US1574081A - Apparatus for pumping deep wells - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 23 1926. 1,574,081

l.. G. GATES APPARATUS FOR 'PUMPING DEEP WELLS Filed Feb. 25, 1925 19 I BM`-M ATTORNEYS Patented Peb. 23, i926..

U 't' `f1 a trai .lIIIElIROlF G. GATES, @El BAKERSFIELID, CALIIFORNI, ASSIGNOR T0 STANDARID @lili @0M- lPANY, 0F SAN FRANCISCO, C ALIFORNA, A CORPORATION @E @H'iila APPARATUS Fon PUMPING naar wams Application tied February 25., 1925. Serial No. 11,4%.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ll, Lnnor vGr. GATES, a citizen of the United State residing at Bakersfield, in the county of l ern and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Pumping Deep `Wells, of which the following isa specification. v

My invention relates to an apparatus for pumping deep wells and is particularly adapted for pumping wells-in which considerable gas is present.

The principal objectot my invention is to provide a well pumping apparatus in' which the pump and also its driving means, it the latter be associated with. the pump in the well, can be pulled to the surface for cleaning or repairing Without losing the entire colmnn of pumped iluid which stands above the pump, and without .thel necessity of pulling the stri-ng of tubing which conducts the pumped tluid to the surface.

A further object ot my invention is to provide means for the escape of the gases produced in the Well, in order to prevent said gases from passing through the pump and interfering with its action. Such conditions are commonly met with in oil wells, and, therefore, my invention is adapted for such use.- The separation of the gas and they oil is accomplished by providing a tubing string within the well casing for conducting the pumpedoil to the surface, the gas being ,free to' escape through the well outside of said tubing. The oil discharge tubing string remains permanently in the well, and' is preferably ot a diameter smaller than that ot the well casing, but large enough to permit the pumping member to be low-ered to its operative position through said tubing. A .separable connection is provided between the pump and the lower end ot the discharge tubing string, to permit said pump to e pulled when necessary without disturbing said tubing, and suitable means are provided to retain the column oi? pumped oil within the discharge tubing when the pump is pulled out, so that said column ot oil is not lost back int-o the well.

As an alternative construction, the discharge ,n tubing string may be of smaller diametei` and the pump may be lowered beside -instead of inside ot said tuning. 'As in the previously mentioned form of construction, the pump is separably connected with the lower end of the discharge tubing string, to permit it to be pulled independently of said` tubing, and means are provided for retaining the column ot pumped oil `in the discharge tubing when the pump is pulled. n f

It will be readily understood that, by the above outlined construction, the pump, whether lowered inside or outside the discharge tubing string, can be pulled at any time for cleaning or repair without removing said tubing string, which remains permanently'in the well. saving in time and labor over the usual practise of pulling and replacing the entire This edects a great f string of tubing whenever the pump must be repaired or cleaned. The provision for retaining the column of pumped oil in the tubing string when the pump is pulled also effects a considerable saving ottime, especially when the large diameter tubing is used and the pump lowered therethrough,

for in such cases the amount of oil contained in said tubing is considerable, and, it it were lost back into' the well when the pump is pulled, would necessitate running the pump for several days, in deep wells, before the column of umped oil reached the surface and production started. The use ot the tubing string, moreover, prevents trouble from gas byl permitting such gas to ing without interfering with the action ot the pump.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means for suitably supporting the tubing string, with its column ot pumped oil, and the pump itself, within the well. In comparatively shallow wells the entire weight may ybeI suspended by the tubing string alone, or part ot the weight may be supported by Athe usual slips having 'frictional engagementwith the casing, but in deep Wells, and especially when the large diameter tubing is used, the great weight of such tubing and the column of pumped oil' would necessitate additional supporting means, and in such cases l provide a supporting column or foot extending from the lower end ot' the tubing to, and resting upon, the bottom of the well. Ubviously, either -the slips, or the supporting foot, or both, may be used, and in the latter case l provide means, fully described 'hereinafter for distributing the weight between the slips and the supporting foot, so that each will bear its proper share."

escape between said tubing and the well casllt) The pumping member of my apparatus may be of any desired type, and may be operated either by the usual sucker rods from the surface, or may be driven by a suitable motor associated with the pump and lowered with it into the well by a cable or- It is to be understood moreover, that the tubing string 2 b form and construction, of the apparatus herein shown and described may be varied, 4within the limits of the claims hereto appended, without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in said claims.

With this in View, my invention will now be fully described with reference to the accompanyingy drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a broken longitudinal section of one form of my well pumping apparatus in operative position in a well, the pump ing member thereof being shown partially in y elevation.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a slightly different form of supporting means, the pumping member being lremoved therefrom.

Fi 3 is a broken longitudinal section of a mo ified form of apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the fluid supporting member shown in Fig. 3, the pumpmg member being `removed therefrom, and a slightly different weight supporting member being associated therewith.

. In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the casing of a well. A string of tubing 2 which, in the form of construction illustrated in Fig. 1, is of only slightly smaller diameter than the well casing 1, is lowered into the well until its lower end ex- .tends into the oil. Secured to the lower end of the tubing string 2 is a member 3 which vhas a preferably central passage 4 extending therethroughe A check valve 5 is provi ed in said passage.

