US1310615A - Method of and system for pumping - Google Patents

Description

w. R. GREENLEE."

METHOD 0F AND SYSTEM FOR FUMPING.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28.1915.l

W. R. GEENLEE.

METHOD 0F A'ND SYSTEM FOR PUMPING.

APPLICATION HLEQ ocr.28.1915.

Patent-d vJuly 22, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHLET 2.

W. R. 'GREENLEIL METHOD- oF ANUSYSTEM FOR PUMPIN'G.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2811915.

mmmamy 22, 1919,.

.7 ,SCH/(Z5 sca i@ I 1 31 l i. l 57 FI.

onu noaa y w.11.'1111E1\111iE.v l METHOD 11F AND SYSTEM F011 PUMRING'.- M PLICATION FILED OCT. 28,19l5.

P11-@111111 July 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WARREN n. GREENLEE, or PAsADENA, cALrroItN'rn METHOD F AND SYSTEM FOR PUMPING.

'Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Application filed October 28, 1915. Serial No. 58,337.

To all whom t may concern.' f.

Be it known that I, WARREN R. GREENLEE,

i a citizen of the United States, residing in Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State of'California, have4 invented a new and useful Method of and System for Pumping, of which the following is a specification.

In general, an object of this invention is to facilitate obtaining liquids fromthe earth. Another object is to cheapen the production of liquids such as oil and its associated products.

Anothery object is to effect the foregoing by making provision for control of the' fluids to be tapped by the well While drilling, pumping and cleaning'y the well. This provision is made for Wells vpumped by piston pumps, flowing wells and also Wells pumped 'by fluid from an external source, alone or in combination.

Another object is to make provision for conserving all of the products given off through the well. v i' Another Objectis t0 make provision for utilizing to the maximum without wastage the hydrostatic and gas `pressures in the producing stratas.

Another object isto make provision for establishing and maintaining or renewing the ratio of gas and liquid volumes requisite l to produce a flow.

Another object is to prevent plugging of the Well by sand' and mud.

Another object is to distil as much of the Valuable condensates, such for instance as gasolene, from the gas as possible and then to vutilize the resulting comparatively dry gasto flow oil. from those wells that may be deficient in the volume of gas requisite to flow the oil from said wells, or aid the piston1 1in its pumping action in a piston-pumped we It is understood that the term pump and pumping define and imply any device and operation whereby liquid is causedl-of` l ging the well and stopping the production issue rom the earth. *l l 2.

In someof the most prolific oil produingfields of the world, experiencey has' shown that big producing Wells cannot be pumped vsuccessfully becausev sand or mud invariably' enters rand chokes the valves, pump and tubing and even plugs upthewell itself. This is especially the condition frequently found in the oil fields of California, and the fact that the -wells in lthe California oil fields v are usually of such-great depthas well as being drilled into loose sand and shale makes the pumping of them the more diflicult.

lVithout the use of thisl invention, when the oil together with a large volume of gas is contained inv producingstrata such as loose sand and shale. the head orl rock pres- Sllre of the gas and oil for an interval vof time drives said gas and oil through the sand and shale formation and into the well and the pressure is often so great that large quantities of the sand and shale, and in some instances mud, are carried into the Well by the velocity of the oil and gas.' The resistance that the well offers to escape of the oil and gas therefrom is less-than the resistance which the oil and gas encounter in the rock or ground formation, hence after a great flow and heave of oil andl gas into the Well and therefrom and, after the 'head of oil is thus blown out of the well, the pressure in the well subsides for another interval of time until enough oil and 'gas is forced `through the sand and shale to cause another flow. But before another flow can occur, the column of said and mud, remaining in the well after the flow has ceased, settles down into the bottom of the well., packing the pump tubing and forming bridges and even choking the well solidly near the bottom. When there is water mixed withthe oil, said water cuts the mixture and lets the sand settle quicker and the clean sand packs y,

with extreme firmness.

After the interval of time of non-fiow another heave or rush of 011, gas, sand and shale or mud occurs to fill the space left by theoil, sand and gas that has escaped into the Well. The renewed 'pressure will do one of two things, either blow out the sand plugs and thereby enable the 011 and gas to is quite as often the Case, said pressure compresses the plug of sand, shale and mud into a still tighter plug, thereby efl'ectually pluggush out of the Well as before, or else, as

of voil therefrom luntil the wellhas been A cleaned by the use of tools or until the pipes z resorted to in many instances, but screening reduces the out-put of the well because holding back the sand retards the oil n account of the viscosity of the oil. It follows from this that to get a good flow of oil it is absolutely necessary to allow the sand andA shale to venter the well with theoil and gas.

Another method whereby to get rid of vthe sand has heretofore been tried by use ,viuc'tuations in t 6oA of the air lift but this method has certain disadvantages and cannot be applied to a well that will not flow because of lack of proper submergence and furthermore the power expended in the air lift makes the air lift method too expensive unless it is possible to produce a continuous flow, which is very seldom the case. Wells are often able to furnish more than enough gas under high pressure to flow all the oil that said wells can produce, and therefore to use the air liftwith such wells ist obviously a waste of power.

Hydraulic pumping has also been tried but since in hydraulic pumping the pressure of the hydraulic fluid is almost invariably greater than the rock pressure, the greater pressure causes sand bridges tobe produced 1n the casing and thus partially or entirely plug up the well. Hydraulic pumping is also very apt to pack the mud and sand vinto the producing sands around the bottom of the well so tightly as to practically seal sa1d sands and stop the flow of oil therefrom, the sealing being so effectual sometimes that it is impossible to dislodge it so as'to allow the oil to again flow.

Only in comparatively few instances is there any relief from a badly sanded well, for cleaning it with tools and pulling the pump tubing only enable the well to flow temporarily and often the casing collapses or 1s broken off by the caving roof of the cavity created around the well, thus entailing additional expense in the redrilling.

thereof.

From the foregoing it is clear that at best most big producing wells entail tremendous expenses while they are big producers, such expenses often preventing the well from being protable and involving the owner of the well in ,pecuniary losses.

It is clear that the diiiculties outlined above are all due 'entirely to the uncontrolled -pressures and great fluctuations in the velocity of the oil and as flowing through the sands in the immediate vicinity of the well and in the well itself, and `also to the fact that rior to this invention the lie velocity have been entirely uncontrolled. To overcome ,thesel difficulties and others which may appear hereinafter I make provision whereby the velocity of the oil andgas will remain steady, constant and as uniform as possible and whereby the pressure in the well and the head or rock pressure will nearly balance one another. Inasmuch as the relative pressures control the velocities I am enabled by altering the pressures to obtain higher or lower velocities as desired.'

This invention not only makes provision for controlling the pressures and velocities lin a well but, also, makes provision for obtaining continuous flow of oil and gas in many instances, when such would not be the case w1thout such provlslon, so as to mm1- mize the liability of choking and pluggingof the well and its equipment by "sand, shale, mudand the like, and also minimize liability of packing ,the producing earth strata around the well.

