US2580660A - Sand catcher - Google Patents

Description

o. H. CRABTREE- Jan. 1, 1952 SAND CATCHER 2 SEMS-SHEET 1 Filed April 20. 1945 INVENTOR.

TTENEY V 7 I/ /l//r/ l Jan. 1, 1952 o. H. CRABTREE SAND CATCHER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed April 20, 1 .945

l A 9 Z Y .www www u 3 w 9 R. y w w w W V@ r m7 B A m 7 w /J/ H 8 8 1 0 1 3 Z ZT 5 1 02e 27 0 7 OY m7 @M H fm 14 W 5J/5,3, .1 EN i, N M x E Patented Jan. l, 19.52

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAND CATCHER Otis H. Crabtree, Long Beach, Calif.

Application April 20, 1945, Serial No. 589,294

12 Claims. (Cl. 10S-179) Another object of the invention is to provide a well pump incorporating elongated sand trapping means wherein a large quantity of sand may be accumulated and thereby kept from clogging the operating and connection portions of the pump mechanism for a long operating period.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well pump of novel structure and arrangement incorporating means for trapping a relatively large quantity of sand and foreign material borne in the nuid pumped by said pump whereby foulpose, a string of tubing is extended into the well and a reciprocating pump is mountedv within said tube, usually in its lower end portion, for the purpose of pumping out the fluid entering the well from the earth formations. In many oil wells the uid carries a high proportion of sand and other foreign materials. For the most part, these sands and foreign materials are pumped out with the fluid but much of them settle back around and within the pump to clog the pump and interfere with its normal operation. When an unduly large amount of sand has accumulated in and around the pump, it becomes desirable to withdraw the pump from the well for cleaning and, iffnecessary, to replace worn parts. Frequently, however, it is found that the pump has become frozen Within the tubing. This freezing or seizure may be caused by sand accumulations packing around the parts of the pump and the tube by means of which the pump and the tube are separably connected. In bottom lock pumps, the hold-down shoe on the tube and the holddown mandrel on the pump frequently clog up with sand to such a degree as to prevent desired separation of these parts when withdrawal of the `pump is desired. In top lock pumps, the lock sleeve on the top lock mandrel vbecomes clogged by said accumulations to such a degree as to prevent its being dislodged from holding engagement with the top lock assembly of the casing tube.

This invention has for a primary object the provision of means in a well pump for keeping sand and other foreign material from clogging the pump structure to such a degree as to make difficult or impossible the removal of said pump structure from the well.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well pump incorporating means for catching or trapping sand which may be in the fluid being pumped and in which said sand catching or trap y ping means is of such capacity as to permit opfrom the well for cleaning or repair.

'the invention showing the manner in which the ing of separable anchor means of the pump is delayed for a long period of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a Well pump structure incorporating sand catching and trapping means of simple, efllcient and Vdurable design and arrangement whereby the emcient life of the pump is extended.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic longitudinal view of a well pump according to the invention as incorporated in a traveling barrel type pump showing the manner in which the pump mounts in a well tubing.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken longitudinal sectional view more clearly illustrating the upper portion of the pump shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the lower portion of the pump.

Fig. 4 is a semi-diagrammatic longitudinal view of a traveling plunger type of pump embodying pump mounts in a well tubing.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are each enlarged longitudinal sectional views of the respective upper, intermediate and lower portions of the pump shown in barrel type of pump with a bottom lock and incorporating a preferred form and sand catching means. The pump may generally comprise a traveling barrel l0, a stationary plunger l I means Vsuch as a string of sucker rods l2 for reciprocating the barrel from the surface of the well, a housing or tubing I3 for the pump, anchor means I4 for separably connecting the pump and tubing, and means I5 for collecting, trapping, catching or otherwise accumulating sand and foreign material in the iiuid passing through the pump, said latter means hereinafter being termed a sand catcher.

The barrel Hl may be of typical construction involving a top cage I6 in which is arranged a ball I1 and a seat I8 to permitl passage of fluid through the cage only upon downward movement of the barrel l0. Said cage may be connected to a string of sucker rods I2, for instance to the lower-most sucker rod of said string, by means of its neck i 9. The top cage I6 Imay be connected to an upper barrel bushing 2l Which carries an upper length of tubing 22 of the barrel. The barrel part 22 may be connected by means of an adapter 23 with a lower length of tubing 24 which may carry a lower tube bushing 25 which forms the lower end of the barrel. A plurality of liners 26 may be disposed within the lower tubing 24 and between the adapter 23 and the lower tube bushing 25.

