Energy Savings usingVariable Frequency Drives (VFDs)on Beam Pumps

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SPOC Automation Who Are We?

• Oil and Gas •Leader in Oilfield Variable

Speed Drives• Specialists in Optimizing Pump

Control with 200+ years of experience• 15+ Years in business• Family Owned• Based in Trussville, AL

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Energy Savings using a VFD

• VFD has Power Factor up to .97, eliminating penalties

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Energy Savings using a VFD

• Power Factor up to .97 eliminates penalties

• Can use NEMA B motors to save 3-5% additional energy

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Energy Savings using a VFD

• Power Factor up to .97 eliminates penalties

• Can use NEMA B motors to save 3-5% additional energy

• VFDs eliminate regeneration

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Energy Savings using a VFD

• VFD can eliminate regeneration

• When the heavier side of an unbalanced beam is moving up, the motor uses power

• When the heavier side of an unbalanced beam is moving down, the motor becomes a generator

• The generator sends power back into the electric grid• The utility does not give credit for this generated “negative” power

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Eliminating wasted energy in regeneration

• Most Beam Pump VFDs use Dynamic Braking to deal with regeneration.

• Brake Resistors increase energy consumption 15-30%

• Iron Horse drives do not require resistors

Eliminating Wasted Energy in Regeneration

• The area in the green is typical lost as heat in a VFD with a brake resistor

• The area in the green is given back to the utility with a starter panel

Wasted Energy

Eliminating Wasted Energy in Regeneration

• Recent Well Test by Laredo Energy in Odessa, 7.1 SPM, 50HP motor

• With starter: 9.7KW of energy • With VFD: 7.3KW of energy

25% reduction in energy cost$4000 per year savings