It is noted that great oil gushe'rs generally become extinct in a short time, and that this is due to the plugging and packing of the sand as outlined above is verified bythe fact that good producing wells have been sunk close to extinct gushers.

Whether or not the wells are gushers or' are -ordinary flowing or piston-pumped wells, said ordinary flowing and piston pumped wells intermittently have the same great pressures as the gushers and are therefore liable to be plugged up by sand and shale as above described unless provision is made for their control.

AA further harmful effect of the alternate higher and lower pressures ofthe oil and gas flowing into the well and consequent rise and fall of the level of liquid in the well is that erosion of the well takes place,-

ence of the sand to cut the casing or even blow it off near the sand by blasting, and hence the greater portion of the string of casin is usually lost. A still further harmful e ect of a blow-out is that when the great pressure due to the head of oil in the tubing is removed much of the gas in solution in the o il becomes free to expand and rise and escape therefrom, so that the oil subsequently lling the vwell is deficient in gas or dead 'and can not flow for a comparatively long period of time.

To effect the foregoing objects and to overcome the difficulties outlined above there is provided either a pressure regulated valve or valves, such for instance as a diaphragm valve, at the top of the well; or pressure regulated valves, at various levels 1n the well, or both, to establish, maintain or discharge pipe and the head of oil so as renew the ratio of liquid volumes and pressures or the ratio of gas and liquid volumes and pressures requisite to produce flow.

One of the Valves at the top of the well opens and closes at predetermined. higher and lower constant dillerences ofpressures of gas and oil in the well to open the oil permit the oil to flow and to close the oil d1scharge pipe until the pressure reaches the predetermined higher` constant differences of pressure when the valve again opens to permit the oil to flow.

VAnother of the valves at the top of the well opens and4 closes at predetermined higher and lower constant differences of pressures of gas in the well to admit fluid to and exclude fluid from entering the well 'from an outside source such as a gas well,

compressor or pump.

These valves just mentioned may be combined or used separately if desired.

The valve or valves at the top of the well may .be suitable and satisfactory for a certain small class of wells and, though the well is under control and can not blow out to cause the difficulties here'inbefore set forth as resulting from the blow-out, yet for another larger class of wells it is more desirable to place the valves at difl`erent-levels in the well, and by so doing certain advantageous results are obtained that cannot -be obtained by the valve or Vvalves at the top of the well without complicating and increasing the cost df the equipment.

When the valves are placed at various levels 1n the wells, they automaticall con-v trol entries at all of said levels, the ow of liquid taking place at one level or another according to the variations in the volumes and pressures of gas flowing to the well in some instances with the oil and in part according to Variations in the pressure of liquid to be pumped at the level of each entry, or according to the variations in the volumes and pressures of fluid, either gas, or liquid, flowing or forced into the well in other instances at the top from an external .Closing of the'valves and thus source of supply.

At lower pressures the higher valvemay have flowing submergence and in such event opens to admit the operating fluid to flow the well; and at higher pressures, when there is nonflowing submergence of said higher valve, the higher valve closes to exclude the operating fluid and the lowe-r valve may then have flowin submergence and in such event opens to flow the well; and at still igher pressures, when there is nonflowing submergence of the lower valve, the ,lower valve closes to exclude the operating fluid.

the operating fluid from the pump tubing when there is nonflowing submer ence of the valves insures that said operatingfluid y excluding will be held in storage in the well to aid subsequent flowing of the well and prevents by its back pressure the harmful velocities. and heaves hereinbefore referred to. Thus each valve shuts to exclude the operating fluid lwhen there is nonflowing submergence of said valve -and if said fluid is a gas prevents blowing ofl and wastage of said 'gas and dissipation of its energy. One advantage of what I term plural or multip-leet tries is that, when the gas pressure is lh# in the well and the oil level is comparatively high, the well will flow with lesser su'bmergenc-e than otherwise required, thus enabling the well to be flowed by low pressure fluids. This is of course a great economy and is also of advantage in starting awell to flow.

lFrom this it is seen that low ypressure gases and small volumes of gas can be utilized to effect flowing, and that, no matter how low a pressure of gas is furnished by a well, said gas is effective in displacing an equivalent volume of oil and thereby reduc-l ing the load on the. piston in a piston-l pumped well in proportion to the amount of the displacement. y

Other advantagesof the plural or multiple entries are that in a piston-pumped well no free gas can enter the pump and thereby reduce the output of the well and the gas cannot enter the pump cylinder and keep the valves closed so that the pum piston will merely work against a gas bo y.

Another advantage of the plural entries is that with deep submergence and small volumes of high pressure gas, when the i smaller volumes of high pressure gas Change to larger volumes of low pressure gas, said low pressure gas becomes available to flow the well.

Heretofore to obtain at the start the greatest pumping efiiciency it has often required trials a-t different submergences, and it follows from. this that to maintain the greatest efiiciency it would be necessarywith many prior devices to raise and lower the pump to meet all variations in the level of the liquid in the well. By the plural entry construction the pump is self adjusting to the different levels and pressures and therefore the pump is always working under maximum efficiency.

By maintaining the gas pressure it is clear that all of the gas dissolved in the oil is held in solution, so as to insure that the well will always contain lively oil capable of hastening the flow.

Heretofore some oil wells were each equipped with a string of tubing and a rubber packing near the lower end of the tubing so as to cause all of the gas to flow into the string of tubing and thus displace and flow the oil. Thus heretofore there was no control or utilization of the gas to produce a gas was allowed to blow olf until the oil accumulated for further flow. The intermediate noniiowing periods entailed the loss of a tremendous amount of ener the risk of producing sanding o the well and tubing 'and shortening the life of the well. After the rock pressure was allowed to waste away expensive pumping was often resolrted to to obtain the oil left dead in the wel In carryin out this invention, in order to obtain ful control of the pressures and velocities, I first insure perfect sealin of the well. Wells have not heretofore een perfectly sealed and thisis substantiated by the fact that water wells several miles away from an oil field have beencontaminated by seepage of oil and through the nonpro ucing strata above the oil sand to the water wells. The casing above the producing strata is surrounded by a sealing ring of cement or the like.

-I provide either a ,gas-tight casing head at the top of the wellor a packer set atan intermediate point the weli so as to form a pressurefluid reservoir between the casing and tubing below the casing head or packerl as the case may be. TheV gas or other operating iiuid is taken from the reservoir as needed to displace the oil in the tubing and cause the same to iiow out of the well, and if gasis the operating iuid being used any gas in excess of what is'necessary to cause the oil to iiow at a velocity that can. be readily takencare of is discharged nand utilized in another Well or'wells having insufficient volumes of gas to dis- Apwll'ace the oil and cause the same to flow. v 'us the reservoir forms a gas trap or receiver adapted to contain an elastic' cushion Aof gas that insures against violent changes of pressure at all times, thus preventing excessive sand and mud heaves and consequent plugging and clogging of the well, its equipment and the producing sands.

