US2242166A - Apparatus for operating oil wells - Google Patents

Description

E. o. BENNETT APPjARATUS FOR OPERATING OIL WELLS May v13, 1941.

Filed oct. 17, 1940 Patented May 13, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR OPERATING OIL WELLS Edwin O. Bennett, Ponca City, Okla., assignor to IContinental Oil Company, Ponca City, Okla., a corporation of Delaware Application October 17, 1940, Serial No. 361,569

,i1 Claim. (Cl. 103-1) My invention relates to an apparatus for operating oil wells and more particularly to an apparatus for pumping two separate producing sands through a single well bore.

In many deep oil wells, two or more separate producing zones are encountered. When the wells flow under the pressure of the formations, no particular diiculty is experienced in recovering oil from both producing horizons.

As the wells become old, the formation pressures are reduced by the oil and gas taken therefrom and they eventually cease owing. When this occurs, oil can be removed from-the wells only by pumping.

Many types of pumping vequipment are available in the oil industry. The most common type has a rod actuated pump actuated from the sur. face by a string of sucker rods. Other pumping equipment comprises hydraulic, iluid or electrically operated pumps.

One object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for employing two pumps simultaneously in the same well for removing oil from two separate producing horizons.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description.

For purposes of convenience, I will describe my invention with respect to electrically operated pumps, though it is to be understood that any suitable pumping equipment such as rod pumps, air or gas lifts, hydraulically actuated or fluid turbine actuated pumps, may be used.

. In the accompanying drawing which forms part of the instant specication and is to be .read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views;

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of an oil well showing apparatus capable of carrying out the method' of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the lower portion of the well shown in Figurel.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing, the oil well is cased by a casing I. A packer 2 is placed above the producing horizon 3. A packer 4 is placed below the producing horizon 3 and above the lowest producing horizon 5. Within the casing I is positioned the customary eduction tubing 6, adapted to deliver oil out of the well through pipe 1, A pipe 8 communicates with the annular space formed by the casing I and the eduction tubing 6. A motor 9 is adapted to drive a pump I0 and a motor II is adapted to drive a pump I2. A cable I 3V communicating with power mains I5 is adapted to furnish electrical energy for actuating the motors 9 and II. The casing I is provided with perforations I6 adjacent the producing horizon 3. The pump I0 takes' suction from the casing between packers 2 and 4. This portion of the casing is perforated adjacent the producing horizon 3. Oil from the producing hori.. zon will flow into the sump formed by the casing. Oil from pump I0 is pumped through the eduction tubing 6 and is removed through pipe 1. A plug Il isolates the lower tubing I8 from the suction of pump IIJ. The lower portion of the casing I is provided with a plurality of perforations I9, adjacent the lower producing horizon 5. Oil from the oil sand 5 ows into the casing through the perforations I9 and fills the lower portion-of the casing below the packer 4. This I oil is pumped by pump I2 through the tubing I8. A branch pipe 29 communicates with tubing I8 passes through the upper packer 2 and discharges into the annular space around .the casing I and the tubing 6. Oil from this annular space flows out of the well through pipe 8.

It will be seen that oil from the lower producing horizon 5 is pumped by pump II into the annular space above the packer 2 through bypass pipe 20 and thence to the surface through this annular space. Oil from the upper producing horizon 3 is pumped by pump 9 directly through the eduction tubing 6.

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects yof my invention. I have provided an apparatus for simultaneously producing two oil sands in the same well bore when the formation pressures are so low that resort must be had to pumping.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and This is contemplated by andsub-combinations. is within the scope of my claim. Itis further obvious that various changes may be made in `details within the scope of my claim without departing from the spirit of my invention. It

tions adjacent said producing horizons, packers Within said casing above and below the perforations adjacent said upper producing horizon, a rst pump, said pump taking suction within said casing between said packers, discharge tubing for said rst pump positioned within said casing and communicating with the surface, a second pump, said second pump taking suction Within said casing below said lower packer, discharge tubing for said second pump for conducting oil through the space between said packers, said second discharge tubing communicating with the annular space above the upper packer formed by said casing and the discharge tubing of said rst pump, and means for actuating said pumps.

EDWIN O. BENNETT.

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