Position sensing for wellsite pumping unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10344573-B2
Application number	US-201715448231-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2017
Priority date	Mar 8, 2016
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hydraulic pumping system for use with a subterranean well, the hydraulic pumping system comprising:
an actuator including a displaceable actuator member;
a magnet device that displaces with the actuator member, the magnet device comprising at least one permanent magnet positioned between low magnetic permeability elements;
a sensor that senses a magnetic flux propagated from the magnet device;
a cylinder in which the actuator member displaces; and
an enclosure positioned exterior to the cylinder, the sensor being positioned at least partially in the enclosure,
the enclosure comprising a first relatively low magnetic permeability material, in which the sensor is positioned between the first relatively low magnetic permeability material and a wall of the cylinder, and
the enclosure further comprising a relatively high magnetic permeability material, in which the relatively high magnetic permeability material is positioned between the first relatively low magnetic permeability material and the wall of the cylinder.

2. The hydraulic pumping system of claim 1 , in which the magnet device further comprises high magnetic permeability elements, and in which the high magnetic permeability elements are positioned between the low magnetic permeability elements.

3. The hydraulic pumping system of claim 2 , in which each of the high magnetic permeability elements is positioned between the at least one permanent magnet and a respective one of the low magnetic permeability elements.

4. The hydraulic pumping system of claim 2 , in which a second relatively low magnetic permeability material extends around the high magnetic permeability elements.

5. The hydraulic pumping system of claim 2 , in which the at least one permanent magnet comprises multiple permanent magnets, and in which a second relatively low magnetic permeability material extends around at least one of the permanent magnets.

6. The hydraulic pumping system of claim 1 , in which a second relatively low magnetic permeability material extends around at least a portion of the at least one permanent magnet.

7. The hydraulic pumping system of claim 1 , further comprising a downhole pump connected to the actuator.

8. A hydraulic pumping system for use with a subterranean well, the hydraulic pumping system comprising:
an actuator including a cylinder, and an actuator member that displaces at least partially in the cylinder;
a magnet device that displaces with the actuator member;
a sensor that senses a magnetic flux propagated from the magnet device; and
an enclosure positioned exterior to the cylinder, the sensor being positioned at least partially in the enclosure,
the enclosure comprising a relatively low magnetic permeability material, in which the sensor is positioned between the relatively low magnetic permeability material and a wall of the cylinder, and
the enclosure further comprising a relatively high magnetic permeability material, in which the relatively high magnetic permeability material is positioned between the relatively low magnetic permeability material and the wall of the cylinder.

9. A hydraulic pumping system for use with a subterranean well, the hydraulic pumping system comprising:
an actuator including a cylinder, and an actuator member that displaces at least partially in the cylinder;
a magnet device that displaces with the actuator member;
a sensor that senses a magnetic flux propagated from the magnet device; and
an enclosure positioned exterior to the cylinder, the sensor being positioned at least partially in the enclosure, in which the sensor is positioned laterally between two relatively high magnetic permeability materials of the enclosure, and in which the enclosure comprises a relatively low magnetic permeability material positioned between the relatively high magnetic permeability materials.

Assignees

• Weatherford Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Robison Clark E
• Sabhapathy Peri
• Thomas Benson

Classifications

• G01D5/145

  influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields (see G01R33/06) · CPC title

• F04B49/06

  Control using electricity (regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04) · CPC title

• E21B47/009

  Monitoring of walking-beam pump systems · CPC title

• F04B47/026

  Pull rods, full rod component parts · CPC title

• F04B47/04

  the driving means incorporating fluid means · CPC title