| Troubleshooting
Mechanical or Operational
1. Pump will not pressure up
If the pump will not pressure up (the basic assumption is the
wing valve on surface has been closed and the pumping unit was
left pumping), there are several things to check to determine
where the problem may exist. In no order of preference, the following
things should be checked:
a) check the fluid level in the well to
ensure there is fluid available to pump
b) space the plunger in the pump to ensure
that it is as close to tapping as possible
c) flush fluid or hot oil with clean fluid
to circulate any debris off the valves in the pump
d) shut the well in for a minimum of 2
to 4 hours or overnight and start the well
back up after being shut in. This will allow for fluid inflow
into the well-bore.
e) perform a dynamometer to check the condition
of the pump
f) if the wing valve on surface is closed
and the pump pressures up on the upstroke, but loses the pressure
on the downstroke, it is possible that the standing valve is damaged
(washed, plugged, worn, etc.)
g) ensure that the check valve is in place
and not leaking, as this would cause the fluid to circulate up
the tubing and back down the casing
h) watch carefully if the casing pressures
up while pressuring up the tubing. This is an indication of a
hole in the tubing.
i) if the casing is full of fluid, but
the pump can not pressure up, it may be an indication that the
strainer nipple or standing valve is plugged/scaled off and no
fluid is entering into the barrel (starved pump)
j) if the pump pressures up very slowly
may be an indication of a worn traveling valve and/or plunger,
or no fluid in the well, or the fluid is very gassy and it takes
a long time to compress this mixture
k) if the pump will not pressure up or
only marginally, it could indicate that a very deep rod part has
occurred and the only displacement in the well is from rod displacement
l) check the pump description and calculate
the stroke length and confirm the surface unit stroke. It may
be that the pump stroke is too short for the surface stroke length
and the pump is unseating itself. You would see a sudden drop
in pressure near the end of the upstroke as the pump unseats itself.
m) if the pump pressures up and then loses
pressure at or near the end of the upstroke, check what jewelery
is in the pump. It could be that a Side-Kicker was installed in
the pump and the action of the mandrel pushing the traveling valve
off the seat will cause the pressure loss at the end of the upstroke.
n) If the fluid level is high and the pump
will not pressure up, confirm gradient of the fluid in the annulus.
It could be that the "fluid" is in fact foam and the
pump cannot pump this mixture.
o) Check on the downhole configuration
in the well. The pump may be landed up-hole or no separation is
occurring at the pump, causing a very foamy mixture to enter the
pump
p) Monitor the existing tubing and casing
pressure. If the casing pressure is regulated with a Baird valve,
it could be set so high that the additional back pressure on the
reservoir is preventing inflow of fluid into the wellbore.
q) If a seized pump is suspected, depending
where the pump plunger is seized in the barrel will exhibit different
symptoms. A hot polished rod may be evident, the prime mover will
be excessively loaded at one point in the stroke, no production,
or the biggest tell-tale is the polished rod clamp will separate
from the carrier bar of the pumping unit on the downstroke.
r) A hot polished rod could be due to no
fluid in the well, a gas locked pump, a scaled off pump strainer
nipple and the pump is starved for fluids, or pumping too fast.
s) If the pump pressures up OK and the
the well is still not making any production, it could be due to
either a plugged or broken flowline. Paraffin, a hydrate or a
stuck pig all could cause a plugged flowline. The broken flowline
is the worst possible scenario for the producer and they should
be looking for fluid on surface, or monitor pressure drops along
the flow line.
t) if the bottomhole pump must be on tap,
it is recommended that a light tap be set. What is meant by a
light tap is the pump is lowered 2 to 3 inches until a tap is
felt or by speeding up the gas prime mover the well goes from
not tapping to just tapping.
Enquiries:
Reg Prostebby, CET
Manager, Engineering
Ph. (403) 347-1128
Fax (403) 343-3210
e-mail: RProstebby@quinnpumps.com
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