Typical Fluid Pound Cards: the pump is initially full then Pumps-Off as there is insufficient liquids to fill the pump barrel. This well needs to have its run-time reduced so the daily pump capacity better matches the fluid inflow from the reservoir (alternatively, the SPM could be slowed or a smaller diameter pump could be installed the next pull).
Fluid Pound creates a shock-loading to the rod string as the fluid load is rapidly released during the down-stroke, causing the lower rods to buckle and contact the tubing walls--which mechanically wears away the metal & also wipes off any protective corrosion inhibitor films on the metallic surfaces--both which lead to increased rates of Rod-Parts & Tubing Leaks. Fluid Pound also beats the pump out and leads to increased rates of pump failures (damaged balls and seats, cracked TV cages, and worn plungers/barrels due to the increased side loadings).
Also, as seen in this example, the pumping efficiency dramatically reduces after the well enters a Pumped-Off state (only 8% effective fillage in this example). With 100% pump fillage, the other-all system efficiency (i.e. the amount of useful work done at the pump divided by the total electrical energy input at the motor) is usually only 35-50%. With the pump in the current state of only 8% effective fillage, the overall system efficiency has dropped to 3-4%!
So the unit is going up-and-down, wasting electricity, shorting the life of the pump/rods/tubing--yet nothing of value is being derived from all this additional unnecessary pumping. The same production could be made with less run-time.
This brings to mind an important lesson some people in our industry forget:
The goal of an oil company is NOT to make as much oil/gas production as possible. No, no no. The goal is to make the MAXIMUM PROFIT. This well might be able to make an additional 1/2 bbl of oil per day if it runs continuously all day every day, but it surely won't make more profit doing that.
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