The above-described barrel structure is a1'- ranged for reciprocatorymovement from the surface of the well by means connected with the string of sucker rods I2 and is arranged to tele scope over the pump plunger `II which, in this instance, is xed. Said plunger may include-a standing cage 21 in which is arranged a ball 28 and a seat 28 which cooperate to permit passage of fluid through the cage only upon upward movement of the barrel I0. Said cage 21 may be connected, as by means of a top plunger bushing 30, to a plunger 3| which carries a plunger adapter 32 at its bottom end.

The barrel I0 and the plunger II are 'so arranged and constructed as to'provide an elongated chamber 33 within the upper tubing 22 and between the upper barrel bushing 2| and the adapter 23. The reciprocatory movement of the barrel I0 is, therefore, limited by the length of the tubing 22, since the cage 21 is disposed in said chamber.

The above-described pump has iiuid'passages which comprise the opening or passage 35 in the tube 3|, an axial bore 36 in the bushing 30, ports 31 in the standing cage 21, the chamber 33, an axial bore 38 in the barrel bushing 2l, and the ports 39 inthe top cage I 6. It is evident thatl an up stroke of the barrelv I0 will cause fluid to be drawn into the chamber 33 by unseating the ball 28 to allow the iiuid to enter said chamber through passage 35, bore 36 and ports 31. A subsequent down stroke of the barrel will cause displacement of the fluid in the chamber-'33 through bore 38 and through the ports 39 by unseating the ball I1.

The pump is disposed in the casing or tubing i 3 which may comprise the lowermost section 40 of a number of such sections which are coupled together in a manner common in well construction. Said lowermost tubing section 40 carries the pump or, at least, the stationary portions thereof which, in this case. is the plunger I i.

The means I4 are provided so that removal of the pump from the casing I 3 may be effected.`

Said means may comprise a lock hold-down shoe 45, a lock hold-down mandrel 46 disposed within the shoe, a lock hold-down sleeve 41, 'and a nut connection at 49 with the lower end of the tubing section 40. The shoe is provided with an axial chamber 50 and is also provided with an inreaching annular cam bead 5I near the lower end of said chamber. The upper end of the shoe is provided with a conical seat 52 to receive the coned end 53 of the sleeve 41.

The mandrel 46 is formed as a cylindrical element and has fa throughpassage 54. The upper lend of the mandrel is 'reduced in diameter and the sleeve 41 and nut 48 are fitted on said reduced part, the nut being threaded on as at 55. A lock lhold-down adapter 44 is used for connecting the mandrel assembly and the pump plunger assembly "II, l"said adapter having threaded connection at 56 with an extension ci the reduced portion o`f the mandrel 46 and with the plunger adapter' 32. The lock hold-down adapter 44 has a passage bore 43.

The .portion Vofthe mandrel 46 'disposed within the shoe 45ii's longitudinally slotted at 51 `to provide resilient ngers l58 which, at their lower ends. are provided with cam-.portions V59 normally 'posio tioned'below the-cam head 5I of the shoe. The portions59 comprise 'a conical enlargement 'of the ngers 58|havin'g a'n'ominal diameter greater than that of the internal diameter of the cam head 5I.

From 'the -foregoing Iit may be seen that when the pump is being Aassembled into the tubing 'I3 anchas' the 'lower-ends' ofthe mandrel fingers 53 approach 4the "shoe, 'thefconic'al portions of the cam'si "willengage first, the conical seat 52 and then the f' cam head 5I. This causes inward springingor -iiex'ing of the nge'rs upon eachsuch engagement, Vuntil the mandrel resides in the chamber 50' with the'sle'eve 41 engaged with the se'at'52 and th'e' finger cms59 vbelow the cam head 5I. During anormal operation of the pump, the separable anchor for the pump, thus provided, will maintain'the plunger in the vdesired'xed position, However, an increased pull upon the 'pump for the purpose of di'slodgingfand removing it'will cause the fingers 58 to vflex inwardly past the cam head 5I andthe Walls 'of the seat 52. Such a pull may become effective when the pump barrel is raised to cause the adapter 23 to abutcagainst the bushing'. It is vfurther 'evident that the aforementioned removal 'of the pump can beaccom'- I plished only if the 'fingers 58 are free to flex in wardly. Should sand accumulations kclog the chamber 50 to such 'a degree -as to fill up the slots 51 of 'the' mandrel, fsaid'fingers will be unable to nex and the pump 'cannot beremoved. In'pracw tice 'there .is enough 'action or flow through the chamber'SIl fao-thatit 'does'not become clogged.

