US1846001A - Apparatus for pumping liquid - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 16, 1932. H. w. FLETCHER APPARATUS FOR PUMPING LIQUID Filed Nov. 9. 1928 fla/w@ Z1). .7M/im x /NVENTOR B Y mu /V TTORNEY Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HROLD W. FLETCHER, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO HUGHES TOOL COMPANY,

OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, A CORPORATION F TEXAS APPARATUS FOR IUMPING LIQUID Application led November 9, 1928.

My invention relates to devices for raising liquid from wells and pertains particularly to devices wherein a pressure fluid is introduced into the well to force the liquid therefrom.

ln deep well pumping operations it frequently happens that the producing stratum Y is found at gre'at depths, sometimes five tid thousand feet or more below the surface. The pumping ot such wells is a serious plpblem in that the reciprocating plunger which 1s ordinarily used must be operated by a pump rod extending to the surface and, Where the rods are ot such great length, the weight ot the rod is so great that there is danger ot the upper portion of the rod being strained or broken, and when, to this weight of the rod is added the head ot Huid handled by the plunger, it is found to be diicult to provide a pump rod which is strong enough to handle such loads. Furthermore, when it becomes necessary to remove the pump rod and plunger trom the well a long period ot time 1s required to pert'orm the operation of removing and replacing the plunger to the bottom ot' the tubing, and during such operations, pro duction ot duid is lost.

rlFhis inoperative period in deep wells often comprises a major portion ot the time and accordingly has resulted either in reduced production or complete abandonment of the well. rlhe idea ot lifting the oil by introducing air or gas into the tubing below the surface o t the oil has also been adopted but the lealring ot the oil by the air pistons and the enormous air pressures required in deep wells has limited the use ot this form ot pumping.

lt is an object ot my invention to provide an apparatus whereby a plunger may be used tor discharging liquid from the well, but in which no sucker rods are necessary. lt is desired to arrange the apparatus so that the plunger will be free to travel in the tubing and with its load of fluid may be raised to the surtace through pressure of air, gas or other duid.

lt is a :Further object to provide an apparatus ot this character in which a plunger is raised by fluid pressure and additional means Serial No. 318,292.

whereby the pressure fluid is automatically controlled so as to raise the lunger and to then be closed off while the p unger is dropping to its seat at the lower end of the tubing.

Itis another object of my invention to control the operation of a freely traveling plunger whose length of stroke is from the surface of the well to a point below the surface of the fiuid in the well to be pumped.

lt is also an object` to provide a by-pass for gaseous :fluid which will tend to aerate the liquid in the well to cushion the shock of the falling plunger.

It is another object to provide a device of this character where the pressure ofthe load of liquid being discharged from the well will tend to operate to close the opening for the inlet of pressure fluid, and to so arrange the valve controlling apparatus that the valve will again be opened within a predetermined limit of time.

The arrangement and construction of the pressure application is somewhat similar to but 1s an improvement over the subject mat-` ter as set forth in my copending application, Serial #745,998 filed October 27th, 1924.

The arrangement of the device whereby iti may be automatically operated to dischar e liquid :trom the well at regular interva s will be more clearly understood when taken in connection with the drawing herewith, wherein I Ahave shown, partly in vertical section, an apparatus installed in the well, said apparatus embodying a preferred form of the invention.

The device includes a casing l, which may be of any ordinary construction, extending into the well and providing means for retaining the Walls of the well. It has its upper end closed to form a fluid-tight chamber therein. To form this closure the upper end 2 of the casing may befextended inwardly to tit about an eduction tube 3 or a suitable casing head or gland may be provided. This tube may be the usual pump tubing in which the interior thereof has been machined or otherwise smoothed to form a sliding it with a plunger 4, which is adapted to slide throughout the length of the tubing in making a stroke. The tube 3 extends to a point below the surface of the liquid to be pumped from the well and serves as a pump barrel.

