Case Studies

Potential Flow Line Spill Averted

One of our customers in Bakersfield was measuring flow from one of their wells that had a DynaPump. The flow was being measured from close to the Tank Farm which was some distance from the well. After the test was completed one of the valves was inadvertently left closed. As a result the Dynapump detected an overload due to the increased flow line pressure and shut down. The counterweight having no inertia, by design, stops immediately point of the alarm. The pump was restarted without checking the cause of the alarm. It’s always good practice to check the cause of the alarm before restarting. It wasn’t checked in this case just reset. The DynaPump traveled a little more than one stroke before shutting down again for an overload. The DynaPump was restarted again and the flowing pressure gauge was rapidly increased to 350 psi and then the pump shut down again. Someone was sent to check the flow line and a valve was found closed. As a result of the in-built load alarm no damage was caused to the flow line, rod string, tubing, packing, or bottom hole pump.

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