8th Annual Sucker Rod Pumping

Workshop
Renaissance Hotel
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
September 25 - 28, 2012

Wave Equation:
Derivation and Analysis

Victoria M. Pons, Ph. D. Weatherford

Jeffrey J. DaCunha, Ph. D. Pioneer Natural Resources
 Reciprocating Rod Lift
The most widely used mean of artificial lift is sucker rod
pumping.
In reciprocating rod lift the work done by the generator at
the surface is translated downhole through the polished
rod and the rod string into work at the pump.
The work at the surface of the pumping unit is measured
by a surface dynamometer, capable of recording the
position and load of the rod string.
Energy is irreversibly and continuously lost from the
system due to Friction and Elasticity.

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 2

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Irreversible Energy losses

Elasticity: Due to the load of the fluid and the load of

the rod string below, in the case of a vertical well, the
rod string can be compared to an ideal slender bar. It
will elongate and contract as stress waves move
through it.
Viscous Friction: Fluid is constantly opposing the
movement of the rods. The well fluids impart a
viscous force at the outer surface of the rods
resulting in continuous energy loss.
Mechanical Friction: Occurs when tubing is in contact
with rods and rod couplings, relevant only in the case
of deviated wells.
2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 3
Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Surface and Downhole Data

Because of elasticity and friction, the work done at the

surface is not directly translated downhole.
To know how much actual work is done downhole, a
downhole dynamometer can be used. Drawback: very
costly.
A more efficient solution is to calculate the position and
load at the pump using the surface position and load.
The position and load can be illustrated as a function of
two variables and graphed to give a surface and downhole
card.

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 4

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Conventional pumping unit

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 5

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 The 1D Damped Wave Equation

Calculating downhole conditions is difficult because

of the sucker rods elasticity.
This takes the form of elastic force or stress waves
traveling along the string at the speed of sound.
The rod string is physically equivalent to an ideal
slender bar, therefore the propagation of stress
waves is a one dimensional phenomenon.
The wave equation describes the motion and stress
wave propagation phenomena in the rod string.
In the one dimensional damped wave equation, the
damping term stands for the irreversible energy
losses that occur along the rod string.
2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 6
Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Forces acting on a Rod Element

Forces:
Buoyant weight of the rod
element W,
Tension force representing the
upward pull on the rod element
FX,
Tension force representing the
pull from below on the rod
element FX+X,
The damping force opposing
the movement, FD, resulting
from fluid friction on the rod
elements surface.
2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 7
Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Newtons Second Law

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 8

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Breakdown of Forces (1/2)
Using the stresses present in the rod sections and
Hookes law the tension forces can be rewritten as:

The acceleration can be written as:

the mass as

Where is the density and g the gravity constant.

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 9
Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Breakdown of Forces (2/2)

Since the friction force considered is of viscous

nature only, it is proportional to the velocity of the
rod element:

Where c is the damping coefficient.

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 10

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 The 1D Damped Wave Equation (1/2)
The conservation of energy for the rod element reads:

The acoustic velocity in the rod string is given by

The damping factor is defined as .

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 11

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 The 1D Damped Wave Equation (2/2)

Therefore the condensed form of the above equation

reads:

Acceleration Elasticity Damping

Cf. Sucker-Rod Pumping Manual, by Gbor Takcs.
2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 12
Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 True Loads vs. Effective Loads
The difference between true loads and effective loads
is that when using true loads the buoyant force is
added to the load values.
The Gibbs method uses true loads, meaning that the
resulting downhole card is translated vertically
downward by the value of the buoyant force.
The modified Everitt-Jennings method uses effective
loads, meaning the resulting downhole card rests on
the zero load line.