The reference numeral 6 designates a pump body adapted to be lowered into the any suitable means as, for example, a ca le 7. The pump body 6 may be of any desiredI construction, but for purposes of illustration I havel shown a barrel 8. in which a plunger 9 o erates. Suction and discharge valves 10 an 11 respectively are provided, the latter being carried in said plunger. The pumped oil asses up through the plunger 9 and a suitably disposed passage, indicated at 12, and is discharged into the tubing string 2 through a port 13. The plunger 9 is understood to be operated b any suitable mechanism carrled within t e pump body 6, but as such mechanism forms no part of the present inyention, it has been omitted from the drawlngs.

The lower end of the pump body 6 is provided with a tubular extension 14 formin a suction intake to the barrel 8. Saidtu ular extension is adapted to fit into the passage 4 of the member 3, and suitable packing 15 is provided in said assage to make a tight joint with said tubu ar extension 14. A downwardly extending finger 16 is referably provided upon the lower end o the tubular extension 14 for the purpose of moving the check valve 5 ofi' its seat when the pump body 6 is in its operative position, as shown in Fig. 1.

It will readily be seen that when the pump body 6 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the oil is drawn up into the barrel 8 through the passage 4 of the member 3 and through the tubular extension 14. However, when the pump body 6 is pulled out of the well for cleaning or repair, the check valve 5, freed by the finger 16, is allowed to seat, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby retaining the entire column of pumped oil within the tubing string 2 and preventing it from flowing back into the well. 1 p

The tubular extension 14` is preferably made relatively small in diameter, so as toy leave the bottom surface 6, Fig. 1, of the pump body 6 as large as possible. This bottom surface 6a is, of course, exposed to the pressure of the pumped fluid within the tubing string 2, and such pressure, acting upwardly, against said bottom surface 6.",

tends to assist the cable 7 in initially break-p.

ing said body away from the tubing bottom member 3, thereby preventing undue strain on said cable.. For the same reason, the tubing bottom member 3 is provided upon its upper end with relatively narrow lugs 3 upon which the bottom 6 of the pump body 6 rests, so that the fluid pressure may be exerted upwardly against said bottom'. Obviously, if the pump body 6 were set tight upon the member 3, the fluid pressure upon the upper end of said body would be so great, in deep wells, as to necessitate a much heavier cable to initially separate said body from the member 3, thanl would be required to lift said body after such separation.

In deep wells the weight of the vtubing string 2 and the column of oil therewithin may render it necessary to support said tub* ing string 2 in some manner other than b suspension from the surface, and in suci cases I may employ a supporting foot 17. which preferably consists of a perforated tube, and which may be secured, as indi- Fig. 3 of the drawings, the discharge tubing' (immay also'be partially supported by theusual toothed slips 2.0, as shown in Fig. 2, which are forced outwardly into engagement with the casing 1 by riding up on iiiclined surfaces 21. If it is advisable'to employ both the slips 20 andthe supporting foot 17, I prefer to use theconstructlon shown in Fig. 2. In this constructlon, the foot 17 is movably associated with the tubing bottom member 3 by means of the s1iding connection shown at 22, anda heavy buffer spring 23 is interposed between a shoulder 24 formed upon said foot and the member 3. A lighter spring 25 is interposed between said shoulder and the slips 20, as shown. When, in lowering the apparatus into the Well, the foot 17 reaches the well bottom and comes to rest, the heavy spring 23 is compressed by the further downward 1 movement of the member 3, and during such further movement, the 'lighter spring 25 sets the slips 20 against the casing by moving them upwardly upon their incllncd surfaces 21. By properly proportioning the vsprin s 23 and 25, the setting of the slips` may e timed to occur when the foot 17, acting through the buffer spring 23,'has taken up its pre-determined proportlon of the load. By this means, the entire weight may be properly distributed between the slips 20 and the foot 17. The buifer sprmg 23 also automatically takes care of any expansion or contraction of the parts, or'any settling of the foot 17. Obviously, the resilient or buffer spring connection between the tubing bottom member 3 and the footv 17 may be used without the slips 20, in lace. .of the rigid construction shownin `i0. 1,

In the form of. construction shown in string is indicated -by the numeral 2', and is of smaller diameter than that `described above. Said tubing string 2, however, is secured at its lower end to a bottom member 3', which constitutes a connection between said tubing string and the pump body 6. passage 4 extends vertically through the member 3', but in this form of the apparatus the check valve 5 for retaining the oil column in the discharge tubing string 2 is positioned as shown in a passage 5" connecting'the lower end of said tubing string 2 with an annular channel 4 formed in the wall of the vertical passage 4. The pump body 6 may be supported in any desired manner, not shown.

The pump itself may be constructed in any suitable manner, having both its intake and its discharge at the bottom. For

example, I have shown a barrel 8 in which operates a plunger 9' and which has inlet and discharge valves 10 and 11 respectively. The oil discharged through the valve 1 1 passes intoA a chamber 12- surrounding the barrel 8 'and communicating with a port 13 adapted to register with the annular channel 4 in the member 3."'A downward extension 14 of the pump body 6l is adapted to lit into the passage 4 of the member 3 and said passage is preferably provided with suitable packing 15' to make a tight joint with said extension 14. The outlet port 13 is formed in this extension as shown, as is also an intake passage 10 leading to the inlet valve 10.