The tube 3 is extended into the well a sufficient distance to be submerged a predetermined amount in the liquid in the well. The lower end has an inturned flange 5 upon which is supported a spiral spring 6, the upper end of which has a flattened seat 7.

The plunger 4 comprises a hollow body which carries at its lower end a reciprocable valve 9 having a stem 8 protruding therebelow. To place this plunger in operating position it is inserted at the top of the tube 3 and allowed to fall by gravity through the tube until it strikes the surface .of the liquid. Thereafter it settles more slowly as the fluid is compelled to pass through the open valve 9 and the body 4. The spring 6 serves to cushion the shock ofthe falling plunger but also serves another function, that of closing the valve 9 by contacting with the stem 8. y

The upper end of the tube 3 is closed with a cap or bull plug 10, while a lateral discharge outlet 11 is spaced a short distance below the top of the tubing. This outlet may lead to any suitable container, not shown..

The pressure fluid, which ordinarily will be air or gas, is introduced under pressure into the well through a pipe 12 connected with the upper end of the casing 1. In said pipe is an automatic periodically-operated valve 13 and a hand-operated valve 14. I have also provided a by-pass for fluid past the two valves 13 and 14. Th1s by-pass, shown at 15, has a regulating valve 16 thereon and I- contemplate allowing this valve to be open a sufficient amount to allow the constant discharge into Ithe well of a small amount of pressure fluid sufficient to aerate the upper surface of the liquid in the tube 3, for a purpose to be later described.

The automatic valve 13 may be controlled by hydraulic means Iand has a chamber 17 therein, a partition or diaphragm 18 1n said chamber closes the passage therethrough eX- eept for upper and- lower openings 19 and 20, and as will be seen from the drawing, these openings are vertically one above the other, the partition or diaphragm being so formed as to provide a structure adapted to co-operate with a valve 21 which has discs thereon adapted to seat in both said openings slmultaneously.-V

A stem 22 on said valve extends upwardly through a stuffing box 23 in the upper wall o f the chamber 17 and into a casing 24 approximately cylindrical in shape. At the upper end of the stem 22 is a removable nut 25 and at a point spaced a predetermined distance below the nut is an adjustable collar 26. Between the nut and the collar is a piston 27 slidably mounted upon the valve stem. Said piston works closely within the cylinder and is held resiliently in its position upwardly against the nut 25 by means of a spring 28. Thus the valve 13 may be said to be periodically operative as 'it closes when fluid depresses the piston and valve stem and a period elapses dependent upon the time required for the escape of the Huid before it may again open. The lower end of said spring rests upon a partition 29 in the lower end of the cylinder.

The upper end of the cylinder is closed by a cap 30 screwed on the upper end thereof. Said cap has an outlet pipe 31 connected therewith and a manually operated valve 32 in said pipe serves to regulate the size of the outlet. Between the cap and the upper end of the valve stem 22 is a small compression spring 33. This spring tends to resist the upward movement of the rod as the piston slides between tle two seats formed by the nut 25 and the collar 26. A lateral connecting pipe 35 connects the upper end of the cylinder'24 with the tube 3 andthis may be at a point approximately opposite the outlet pipe 11, as shown, or could be connected into the out-let pipe. A check valve 36 in said pipe allows the passage of fluid from the tube to the cylinder, but prevents the passage of fluid in the opposite direction. The pipe 31 may lead around to the discharge pipe 11.

In the operation of this device the apparatus is assembled, as vshown in the drawing, with the lower end of the eduction tube submerged the desired distance below the level of the liquid in the well. The lower end of the tube basa central opening below the seat for the plunger and also has lateral openings 37 through which the pressure fluid may enter the tube below the plunger. The plunger 4 is inserted in the tube 3 by removing the cap 10 which is then replaced. The valve 21 will assume the position shown, and pressure fluid may enter through the pipe 12 to the casing. This pressure will accumulate in the space between the casing and the tube, forcing the level of the liquid outside of the tube downwardly in the casing, and upwardly in the tube. When the level of the liquid in the'casing has been depressed a sufficient amount to allow the pressure fluid to enter through the openings 37 it will accumulate below the plunger and force the plunger with its superimposed charge of liquid upwardly to the surface end of the tube 3 where it will discharge laterally throughthe pipe 11. As the load of liquid above the pressure fluid begins to `discharge out the pipe 11, the speed of the plunger will increase and some of the liquid will be forced past the check valve 36 into the upper end of the cylinder above the piston 27. The piston will thus be forced downwardly against the action of the spring 28 and when it contacts with the collar 26 the valve stem and valve 21 will be forced to close and prevent the further inlet of pressure fluid to the casing past this valve.