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 13

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 The Gibbs Method
The Gibbs Method fits a function to the measured
surface position data and surface load data using
harmonic analysis.
From this function, the wave equation is
implemented.
Advantages include a smoother data set on
which to apply the wave equation, unlike taking
hundreds of numerical derivatives (finite
differences) which can actually add noise to the
data.
The damping term is set in the field once and the
downhole card is then computed.
2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 14
Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Polished Rod Position
80

70

60

50
PRP, in

40

30

20

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Time, sec

Brex, LLC 2012

 Polished Rod Load
20000

18000

16000

14000

12000
PRL, lbs

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Time, sec

Brex, LLC 2012

20000

18000

16000

14000

12000

10000 Measured
1 terms

8000

6000

4000

2000

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Brex, LLC 2012

20000

18000

16000

14000

12000

10000 Measured
2 terms

8000

6000

4000

2000

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Brex, LLC 2012

20000

18000

16000

14000

12000

10000 Measured
3 terms

8000

6000

4000

2000

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Brex, LLC 2012

20000

18000

16000

14000

12000

10000 Measured
4 terms

8000

6000

4000

2000

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Brex, LLC 2012

20000

18000

16000

14000

12000

10000 Measured
5 terms

8000

6000

4000

2000

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Brex, LLC 2012

20000

18000

16000

14000

12000

10000 Measured
7 terms

8000

6000

4000

2000

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Brex, LLC 2012

20000

18000

16000

14000

12000

10000 Measured
9 terms

8000

6000

4000

2000

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Brex, LLC 2012

20000

18000

16000

14000

12000

10000 Measured
11 terms

8000

6000

4000

2000

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Brex, LLC 2012

20000

18000

16000

14000

12000

10000 Measured
15 terms

8000

6000

4000

2000

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Brex, LLC 2012

20000

18000

16000

14000

12000

10000 Measured
20 terms

8000

6000

4000

2000

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Brex, LLC 2012

 Polished Rod Position
80

70

60

50
PRP, in

40

30

20

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Time, sec

Brex, LLC 2012

 Polished Rod Load
20000

18000

16000

14000

12000
PRL, lbs

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Time, sec

Brex, LLC 2012

 Surface Dynagraph
20000

18000

16000

14000

12000
PRL, lbs

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
PRP, in

Brex, LLC 2012

 Surface Dynagraph - 1 term
20000

15000

10000
Load, lbs

5000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

-5000

-10000
Stroke, in

Brex, LLC 2012

 Surface Dynagraph - 2 terms
20000

15000

10000
Load, lbs

5000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

-5000

-10000
Stroke, in

Brex, LLC 2012

 Surface Dynagraph - 3 terms
20000

15000

10000
Load, lbs

5000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

-5000

-10000
Stroke, in

Brex, LLC 2012

 Surface Dynagraph - 4 terms
20000

15000

10000
Load, lbs

5000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

-5000

-10000
Stroke, in

Brex, LLC 2012

 Surface Dynagraph - 5 terms
20000

15000

10000
Load, lbs

5000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

-5000

-10000
Stroke, in

Brex, LLC 2012

 Surface Dynagraph - 7 terms
20000

15000

10000
Load, lbs

5000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

-5000

-10000
Stroke, in

Brex, LLC 2012

 Surface Dynagraph - 11 terms
20000

15000

10000
Load, lbs

5000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

-5000

-10000
Stroke, in

Brex, LLC 2012

 Surface Dynagraph - 15 terms
20000

15000

10000
Load, lbs

5000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

-5000

-10000
Stroke, in

Brex, LLC 2012

 Dynagraphs
20000

15000

10000
Load, lbs

5000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

-5000

-10000
Stroke, in

Brex, LLC 2012

 Dynagraphs - Zero Damping
20000

15000

10000
Load, lbs

5000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

-5000

-10000
Stroke, in

Brex, LLC 2012

 Dynagraphs - Too Much Damping
20000

15000

10000
Load, lbs

5000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

-5000

-10000
Stroke, in

Brex, LLC 2012

 Dynagraphs Way Too Much Damping
20000

15000

10000
Load, lbs

5000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

-5000

-10000
Stroke, in

Brex, LLC 2012

 The Everitt-Jennings Method
T.A. Everitt and J.W. Jennings used finite differences to
solve the wave equation in 1990, cf. An Improved Finite
Difference Calculation of Downhole Dynamometer
Cards for Sucker-Rod Pumps, SPE 18189, SPE Annual
Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston Oct. 2-5.
The Everitt-Jennings method incorporates an iteration
on the net stroke and damping factor.
Weatherford developed the MEJ method in 2008.
With the MEJ, it is possible to compute position, load
and stress at any level down the taper.
It permits the use to manage a large group of wells with
the automatic selection of the damping factors.
2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 42
Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 The Everitt-Jennings Method

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 43

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Finite Differences
Approximates the solutions to differential
equations by replacing derivative expressions with
finite difference quotients.

