DOWNHOLE WELL TROUBLESHOOTING
Find the Root Cause Before You Call the Rig.
High-resolution Echometer dynamometers and expert TAM software interpretation. We give Alberta operators clear, defensible well data to solve complex downhole pump failures, identify tubing communication, and eliminate costly trial-and-error workovers.
Why Standard Pump-Off Controllers Miss Downhole Failures
Modern Pump-Off Controllers (POCs) and VFDs are designed for daily automation and run-time management—not forensic mechanical diagnosis. They typically sample at lower rates and mathematically smooth pump cards, masking the subtle downhole signatures of early pump failure.
Echo deploys calibrated wireless Polished Rod Transducers (PRT) and horseshoe load cells paired with Total Asset Monitor (TAM) software. This captures raw, unfiltered surface-to-downhole load cards that expose micro-anomalies—such as traveling valve slip, localized rod drag, or early gas interference—before surface equipment or automated controllers trigger an alarm.
Isolating Root Causes on Rod-Pump Wells
Gas Interference vs. Fluid Pound
Problem: Mistaking gas locking for incomplete fillage leads operators to unnecessarily slow wells or pull good pumps.
Diagnosis: TAM card modeling accurately separates true incomplete pump fillage from gas interference, confirming whether simple surface timer/controller adjustments or downhole gas separation changes are required.
Valve Integrity & Traveling/Standing Leak Testing
Problem: Replacing pumps on a hunch when only one component has failed.
Diagnosis: Automated stopped-rod tests measure slippage rates across traveling and standing valves under full hydrostatic load, establishing exact leakage severity before issuing a workover ticket.
Mechanical Drag & Unanchored Tubing
Problem: Severe rod fatigue, premature tubing wear, and stroke loss from unanchored tubing motion.
Diagnosis: Downhole card analysis identifies localized friction from crooked wellbores, scale, or wax restrictions, and quantifies stroke loss caused by tubing movement.
WELLBORE INTEGRITY & ACOUSTIC MAPPING
Acoustic Tubing Leak & Communication Screening
Screen for suspected tubing-casing communication before mobilizing wireline or a workover rig.
When a well suddenly shows communication between tubing and casing, pulling the entire completion string to hunt for a hole is an expensive gamble. Before mobilizing wireline or committing to a major workover, Echo utilizes synchronized acoustic well sounding to evaluate wellbore integrity.
By firing acoustic shots down both the tubing string and casing annulus, our technicians analyze acoustic wave velocities, signal timing, and reflective "up-kicks" downhole. Correlating these acoustic reflections against your well's mechanical collar tally provides an estimated depth of communication—giving your engineering and workover teams actionable direction before rig day.
Technical Scope & Diagnostic Limits:
Dual Shot acoustic screening detects communication points located above the annular liquid level (acoustic signals cannot reliably penetrate liquid at the communication point to travel back up the casing). Accurate depth estimation relies on a current, detailed mechanical wellbore schematic to correlate collar counts and downhole restrictions.
GAS WELL & ARTIFICIAL LIFT DIAGNOSTICS
Diagnosing Liquid Loading & Flow Restrictions
Identify why gas production is choked off without running wireline or downhole gauges.
When a flowing gas well drops below its critical lift velocity, fluids accumulate in the wellbore, generating hydrostatic backpressure that progressively restricts production. Using specialized 5,000 PSI high-pressure wireless gas guns and down-tubing acoustic soundings, Echo accurately measures liquid column height, evaluates flowing pressure gradients, and confirms whether liquid loading is the root cause of your production decline.
For gas lift systems, acoustic diagnostics provide clear visibility into downhole operating dynamics. We identify the active operating valve depth, detect inefficient multi-pointing or leaking upper valves, and monitor annular fluid level stabilization during well unloading sequences—helping operators optimize injection gas allocation without guessing.
Same-Day Actionable Answers
Immediate on-site debrief for the field foreman, followed by a formal digital TAM package for the production engineer.
✓ Know whether to pull the pump, adjust SPM, or leave it in the hole
✓ Quantified traveling and standing valve leakage rates
✓ Direct phone debrief with operator on the same day
Stop Guessing Downhole. Get Defensible Answers Today.
For urgent field dispatch across Western Canada, call 403-846-3263 directly. For routine surveys or scheduled troubleshooting, submit your well details below.