US1779727A - Stage-lift flowing device - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 28, 1930. A. BOYNTON 1,779,727

STAGE LIFT FLOWING DEVICE Filed Dec. 10, 1926 ZSheets-Sheec l Oct 28, 1930. BOYNTQN STAGE LIFT FLOWING DEVICE Filed Dec. 10, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 28, 1930 ALEXANDER BOYNTON, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS STAGE-LIFT FLOWING DEVICE Application filed December 10, 1826. Serial No. 153,951.

This invention relates to stage lift flowing devices especially adapted for use in wells.

Briefly stated an important object of this invention is to provide a fluid lift having novel means whereby a lifting fluid such as compressed air or gas may be introduced into a well tubing at a point below the level of the oil therein to bring the oil to the surface without the aid of a reciprocating pump and other parts known to be troublesome and costly. I

further and equally important object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the compressed lifting fluid may be introduced into the well tubing in a manner to permit of the formation of lifting units or slugs promptly upon the admission of the lifting fluid to the well tubing.

Another aim of the invention is to provide an induction valve which is of highly simplified construction, reliable in use and comparatively cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is an elevation of an automatic control valve embodied in the invention and through the medium of which the flowing of the well under the influence of the mechanism forming the subject matter of this application is terminated when the level of the tubing fluid drops below apredetermined point.

Figures2 and 2A are sectional views illustrating a tubing positioned within the casing and equipped with induction valves embodied in the invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through an induction valve embodied in the invention.

In the drawings the numeral 5 designates a casing to the upper end of which a casing head 6 is attached. Figure 1 illustrates in a general way an automatic control valve by means of which the mechanical flowing of the well when the level of the oil drops below a predetermined point is terminated.

Figure 2 illustrates that the tubing 8 has a number of induction valves 9 incorporated therein for the admission of a lifting agent such as compressed air or gas from the well or from any other well. In case air is employed a compresser is, of course, necessary.

Figure 2A illustrates that the lower portion of the tubing is provided with a sediment chamber 10 consisting of a suitable number of lengths bf pipe and having the lower portion thereof closed by a cap 11. It is believed to be obvious that it is a simple matter to remove "what sediment may be in the chamber 10 when the tubing is pulled to the surface for any reason.

Each induction valve is in the nature of a two-piece body having a flow passage 12 of approximately the same diameter and crosssectional formation as the bore of the tubing, so as to ofler the least possible resistance to the upward movement of the slugs of oilunder the influence of the lifting units formed from the compressed air or gas introduced into the tubing from the casing.

At this point attention might be directed to Figure 1 which illustrates that the continuation 14 of thetubing has a very gradually bent elbow 15 to conduct the flow to a desired point. The gradual curvature of the elbow 15 offers little resistance and obstruction to the flow of the fluid as will be appreciated.

Each induction valve has an annular valve chamber 16 the upper portion of which has constant communication with a suitable number' of inwardly directed ports 17 through the medium of an annular groove 18. A llfting agent such as compressed air or gas passes through the chamber 16 and the ports 17 and upon entering the tubing forms slugs or lifting units by which the oil in the tubing is conveyed to the surface. At this 'point it might be stated that the plurality of discharge ports 17 permit of the admission of suflicient lifting fluid to form a complete unit promptly upon entrance into the tubing. In other words almost immediately upon the admission of a predetermined volume of a com- .120 feet. From 1050 valves may be approximately 100 feet apart.

pressed lifting fluid into the tubing, the same becomesefi'ective as an oil flowing medium.

Triangular sockets or recesses 19 in the Wall of the flow passage 12 provide for the convenient startin of the drill necessary in making the holes 1%. y In carrying out the invention the body of each induction valve is, as previously stated, formed from two sections, the upper section being threaded into the lower section and being provided with a plurality of inlet ports 25. The inner ends of the inlet ports have communication with an annular groove 26 with which the ports 27 in a valve seat ring 28 have constant communication. This arrangement provides for constant communication between the ports 25 and 27 even though these ports may not be in register. In other words, the groove 26 maintains communication between the ports 25- and 27 so that the necessity for accurately bringing these ports into registration is avoided. Figure 3 clearly illustrates that the valve seat ring 28 is threaded into the lower portion of the valve chamber 16 and has the upper surface thereof provided with a valve seat 30 with which the oppositely beveled ring 32 on the lower end of a sleeve valve 33 is engaged.

The upper valve ring 34 of the sleeve valve is oppositely beveled and is adapted to engage a similarly formed seat 36 so that the movement of air or gas upwardly through the ports 17 may be cut off.

Attention is especially invited to the fact that the thickness of the material forming the valve rings 32 and 34 is less than the width of the chamber 16 to permit of the passage of a compressed lifting agent. The web connecting the valve rings 32 and 34 is wide enough to avoid the possibility of the sleeve valve sticking while canted in the annular chamber 16. In fact the external diameter of the sleeve valve and the length of the same makes canting of the sleeve valve unlikely even as the result of uneven pressure of the lifting, agent from below.