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 44

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Everitt-Jennings Algorithm (1/2)

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 45

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Everitt-Jennings Algorithm (2/2)

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 46

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Hydraulic horsepower
The hydraulic horsepower (hp) obtained as follows:

where
Q, production rate in B/D
, fluid specific gravity
Fl, fluid level in feet.

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 47

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Production Rate
The pump production rate is given by:

Where
SPM, pumping speed in strokes/minute
S, net stroke in inches
D, pump diameter in inches.

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 48

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Damping Factor
The damping factor can be computed through the
equation:

Where
HPR, polished rod horsepower in hp
HH, hydraulic horsepower in hp
g, gravity constant
, period of a stroke in seconds
S, net stroke in inches.
2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 49
Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Iteration on Single Damping factor

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 50

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Iteration on Dual Damping factors

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 51

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Deviated Wells (1/3)
In the case of
deviated
wells,
mechanical
friction
becomes an
non
negligeable
force.

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 52

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Deviated Wells (2/3)
The dynamic behavior of the rod string is different for
deviated wells than for vertical wells.
In vertical wells, the rod string is assumed to not
move laterally.
The only friction to consider is the friction of viscous
nature, since mechanical friction is not consequential
enough to be considered.
In deviated wells however, mechanical friction
becomes non-negligible since there is extensive
contact between the rods, the rod couplings and the
tubing.

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 53

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Deviated Wells (3/3)

Also, since the well is deviated, some sections of the

rod string can be bent between two couplings in the
middle of a dog leg turn, which introduces the
concept of curvature of the rod string.
While analyzing the behavior of the rod string, it is
therefore essential to capture the behavior of the
longitudinal stress waves as well as the lateral stress
waves of the rod element.

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 54

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Rod Pumping Book by Sam Gibbs

ROD PUMPING
Modern Methods of
Design, Diagnosis,
and Surveillance

Available with Ronda

Brewer.

Visit www.samgibbs.net

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 55

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Copyright
Rights to this presentation are owned by the company(ies) and/or
author(s) listed on the title page. By submitting this presentation to
the Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop, they grant to the Workshop,
the Artificial Lift Research and Development Council (ALRDC), and
the Southwestern Petroleum Short Course (SWPSC), rights to:
Display the presentation at the Workshop.
Place it on the www.alrdc.com web site, with access to the site to be as
directed by the Workshop Steering Committee.
Place it on a CD for distribution and/or sale as directed by the Workshop
Steering Committee.
Other use of this presentation is prohibited without the expressed
written permission of the author(s). The owner company(ies) and/or
author(s) may publish this material in other journals or magazines if
they refer to the Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop where it was first
presented.

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 56

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012
 Disclaimer
The following disclaimer shall be included as the last page of a Technical Presentation or
Continuing Education Course. A similar disclaimer is included on the front page of the Sucker Rod
Pumping Web Site.
The Artificial Lift Research and Development Council and its officers and trustees, and the Sucker
Rod Pumping Workshop Steering Committee members, and their supporting organizations and
companies (here-in-after referred to as the Sponsoring Organizations), and the author(s) of this
Technical Presentation or Continuing Education Training Course and their company(ies), provide
this presentation and/or training material at the Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop "as is" without any
warranty of any kind, express or implied, as to the accuracy of the information or the products or
services referred to by any presenter (in so far as such warranties may be excluded under any
relevant law) and these members and their companies will not be liable for unlawful actions and any
losses or damage that may result from use of any presentation as a consequence of any
inaccuracies in, or any omission from, the information which therein may be contained.
The views, opinions, and conclusions expressed in these presentations and/or training materials
are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Sponsoring Organizations. The author is
solely responsible for the content of the materials.
The Sponsoring Organizations cannot and do not warrant the accuracy of these documents beyond
the source documents, although we do make every attempt to work from authoritative sources.
The Sponsoring Organizations provide these presentations and/or training materials as a service.
The Sponsoring Organizations make no representations or warranties, express or implied, with
respect to the presentations and/or training materials, or any part thereof, including any warrantees
of title, non-infringement of copyright or patent rights of others, merchantability, or fitness or
suitability for any purpose.

2012 Sucker Rod Pumping Workshop 57

Sept. 25 - 28, 2012