A comparatively slight displacement of oil lbetween the casing and tubing by the pressure of gases in the reservoir causes much greater displacement` of the oil in the tubing so that it will rise therein, the level rising until the head of the column-of oil in the tubing balances theA pressure of the gas in the reservoir or gas trap. The head of the oil and the gaso pressure continue to balance one another until suflicient oil accumulates in the well to cause flowing subbesides (gas from the oil wells mergence, whereupon the oil will flow in a 'manner well understood.

purpose, the blow out of gas occurring just efore and after the head of oil has been blown outof the well. Such total release of the pressure in the well and on the sand near it allows an irl-rush of gas which is lost and a flowof oil with such violent velocity as to result in the disastrous sanding and other objectionable results herein'before outlined. Even when there are no shifting sands to plug the well, the well without this invention remains dead until suili'cient gas collects to cause flowing pressure.

The distance above thevsand at which the gas entry or entries are located dermines the depth of submergence and also 'determines the head ofthe iuid or equivalent gas pressure carried by the well to be utilized to balance the rock pressure. To prevent gas blow-outsthe length of the tail -pipe may be made directly proportional to the pressure desired to-b'e carried by the reservoir or said tail pipe may be provided with a puppet or check valve.

The regulator or entry valves are so constructed as to automatically control the volume of gas -or other operatin iuid passing through said valves and furt ermore are so constructed as to regulate said' volume and maintain the ratio of the4 operatin iuid and oil volumes, the ratio of sai volumes ,remaining the same but the rate of flow changing accordin as the total volurne of the operating fluid 'and oil is greater or less. y

If with the use of this invention the flow of oil ceases because of insuliciency of either oil or gas or-both, there is always a possibility of sand in the oil in the tubing settling down and bridging across and plugging the tubing. If this occurs, another great advantage of the valved multiple eny tries becomes evident, for by releasing some of the gas at the top of the well and thus reducing its pressure Van entr above the sand plug will, open and -admit oil to the tubing and another entry or entries higher up will open to admit gas which fwill cause the oil above the plug to flow. The weight of the oil column above the sand plug will thus tend to be gradually diminished and when it is so beneath it. If there 1s owing submergence iminished said sand plug will be blown out y the pressure of oil and gas the valves at all of the ent-ries,- then Asome of the gas lmay be released at the top of the lin the tubing by its head to open the l well from the reservoir to lower the pressure suiiciently to allow the head of foil er valveso that the oil will ow. v

It is understood that, when Huid under pressure is supplied to the well from an external source to eiiect the pumping or ow of the liquid tapped by the well, said fluid` may be gas takenl directly from another well under pressure or may be lgas froma compressorY and this gas may be compressed air, or said fluid may be a liquid taken from the well itself or taken from an outside source.

Heretofore the gas in the well rising with .the oil and discharging therewith resulted in waste'o power for, if theA oil was not discharged against pressure greater than atmospheric, the gas expanded and so lost its expansive energy; and, if the oil was discharged against said greater pressure, as is often'the case, then the pump had not only to work against the head 4of oil in the tubing plus the atmospheric pressure but against'saidhead plus the greater pressure. To avoid such waste of power I provide means inthe form of a gas trap to separate the gas from the loil and remove its pressure from the oil,.the'reby maintaining the gas under whatever pressure it has at the pointof discharge of the oil without causing back pressure o the-tubing.

This is eiiected by placing the trap at any' appropriate point in they well above the submergence level to deliver the gas at a high pressure to the surface and reduce the lift or regular pressure in the well,

the gas against -the oil in practice. i

tubing would expand and produce a great degree of friction'in the tubing and consequent back pressure load against the pumping force.

The gas trap, if desired, may be positioned below the submergence level 'to deliver lthe gas at higher pressures, but of course the lift or regular pressure would thereby be increased.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:

Figure 1 is an elevation lpartly in section of an apparatus whereby vthe novell method is carried out,l portions of the well equipments being broken away to contract the View. The enginev and itsv'driving connections for operating the l sucker linefofwell `d are brokenv away to contractl` the view. For purposes of illustration the well;y .equip-V ments are shown ,of .largerv size., relativeato tthe size of=the distilling, coolingfand.-cor'n-` pressing plants than they would be kin Fig. 2 is a sectional `detailon cated by :v2-a2, Figs. S-'and 6 of one of the entry members and its valve, fragments of and operatingthe pump tubing, casin fluid conductor tube also being shown.

Fig. Y 3 is an enlarged fragmental plan section on line indicatedy by @ca -m3, Fi 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged-sectional detail of the lower end of the entry valve. V

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on line indiv i cated by {v5-m5, Fig. 6.4

Fig-6 is a plan section on line indicated -f sectional detail of cooler upper part of Fig. 1.

Fig. 13' is a longitudinal sectional elevation of thev tubular separator in Figs. 1

and12. i, .v

Fig. 14 is' an enlarged sectional elevation on line indicated by :LAL-, Fig. 13.

' There are provided wells a, b, 0, d, e, f, g

and h tapping the oil-producing earth strata atV Fi l. Fig. 12 is an enlarged elevation of the indicated at lc. Each well is provided withl acasing or conductor tube 1 having oil and gas inlet erforations4 2 and provided outside ofsaldcasing above' said perforations and above the producing trata with a sealing ring 3 of cement, or the like, to prevent oil and gas from the producing strata lc seeping through the non-producing strata fm, above said producing strata and thus escaping, and to prevent water entering `the producing sands.

Each casing 1 is. provided at its top with a gas tight casing head and cover 4, 5 ofA suitable construction, the casing head and, cover shown in the drawings not being described` in detail and claimed herein but being the subject of my copending application for patent for well equipment filed January 29, 1916, Serial No. 75,113.

Interiorly each casing 1 with the exceptionvof` the one in well yf is provided with pump tubingl 6 andl each tubing is provlded at intervals therealongwith operating-fluid entry members shown more clearly Figs. 2 to 6 inclusiveand constructed as follows: Each-entry member comprisesa barrel 7- into which 4is screw-threaded the. adjacent endseof sections ofthe pump tubing 6 so as tofform -rai continuous tubing, and lalso comprises anientryyalve `jacket 8, `an inlet passage 9 =a`nd.1a; `check valve chamber 10; `said valvefjgacket andfinletpassa' e communicating withlonfe another-throng a port 11 and said-.ivalveiacketcommuncating with the` hrough upwardly and inwardly im barrel 'v ing with one another through a port 13.

The ports or entries 12 at thel diHerent e levels constitute what I term plural or mul-y tiple entries. A The Alower and upper ends of the valve jacketY are closed by plugs 14 and the upper ends of the check valve chambers 10 are closed by plugs 15.

