Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems are frequently located in remote, environmentally hostile locations. Even in favorable conditions, the Remote Terminal Unit's (RTU) location often dictated function with a minimum of maintenance and routine oversight from operators. These criteria imply that these systems must be durable, reliable, and portable. Without an equally durable, reliable, and portable power source, these systems cannot carry out their intended functions. Photovoltaic (PV), or solar power, systems can meet these conditions. This paper will present an overview of the steps involved in designing and installing PV power systems supplying RTUs. Reviews of two Arco systems are included.

Solar powered pump jacks have been utilized in shallow wells for some time. An American 160D pump jack with 54 inch stroke has been modified to run with a 3HP motor on a conventional rod string and down hole pump producing gas from perforations at 7369-7402 feet with seating nipple at 7450 feet. All power is provided by solar panels without back up battery power. Run times are restricted to bright sun periods. Fluid production volume rates of 2 to 3 barrels per day have been achieved. Fluid is formation water and casing leak invasion water and severely restricts gas flow. Fluid recovery over a long period of time is permissible in this project. Details, photos, and production results will be presented. This project is still on-going and any new data obtained prior to the presentation will be included. This project was partially funded by the Stripper Well Consortium.

Continuous Fiberglass Rod pump jacks system designed for efficient low horsepower are beginning to be used for dewatering of gas wells.

The accumulation of paraffin deposits in oil wells and flow lines presents a production and transportation problem that is very costly to the oil industry. This problem has been attacked in may ways but, until a few years ago the removal of such deposits was accomplished by mechanical means only. These usually involved lost time, extra labor, and special tools, all of which were expensive to the operator. Because of the high cost of such mechanical methods, it was found that, in many cases, chemical solvents, when properly applied, removed paraffin deposits from the well and flow line, with far less expense to the operator. Also, that mechanical methods and solvents could be combined to give the operator a better overall job at the lowest cost.

Many problems encountered in oil and gas production can be solved if the fluid in the well is known. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss the application of radioactive isotopes to the solution of these problems. This paper will discuss how a radioactive tracer survey is possible and the following application of it: injection profile, channel location, evaluation of perforating and fracture treatment, and cement location. The actual radioactive tracer units will be discussed briefly.

Producing companies and operators are universally concerned with reducing failures in rod pumping systems. Costly failures effect a company's profitability. A leading cause of rod pumping failures is rod buckling. This paper discusses the problems, causes, and solutions of sucker rod buckling. Various methods of determining the buckling force are presented. These methods include computer modeling, physical downhole measurement, and empirical models. Furthermore, a calculation scheme is detailed for predicting buckling modes, patches. bending moments, and peak stresses in the rod string. Buckling hysteresis and friction are also discussed. The results of the buckling predictions are supported by actual stress measurements from a downhole load cell tool. Lastly, considerations for preventing severe rod buckling are offered. All material is presented for practical field application. .

The disposal of produced water is an integral part of the oil producing operation. Various methods of disposal have been utilized over past years, however, strict anti-pollution laws prohibiting surface disposal and the high cost of trucking water have narrowed the options. On-lease disposal by pipeline into company or cooperative disposal systems is the most efficient and economical solution. Proper design of the disposal system should be given due consideration and planning to minimize the cost of disposal and to insure the life of the disposal system.

Any man responsible for oil production should obtain maximum amount of oil with a minimum amount of expensive down time. In pumping wells, the fact that maximum allowable loading of sucker rods is intimately connected with this responsibility makes it a subject of importance to us all. This paper will not attempt to outline any specific method of arriving at a set maximum allowable loadings for various grades of rods under various pumping conditions, rather it will discuss a few of the many factors which have an influence on maximum loadings. Because of these factors, the subject is a complex and sometimes controversial one.

The principal causes of motor failure in the oil field are: (1) Lighting strikes or surges (2) Single-phasing of power system supply (3) Overload or high current conditions due to low voltage conditions on the line, voltage drops, voltage unbalance on 3-phase power supply or the motor incorrectly sized to load. Are these problems the result of design or of equipment specifications? Further, what can be done to lessen equipment failures from these causes?

It would be absurd to try to discuss in one paper all of the legal problems encountered in lease operations after discovery of oil. The problems are of enormous scope and complexity and could not be adequately covered in a voluminous book. Consequently, this paper will merely attempt a general summary, without elaboration or citation of authorities, of some of the many legal problems you may encounter in your lease operations in the State of Texas.

This paper contains a brief review of submergible pumps and their application. The use of smaller capacity deeper pumping is covered, including the use of bottom-intake type equipment and the use of submergible pumps in pumping and injecting of water in waterflood projects.

In many applications, an important aspect of beam and sucker rod pumping operation and analysis has been generally unrecognized. This paper reviews and emphasizes not only this deficiency, but also the intrinsic value of several classes of dynamometer card shapes and slopes, to certain pumping unit geometries and applications. A basic understanding of the nature, character and shape of the polished rod dynagraph, and its relationship to the particular pumping unit geometry selected - coupled with the modern analytical techniques of S. G. Gibbs and others - should materially assist the designer in determining a more effective beam and rod pumping system.

