US1742403A - Apparatus for flowing oil wells - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 7, 1930. B. E. LINDSLY APPARATUS FOR FLOWING OIL WELLS Filed Feb. 15 1926 INVENTOR Ben ELI/Mal lIl! ilhu m mm ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 7, 1930 UNITED STATES ina'rizlar- OFFICE Arrhen us ron BLOWING/OIL WELLS Application filed February 15, 1926. Serial No. 88,315.

My invention relates to an apparatus for flowing oil wells, and more particularly intended for use in connection with those oil Wells having some rock pressure, but not sufli-' cient to lift the oil to the surface of the groun and into storage tanks.

It is generally reco nized by those familiar with the production 0% oil that gas under pressure in oil bearing strata is the principal agent in propelling'oil rom a well. are new the gas pressure in the oil sand is usually sufficient to force the oil through the wells to the surface and into tanks, but as the fields develop, the gas pressure in the sand .(rock pressure) usually decreases to such an extent that pumping is required. At this stage of production the gas pressure may be suflicient to raise the oil in quantity for about two-thirds of the distance to the surface, but after pumping equipment is installed this gas pressure is utilized only to a very minor extent and therefore wasted. v

There is a comparatively long period in the life of most wells when the gas pressure is sufficient to raise the oil for more than onefourth of the distance to the surface audit is for these periods of relatively lowgas pressure that my apparatus may be. advantageously employed. My apparatus may also be employed effectively as a substitute for pumping in connection with wells wherein an artificial rock pressure is maintained on the sand by the forcing of gas or air into the sand through other wells that have been set aside for that purpose.

It is therefore the object of my invention to continue employment of natural rock pressure after the r'essures have been reduced beyond that su cient to maintain flush flow, and thereby eliminate the expense of installation, operation and maintenance of mechanical pumping equipment.

In accomplishing this object I employ apparatus, a preferred form of which is hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a-vertical, broken section of an oil well and flowing apparatus embodying my invention..

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional When oil fields perspective view of the oil trap at the bottom of the well.

Fig. 3 'is an enlarged, vertical perspective view of one of the booster units. 7

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates an oil well, including a shot hole 2 wherein a pool of oil is maintained at a definite leveland wherein the rock pressure is insuflicient to lift and flow the oil through the well to the surface of the ground. 3 designates the well casing of a type ordinarily employed, and 4 a common type of casing head, having a casing head gas offtake pipe 5 provided with the usual pressure regulatmg valve (not shown), and a vent pipe 6, hereinafter described.

Extending down from the casing head 4, through the casing 3, to below the level of the oil at the bottom of the well, is a tube 7 within the length of which are interposed booster elements which will presently be specifically described.

Suspended from the tubin 7 is a trap comprising a cap member 8 an base 9 securely connected by bolts or the like 10 to form an enclosure into which oil may be admitted onl through the ports hereinafter 'mentione The base 9 preferably comprises a lower chamber 11 separated from an upper chamber 12 by a horizontal diaphragm 13,-the bottom of the base having an open port 14 through which oil is admitted to the lower chamber 11 and the diaphragm 13 and the. upper housing wall having upwardly opening ports 15-15 through which .oil may flow to the upper chamber 12 from the lower chamber 11 and from an upper float chamber, presently mentioned, when the valve controlling said ports is open.

Slidably mounted in cages 16 and 16' on the top of the base member 9 and on its diaphragm 13 is a valve stem 17, having downwardly closing valves 1818', adapted for seating in the ports 1515', and having a float 19 at its upper end and within the float chamber 20 enclosed by the cap member 8 and the. base 9. The cap member has a port 21 through which oil may enter the float chamber from the well to operate the float and control the valve for the purpose of maintaining a level of the oil within the well and permitting flow through'the trap only when the level of the oil in the well is above the controlling level of the float. The cap member 8 has an aperture 22 through which the tubing 7 is'extended by a close fit, and the scribed is balanced, in that oil or gas in the well will exert as much force on it to hold it open as it does to hold it closed. The valve, being balanced as to pressures, is subject to control by the float.

