Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to synchronize data bus access. An example system includes a first computing device to transmit a first synchronization pulse to second computing devices using a first bus, the first synchronization pulse to synchronize first timers of the second computing devices to trigger a data schedule including one or more data cycles, and transmit a second synchronization pulse to the second computing devices using the first bus, the second synchronization pulse to synchronize ones of the first timers and slot counters of the second computing devices to trigger the one or more data cycles. The example system further includes the second computing devices to transmit data to the first computing device using a second bus during the one or more data cycles, where each of the one or more data cycles is assigned to a corresponding one of the second computing devices.

Abstract: An automated wash system for use with a progressing cavity (PC) pump system. The automated wash system includes a wash fluid source and a wash valve. The wash valve is in fluid communication with the wash fluid source and an annulus of a well casing of the PC pump system and is operably coupled to the controller. Upon receipt of a command to initiate a wash cycle, the controller opens the wash valve to enable wash fluid to be directed into the annulus and increases a speed of a PC pump of the PC pump system to effect cleaning of the well casing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to communicatively coupled field devices to a remote terminal unit are disclosed. The example apparatus includes a base rack for a remote terminal unit in a process control system. The example apparatus further includes a first termination module to be inserted in a first termination slot of the base rack. Wires communicatively coupled to a field device are to be terminated on the first termination module. The example apparatus also includes a first control module separate from the first termination module to be inserted in a first control slot of the base rack. The first control module is to be communicatively coupled with the first termination module via a backplane of the base rack. The first control module is to control communications with the field device.

Abstract: A method of controlling at least one of a flow rate or pressure of an injected fluid includes receiving a measured value indicative of the at least one of the flow rate or the pressure of the injected fluid, and determining a control mode for controlling the at least one of the flow rate or the pressure. The method further includes controlling the at least one of the flow rate or the pressure of the injected fluid according to the selected control mode including: determining a command signal to be communicated to a field device, and communicating the command signal to the field device.

Abstract: A method of automatically washing a well casing of a progressing cavity (PC) pump system. The method includes disabling, via a controller, a normal speed control of a progressing cavity (PC) pump of the PC pump system, and closing, via the controller, a gas flow valve to stop upward fluid flow in an annulus of the well casing. The method further includes opening a wash valve to allow fluid from the wash fluid source into the well casing. Upon wash fluid accumulation within the annulus, the method further includes increasing the speed of the pump to begin flushing the well casing, and closing the wash valve.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine parameters of a pumping unit for use with wells are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a housing and a processor positioned in the housing. The processor is to determine a first load on a polished rod of a pumping unit, to estimate a first torque of a motor of the pumping unit, and determine a first torque factor for the pumping unit. The processor is to, based on the first load, the first torque, and the first torque factor, determine a phase angle of a counterbalance of the pumping unit or a moment of the counterbalance.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for pairing load and position values are disclosed. An example method includes determining, via a rod pump controller, a first position value of a polished rod of a pumping unit, assigning a first time value to the determined first position value, receiving first load values of the polished rod, assigning second time values to respective ones of the first load values, adjusting each of the second time values to respective third time values based on a wireless communication delay value, and determining a second load value associated with the first position value at the first time value based on the first load values and the third time values.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to communicatively coupled field devices to a remote terminal unit are disclosed. The example apparatus includes a base rack for a remote terminal unit in a process control system. The example apparatus further includes a first termination module to be inserted in a first termination slot of the base rack. Wires communicatively coupled to a field device are to be terminated on the first termination module. The example apparatus also includes a first control module separate from the first termination module to be inserted in a first control slot of the base rack. The first control module is to be communicatively coupled with the first termination module via a backplane of the base rack. The first control module is to control communications with the field device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine production of a downhole pump are described herein. An example method includes measuring a first amount of liquid produced from a well by a pump during a first stroke of the pump, computing a first pump card based on the first stroke, determining a first area of the first pump card and determining a leakage proportionality constant of the pump based on the first amount of liquid produced and the first area. The example method also includes computing a second pump card based on a second stroke of the pump, determining a second area of the second pump card and determining a second amount of liquid produced by the pump during the second stroke based on the leakage proportionality constant and the second area.

