Echometer How To

TWM Basic Steps to

Perform Valve Check
Load Test.
by
Echometer Company

Reference: Well Analyzer QuickRefs, http://www.echometer.com/support/quickrefs/index.html

 Valve Check Load Tests
Answers the Following Questions
1. What rate does the Traveling Valve Leak?
2. What is the condition of the traveling valve,
the pump barrel and plunger and the tubing
string?
3. Is the fluid being held in the tubing?
4. Does the Standing Valve Leak?
5. Are the rod string lengths correct?
 Stop on the Upstroke to Monitor for
Leakage from the Tubing into the Pump
TV Check Load Test
weighs the rod string
buoyed in tubing fluid
plus the fluid load
acting on the traveling
valve (across plunger).
Stop on the Down Stroke to Monitor for
Leakage from the Pump into the Casing
SV Check Load
Test weighs the
rods in air reduced
by the buoyancy of
the tubing fluid on
the rod string.
Use Any of these Dynamometer Transducers
to Determine a Valve Check Load Test
 Accuracy of Acquired Load Data
Depends on Type of Load Cell Used
• Portable load cells are calibrated and accurately determine
polished rod loads.

• The PRT acquired loads can drift and make Valve Check
Load Tests difficult to interpret.

• Error in the measured loads are introduced if the carrier

bar and clamp do not uniformly contact the load cell.

• Donut load cell should have a spacer and spherical washers

to ensure the polished rod load is centralized on the load
cell.
Connect the cables to Well Analyzer.

Far end on the coiled cable is attached to the 25-foot Y-cable or Straight
cable, that is connected into the MAIN INPUT on the Well Analyzer.
Turn on Well Analyzer and wait for
GREEN LED.
Turn on the computer.
 Start TWM in Acquire Mode
1. Select the
Equipment
Check tab.

2. The display of
internal battery
voltage and
battery
temperature
indicate that the
computer is
communicating
with the well
analyzer’s
internal
electronics and
sensor
measurements
may be acquired.
TWM Software – F3 to Select Well

1. Open Base Well

File for the well
where data is to be
acquired. Use
New… to create a
Base Well File if
one does not exist.

2. For acoustic
surveys be sure to
enter at least avg.
joint length,
pump and
formation
depths.

 
Select Wellbore Tab to Verify Data
1. From the Base Well
File select the
Wellbore Tab and
verify the well data
is representative.

2. For Dyno surveys

be sure to enter
Rod Type, Rod
Length, Rod
Diameter,
Pump Plunger
Dia., Pump
Intake,
Polished Rod
Diameter, fluid
gravities, and
production
rates.
 Save Changes to Base Well File

1. Click Save
button to be
sure to save
changes to the
base well file.

 
Select Type of Data Acquisition Test
1. Tap F4 to Select Test
type to be acquired.

2. Click the
Dynamometer
Tab to indicate that
Dynamometer data
will be acquired.

3. Click Alt-2 to select

the Valve Check
Load Test

4. Select F5 to Acquire
Data
Read Instructions for Performing the
Traveling and Standing Valve Test
1. After choosing
the Select Test
option F4 the
operator is
presented with
the instructions
performing the
traveling and
standing valve
test.

2. Click the Load

tab to begin
displaying data.
Tap Alt-S to Start Data Acquisition
Traveling Valve Check Procedure
The traveling valve check load test is taken during the
upstroke by gently using the brake to bring the pumping
unit to a stop about ¼ from the top of the stroke.
Perform Two Traveling Valve Checks
 Upstroke: TV Check Load Test
1. Pumping cycle was
interrupted on the 2500 psi
upstroke when SV is
open and TV is closed
for a traveling valve
check load test.
2. Static pressure above
and below the standing
valve are equal. 200 psi
3. Acquired TV load the
weight of the rods
buoyed in fluid plus the
differential fluid load 200 psi
on the plunger.
Standing Valve Check Procedure
Standing valve check load is taken during the down
stroke by gently using the brake to bring the pumping
unit to a stop about ¼ from the bottom of the stroke.
Perform Two Standing Valve Checks
 Down Stroke:
SV Check Load Test
1. Pumping cycle was
interrupted on the down 2500 psi
stroke when the TV was
open and SV was closed
for a standing valve
check load test.
2. Static pressures across
the plunger are equal for 2500 psi
SV Check Load (shown).
3. Acquired SV load is the
weight of the rod string
buoyed in the tubing 200 psi
fluid.
Alt-Q to Stop Acquisition, Then Save
 Press F6 to Analyze Valve Checks

Examine
Display
and
Verify
Correct
SV and
TV
Check
Loads
are
Selected
 If PRT Used for Valve Checks
1. Verify
Correct SV
Check
Load is
Selected

2. Click
Apply
button to
Adjust SV
to Buoyant
Rod Wgt.
 If PRT Used for Valve Checks
1. After
Clicking
Apply
button to
Adjust SV
to Buoyant
Rod Wgt.

2. The
Selected
SV Check
Load is
adjusted to
exactly
match the
Calc.
Buoyant
Rod Wgt.
 Possible problems:
If TV Leaks worn plunger or barrel, pitted ball, cut
seat, tubing leak, or well flowing off.
1. Leakage rate indicated by
changes in the polished
rod load due to changes in 2500 psi
the difference in pressure
across the plunger
2. Liquid leaking past
traveling valve and/or
plunger enters pump barrel
and increasing pressure. 500 psi
3. Differential pressure
decreases across plunger.
4. Pump load on the rods
decreases, resulting in a 200 psi
decreasing polished rod
load.
If TV Leaks
 Possible problems:
If SV Leak pitted ball, cut seat, hole in pump
barrel, or damaged pump parts.
1. Liquid leaking past
standing valve leaves
2500 psi
pump barrel and
decreasing pressure.
2. The leak causes
increasing differential
pressure across
plunger, and results in 2000 psi
the plunger applying
fluid load to rods.
3. Both pump rod load
and polished rod load 200 psi
increases.
If SV Leaks
Problem: TV Load OK, but NO SV Load
Possible Problems:
1. Severe SV leak. 2500 psi
2. Gas Locked Pump,
P3>P2>P1.
3. SV is stuck open
4. Fluid level below 200 psi
pump intake.
5. Specialty Pump –
Gas Compression 200 psi
Chamber
TV Load OK, but NO SV Load
Problem: SV Load OK, but NO TV Load

Possible Problems:
2500 psi
1. Completely worn out
plunger/barrel or TV
2. TV is stuck open
3. Deep Rod Part or
Pump Parted. 2500 psi
4. Well flowing through
pump and both valves
open. 200 psi
SV Load OK, but NO TV Load
The END