Each jacket 8 excepting` the lowermost one in the well e is provided internally with 'a threaded shoulder 16 engaging a threaded bushing 17 on the upper end of a longitudinal ribbed ball chamber 18 having in its interior a valve ball 19 adapted to close on to a lower seat 20 when the ball is in its l lower position, as -in Fig. 2 and adapted to .close on to an upper seat 21 when said ball is in its upper position as in Fig. 4. The

lupper seat 21 may be provided with means such as notches 22 to allow a slight flow of operating fluid through the valve and into the pump tubing so that, i'f the well is not discharging liquid, any sand that may be in' the liquid will be agitated and maintained in `suspension in the liquid by .the slight flow of'said fluid to prevent the` formation of bridges and plugs tending tol choke the pump tubing. -f

To close on to the upper seat 21 from its lower position, each ball 19 must first strike the lower cupped end 23 of a stem 24 and move said stem against the pressure of a coiled expansion spring 25 which is seated at one end against tension adjusting'nuts 26 adjustable along the stem 24, said spring being seated at its opposite end against the lupper end of a cage 27 that surrounds said spring. The stem 24 is screw-threaded at itslupper end to-adjustably engage an abut'- ment formed by a nut or nuts 28, one of which engages the upper end of the cage to maintain-the cup 23 at a predetermined adjustable distance from the valve seat 20. The nuts 2-8 may be engaged by aV tool (not shown) to turn the stem 24 and thereby adjust the nuts 26 relative to said stem to increase or diminish the tension of the spring 25, said nuts 26 being held against turning by pins 29 projecting from the nuts between adjacent ribs of the cage. The cage 27 is screw-threaded at its lower end into the bushing 17. d

Each ball chamber 18 isinwardly tapered from its middle ortion toward its ends so that the inside d1ameter of said-chamber is gradually reduced from its middle portion to the valve seats 20, 21.

Each of the check valve chambers 1 0 is provided at its lower end below the level of the port 13 with a ballcheck valve 30,

' back pressure of the operating fluid against the fluid in the producing sands.

In the wells a, d, e, and g the inlet passages 9 are connected to one another and the topmost gas passage in each of said'wells is connected with the Casing head lid 5 by sections of an operating fluid conductor tube 31-so as to form a straight continuous fluid conductor. Because of the `provision of the check valves 30, it' is clear that any desired pumping pressure of the operating fluid in the wells a, d, e and g may be employed without liability of forcing the gas and liquid being umped back into the producing strata. he advantage of this is that the well piping may readily be cleaned of sediment, if it becomes clogged up under Athe ordinary pumping pressures, by using and g by suitable packers 32 and 32. In the Y well c the packer 32 has the same effect as the check valves 30 in the wells a, el, e and g to keep the pressure of the o erating fluid off of the producin strata. he packer 32 is not described in etail and claimedherein but is Ithe subject matter of my copendmg a plication for patent for well equipment filed January 29, 1916, Serial No. 75,113.

- 'From the foregoing it is seen that. the valve balls 19 are normally closed on--the seats 20'when there is not enough pressure of the operating fluid to overcome the pressure of the column of liquid in the pump tubing above the respective valves, thus pre'- venting liquid and sand from backing down through the ports 12 and thence through the valves which thus function as check valves; and that each. valvev will open under pressures of the operating fluid suflicient to d1splace the liquid above said valve; and that said operating fluid will discharge upward and inward through the ports 12 into the tubing 6 to'flow the liquid in the tubing against the head-of liquid in the purnp tubing, aI comparatively-small volume of said operating fluid will flow through the valve,

liquid in the tubing; that, if the pressure of .the operating fluid is higher and thereby raises the ball to the intermediate portlon of the ball chamber, where said chamber-is of greatest diameter, against the head of liquid in the tubing, a much greater volume of the operating fluid will 'iow through the valve toefect a greater flow of liquid; and furthermore that if the pressure ofthe operating lfluid is still higherin fact so high as to endanger flowingv out the head of liquid in the tubing, said still Ahi her pressure will act to raise the ball 19 agalnst the expansive force of the spring 25 into the reduced upper portion of the ball chamber 18 to diminish the iiowfof the operating iiuid or, if said still higher pressure vis greater than can safely be used without blowing out the head of. liquid in the-tubing, -then the still higher pressure will act to shut the ball on" to the' seat 21 toexclude all but a relatively minute volume of operating Huid from the pump tubing at the entry thus shut 0H. It is understood .that owing to the `load of liquid on the valve being greater the lower the valve is, the valves may open and close successively 'so as to maintain the yratio of operating iiuid and liquid volumes, though the rate of flow may change according as the total volume of the` operating fluid and liquid' being pumped is greater or less.

From the foregoing it will now be clear that'the pressures in determining whether or not the entry valves are to be in open or closed position are variable, and that the constant difference whichv determines the valve operating pressure is redetermined lby the levels at which the in et valves are placed and the strength of the springs 25.

The well a is provided with a gas trap shown more clearlyin Figs. 7, 8 and 9 and constructed as follows: One section 33 of the A pump tubing 6 is screw-threaded into the inlet 34 of one head 35 of a cylindrical conhead 37 through which another section 38 of the pump tubing passes into the interior of the container, said lsection 38 having its lower end-spaced apart from the head 35.

' The lower end of the tubing section 38 is connected by a collar 39 toa valve chamber 40 containing a check valve ball 41 designed to close on to a seat 42 in the lower portion of the valve chamber. The valve chamber 40 is spaced vapart from Vthe lower head 35 and a nozzle 43 'is screw-threaded into the inlet 34, said nozzle being provided with a portion 44 extending upward along one side of the valve chamber 40 above the level of the valve inlet 45 so as to' form a trap. The

liquid is enabled to pass from said trap through the pump tubing section 38 and the trapped gas passes from the container 36" through a gas pipe 46 which communicates with the interior of the container through the head 37 and which is provided. with a fluid-pressure re lator or valve 47.

By the use o the device justv described gas underpressure after it has performed thel work of lifting fiuid to the upper portion of the well is trapped and the energy due to the pressure is thus conserved.

It is also noted that by the use of thisgas trap at the upper portion of the well, nort only is the discharge pressure of the gas maintained but there will be no back vpressure of the gas against the. liquid being storage tanks 58,59, 60, final storage tank 61, sump 62, a tubular separator 63 for separating .the Water and sand from the oil, dephlegmators 64, 65 for separating the oil and gas from one another, dirt trap 66,

ammonia gas compressor 67, twoustage gas compressors 68, 69, 70, 7 1, 71', ammonia tank 72, freezing vat 73, drip tanks 74, 75,

7 5', 76, 77, coolers 78, 79, 80,Y 80 ,md a cooling tower 81.

The oil line 4,9 connects to the gas trap' 50', thence connects to the separator 63.

