USER GUIDE
11
PCS 4000
SINGLE WELL CONTROLLER
Features for Opening the A-Valve
CLOSE TIME =
☛
SET OFF
CLOSE TIME is normally set to 00:00:00 because the
controller opens the A-valve in response to changes in
pressure.
If you want to open the A-valve after a period of time,
regardless of pressure changes, you can set the CLOSE
TIME. If you do program a CLOSE TIME, make sure to set
the time no lower than your FALL TIME. This will ensure
that the plunger has time to reach the bottom of the
tubing before the controller opens the A-valve.
If the controller opens the well when the CLOSE TIME
countdown reaches zero, you are using the controller to
operate the well based on time instead of pressure.
CASING PEAK TIME =
☛
SET 21
CASING PEAK TIME is normally set to 99:00:00 when the
feature is not used.
When you use this feature, the controller opens the
A-valve after the casing pressure peaks. The controller
monitors the casing pressure independently of the
DIFFERENTIAL OPEN PRESSURE. The controller counts
down the CASING PEAK TIME. It restarts the countdown
whenever the casing pressure increases by 1 psi.
For example, the CASING PEAK TIME is 10 minutes.
When the A-valve closes, the controller counts down
the CASING PEAK TIME. If the casing pressure builds
1 psi within 10 minutes and the FALL TIME has reached
zero, the controller restarts the CASING PEAK TIME
countdown. If the casing pressure does not build 1 psi
within 10 minutes, the controller counts down the
CASING PEAK TIME to zero. It then checks the FALL
TIME countdown. It opens the A-valve when both the
CASING PEAK TIME and FALL time countdowns have
reached zero.
Note:
While the controller counts down the CASING PEAK
TIME, the display shows CLOSE 0:00:00.
Typical CASING PEAK TIME values for a well with casing
pressure that builds fast are 10-12 minutes. For a well
with casing pressure that builds slowly, a typical value is
30 minutes.
Note:
You can use both DIFFERENTIAL OPEN PRESSURE
and CASING PEAK TIME to control the well. If you want
to use only CASING PEAK TIME to open the well, set the
DIFFERENTIAL OPEN PRESSURE to a high value that will
never be reached.
LOAD FACTOR =
☛
SET 24
LOAD FACTOR is a feature used with Mode 2 (tubing
pressure minus line pressure) or Mode 4 (casing pressure
minus line pressure). Load Factor helps insure that the
liquid load in the tubing is less than the energy needed to
lift the load to surface. When Load Factor is enabled, the
controller will not open the well until 2 set points are met:
The controller compares the line pressure to the tubing
pressure (Mode 2) or the casing pressure (Mode 4).
In both modes, the controller compares casing, tubing,
and line pressures as a ratio to determine the net lifting
energy. See the calculation below.
When both set points and all other “open” criteria are met,
the controller opens the well to production.
A well’s load factor is the ratio of casing pressure minus
tubing pressure to casing pressure minus line pressure.
LOAD FACTOR = Casing Pressure - Tubing Pressure
Casing Pressure - Line Pressure
If you set the LOAD FACTOR to 50, the controller opens
the A-valve when the ratio is 50% or lower (and the other
“open” criteria have been met).
Example:
Casing Pressure - Tubing Pressure = 100 psi
Casing Pressure - Line Pressure = 500 psi
100/500 = 20%
If the LOAD FACTOR is set to 20% or a lower value,
the controller opens the A-valve.
Normal values for LOAD FACTOR range from 40% to
60% depending on the well’s individual characteristics.
If you are not using LOAD FACTOR, set it to 00 percent.