Interposed in the tubing 7 at about the distance from the bottom of the well to which oil may be lifted by natural rock pressure, is a booster 24, comprising a body portion 25 having a solidhead 26 at its upper end enclosing a chamber 27, the lowerrim of which is adapted to seat on a cap 28 and be closely secured thereto by screws 29 that extend through the cap into an inturned flange 30 on the lower end of the housing. The cap 28 is provided with a coupling comprising a collar 31, into which the lower section of tubing is threaded, and a registering collar 32 extending-upwardly into the booster housing, the extension being provided with a lateral port 33 having a check valve 34 tending to close the port under pressure from within the housing chamber. Threaded into the top of the extension 32 is a stand pipe 35 having a closing cap 36 at its upper end and a lateral port 37 near its upper end through which gas may be delivered from the top of'the housing chamber into the stand pipe.

The head 26' at the top of the housing is provided with a 2 port 38 into the lower arm of which is threaded a pipe 39, which extends downwardly into the housing chamber and is there provided with a valve housing 40, comprising a chamber 41 having an upwardly,

opening valve port 42 in its bottom controlled by a check valve 43. The housing 40 is located near the bottom of the booster housing and above the inflow port 33 in the extension 32, so that oil entering through the port 33 will rise in the booster chamber and flow into the valve housing 40 through the port 42 under the conditions hereinafter described.

In the side of the booster housing near the top of the chamber 27 is an open port 44 and surrounding the port 44 and within the booster chamber, is a valve housing 45, having upis a float 50 whereby the valves 4949 are operated when oil rises in the booster chamber to the float level. The float level is so arranged relative to the vent port 37 in the stand pipe 35 that when oil rises to near the level of the port 37 the float is raised to open the valve port 46 and admit gas under pressure from the well to the booster chamber to resist rise of oil in the chamber, force the oil back to close off the flow from the tubing 7 and impel oil contained within the booster sis chamber into the valve housing 40, and up the pipe section 39 to the 2 port 38.

Another section of the tubing 7 is threaded into the upper end of the 2 port 38 and rises to a higher level where it is threaded into a collar 31 at the lower end of another booster housing 24, constructed identically with the one ]ust described, so that the oil forced out of the lower boosterhousing 24 will be delivered into the upper booster housing where the same action takes place, the boosters being duplicated throughout the height of the well and insuch relation that oil may be stepped upwardly through the well to eventual dellvery into the casing head 4.

In order to avoid back pressure on the oil that might interfere wth its elevation through the sections of tubing 7 and stand pipes 35, I provide a vent for the stand pipes, consistlng of-a tube'51 which opens through the cap 36 on the stand pipe in the lower booster housing and has an open end into which gas or an trapped in the top of the stand pipe may escape. The tube 51 extends vertically.

through the stand pipes in successive boosters and through successive sections of the tubing 7 to the top of the well, and is there opened to atmosphere, the tube 51 having a port 52 at each booster station for receiving gas or air from each of the upper stand pipes, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, one vent pipe being suflicient to relieve the'stand pipes in all of the boosters. I

While the pressure admitted to each of the booster chambers from the well proper through the valve housings 40 may be suflicient to provide the necessary lifting pressure. I prefer to supplement such pressure sup plies through valve channels 53 in the heads 26 of the respective booster chambers, so that gas expanded in the tops of the booster housing chambers may flow therethrough into the zip-flowing columns of oil to boost the oil after it has been forced into the pipes 39 and is flowing upwardly within the 2 channels. The channels 53 are provided with valve ports 54 opening to the booster chambers, and the 5 ports 54 are controlled by ball valves 55, whereby pressure gas may pass upwardly to effect the boosting operation, but is trapped against back flow.

Assuming an oil well having a limited rock 0 pressure to be equipped with apparatus constructed and assembled as above described, the operation is as follows Natural or artificial rock pressure forces oil from the oil sand into the bottom of the well and it accumulates in the well casing, which latter constitutes a closed chamber because of the closing off of the casing by the casing head. As the level of the oil rises in the well, the float valve in the trap 8 at the bottom of V the well tube is raised, opening the port 15 so that oil is forced upwardly through the chamhers in the housing basev into the lower section of the tubing 7, and thence into the lower booster housing, the gas in the lower section of the tubing and within the stand pipe passing oil through the vent tube.