Abstract: In a method of configuring a host device in a process control plant to automatically perform an action or a set of actions includes, a workflow template is generated. The workflow template includes a sequence of one or more steps to be performed by the host device. Each of at least some of the one or more steps is selected from a set of predetermined steps. Then, an instance of the workflow template is generated at the host device. A trigger condition is generated for automatically triggering the instance workflow. The sequence of the one or more steps is executed in response to detecting the trigger condition.

Abstract: A system for monitoring field devices operating in process plants includes a remote terminal unit (RTU) coupled to several field devices, each configured to perform a respective function in a process plant, and a host disposed remotely from the RTU and coupled to the RTU via a communication network. The RTU includes (i) a first interface module configured to communicate according to a digital industrial automation protocol, via which the RTU receives data indicative of respective statuses of the field devices, (ii) a memory to store the received data, and (iii) a second interface module configured to communicate with remote hosts via a communication network. The host is configured to (i) request the statutes of the field devices and (ii) receive, from the RTU, indications of the status based on the data stored in the memory of the RTU.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to implement communications via a remote terminal unit are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first central processing unit module to be in communication with a host of a process control system. The example apparatus also includes a first rack including a backplane and a plurality of slots. The plurality of slots includes a master slot to receive the first central processing unit module. The backplane communicatively couples the first central processing unit module to at least one of a first communication module or a first input/output (I/O) module inserted in a second one of the slots. The backplane includes a first communication bus for communication of I/O data and a second communication bus for communication of at least one of maintenance data, pass-through data, product information data, archival data, diagnostic data, or setup data. The first communication bus is independent of the second communication bus.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine operating parameters of a pumping unit for use with wells are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a housing and a processor positioned in the housing. The processor is to determine a rate at which to operate a motor of a pumping unit to enable a load imparted on a polished rod of the pumping unit to be within a threshold of a reference load or to enable a speed of the polished rod to be within a threshold of a reference speed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to identify a communication protocol being used in a process control system are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a process control device including a port to be in communication with a bus, the process control device to receive a first signal at the port and a second signal at the port, the process control device including a protocol detector to compare the first signal to reference communication protocols to identify the first signal as being associated with a first communication protocol, the protocol detector to compare the second signal to the reference communication protocols to identify the second signal as being associated with a second communication protocol, the first communication protocol being different than the second communication protocol, the processor to process the first signal based on the first communication protocol and the second signal based on the second communication protocol.

Abstract: Voice interfaces in process control systems are disclosed herein. One disclosed example method includes authenticating an RFID device, and, based on authenticating the RFID device, receiving voice instructions, where the voice instructions include settings data for a process control device of a process control system. The example method also includes determining, using a processor, the settings data based on the voice instructions, and storing the settings data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to calibrate rod pump controllers are described. An example method includes obtaining initial values related to a pumping unit, determining parameters based on the initial values, the parameters including at least one of a leaked off load value, a residual friction value, and a buoyant rod weight value, and based on one or more of the initial values and the parameters, calculating one or more dimensions of a rod string, the one or more dimensions to be used to determine a pump card of the pumping unit.

Abstract: A system constructs a hierarchy for field devices communicatively coupled to a remote terminal unit (RTU) by retrieving device information from field devices, caching the device information in the memory of the RTU, storing device identities in the memory of a host machine, and obtaining the device information at the host from the RTU in response to subsequent user requests to build the hierarchy, without re-sending commands to retrieve the device information directly to the field devices.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for calibrating controllers for use with wells are disclosed. An example method includes moving a polished rod of a pumping unit through a first cycle of the pumping unit using a motor and determining first pulse count values of the motor through the first cycle using a first sensor at first times. The first times are substantially equally spaced. The method also includes determining first position values of the polished rod through the first cycle using a second sensor at the first times and associating the first pulse count values with respective ones of the first position values to calibrate a processor of the pumping unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods to initiate a verification test within a flow meter via a flow computer are disclosed. An example method includes communicating, via a flow computer, a request to a flow meter to initiate a verification test of the flow meter. The example method also includes retrieving diagnostic data from the flow meter. The example method further includes logging a result of the verification test in a log of the flow computer, the result based on the diagnostic data.

Abstract: Systems and methods to initiate a verification test within a flow meter via a flow computer are disclosed. An example method includes communicating, via a flow computer, a request to a flow meter to initiate a verification test of the flow meter. The example method also includes retrieving diagnostic data from the flow meter. The example method further includes logging a result of the verification test in a log of the flow computer, the result based on the diagnostic data.