The .sandfcatching vmeans I 5 iis provided 'to 'prevent sand accumulation above the separable connecti-ng' means I4 and. around the pump to 'a de' gree that would interfere with the vpumpingfaction or freeze lthe barrel 'so it'could not be removed. Said means may comprise a tube 6B of substantial leng'th Iand arranged within a tubing 'section 4U. The' tube 60 is preferably of ysuch a diameter as to provide-an annular r`space 6I between it and the tubing section 40's'o that easy .insertion into and removal from 'the casing 'may be effected. A preferred manner of supporting the tube 60 is to mount the same, as by means of an end plate 62 on the lower 'end thereof, lbetween'the adapter 44 and the rnui; 48. In this manner the tube 6U is xedly held and can be removed with the pump evident that said chamber 68 receives the duid discharge from the top cage I6. It will be further seen that any sand which may settle out of the fluid thus pumped, will be caught and collected by or within the tube 60 and will accumulate in the lower portion 63a of the chamber 63, the bottom ofwhich is closed by the wall 62.

In order to prevent sand that settles out of the fluid from entering the annular space 6| and thus reaching the separable anchor means |4, the upper end of the tube 40 may be provided with sealing means 64 to close the upper end of said space 6|. The sealing means 64 may comprise an upperextension tube 65 for the tube 60, a plurality of reverse bevel sealing cups 66 carried by the extension tube, and cup hold-down rings 61 alternately e, spaced with the cups 66. The cups 66 are designed to bear against the inner wall of the tubing section 40 and thus to seal off the space 6| from the discharge of the pump.

The tubing section 40 will ordinarily' have an unfinished inner surface and is of considerable length from the top of the well to the sealing point above-described and said surface will sometimes cause the sealing surfaces of the cups 66 to become unduly worn or possibly injured a5 the pump is being inserted into the casing. To insure a good seal and to compensate for wear of the cups 66, a casing or sealing nipple 40a is inserted into the tubing string and is connected, as by couplings 40h, between adjacent tubing sections to occur at the point where the sealing means occur. Said nipple 40a is provided with a smooth inner surface of somewhat smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the tubing string, generally. By this structure, the cups 66 can be somewhat smaller initially to have minimum frictional contact with the tubing as the pump is being inserted. When said cups encounter the nipple 40e, they will be relatively smooth and engage the smaller smooth inner surface of said nipple lilla with suitable sealing contact.

According to this structure the sand settling out of the fluid being pumped may flow into but cannot lodge around the catcher I5. As the sand accumulates in the sand catcher, the stroke of the barrel l0 may be shortened according to the degree of interference the sand oiersv to movement of the barrel. When the stroke becomes too short for practical pumping, the entire pump assembly may be withdrawn from the well as hereinbefore described. Since sand has been kept from fouling or clogging the separable anchor means I4, such withdrawal of the pump is rendered easy. After removal of the sand,v the pump assembly may again be inserted into `the well casing and the pumping operation continued.

`Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate a travelingplunger type of pump with a top lock and incorporating another form of sand catching means. The pump may generally comprise a traveling plunger 10, a string of sucker rods 1| operable from the top of the well for reciprocating the plunger, a stationary barrel 12 associated with the plunger, a housing or casing 13 for the pump, atop lock assembly 14 for supporting the pump from said casing 13, and elongated means 15 which includes a sand catcher 16, aording means for connecting the lower portion of the pump to the top lock assembly, the structure being such as to provide for an abnormally long pump stroke.

The plunger 10 may comprise a top cage 80, carrying at its lower end a plunger vtube 0| through thernedium of a top plunger bushing 82. The lower end of the plunger tube carries a plunger valve cage 83 haying a ball 84 and a seat 05. The plunger assembly is completed by a bottom plunger nut 86.

The barrel 12 may comprise an inserted type top collar 81, a jacket 88 connected to the collar 81, and a double valve cage 89 carried on the lower end of the jacket. Balls 90 and 9| may be carried by said cage. A bottom collar 92 may comprise the lower end of the barrel assembly. A plurality of liners 93 are placed within the jacket 88 and between the top collar 81 and the cage- 89. In the present instance it is preferred to provide a barrel that is unusually long. For this purpose the jacket 88 is made sufciently long so that it may house a number of liners as, for instance, seven liners.

From the above 4described plunger and barrel structure it may be seen that the plunger 1| may have a relatively long stroke in the barrel 12 and that upon an upstroke of ,said plunger, iiuid will be drawn into the chamber 94 of the cage 89 and, consequently, into the lower end of the chamber 95 formed by the liners 93. Upon a down stroke of the plunger, said fluid will pass through the cage 83, into the hollow 96 of the plunger tube 8|, out through ports 91 in the cage 80, and into the chamber 05 above the plunger 10.