When oil reaches the level of the float valve within the booster chamber, the valve is opened, admitting pressure gas from the well into the chamber to force the oil back and into the outlet pipe 39 against the automatic valve 43, the pressure being suflicient to lift the limited volume of oil through the pipe and into the next section of the tube 7, and on up the tube into the succeeding booster chamber, the How of oil upwardly under pressure of the gas being supplemented or boosted by passing from the top of the lower booster chamber through the valve channel 53 into a column of oil rising through the 2 ports in the lower booster member and the excess gas escaping through port- 37 to the stand pipe and through port 52 to the vent pipe, through which the gas escapes to atmosphere, thus relieving the booster housing of back pressure, this operation being continued in the successive boosters until the oil reaches the casing head, from which it may be delivered to storage tanks.

From the above it is apparent that lift of the oil is intermittent from one booster to the other, and that at each successive step, only a relatively small volume of oil is affected. the steps, however, being substantially continuous as the level of the oil in the successive boosters fluctuates under control of the float valves. This stepping operation will naturally harmonize with the natural surge in the well, whereby the supply of pressure gas is replenished, to effect the initial lift from the bottom trap to the first booster and-to successive boosters throughout the height of the well.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Apparatus of the character described comprising in combination with a casing and well tubing, extending in the casing and forming a chambertherewith adapted to contain a pressure medium, a housing interposed in said tubing with its lower portion in communication with the lower section of the tubing, valved means responsive to rising liquid in the housing for communicating said chamher with the interior of the housing above the intake from the lower section of the tubing, and valved means communicating the interior of the housing with an upper section of the tubing at a oint between said point of intake and said rst-named valved means.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising in combination with well tubing, a booster element comprising a housing interposed in the tubing having a port at its lower end for intake of liquid from the lower tubing section and having a valved pressure medium intake port at its upper end, an extension of the upper tubing section having a valved liquid intake port between the other two ports, and constantly open means for venting pressure medium from the upper portion of the housing.

3. In apparatus of the character described. a booster housing having an intake port at its lower end and having a channel in its upper end, lower and upper sections of tubing communicating respectively with said intake port and said channel, the housing having a pressure medium intake port near its upper end, a float-controlled valve controlling intake of pressure medium through said lastnamed port, a conduit communicating with said channel and having a valved intake port between the lower intake port and the pressure medium intake port, the upper end of the housing having a channel communicating said first-named channel with the interior of the housing independently of said conduit, a back check valve in said last-named channel, and means for venting pressure medium from the upper portion of the housing.

4:. Apparatus of the character described, comprising, in combination with well tubing,- a housing interposed in said tubing, valved means communicating a lower section of the tubing with the lower end of the housing, an

extension to said lower section of tubing having open communication with the housing above the said valved communication, valved means communicating the exterior with the interior of the housing above the first named valved means, and valved means communicating the interior of the housing with an upper section of the tubing at a point between the other two valved means.

5. Apparatus of the character described, comprising, in combination with well tubing for suspension in a well, a booster element comprising a housing interposed in the tub ing having a valved port at its lower end for controlling intake of liquid from the lower tubing section and having a valved pressure medium intake port at its upper end com municating with the well, and an extension of the upper tubing section having a valved liquid intake port between the other two ports.

6. Apparatus of the character described, comprising, in combination with well tubing, and a well containing a pressure medium, a

booster element comprising a housing inter-' ing, a booster element comprising a housing interposed in the tubing having a valved port at its lower end for controlling intake of liquid from the lower tubing section and having a valved pressure medium intake port at its upper end, an extension of the upper tubing section having a valved liquid intake port between the other two ports, a stand pipe having an intake for receiving fluid from the lower tubing section above the first named valve port and having a port open to the upper'portion of the housing chamber, and a vent pipe open to the upper portion of the stand pipe.

8. In apparatus of the character described, a booster housing, a coupling member extended into the lower portion of the housing and having a liquid delivery port opening to the housing chamber, a tubing section opening to the coupling member, a stand pipe opening from the coupling member above said port and having a port opening to the upper portion of said chamber and a vent p pe opening to the upper portion of the stand pipe, the housing having a liquid delivery channel and a pressure medium intake port in its upper portion, a tubingsection opening to the delivery channel, and a conduit communicating with the housing chamber between said liquid delivery and pressure medium intake ports and with the liquid delivery channel.