titl

neaaooi llthen the plunger l reaches the outlet ll all ot' the liquid has been discharged and the plunger is traveling with considerable speed, 'the bull plug l0 is partially filled with air and liquid which acts as a bumper to stop the plunger'. its the lower end of the plunger passes 'the opening 4l1 the pressure lluid in the tube 3 is allowed to exhaust. This release of the pressure allows the valve 9 in the plunger to drop open, and the plunger, due to gravity., begins to fall freely in the tube 3. During this interval the valve 2l remains closed by the operation of the delay piston 27 and valve 32. At the bottom of 5 the well as the pressure is released in the tube 3 there occurs a surge of the liquid thru the openings 37 and at the bottom of the tube. l/lith this surge of liquid by proper adjustment of the valve lh' is included suflcient pressure duid to aerate the column which rises in the tube 3. This rising column meets the 'falling plunger Il retarding it and 'slowing it down until it gradually settles on the seating spring 6. The amount of liquid which passes thru the plunger d while it is settling onto 'the seat forms the load for the nent trip. lily the time the plun er is seated 'the valve 2l is ready to open an thus again admits pressure to the underside of the plunger. The yportion l of the spring t5 having closed the valve 9 there can be no leal(- age oit this new charge of pressure duid and as it increases the plunger starts upward carrying its load ot liquid.

The plunger' comprises specially detailed constructions which forms the subject matter of a separate application for patent and is not material in the invention here disclosed.

lrom the foregoing description it will be apparent that by proper adjustment of the valves lfl and 32 the operation of the device will be entirely automatic. The plunger will `tall, be raised by the pressure tluid discharging the liquid and releasing the pressure lluid, the inlet of the pressure fluid is cut od, and the plunger allowed to fall and be cush ioned by the rising aerated column of liquid. Thus a cycle of operation is completed which is entirely automatic, requiring only the supply of fluid pressure. V

' lt is also to be noted that while the fluid pressure within the tube 3 is relieved when the load is discharged, the pressure in the casing 2 is not relieved to the same extent as this latter is hindered in its escape by the surge of liquid into the tube 3. However, the level of the liquid in the casing 2 will reach the point indicated as at 38 in the drawing during the interval between successive strolres.

The field of application of my improved pumping equipment is verylarge, the wells on which it may be installed will vary from a few feet to several thusands of feet. Necessarily, therefore, the time required for a complete cycle or round trip of the plunger will vary greatly for diderent wells. ll, therefore, consider it within the scope of my invention to alter the size of the valves, inlets, outlets and other devices to conform to any particular pumping problem. ln the deeper wells it may be desirable to locate a suitable cage adjacent the lower end of the tube so that the volume of pressure fluid discharged at each stroke is not excessive; in event such a construction is adopted the inlet pipe l2 would extend down in the well bore or the casing to the cage; With the different depth wells to be umped the efficiency of the apparatus will be greatly increased by locating the plunger seat at the proper depth below the surface of the static head of the liquid in the Well.A This depth of submergence will to some eX- tent control the load which will flow through the plunger valve and be trapped when the plunger starts up, so that by varying this depth the most efficient working point may be ascertained. The location of' the working point will, of course, vary with the depth of submergence, the fluid ressure desired to be used, the specific gravity of the liquid being pumped, and the back pressure, if any, upon the outlet pipe. Thus it is readily foreseeable that the working point may even require alteration in the same well if the static level is reduced by pumping.