The pump is disposed within the casing or string of tubing 13 which may comprise an upper tube |00, a lower tube |0| connected by the top lock assembly 14, saidv assembly including an upper shoe |02 connected with the upper tube |00 and a lower shoe |03 on the lower tube |0|v and connected with the upper tube. The shoes |02 and ID3-clamp a lock seat ring |04 between them, said ring serving to support a top lock mandrel |05 which maybe inserted downwardly to seat on the ring |04. Said mandrel is held from normal upwardmovement by a spring lock sleeve |06 mounted on the mandrel below the lock seat ring |04. The mandrel |05 carries a rod guide |01 having ports |08 and the mandrel has a central axial opening |09 for the free passage of fluid from the chamber 95 into the casing tube |00 above the top lock assembly 14.

Inasmuch as it is desired to provide a large sand catcher 16, the plunger and barrel struc.

tures are spaced from the top lock assembly to a degree desired for obtaining a sand catcher of large size. For this purpose, the means 15 for connecting the barrel structure to the top lock assembly may comprise a plurality of elongated tubes 0 connected by couplings to provide thel desired length of sand catcher', the sand catching chamber 2 being established within the tubes |I0. The lowermost of the tubes H0 connects with the top collar 81 and the uppermost one connects through a sleeve bushing adapter ||3 and a sleeve bushing 4, with the vmandrel |05. In vkeeping with the above structure, the string of suckerrods 1| includes one or more sucker rods l I5, and a sucker rod ||6 in addition to other upper sucker rods ||1 extending upwardly in the well casing. Sucker rod couplings H8 and ||9 may connect the sucker rods H5, ||6 and ||1 to form the string 1|.

The sucker rod I5 may be of conventional design except that its coupling portions |20 are machinedoi to permit passing the rod through the guide |01. The lower coupling portion of the rod ||6 and the couplings ||8 are :machined smaller for the samerpurp'ose. The upper coupling' portion |2| `of the sucker rod H0 is also machined vclown to the fred 'guide I urto Ibe passed ove'rs'aid upper end when the pump isbeing assembled at the well surface. VIn addition,- the lower coupling portion of the rod |6 maybe machined to provide opposed flats |22 forming abutment flanges |23 adapted to engage 'a seat |24 in the rod guide when the pump is desired to be withdrawn from the well.

Since the pump is carried at a 'remote point from the top look assembly 14, said 'assembly can be positioned at a point above where u'id borne sand can reach it to clog the same. The remote arrangement of the pump and said top lock assembly further provides for an elongated'sand catcher 15 which comprises the upper portion of the chamber 95, the interior of the 'tubes I0 andl couplings and the axial passage |09 of the rod 'guide |01. As sand accumulatesin the sand: catcher, the pump stroke may be accordingly shortened as in the earlier form of the invention. However, since the' sand catcher is of extra large capacity 'because of the additional length provided by the structure, Athe pump may function for a relatively long time period before its strokebecomes too short for practical. pumping.- By. lifting on the sucker rod string '1| until the flanges |23 engage the seat Y|24 and by exerting a suf'- cient upward pullv on said string, the spring ngers of the lo'ck- 'sleeve' |05 may be forced inwardly so vthat Ythe entire pump. structure can be vpulled through the r-in'g |04 and then out of the well.

Idavingdescribedl only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, 'I do not Wish to be limited or restricted to-"the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modic'a'tio'ns that may appear to 'those skilled 1in the art and fall within' the scope of the followingclaims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. Well pumping apparatus including, a casf ing,v a plunger, means separably anchoring the plunger in the casing, 'a movable pump barrel operatively associated with the plunger, said plunger and barrel being ldisposed within the casing to leave an annular space therebetween, and a sand catcher carried by the plunger and arranged in said annular space whereby sand settling out of pumped fluid above thecatcher isv accumulated by the catcher and kept. from the anchoring means, said catcher including a tubular member extending above the top of the pump plunger. 2. Well pumping apparatus including, a cas' ing, aplunger, -means -separably 4vancl'loring -the plunger in the casing, a movable pump 'barrel operatively associated with the plunger, said' plunger and barrel being -d'sposed'within thev casing to leave an annular space therebetween; and a sand catcher carried by the plunger and arranged in said annular space whereby sand' settling out of pumped fluid above the catcher is caught by the sand catcher and kept from the anchoring means, said sand catcher including a tubular member extending above the top of the pump plunger, and Isealing means carried by the upper outer portion of said tubular member and having sealing engagement with the inner surface of the casing.

