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC

Inventor： Benson Thomas ,  Patricia L. Vines ,  Clark E. Robison

IPC: E21B43/12 ,  E21B47/008 ,  E21B33/06

Abstract: A well pumping system can include a rod rotator including a torque transfer device, an outer housing and a rotary actuator. The rotary actuator rotates the torque transfer device and a rod relative to the outer housing. The rod reciprocably displaces longitudinally relative to the outer housing. A method of rotating a rod string can include applying a torque from a torque transfer device to a rod connected to the rod string, the torque being maintained in the rod as the rod displaces relative to an outer housing. The torque transfer device is fully enclosed within the outer housing during the torque applying step. Another well pumping system can include a rod rotator with an outer housing connected between a stuffing box and a blowout preventer. The rod rotator rotates a rod string in a well.

公开(公告)号：US10962000B2

公开(公告)日：2021-03-30

申请号：US16378085

申请日：2019-04-08

Applicant: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC

Inventor： Clark E. Robison ,  Benson Thomas ,  Sean M. Christian

IPC: F04B47/14 ,  F04B49/20 ,  E21B43/12 ,  F04B47/02 ,  F04B17/03 ,  F04B19/22

Abstract: A long stroke pumping unit includes a tower and a counterweight assembly movable along the tower. A belt includes a first end connected to the counterweight assembly and a second end connectable to a rod string. A prime mover is used to reciprocate the counterweight assembly along the tower. A sensor detects the position of the counterweight assembly, and a load cell measures the force exerted on the rod string. A motor is provided to adjust an effective weight of the counterweight assembly during reciprocation thereof along the tower. A controller communicates data with the sensor and the load cell and controls the adjustment force exerted by the adjustment motor.

公开(公告)号：US10794173B2

公开(公告)日：2020-10-06

申请号：US15487106

申请日：2017-04-13

Applicant: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC

Inventor： Behrouz S. Ebrahimi ,  Jeffrey John Lembcke ,  Clark E. Robison

IPC: E21B47/009 ,  F04B47/02 ,  F04B49/10 ,  E21B43/12 ,  E21B41/00 ,  G01M13/045

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating a rod pumping unit for a wellbore are provided. One example method includes measuring vibration data in the time domain using at least one sensor coupled to a housing for a moving component of the rod pumping unit; converting the vibration data in the time domain to vibration data in the frequency domain; determining that: (1) at least one frequency component of the frequency-domain vibration data in a first frequency band has a power above a first threshold; or (2) a number of frequency components of the frequency-domain vibration data in a second frequency band having power above a second threshold is above a third threshold; and outputting an indication based on the determination.

公开(公告)号：US10344573B2

公开(公告)日：2019-07-09

申请号：US15448231

申请日：2017-03-02

Applicant: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC

Inventor： Clark E. Robison ,  Peri Sabhapathy ,  Benson Thomas

IPC: E21B43/12 ,  E21B47/00 ,  F04B47/02 ,  F04B47/04 ,  F04B49/06 ,  F04B49/10 ,  F04B53/16 ,  G01D5/14

Abstract: A hydraulic pumping system for use with a subterranean well can include an actuator with a displaceable actuator member, a magnet device that displaces with the actuator member, the magnet device including at least one permanent magnet positioned between low magnetic permeability elements, and a sensor that senses a magnetic flux propagated from the magnet device. The actuator can include a cylinder, and the sensor can include an outer tube, with materials of the cylinder and outer tube having substantially a same magnetic permeability. An enclosure can be positioned exterior to the cylinder, with the sensor being positioned at least partially in the enclosure. The enclosure can be configured to focus the magnet flux, so that it propagates to the sensor.

公开(公告)号：US12203359B2

公开(公告)日：2025-01-21

申请号：US17693646

申请日：2022-03-14

Applicant: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC

Inventor： Clark E. Robison ,  Bryan A. Paulet

IPC: E21B47/008 ,  G08B21/18

Abstract: A sensor assembly can include a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and a housing assembly containing the gyroscope and the accelerometer. An axis of the gyroscope can be collinear with an axis of the accelerometer. A method of inspecting a well pumping unit can include attaching a sensor assembly to the pumping unit, recording acceleration versus time data, and in response to an amplitude of the acceleration versus time data exceeding a predetermined threshold, transforming the data to acceleration versus frequency data. A method of balancing a well pumping unit can include comparing peaks of acceleration versus rotational orientation data to peaks of acceleration due to circular motion, and adjusting a position of a counterweight, thereby reducing a difference between the peaks of acceleration due to circular motion and the peaks of the acceleration versus rotational orientation data for subsequent operation of the pumping unit.

公开(公告)号：US11781543B2

公开(公告)日：2023-10-10

申请号：US17103187

申请日：2020-11-24

Applicant: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC

Inventor： Clark E. Robison ,  Jeffrey John Lembcke ,  Victoria M. Pons ,  William Kevin Hall ,  John Edward Stachowiak, Jr. ,  Benson Thomas ,  Sean M. Christian ,  Bryan A. Paulet ,  Hermann Basler

IPC: E21B43/12 ,  F04B49/20 ,  F04B47/14 ,  E21B47/009

CPC classification number: F04B49/20 ,  E21B43/126 ,  E21B43/127 ,  E21B47/009 ,  F04B47/14

Abstract: A long-stroke pumping unit includes a tower; a counterweight assembly movable along the tower; a crown mounted atop the tower; a sprocket supported by the crown and rotatable relative thereto; and a belt. The unit further includes a motor having a stator mounted to the crown and a rotor torsionally connected to the sprocket; and a sensor for detecting position of the counterweight assembly. The pumping unit may include a dynamic control system for controlling a speed of a motor.