' Ilhe storage tanks 58, 59, gas trap 50, cond'ensers 57, 57 57 and the casing .head4 of the well L connect to a gas line 82, and

the separator 63 `connectsfto .the storage tank 58, 59, and said storage tanks connect to one another.

' The gas-line 82 passes through cooler 79, thence passes through cooler80, thence connects to' compressor 68, thence passes through cooling tower 81, thence connects to compressor 70, thence passes through the cooling tower 81, thence connects to drip ico tank 75, thence passes through the cooling' l tower 8l, thence connects to the drip tank 75' thence connects to condenser plant 57', thence connects to the second stage of compressorl 70, -thence passes through cooling'- -tower 81, thence connects to drip tank 76,

thence passes through cooling tower 81, thence connects to compressor 71, thence passes through cooling tower 81, thence passes through coolers 80', thence passes through dri tank 77 thence connects to the Y compressor 1- to operate said compressor,

thence passes through the coolers 80 to cool them, thence connects to the compressor 71,',

- through fthe coole and said gas line connects from the drip tank 77 to a Huid-pressure regulator or. valve 83, thence connects to thesecond stage of the compressor 71 which is connected to4 ahigh pressure gas line 82 that passes through the cooling tower 81, thence passes r 8, thence passes through the freezing vat 73, thence connects to the drip tank 74,thence connects to thecasing heads 4 of the wells a, b, c d, f, g, and to thei conductor tubes 31 of t e wells a, d, e an g. y

The casing heads 4 of the wells e, f and the dephlegmator 65 connect to a gas line 84 to'supply gas thereto. The gas line 84 connects to the gas line 82 between the dephlegmator 65 and cooler 79 and conneots to the gas line 82 between the com- {presso'r 71 and the cooling tower 81 and also connects to the compressor 69 andto the as line 82.

T e oil line 49 passes-from the separator 63 and connects to the stills 51, 52, 53,54 in series, thence connects to the header 85 of the tubular separator63, and connects from the header 86 of said tubular separator t0 the storage tank 60, thence connects to a pump 87, thence connects lto the storage .tank-61.

, The 'trap 88 of the separator 63 connects to the sump62 which connects to a pump (853, hat in turn connects to storage tanks still 51 connects with the lpipe 90 assing through the still 55 to t e condenser 57 and thestill 52 connects by pipe .Y

91 with theedephlegmator 64 which con- '.nects with pipe 92 passing through the "vapor still 56 to the condenser 57'. and the l vapor still 53 connects by a pipe 93 to the plpe 92; and the still 54 connects by a pipe 94 to pipe 93.

The pipe 90 is connected to the pipe 92 by a pipe 95. The pipe 94 connects to the .headers 96 of the tubular stills 51, 52, 53, 54, .and to the engine exhausts of the compressors 70, 7-1, `and to the header 85 of the separator 63, and to the engine exhaust of the pu mp 89. The condenser 57 is connected by a pipe 97 to the pipe 46.

Water from the sump '62 is sucked through a pipe 99 by the pump 89', and

forced there y through a pipe 100 tothe se arator 63, thence ,through a pipe 101 to t e trap 88, thence through a pipe 103 to a pump v104, thence through a pipe 105 vto the sump 62.

-6 of the wells d and .g are The tubi pistons 106, 107 operated by provided wi sucker lines vv108, 109 respectively, said sucker line 109" being operatlvely connected` to a pump `110 whlch is connected b its discharge ipe 111 to the conductor' tu 31 of the we e and to'lthe casing head 4 -of the wellg and dwhich is connected by intake 'y pipe 112 to a rsuitable source of liquid supkvalves 122 between the separator 63 and still 51, stills 51 and 52, 52- and 53, 53 and 54 respectively. The gas discharge pipe 46 is provided with a check valve 123 and the gas line 82 adjacent the well h is provided with a. check valve 124. The as line `84 is provided between wells e an f with a check valve 125, and between the well f and the compressor 69 and gas' line 82 with a check valve 126. The pipe 111 is provided between the pump 110 and wells e', g with check valves 127, 128 respectively.

The discharge pipe 48 and the gas line 82 adjacent t e lwell e are provided with fluid-pressure regulators or valve 129, 130 respectively connected by ressure pipe 131 to the gas line 82 and sai gas line 1s provided with a by-pass'pipe 132 passing around the regulator 130. l,

The gas line 84 is wells e, -f on one side and the gas line 82 and compressor a balanced fluid-pressure regulator-,or valve 133, said regulator being connected by pressure pipes 1134, 135 -with the gas line 84 on the wel side and compressor side respectively.

provided between the,l

69 -on the other side .with

.The gas line 82 is provided between the y Huid direct from the well casing. In the' well, c the distinguishing peculiaritiesare the inlet members at different levels receiving the operating Huid direct fromthe well casing, and the casing intoupper and lower chambers. In the well d the distinguishing characteristics are an inlet member connected to an operating-duid conduit and a piston for pum ing, or'aiding in pumping, the oil'. n t e well e the distinguishingv peculiarities are In the well b the? distine` packer to separate the well ing mechanism and merely furnishes gasto the system. In thewell g the distinguishing peculiarities are the inlet members interconnected by the conduit, the piston for pumping or aiding in pumping the well, y'and the pump for forcing liquid into the conduit to cause the circulation of liquid through the conduit to prevent clogging of the same with sediment. The well it is just an ordinary oil well provided with pump tubing and the gas-tight casing head 5. The pump tubing in the well h may have a single inlet as is usual in prior constructions.

` .In practice if the wells a, b, c, d, e, g have sufficient volumes of gas and liquid to produce naturalow, the gas will flow through the check valves of the lowermost entry members into the chambers 10, thence through the ports 13 to operate the valve balls 19 as hereinbefore described and also through thelports 11 and passages 9 into the conductor tulbes 31 in the wells a, d, e and g and into the conductor tubes; 1 in the well b, and thence to the, other entry meni'bers to flow the liquid in the tubing at the levels where proper submer ence and pressures are. If the wells lack su cient volume of gas to produce natural flow, gas from the pipeline 4 82 will enter the conductor tubes 31 of the wells ai, d, e, g and tubes 1 of the wells b, c to flow the liquid in the tubing at the levels where prop er submergence and pressures are.v If there 1s more than sufficient gas in anyJ of the wells a, b, d, e g to produce natural flow or there is insu cient liquid for suibmergence, then the excess gas flows from .said well or wells into the gas line 82vand the gas from the gas well f flows into the gas line 84 and thence into the gas line 82 to supply the wells that may be deficient in gas with gas for umping.

The oil flows rom the pumpctlubings 6 into the disch-arge pipes 48, thence to the oil line 49, thence to the gas trap 50, separator 63 and refining lant, and gas from these several sources oi) supply flows through the gas line 82' and is cooled, compressed and further cooled -to remove condensates therefrom and to increase the pressure of the gas to that require-d to pump any wells deficient in gas pressure and is thenvdischarged into the gas line 82. Y

The valve jacket 8 of the lowermost entry member in the well e is devoidfof the valve parts described as being in the other valve Jackets and is provided at its lower end with a check valve 137 to prevent back pressure of the operating fluid onthe fluid in the proi ducing strata.