3. Well pumping apparatus including, 'a cas-L ing, a plunger, means separably 'anchoring the plunger in the casing, a movable "pump barrel operatively associated with 'the plunger, said plunger and barrel being disposedwithin the cas-y ing to leave anl annular space'th'eiebetween. 'anda -Sand catcher Icarried by 'the'plung'e'r and 'are' ranged in said annular space to catch sand settl'iiigo'ut of fluid in the casing above the catcher and to keep Asuch sand from the anchoring means, said sand catcher including a tubular member extending above the top of the pump plunger. and sealing means carried `by the upper outer portion of said tubular member and having 'sealing engagement with the inner surface of the casing, the'sealing means including a plurality of sealingl cups and alternately arranged hold-'down rings.

4. A well pumping apparatus including a xed casing, a stationary pump plunger, a reciprocating barrel cooperating with the plunger, a bottom lock separably connecting the casing and the plunger, a sand catcher supported from the bottom lock and extending upwardly to a point above said plunger, and means for sealing between the top of the sand catcher and said casing the upper end of the sand catcher being open to receive -sand settling from fluid above the catcher.

5. A well pump operable in a well casing and including, two cooperating elements, one a plunger the other a barrel, one element having its lower end releasably nxed in the casing, and a' sand 'catcher carried by the releasably fixed element and extending upwardly in the casing from the lower end portion of the fixed element to a point above both of said elements, the upper end of the catcher beingsealed with the casing and being open to receive sand settling out o'f`- ing the plunger in the casing, a pump barrel engaged to reciprocate over the plunger, anda sand catcher supported at the lower end portion ofthe plunger and extending upwardly in the casing to a point above the plunger and barrel,v

the upper end portion of the catcher engaging the casing checking flow of sand from fluid above the catcher down around the catcher to the anchor, the upper end of the catcher being open to receive such sand.

7. A well pump operable in a well casing and including, a plunger, a releasable anchor mounting the plunger in the casing, a pump barrel engaged to reciprocate over the plunger, a sand catcher including a tubular part having its lower end coupled to the plunger and extending upwardly to a-point above the plunger and barrel, andv means sealing between the upper end portion of said part vand the casing excluding fluid' from 'between the said tubular part and the casing, the upper end of the catcher being open to receive sand settling out of fluid in the casing above the catcher.

8. A well pump operable in a well casing and including, a plunger, a releasable anchor mounting the plunger in the casing, a pump barrel engaged to reciprocate over the plunger, a sand catcher including a tubular part having its lower end coupled to the plunger at the lower end thereof and extending upwardly to a point above the plunger and barrel, and a fluid seal betweenI the upper end portion of said part and the casing, the upper end of the catcher being open to receive sand settling out of fluid in the ,casingl above the catcher.

9. A vwell pump operable in a well casing and including, two cooperating elements, one a plunger the other a barrel having sliding engagement over the plunger. one element being re'- leasably xed in the casing, and a sand catcher carried by the releasably xed element and extending upwardly in the casing around both of said elements to a point above both of said ele.- ments, the upper end of the catcher being sealed with the casing and being open to receive sand settling out of fluid in the casing above the7 catcher.

10. A well pump operable in a well casing andincluding, a plunger, a releasable anchor mount-Q l assenso 11g-EA well pump operable in a well casing and including, a plunger, a releasable anchor mounting the plunger in the casing, a pump barrel engageld to reciprocate over the plunger, a sand catcher including a tubular part having its lower 1 end coupled to the plunger and extending upwardly to a point above the plunger and barrel; and in'ieans sealing between the upper end portionof said part and the casing excluding uid if;

.from between the said tubular part and the casing including a plurality of alternately ar ,Y ranged sealing cups and hold-down rings, the Y upper end of the catcher being open to receive.

5 Number l0 sand settling out of fluid in the casing above the catcher.

12. A well pump operable in a well casing and including, a plunger, an anchor at the lower end end of the plunger releasably mounting the plunger in the casing, a pump barrel engaged to reciprocate over the plunger from the upper end of the plunger, a tube having its lower end secured at the point of connection between the plunger and anchor and extending upwardly around the plunger with clearance and extending to a point above both the plunger and barrel, and sealing means carried by the upper end portion of the tube sealing with the interior of the casing, the upper end of the tube being open to receive sand settling out of fluid in the casing above the tube.

OTIS H. CRABTREE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Laing Sept. 4, 1883 Wade Apr. 28, 1925 Herrin Feb. 21, 1928 Gall Dec. 31, 1935 Lloyd July 28, 1936 Cox Mar. 15, 1938 Munk Oct. 9, 1945 Mackin Dec. 2, 1947 Anderson et al Feb. 20, 1934

Images