'Ihe member 3 may be supported in the well by any suitable means in addition to being suspended by the discharge tubing string 2. To indicate any such supporting .means I have shown toothed slips 20', Fig. 3, which are understood to engage the casing 1 in a manner similar to that described above, and which ma be operated by any suitable means not siown. If desired, a supporting foot 17 as shown in Fig. 4:, may be secured, as at 13' to the member 3', said supporting foot having a lower end 19 adapted to rest upon the well bottom.

The operation 0f the form of apparatus illustrated in Fig. 3 is essentially similar to that of the form shown in Fig. l. The tubing string 2 and the member 3 are positioned in .the well initially and the pump body 6 associated therewith. The operation of the pump ycauses the oil to be drawn up through .the passages 4 and 10 into the barrel 8', and to be discharged through the chamber 12', the port 13', the annular4 channel 4 and the passage 5 into the tubing string 2. The pump body 6 may be separated from thev member 3 to enable said pump body to be pulled to the surface for cleaning or repair, in which case the check valve 5 retains the column of pumped oil in the tubing string 2 to prevent it from flowing back into the well.

It will be seen that in both forms of the apparatus described above, the. well casing is not packed off, so that there is l`a free `escape for the natural gases of the well to xcomprising a tubing string positioned within a Well and adapted to conduct-'the pumped oil to the surface, a'member connected with the lower end of said tubing string and having a substantially vertically disposed passage therethrough, supporting means carried by said member for releasably gripping vthe Well casing, a pump separably associated with said member and adapted to draw the oil through said passage and to discharge it into said tubing string, and a valve carried by said member for supporting the column ot pumped oii within saidtubing string Iijvhen the pump is separated from said memer. i

2. An apparatus for pumping oii wells, comprising a :tubing string adapted to be positioned within the well to convey the pumped oil to the surface, a pump lowerable within said tubing string and separably associated with the lower end thereof, said pump being adapted to discharge the oil into said tubing string, a vaive in the lower end otl said tubing string for retaining the column of pumped oil within said tubing stringwhen lthe pump is separated therefrom, and means for holding said valve open when the pump is in operative position.

3. An apparatus for pumping oil wells, comprising a tubing string adapted to be positioned within a Well to conduct the pumped oil tothe surface, a plug member f secured within said tubing string, said plug member having a substantially vertically disposed passage therethrough, spaced lugs rising from the upper end surface of said plug member, a ump lowerable within said tubingstring an adapted to rest upon said lugs, a tubular extension' upon said itting within said passage, said pump ein'g adapted to draivthe oil through said passage and to discharge it into said tubing string, and a valve carried by said plug member for retaining the column of pumped voil within said tubing string when the pump is separated from said yplug member.

4. An apparatus for pumping oil wells con'iprising a tubing string positioned within the Vwell and Vadapted to conduct the pumped oil to the'surface', a supporting member resiliently connected `with the lower end of said. tubing string and extending therefrom to the bottom of the well, a pump scparably associated ,with the lower end of n said tubing string and adapted to discharge the oil thereintu, and means for supporting the column of oil within said tubing string when the pump is .separated therefrom.

5. An apparatus for pumping oil wells comprising a tubing string positioned within ump charge the oil thereinto, and means for supporting the column ot' pumped oil within said tubing string whenthe pump is separated therefrom.

6. An apparatus for pumping oil wells comprising a tubing string positioned within the Well and adapted to conduct the pumped oil to the surface, 'means associated with said tubing string or 'gripping thb well casing, means for operating said gripping means from the surface, apump separably associated with the. lower end of said tubing string and adapted to discharge the oil thereinto, and means for supporting the column of pumped oil Within said tubing string when the pump is separated therefrom.

7. An apparatus for pumping oil wells comprising a tubing string positioned Within the wel] and adapted to conduct the pumped oil to the surface, means associated with said tubing string for gripping the Well casing, a support movably associated with Vsaid tubing string and extending therefrom to the bottom of the well, means actuated by the relative movement between said tubing string and said support for operating said gripping means, a pump separably associated with the lower end o't' said tubing string and adapted lto discharge the oil thereinto, and means for supporting the eolwhen the pump is separated therefrom.

S. An apparatus forpumping oil Welis comprising a tubing string positionedwithiu the well and adapted to conduct the pumped oi.I to the surface, means associated with said tubing string for gripping the Well casing,

a support' movably associated with sai-d 'tubing string and extending therefrom to the bottom of the Well, a resilient "weightsupporting connection between said tubing lstring and said support, means actuated by the relative movement between said tubing string and said support for operating said gripping means, a pump separably associated with the lower end of said tubing string and adapted to discharge the oil theremto, and means for supporting the column of pumped oil within said tubing string when the pump is separated therefrom.

In testimony` whereot` I have signed -my name to this specification. i

LEROY G. GATES.

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