While l have described a particular device for controlling the action of the pressure fluid, it is obvious that other equivalent devices which may be now Well lmown in the art may be substituted in the carrying out of the invention and without departing from the spirit thereof.

What ll claim as new is 1. In a device of the character described, a well casing, an eduction tube therein having a fluid-tight lit therewith and projecting above said casing, said tube having a fluid outlet above said casing, an inlet. pipe for pressure fluid to said casing, a valve therein, means operated by said pressure fluid to force liquid from said tube, and means actuated by said liquid to close said valve.

l2. ln a device of the character described, a well casing, an eduction tube therein having a fluid tight fit therewith and projecting above said casing, said tube having a fluid .outlet above said casing, an inlet pipe for pressure fluid to said casing, a valve therein, a plunger in said tube, operated by said pressure fluid to :force liquid from said tube, and means actuated by said liquid to close said valve. l

3. In a device of the character described, a Well casing, an eduction tube therein having a fluid-tight fit therewith and projecting above said casing, said tube having a fluid outlet above said casing, an inlet pipe for pressure fluid to said casing, a valve therein,

means operated by said pressure fluid to force liquid from said tube, and means actuated by said liquid to close said valve,I said valvefbeing adapted to open after said liquid has been discharged.

4. In a device of the character described, a Well casing, an eduction tube therein having a fluid-tight fit therewith and projecting above said casing, said tube havingr a fluid, outlet above said casing, an inlet pipe for pressure fluid to said casing, a valve therein,

means operated by said pressure tluid to force A liquid from said tube, and means actuated by said liquid to close said valve and means tending to hold said valve in open position.

5. In a device of the character described, a well casing, an eduction tube spaced concentrically therein, a plunger in said tube, a seat in said tube for said plunger, an inlet pipe to said casing for pressure fluid, an outlet for liquid from said tube, a valve in said inlet pipe, means holding said valve normally open to ad-mit pressure fluid to raise said plunger and liquid, and means operated by said liquid to close said valve while said plunger falls to said seat.

6. In device of the character described, a well casing, an eduction tube spaced concentrically therein, a plunger in said tube, a seat in said tubefor said plunger, an inlet pipe to said casing for pressure fluid, an outlet for liquid from said tube, a valve in said inlet pipe, means holding said valve normally open to admit pressure fluid to raise' said plunger and liquid, and means to close said valve a predetermined period to allow said plunger to fall.

7. In combination, a well casing, an eduction tube in said casing, an inlet pipe to said casing for pressure fluid, an outlet from said tube for liquid, and a valve controlling said inlet pipe to regulate the passage of pressure fluidmeans to hold Said valve resiliently in open position said valve being responsive to the pressure of liquid discharged from the well.

8. In combination, a well casing, an eduction tube therein, an inlet pipe to said casing for pressure fluid, an outlet from said tube for liquid from the well, a valve controlling the inlet of pressure fluid to the casing, means to hold said valve normally open, and means to close said valve responsive 4to pressure of liquid in the outlet from said tube, said means including a stem on said valve and fluid pressure operated means connected with said tube to force said stem and valve in the direction to close said valve.

9. In combination, ,a wellcasing, an eduction tube therein, an inlet pipe for pressure fluid connected with said easing, an outlet from said tube for liquidirom the well, a valve in said inlet pipe, a cylinder on said pipe, a valve stem on said valve extending into said cylinder, a piston on said stem in said cylinder, and a connection between said tube n andcyli'nder for liquid, means to hold said valve normally open, said valve being closed by liquid pressure through said connection.