A number of pilot waterfloods in carbonate reservoirs have been studied. There is a wide variation in the performance of these pilot waterfloods.

Unlike many other commodities, however, crude oil, by its heterogeneous nature, presents some very unique problems in measurement. This is especially true in the oil-field close to the wellhead

Drilling Contracts have evolved over the years with turnkey contracts becoming more popular in the most recent downturn in the up and down rig utilization cycle. Most contract writer experience extends only to the 1970's early 1980's boom. Expectations of contracting parties are changed as are Operator-Contractor relations. Though some provisions are more important to one party then the other some are of universal concerns. Simplicity and a clear divisions of responsibility, minimum well defined specifications, compliance with governmental regulations and financial responsibility must be addressed by every contract.

A new federal air quality rule governing midstream and upstream activity is in effect. The rule, also known by its more formal citation 40 CFR Part 60 Subpart OOOO, or

It is well known that a computer can help engineers to be more productive. Currently, there are multitudes of hardware and software available on the market. Communications capabilities now exist to provide a link between the well site and the computer. The paper focuses on the current availability of software and communications to provide access to large core programs from the well site, the benefit to the engineer of this expanded computer power, and some specific examples of the software.

Dr. Webb, in answer to his critics, has stated his intent to aid the people of this area in understanding and adjusting to the environment in which they live. Although they may not fully agree with Dr. Webb's description of their area, they must be prepared to recognize that water is a priceless and essential resource of seriously limited supply in much of West Texas. Recognition of this fact leads to the conclusion that West Texans must be prepared to utilize any available source of water for waterflood no matter how unfavorable it may be.

This paper presents a case study in developing a method for cleaning out wellbores of shallow, low pressure, low rate Southeast New Mexico Eumont gas wells. These wells have inherent problems that were addressed utilizing different approaches with some interesting results. The methodology is discussed along with the successes and failures.

Many factors are involved in successful completion of a well. It is well accepted that the best cement hob possible is of prime importance. For a good cement job, the contamination of the cement by the drilling fluid should be minimized so that the cement can develop its desired properties. In addition, the drilling fluid should be thoroughly displaced from the annulus so that a competent sheath of cement can form a bond to both the pipe and the formation. When the drilling fluid is not thoroughly displaced, thus allowing commingling with the cementing composition, many undesirable results may occur. Laboratory work and field results show that spacer fluids can be advantageous in assisting in keeping the drilling fluid and cementing composition separated and also aid in more effectively removing the drilling fluid from the annulus. This paper identifies the properties that a good spacer should possess to function properly and discusses general practices in the use of spacers.

Permeability reduction in the critical zone (one to three feet) surrounding the well bore will seriously reduce production of liquid or gas. The permeability reduction can be caused by such things as mud and cement contamination, migration of formation particles, and deposition of material from water or oil. The removal of the damage and the restoration of the permeability in this critical zone requires the use of special acids and additives. It is first necessary to determine the cause of permeability reduction. With this knowledge, the proper materials and techniques can be applied to remove damage and restore permeability.

In 1982 Texaco USA initiated a study of producing field automation in the Midland Producing Division. As a result of the study, all facets of one producing field were automated. Based on acquired knowledge from this project, Texaco's Midland Producing Division and our Houston Information Technology Department (In>) initiated the construction of a sucker rod pump-off controller based on available off-the-shelf remote terminal unit (RTU) components. This paper will explain some of the choices associated with the POC application and discuss future RTU applications. The driving force behind Texaco's development of the Rod Pump Monitor Controller was the need for wellsite information at a central location. Market availability of off-theshelf pump-off controllers was limited, and the fundamental building blocks for a general RTU based system were readily available. This same general RTU can be used for injection control, automatic well testing, tank battery monitoring and control, and electric submersible pump control.

Reservoir stimulation procedures that perform well for pressure depletion reservoirs are often inadequate for the effective modeling of water of gas injection operations. Special capabilities are required to handle the upward and downward transition through a bubble point that varies depending upon injection material and stage of depletion. Also, the ability to track the front or fronts requires additional features to prevent serious error. Tests showing the importance of these phenomena are included.

In this day of specialism it is only natural the oil well pump manufacturers should follow this normal trend by supplying pumps which are designed for specific application. Heretofore, the oil producer has been obliged to utilize available pump assemblies in an effort to combat unfavorable well conditions. In doing so the volumetric efficiency of the pumping system has been considerably lessened. Our discussion concerns two such pumps which are designed for specific applications, the Double Volume and the Two-Stage.

The double displacement type pump is of relatively recent vintage. It was primarily designed to provide an economical method of producing oil under certain conditions. As "slim hole" completions became more and more common, it became obvious that production requirements could not always be met with an insert or tubing pump. This was especially true in areas where water encroachment had become a problem, or a water flood program had become a problem, or a water flood program had been initiated. These pumps are considered a specialty item and as such are somewhat more complicated than the single plunger type pump. Understanding the operation of this pump should encourage its use.