The Blog | SPOC Automation

Episode 1: Why Put a Drive on a Rod Pump?

Written by Admin | Apr 2, 2020 4:22:00 AM

Transcription

Hi, my name is Bryan Lile and I’m with SPOC Automation.

I’ve been in the automation industry now for a little over 20 years. I spent the first 10 years in the commercial and light industrial markets. Since 2010, I’ve been in the oil and gas industry.

Today, I’d like to talk about applying variable frequency drives to your rod-pumping application. The benefits of using a VFD on rod-pumping applications are numerous I’d like to mention three areas specifically that allow you to produce more while spending less.

The first benefit I’d like to mention is increased volume through production optimization, and there are two ways you can do that. When you apply a VFD to your pump, you can set the appropriate strokes-per-minute for that well without having to re-shiv it. Secondly, we can manage fluid-level control through the drive. You know this as pump-off control.

The second area where applying a VFD offers great benefits is through increased reliability of your mechanical pumping system. The VFD will allow you to prevent potential rod parts, excessive gearbox loading and excess of fluid pound.

The last major benefit a VFD offers that I’d like you to consider is the reduction of your lease operating expenses. Also known as LOE. When applying a VFD to pumping units, the VFD helps you reduce your electrical consumption throughout the life of that well.

Recently, we worked with an East Texas production company looking to do just that. Through our conversations with them, we discovered their primary form of artificial lift was rod pumps. We help them apply VFDs and pump off controllers to their applications and over time, they realized a 30-percent reduction in their lease operating expenses. Not to mention the production increases they gains as well.

I thank you for your time. Hopefully, we brought up a few topics for you to consider. If you’d like more information, please visit our Web site, any of our social media outlets or reach out to the team and we’d be glad to share more information with you. Thank you and have a great day.