The gas line 82 may be provided at @the insure against the occurrence of explosions in the higher stages of compression.

If it is not desired to use the gas to operate the compressor 71 and cool the cooler- 80', then said gases may be cooled by running them through a by-pass 140 of the line Sil-and through the freezing vat 73.

If the pressure of gas in the well e becomes insufficient, because of lack of requisite submergenoe, to flow the liquid inthe tubing 6, then the regulators 129,130 close to Shut ol" the oil and to shut off the operating gas supply bythe gas line 82 so as to conserve said operating gas and pressure fiuid in the producing strata.

I-f the pressure of gas in the-well e becomes so great as would causea blow-out of the column of liquid in lthe tubing, then the` regulator 133 opens and allows the gas under pressure to flow into the gas line 84, thence into the gas line 82 and thence to the compressor plant to have its pressure increased, or if the pressure of said gas is greater than that in the gas line 82' then said pressure opens the check valve 138 to allow said gasto enter the gas line 82 through the bypass 132.

he regulators will be so adjusted that the surplus gas will be held in the wells until said gas reaches as great a pressure as desired in the gas well f and possible in the well e without preventing the desired yield of oil from the producing strata of saidwell. From this it is clear that, if'said surplus gas is of sufficiently high pressure, said gas will be turned into the gas line 82 without 1n the compressing plant.

By maintaining the surplus gas under relatively great pressures, it is noted that saidl gas will be relatively lean in condensates and therefore need not be through the condensing pl-ant.

Heretofore it was necessary to run all of the gas at relatively low pressure throughthe compressing and condensing plants. 1n order nothto lose any ofthe condensates, but by this invention only a relatively small volume of relatively low pressure gas extremely richin condensates is run through the compressing and condensing plants.

In event of the gas in the gas line -82 rising to a predetermined pressure desirable passed regulator 83 closes to shutoii saidgas from the higher stage of the compressor 71.

The 'gas line 82 also connects to the motor end of the compressors 6 8, 69,4I thence con' nects to the cooler 80 so that the exhaust will cool said cooler, thence connects to cool ers 7 8, 7 9 for the same purpose.

. The sucker line 108 of the well d is connected, as shown in Fig. 11, by suitable driving r'connections 141 to a fluid-pressure operated engine 142 having its intake pipe 143 connected to the gas pipe line '82 and having'its exhaust pipe 144 connected to the gas pipe line 82. With this construction it is seen that high pressure gas is irst cooled to remove the condensates therefrom and is then used in an engine for performing useful work and then exhausts into the cooler to eii'ect orl aid in the cooling of said high pressure gas, thus eliecting great economy of the energ and useful products in the gas. The re rigerating, pumpin and condensing operations are thus com ined in a single plant, and the exhaust gases from the engine 142 after e'fectin thecooling operation may be used for fuel.

To revent thewell e or g sanding, especial y when it is not producing oil, the pump 110 will operatel to continuously circulate oil from which the sand has been eliminated through the pump tubing to carry any sand that may be in the tubin therefrom into the oil pipe line, the san thus discharged from the tubing being eventually removed from the oil by action of the separator 63.

The detailed operation 4of the separating and refining devicesabove described is-not entered into herein as their constructions and operations are the subject matter of ,ap-

lications which I may file inthe future.

he system is provided with valves wherever desirable or necessary.

The patentable subject matter disclosed.

and not claimed herein is in part the subject of my copending application for patent for well equipment, filed January 29, 1916, Serial No. 75,113.

I claim:

1. The method of umpingwells, which method consists in discharging'fluid under lower pressure into the liquid in the pump,

tubin 'at' a higher level to displace the liqui above said level, and then discharging fluid un-der higher pressure at a lower.

level to displace the liquid above said lower level.

2.. The method of pumping wells, which method consists in discharging Huid under pressure into the liquid in the pump tubing at a predetermined lower constant dierence of pressures of said liquid, and shutting ofil said liuid from the tubin at a predetermined higher constant dierence of pressures of said liquid.

3. The method of umping wells, which method consists in discharging fluid under pressure from an outside source into the liquid in the pump tubing at a predetermined lower constant diii'erence of pressures in said liquid at the discharge level,

and' shutting off said fluid from the tubing at predetermined higher constant dii'erence of pressures at said discharge level.

4. The method of pumping wells, which method consists in storing in the Well the gas produced by the well until there is flowing submergence, and then allowing said gas only at a predetermined diii'erence of pressures of the as and oil to discharge into the pump tubing to lift the oil.

, 5. The method of pumping wells, whichl said gas to discharge into the pump tubing to lift' the oil.

6. The method' of pumping wells, which methodconsists in distilling oil and saving the relatively dry gases resulting from the distillation, cooling said gases, compressing the gases thus cooled, cooling the gases thus compressedto condense disti lates from said gases, and then discharging the ases thus reservoir, shutting off coni-A compressed and freed from disti lates into the well to lift the oil.

7. The method of pumping wells, which method consists in distilling oil and saving the relatively dry gases resulting from distillation, cooling said gases, compressing the gases thus cooled, cooling the gases thus compressed to condense vapors vfrom said gases, discharging the gases thus compressed and freed from vapors into the well to lift the oil, cooling the gases issuing from the 'well with the oil, compressing said gases,

then cooling the fgases thus compressed to condense vapors rom said gases, and discharging the gases thus cooled and'freed from vapors intothe well again to pump said well. i

8. The method of Ipumping Wells, which iso' - said levels successively.

the well with the oil, compresslng Said gases,

then cooling'the gases thus compressed to condense vapors from said gases, and discharging the gases thus cooled and 'freed from vapors into the well again to pump said well.

10. The method ofpumping wells, which method consists in sealing the well to produce flowing submergence and gas pressure therein, and discharging fluid into the pump tubing at ya predetermined difference of pressure of the fluid and liquid4 in the Well to flow the liquid therein.

11. The method of pumping wells, wh-ich method consists in sealing the well to produce flowing submergence and gas pressure therein, and causing 'predetermined pressures of said gas to operate to .discharge gas into the pump tubing first at one level and then a-t another to flow the liquid therein at 12. 'Ihe method of pumping wells, which method consists -in sealing the Well to produce flowing submergence and gas pressure therein, and causing predetermined pressures of said gas to operate to discharge gas into the pump tubing first at a higher level and then at a lower level to flow the liquid therein at said levels successively.

13. The method of pumping wells, which method consistsin sealing the -well to pro- 1 duce flowing'submergence and gas pressure therein, and discharging fluid into-the pump tubing first at a lower level and then at a higher level to flow the liquid therein at said levels' successively.

