RU Ready For RTU5100™?

After setting the standard in remote well monitoring with its RTU5000 Remote Terminal Unit, Ferguson Beauregard has upped the ante with the development of its RTU5100™, the most advanced wellhead RTU that is currently available in today's plunger-lift control market.

The RTU5100 offers a uniquely simple, yet powerful, approach to well-production management, measurement and optimization. As a full-function RTU, it provides field-proven production optimization that utilizes Ferguson Beauregard's patented Auto-Cycle™ plunger-lift control algorithm, which achieves optimum well performance through automatic self-adjustment of flow and shut-in times. This allows for control of the well's production cycles based on plunger velocity.

The operation of the RTU5100 has been field-tested at a well site operated by one of our customers in Texas.
“This customer gave us a production facility, took it offline and by doing this it allowed us to use lab-test hardware in a production-type environment,” explained Mark Veldman, Sales and Service/Automation Specialist for Ferguson Beauregard in the Western Region. “Having it in the field, we were able to test the host communications. This was a unique situation. It's not often that we can use something released for lab testing in a production environment, but this specific customer wants to get the RTU5100 into the field as quickly as possible, so anything they can do to assist in the testing process, they're willing to do. They're as anxious to get the equipment into the field as we are.”

When looking at the RTU5100's list of operational benefits, it's easy to see why the customer feels that way. The RTU5100's mix of input/output (I/O) ports makes it the ideal wellhead RTU for gathering and integrating all production information, including tank levels, pressures and temperatures, device statuses and other third-party intelligent devices, including most electronic flow meters via a serial MODBUS connection. All analog inputs are sampled every second, averaged over a three-minute period and stored for seven days, key indicators when analyzing plunger-lift and production performance.

The low power usage and rugged design of the RTU5100 is ideal for the most remote locations and extreme climates. With the addition of a point-to-multi-point radio or cellular modem, operations staff can view and manage production from a vehicle, field office or any remote location in the world using the Auto-Cycle Plus™ SCADA Client with a LAN/WAN or Internet connection.

The RTU5100 is also compatible with wireless I/O adapters. By implementing wireless I/O as part of an RTU5100 solution, logistical complexity and ancillary costs are minimized. Potential wireless applications include wellhead control, tank measurements and compressor monitoring.