IP Library Granted Patent US 12,203,359
Granted Patent B2
US 12,203,359 · App. 17/693,646 · Granted Jan 21, 2025

Pumping unit inspection sensor assembly, system and method

Inventors: Clark E. Robison (Tomball, TX); Bryan A. Paulet (Spring, TX)
Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
E21B47/008G08B21/182
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,203,359
App. No.
17/693,646
Granted
Jan 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sensor assembly can include a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and a housing assembly containing the gyroscope and the accelerometer. An axis of the gyroscope can be collinear with an axis of the accelerometer. A method of inspecting a well pumping unit can include attaching a sensor assembly to the pumping unit, recording acceleration versus time data, and in response to an amplitude of the acceleration versus time data exceeding a predetermined threshold, transforming the data to acceleration versus frequency data. A method of balancing a well pumping unit can include comparing peaks of acceleration versus rotational orientation data to peaks of acceleration due to circular motion, and adjusting a position of a counterweight, thereby reducing a difference between the peaks of acceleration due to circular motion and the peaks of the acceleration versus rotational orientation data for subsequent operation of the pumping unit.

Claims (14)

1. A sensor assembly for use with a well pumping unit, the sensor assembly comprising:

a gyroscope configured to detect a rate of rotation about at least one gyroscope axis;

an accelerometer configured to detect acceleration along at least one accelerometer axis; and

a housing assembly containing the gyroscope and the accelerometer, the housing assembly including a pumping unit interface configured to attach the housing assembly to the pumping unit,

in which the at least one gyroscope axis is collinear with the at least one accelerometer axis.

2. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one processor disposed in the housing assembly, the processor being configured to perform a Fast Fourier Transformation on data output by at least one of the gyroscope and the accelerometer.

3. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one processor disposed in the housing assembly, the processor being configured to transform time-based data output by at least one of the gyroscope and the accelerometer to frequency-based data.

4. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , in which the pumping unit interface comprises a magnet device.

5. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , in which the pumping unit interface comprises a mechanical attachment.

6. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , in which the gyroscope and the accelerometer have a same rotational axis.

7. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless transceiver disposed in the housing assembly.

8. A system comprising the sensor assembly of claim 7 , in which the wireless transceiver communicates with a controller of the pumping unit.

9. A system comprising the sensor assembly of claim 7 , in which the wireless transceiver communicates with a computing device external to the housing assembly.

10. The system of claim 9 , in which the wireless transceiver communicates with the computing device in real time while the pumping unit is in operation.

Assignments (2)
SUPPLEMENT NO. 2 TO CONFIRMATORY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Jan 13, 2023
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 062389/0239 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2022
From: ROBISON, CLARK E.; PAULET, BRYAN A.
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 059253/0953 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16993240 · Aug 13, 2020
Related Publication 20220195863A1 · Jun 23, 2022
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