14. In combination, a well, means to -hold the pressures of liquid and gas 'in the well,

means for pumping liquid from the Well by, gas, and means to alter either of said pressures relative .to the other of said pressures to obtain different velocities of discharge of fluid from: the well.

15. In combination, a well provided with pump tubing, means opening 'to -discharge an operating fluid under lower pressure into the pump tubing at a higher level to displace the liquid above said level, said means closing at higher pressure-of .the operating fluid, and means opening into the pump tubmg at .a lower level to displace the liquid the operating fluid increases. f

16. In combination, pump tubing having above said lower level when the pressure of) 'ervoir for an operating entries at diierentlevels, means to produce fluid pressure outside .of the tubingV at said entries, and a v alve operated to open by higher pressure of said fluid'to admit the fluid to the upper entry and operated to close by the hydrostatic pressure in thegtubing to exclude said fluid.

'17. In combination, pump tubing having entries at different levels, means to produce fluid pressure outside of the-tubing at said entries, and a valve operated to open by pressure of said fluid to admit the fluid to the upper entry and `operated to close by higher pressure of said fluid to exclude said flui-d.

18. In combination,"pump tubing having entries at different levels, means to produce fluid pressure outside ofthe tubing at said entries, and a valve operated to. open by pressure of said fluid'to admit said fluid to the upper entry and operated to close by the hydrostatic pressure in the tubing to eX- clude said fluid and operated to close by higher pressure of saidflu-id to exclude said fluid.

19. In combination, pump tubing having entries at'diflerent levels, means to produce fluid pressure outside of the tubing at said entries, a valve for the upper entry operated by the fluid. pressure to open and operated by higher pressure to close, and a valve for the lower entry held closed by the hyv.

drosta-tic pressure in the tubing when the upper valve is open.

20. In combination, pump tubing having entries at different levels, means to produce fluid pressure outside .of the tubing at said entries, a lvalve for the upper entry operated by pressure of the fluid toy close, and a valve for the lower entry operated by greater pressure of the fluid to open when the upper valve isV closed.

21. In combination, pump tubing having entries at different levels, means to produce fluid pressure outside of the tubing at said entries, a v-alve for the upper entry operated by pressure of the fluid to close, and a valve for the lower entry operated by greater pressure of the fluid to open when the upper valve is closed, and operated by stil] greater pressure of the fluid to close.

22. In combination, casing, pump tubing in said casing, means .to seal the space between the casing and tubing to form a resuid, and entry valves at different levels of the pump tubing to con-trol fthe supply of Voperating fluid from the reservoir tothe tubing.

23. In combination, casing, pump tubing 1n said casing, entry valves at different levels of the pump tubing to control the supply of operatmg fluid .to the tubing, and a tube connecting said entry valves 'to one another and communicatingwith the casing.

2st.- A pumping system comprising Well casings, pump tuibings in said casings, means 'to seal the spaces I'between the casings and tubings to form reservoirs for an operating fluid, entryvalves at .different-.levels of the pump tubings to control the sup-ply of operating fluid from the reservoirs to the tubings, and means connecting said reservoirs to one another.

25. A pumping system comp-rising Well casings, pump tu ings in said casings, entry valves 4at ldifferent levels of the pump tubings to control the supply of operating fluid to the tubings at said levels,y and Huid-conducting means connecting the entry Valve of one tub-ing to the entry valve of the other tubing.

26. A pumping system comprising pump tubing, oil distilling means connected to the pump tubing, gas cooling means connected to said distilling means, a gas compressor connected to said cooling means, other gas cooling means connected to the compressor, and gas-conducting means connecting said other cooling means to the pump tubing.

27. A pumping system comprising Well casings, pump tubing in one of said casings, gas-cooling means connected to the other of said casings, a gas compressor connected to said cooling means, other gas-cooling means connected to the compressor, and gas-conducting meansconnecting said other cooling means to said pump tubing.

2 8. A pumping system comprising a Well casing, pump tubing in said casing, gas-cooling means connected to the casing, a gas compressor connected to said cooling means,

other gas-cooling meansconnected to said' compressor, and gas-conducting means con- .40

necting saidfother cooling means to the pump tubing to loW- the oil therein.

29. In combination, pump tubing having an entry member for an operating iuid, a pipe to supply the operating fluid to the entrymember, a discharge pipe connected Ito the pump tubing, a Huid-pressure regulator for regulating the discharge from the dis-A charge pipe, and a pipe connecting the operating-fluid supply pipe to the regulator so that the pressure in said supply pipe will operate the regulator.

30. In combination, pump tubing having van entry member for an operating-fluid, a

pipe to supply theoperating fluid to the entry member, a dischargefpipe connected to the pump tubing, fluid-pressure regulators for the discharge and supply pipes respectively, and Ia pipe connecting the operatingluid supply pipe to the regulators so that the pressure in said supply pipe will operate said A regulators.

31. In combination, pump tubing, casing surrounding said tubing, a casing` head for said casing, an entry member for the .pump

` nected vby a gas pipe line to said Well, a

i. 1,sic,e15

y.tubing to admit an operating-fluid to said tubing from thel interior ofthe casing, a dis- =charge pipe connected to the pump tubing, a

v regulator.

32. lIn combination, pump tubing, casing surrounding saidtubinff. a casing head for said casing, an entry member for the pump tubing to admit an operating-fluid to said tubing from the interior of the casing, a discharge pipe connected to the pump tubing, a pipe to supply the operating-fluid to the casing head, fluid pressure regulators for the discharge and supply pipes, and a pipe connecting the supply pipe to the regulators so that pressure in said supply pipe Will operate the regulators. 4

33. In combination, pump tubing having an inlet member provided with 'a pressure controlled valve, a tube connected to the inlet member and provided with a check valve, and a pump tosupply an operating Huid to said inlet member.

34. A pumping system comprising in combination with a Well, a compressor consecond gas pipe line connected to the Well to furnish pumping-fluid to said Well, and means operating to confine gas in the Well p until it reaches a predetermined pressure and to discharge said gas into the second gas pipe line when said predetermined pressure is reached.

i 35. A pumping system comprising in combination with a Well, a refining planteennected by an oil pipe line to said lWell, a compressor connected by a gas pipe line to the refining plant to compress the gaseous products of the refining plant, a second gas pipe line connected to the Well'to furnish pumping-Huid ,to said well, andmeans operating to confine gas in the Well until it 1110 reaches a predetermined pressure and'to discharge said gas into the second gas pipe line When said predetermined pressure is reached.

36. A pumping system comprising in combination With a well, a refining plant connected by an oil pipe line to said Well, a

compressor connected by a gas pipe line to the reining plant to compress the gaseous products of the refining plant, a second gas pipe line connected to the well to furnish pumping-iuid to said Well and connected to the compressor, and a regulator operated to open by iuidressure in the second as pipe line on the we 1 side of said line to a mit the gas .to said well.