10. In combination, a well casing, an eduction tube therein, an inlet pipe for pressure fluid connected with said casing, an outlet from said tube for liquid from the well, a valve in said inlet pipe, a cylinder on said pipe, a valve stem on said valve extending into said cylinder, a piston on said stem in said cylinder, and a connection between said tube and cylinder for liquid, means to hold said valve normally open, said valve being closed by liquid pressure through said connection, and means to relieve said liquid pressure to allow said valve to open Within a predetermined period. 11. In combination, a Well casing, an eduction tube therein, an inlet pipe to said casing for pressure fluid, an outlet at the upper end of said tube, av seat at the lower end of said tube, a plunger adapted to be supported. on said seat, said seat and plunger being submerged in liquid in the well, a valve to control the entrance of pressure fluid to said casing, and a by-pass past said valve to allow the passage of fluid to aerate the liquid entering said tube.

12. In a device ofthe character described, a well casing, an eduction tube spaced concentricallpy7 therein, a plunger in said tube, a seat in said tube for'said plunger, an inlet pipe to said casing for pressure fluid,'an outlet for liquid from said tube, a valve in said inlet pipe, means holding said valve normally open to admit pressure fluid to raise said plunger and liquid, and means operated by said liquid to close said valve while said plunger falls to said seat, and means to aerate the liquid in the lower end of the tube to check the fall of said plunger.

13. In a device of the character described, a well casing, an eduction tube therein, an inlet for pressure fluid to said casing, a plunger in said tube, the lower end of said tube being submerged in liquid in the well, means to control the flow of pressure fluid to said casing to force said plunger. and the liquidy above it to the surface and means to aerate the liquid to check the fall of said plunger to thelower end of said tube.

14. In a device of the character described, a well casing, an eduction tube therein, an inlet for pressure fluid to said casing, a plung- -er in said tube, the lower end of said tube being submerged in liquid in the well, means to control the flow of pressure fluid to said casing to force said plunger and the liquid above it tothe surface, means to operatesaid controllin means to automatically close the passage o pressure fluid to said casing, and means to aerate the liquid to check the fall of said plunger to the lower end of said tube.

15. A reciprocating pumping device inlos no l

cluding a lreely traveling plunger, a tube therefor, means to introduce luid under pressure beneath said plunger, a periodic valve controlling the inlet of said fluid and means for regulating the period of said valve.

16. A reciprocating pumping device including a freely traveling plunger, a tube therefor, means to introduce Huid under pressure beneath said plunger, a periodic valve controlling the inlet of said Huid and means tor regulating the period of said valve, the last said means including a portion of the liquid being pumped.

l'l. A pumping device comprising a tube, a :treely traveling plunger'therein, means to introduce duid pressure to one end of said tube, an outlet for the liquid being pumped, and periodically operable means controlling the flow ot said fluid pressure to said tube.

18. il delay valve for controlling the operation of a fluid operated reciprocating pump, including a cylinder adapted to receive a portionol the liquid being pumped, a means "normally tending to open the valve but adapted to be depressed by the pumped liquid to close said valve and means for controlling the escape of the liquid from the cylinder.

19. ln combination with a well, a pumping device comprising a single tube extending to the pumping depth, a freely traveling plunger therein, and means operable by a portion ol the liquid discharged to control the upward movement of said plunger allowing the said valve to close alter each stroke of said pump.

20. ln combination with a well, a pumping device comprising a continuous open tube till liti

till

extending to the pumping depth, a freely traveling plunger therein, and means operable by a portion of the liquid discharged to control the upward movement ot said plunger.

21. ln combination with a well, a Huid operated pump including a pump barrel which entends from the surface to the pumping depth, a reelytraveling plunger in said barrel, and automatically operable means to control the movement of said plunger, said means including a periodic valve controlled by a portion ot' the pumped liquid.

2Q. ln combination with a well, a fluid operated pump including a pump barrel which entends from the surface to the pumping depth, a freely traveling plunger in said barrel, and automatically operable means to control the movement oit said plunger, said means including a hydraulically actuated valve.

23. ln combination with a well, a fluid operated pump including a pump barrel which extends trom the surface to the pumping depth, a treely traveling plunger in said barrel, and automatically operable means to con- In testimony whereof I hereunto alx my 70 signature,v this 17th day of October,y A. D. 1928.

HAROLD W. FLETCHER.

Images