9. In apparatus of the character described, a booster housing, a coupling member extended into the lower portion of the housing and having a liquid delivery port opening to the housing chamber, a tubing section opening to the coupling member, a stand pipe opening from the coupling member above said port and having a port opening to the upper portion of said chamber, and a vent 10. In apparatus of the character described,-

a booster housing, a coupling member extended into the lower portion of the housing and having a liquid delivery port opening to the housing chamber, a tubing section opening to the coupling member, a stand pipe opening from the coupling member above said port and having a port opening to the upper portion of said chamber, and a vent pipe opening to the upper portion of the stand .pipe, the housing having a liquid delivery channel and a pressure medium intake port inits upper portion, a tubing section opening to the delivery channel, a conduit communicating with the housing chamber between said liquid delivery and pressure medium intake ports and with the liquid delivery channel, a back check valve, controlling flow through the liquid delivery port and the liquid delivery conduit, and a float valve controlling flow of pressure medium to the housing chamber, the housing having a back checked valve port communicating the upper port of the chamber with the liquid delivery channel.

11. In apparatus of the characterv described, a well tubing, a trap at the well end of the tubing comprising a float valve for controlling intake to the tubing and a booster interposed in the tubing comprising valved means for admitting fluid from a lower tubing section to the booster, other valved means for admitting fluid from the booster to an upper tubing section, and other valved means for admitting pressure medium to the booster.

12. In apparatus ofthe character described,

a well tubing, a trap at the well end of the tubing comprising a float chamber, a'trap chamber having an intake port and a valve co-operative with the port and having a float in the float chamber, whereby admission of fluid to the trap chamber and tubing is determined by level of the liquid in the float chamber, and abobster interposed in the tubing having intake from a lower tubing section and-Outlet to an upper tubing section and having intake for a pressure medium above said intake and said'outlet.

13. In apparatus of the character described, a well tubing, a trap on the well end of the tubing, comprising a float chamber in communication with the well, an intake chamber incommunication with the Well, a trap chamber um intake Valve, and means for venting presin communication with a lower tublng section sure medlum from the upper portlon of the and having a port opening to the intake chamber.

chamber, a valve for controlling said port, a float on said valve located within the float chamber whereby opening and closing of the valve is determined by level of liquid in the.

well, a booster interposed in the tubing comprising a chamber having liquid intake and outlet to lower and upper tubing sections at a low level in the chamber, and having pressure medium intake at an upper level of the chamber, and means controlled by level of liquid in the chamber for controlling the pressure medium intake.

14. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination with well tubing, a trap at the well end of the tubing and a float-controlled valve responsive to changes in the level of the liquid in the trap for controlling intake from the trap to the tubing, a booster interposed in the tubing comprising a housing having a portfor admitting fluid from the trap to the lower portion of the housing, the said housing having a pressure medium intake port adjacent its upper end, float-controlled means controlling intake of pressure medium through said last-named port, a conduit leading to the upper section of the tubing from between the lower liquid intake port and the pressure medium intake port, and a valve controlling intake to said conduit. 15. In apparatus of the character described, well tubing, a trap at the well end of the tubing comprising a chamber having an intake port and a valve co-operating with the port to control intake to the tubing, a float controlling said valve whereby admission of fluid to the trap chamber and tubing is determined by level of the liquid in the well, and a booster interposed in the tubing having intake from a lower tubing section and outlet through an upper tubing section and having intake for a pressure medium above said intake and outlet, and means for ventingv ressure medium from the upper portion 0 the housing.

16. In apparatus of the character described, well tubing, a trap on the well end of the tubing comprising an intake chamber in communication with the well, a trap chamber in communication with a lower tubing section, having a port opening to the intake chamber, a valve for controlling said port, a float on said valve whereby opening and closing of the valve is determined by level of liquid in the well, a booster interposedin the tubing, comprising a chamber having liquid intake and outlet ports communicating withlower and upper tubing sections at low levels in the chamber, and having a pressure medium intake port at an upper level of the chamr, means controlled by level of liquid in the chamber for controlling the pressure merit- In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

BEN E. LINDSLY.

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