' 37. A pumping system comprising in combination With a Well, a compressor connected to the well to compress the gases produced charge a portion of said gases freed from condensates into the well and connecting said condenser to the motor end of the first compressor to operate said compressorv with another portion of said gases.

38. A pumping system comprising in `combination with a well, a compressor con` nected to the well to compress the gases produced by said well, condensing means connected vto the compressor, a second compressor connected to the condensing means to further compress said gases, a condenser connected to the second compressor to re-4 move the condensates from the gases, a third compressor connected to the condenser toA further compress' a portion of the gases freed from condensates and connected to tl1e` well to pump the liquid from said well, and a pipe connecting said condenser to the motor end of the second compressor to operate said compressor with another portion of the gases freed from condensates.

39. In combination, a well having a pump tubing and a conductor tube, a gas pipe line connected to said conductor tube, a dirt trap in said gas pipe line, and a fluid-pressure regulator in said line between thel conductor tube and dirt trap, saiddirt 'trap operating to prevent scale coming from the gas pipe line from clogging the regulator.

40. 'In combination, pump tubing, a conductor tube having gas inlets at both ends,

an entry member between thel ends of the conductor tube to admit gas therefrom to the pump tubing, and a valve in the entry member to regulate the flow of gas.

41. In combination, pump tubing, a conductor tube having gas inlets at both ends,

an entry member between the ends of the conductor tube to admit gas therefrom'` to the pump tubing, and a valve in the entry member to prevent liquid passing from the pump tubing to the conductor tube.

42. In combination, pump tubing, means forming a gas reservoir, an entry member communicatin with the pump tubing and reservoir, an means operating to effect and maintain a balance between the head of liquid in the tubing andthe pressure of gas in the reservoir to hold the gas in said reservoir when the difference in pressures of gas and liquid exceeds av predetermined amount and to open communication between the res- Gervoir and pump tubing when the difference between'the pressures of the gas and liquid is less than said predetermined amount.

43. In combination, a well, an oil distharge pipe for said well, a gas pipe line con# means, and means for utilizing t e nected to the well, anda regulator to control the iiow of oil through said discharge pipe,

said regulator being operated by the. gas pressure in the gas pipe line.

44. A `conductor tube, pump tubing, an entry member connecting the conductor tube to the pump tubing, a valve in the entry y member operated to open against the head of liquid in the tubing by pressure of gas in the conductor tube and operated to close' against said liquid headv by higher pressure of said gas, and means to release gas from the conductor tube to lower the pressure and allow the irst valve to be opened by the head of the liquid in the pump tubing.

45. The method of pumping oil, which method consists in compressing'gases from a suitable source of supply, expanding the gasesvto create power, utilizing said power to pump oil from the well, and utilizing the expanded gases to cool the compressed gases from the source of supply to condense vapors from said compressed ases before said compressed gases are eXpan ed as aforesaid.

46. The combination with pump tubing, of means connected therewith to separate oil, carbonaceous vapors and gases from one another while said oil, vapors and gases are under pressure, means to discharge the oil, carbonaceous vapors and gases under pressure into the separatin means, and means for utilizing the gases tus separated to lift oil in the pum tubing.

47. The com ination with pump tubing,

of means connected therewithv to separate 48. The combination with pump tubing, I- f of means connected. therewith to separate sand, oil, carbonaceous vapors and gases from one another while under pressure,

means to discharge the sand, oil,vapors and gases under pressure into the se arating ases thus separated to lift oil in the pump'tuing.

49. The combination with pump tubing, of means connected therewith to separate sand, water, oil, carbonaceous vapors and gases from oneanother while under pressure, means to discharge the sand, water, oil, vapors and gases under pressure vinto the separating` means, and means for utilizing the gases thus 'separated to lift oil in the pump tubing.

. 50. The combination with pump tubing, of means connected to said tubing to separateA oil, carbon'aceous vapors and gases from one another While heated and under pressure,

the gases thus separated to lift oil in the pump tubing.

52. The combination with pump tubing, of means connected to said tubin to separate sand, oil, carbonaceous vapors an gases from one another While heated and' under pressure, means to heat vsaid separating means, means to discharge the sand, oil, carbonaceous vapors and gases under pressure into the separating means, and means for utilizing theI gases thus separated to lift oil in the pump tubing.

53. The combination with pump tubing, of means connected .to said tubing to sepa-y rate sand, Water, oil, carbon-aceous vapors and gases from'one another while heated and under pressure, means to heat said separating means, means to discharge the sand, oil, carbonaceous vapors and gases under pressure into the separating means, and means forl utilizing the gases thus separated to lift oil in the pump tubing.

54. The method of pumping Wells, which method consists in causing gas to be held in the Well under pressure, discharging said gas into the liquid in the pump tubing at a predetermined lower constant difference of pressures of said liquid at the discharge level, and shutting ofl'said fluid from the tubmg at a predetermined higher constant dlll'erence of pressures of the fluid at the discharge level. n

55. The method of pumping a series of wells, which method consists in the formalti'on'of a column of mixed oil and gas in balance with a column of oil in said Wells so that the mixed column is raised, the cooling of the gas, the compressing of the gas, the separation of the compressed gas from the vapors carried thereby, and the return of at least a portion of the compressed gas to one or more of the wells, wherein the pressure is lowerithan desired, to pump sa1d well.

56. The process of pumping which consists in applying an actuating fluid under pressure to `the fluid to be pumped to effect the pumping and stopping the pumping action by said actuating fluid when its pressure exceeds the resistance to the pumping action to a predetermined degree.

l 57. The process 'of pumping which consists in applying an actuating fluidv under pressure to the fluid to be pumped to effect the pumping, inaugurating the pumping action by said actuating fluid when its pressure equals that required to overcome the resistance to the pumping action, and stopping the pumping action by said actuating fluid when its pressure exceeds the resistance to the pumping action to a predetermined degree. v

58. In combination, well casing, a chamf ber insaid casing, pump tubing in sections,

one of said sections being connected to the lower end of said chamber and another of said sections extending through the upper end and into vthe interior of said chamber, means in said chamber connected to the upper section to admit liquid thereto and exclude gas therefrom, a gas discharge pipe communicating with said chamber to draw the gases therefrom, and a valve' on said discharge pipe.

59. The method of pumping a Well, which method consists in discharging gas into the pump tubing to lift the liquid in said tubing from a lower level to a higher level and drawing off only a portion of said gas at the higher level, and then to a still higher level.

60. The method of pumping a well, which method consists in lifting liquid in the well from a lower level to a higher level, discharging gas into the pump tubing at said higher level to lift said liquid to a still higher level, and trapping and drawing ofl' some of said gas at said still higher level.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 22nd day of October 1915.

WARREN R. GREENLEE. Y

GEORGE H. HILEs, 'A. F. SGHMIDTBAUER.

lifting said liquid

Images