In the installation of the improved stage lift flowing device one of the induction valves may be placed approximately 450 feet from the surface and from 450 feet down to about 1050 feet one valve ma be placed at every eet to 1450'feet the From 1450 feet to 1690 feet the valves may be advantageously placed feet apart and below 1690 feet thevalve s may be placed approximately 60 feet apart.

Below the inlet valves for the lifting agent a check valve 140 may be located to retain in the tubing the oil that may not have been blown out in the flowing process. It is important to note that when the valve heads 32 are seated the same cooperate with the check valve 140 in retaining oil in the tubing. Necessarily some oil will settle back after a well has flowed, unless an unnecessary amount of gas is wasted to perfectly clean the tubing. There is no reason why this oil should be allowed to settle back into the well exteriorly of the tubing'and build up a back pressure against the oil seeking to come into the well. For that reason the'check valve 140 is employed in conjunction with the valve heads 32. Furthermore, oilwhich is allowed to flow back into the well exteriorly of the tubing not only wastes energy, but also results in agitation which assists in liberating the lighter properties of crude oil. Therefore the check valve prevents unnecessary back pressure on the sands, avoids agitation and loss of energy.

The oil enters the tubing by way of an inlet 50 and inlets 51 forty or sixty feet below. As the level of the oil in the tubing is about 300 feet above the level of the oil in the casin several valves will be exposed to permit 0 the admission of compressed air or gas to the tubing at a point below the level of the oil therein.

The highly compressed air or gas which enters by way of the passage 16 does not expand until it enters the tubing and rises somewhat and it is this expansion and consequent pressure which is relied on to bring the oil to the surface. The lifting agent such as compressed air or gas during its passage through the valve chamber 16 partakes of no appreciable expansion. This is true because of the resistance resulting from the presence of a higher column of oil in the tubing than in the casing. In other words expansion of the lifting agent is resisted by the head of oil inthe tubing, but such expansion does, however, take place after the lifting agententers the tubing. I

When the level of the oil in the tubing drops below a predetermined point with-respect to a particular valve the free inrush of the lifting agent such as compressed air or gas by way of the passage 16 will result in the movement of the sleeve valve upwardly to closed position so that the supply of lifting fluid to the tubing by way of a particular valve is stopped.

Of course when there is sufiicient head of oil above a particular valve the movement of the lifting fluid through the valve chamber 16 will slightly elevate the sleeve valve and, as previously stated, when the lifting fluid is allowed to rapidly rush through the chamber the valve is moved to its upper seated position. In this connection it is noted that the under side of the valve ring presents shoulders or wings directly in the path of travel of the inrushing air or gas so that when the velocity of the liquid fluid is increased the sleeve valve will be immediately moved to its uppermost position. In other words, so long as the level of the oil is above a particular valve or a predetermined distance above that valve, the sleeve valve 33 will rise only pressed state to blow the oil above the same to the surface.

As the level of oil drops, additional valves come into play and the rapid rush of air or gas through a particular valve chamber 16,

a due to the drop in the level of oil in the tubing, will resulting in the upward movement of the sleeve'valve to closed position to render that valve in operative for the present. This action, however, never occurs until the fluid level in the Well has been lowered to a point Where at least the next valve is exposed. Compressed air or gas then enters at the lowermost exposed valve until the oil above that valve has been blown out through the tubing. The next valve below has then become exposed by the drop of the level of the fluid within the casing exteriorly of the tubing and that valve will come into play.

This process will continue until the level of the fluid outside of the tubing has been low ered to the level of perforations 51. When the perforations 51 are exposed, the well, of course, is pumped ofl and the pressure of the air or gas will be quickly relieved through these perforations. When the pressure of the air or gas is thus rapidly decreased the automatic valve illustrated in Figurel will terminate the flowing operation. It will be observed that there is a passage establishing communication between the casing and the automatic control valve.

By way of example, it might be pointed out that if there are 200 pounds of air or gas in the casing and 50 pounds of back pressure in the tubing there will be 150 pounds of air or gas capable of lifting 500 feet of oil at 30 pounds to the hundred feet. Therefore, if the valves are spaced approximately 100 feet apart below the level of the oil within the tublIlg five valves may be exposed and all of these valves would be closed except the lower one or two because the back pressure there would not admit air or gas fast enough to close the lower valves, but would admit enough highly compressed air or gas to flow the oil from the tubing above. In .other words, the fluid having the lifting force may enter the tubing only at points where substantial heads of oil are encountered.

Compressed air or gas entering through a particular valve has less volume than it assumes after it has risen ap reciably in the tubing and the expansion 0 the air or gas after it enters the tubing is reliedon to lift the head of fluid.

With 100 pounds of effective pressure, that is, exclusive of back pressure in the tubing, and the level of the oil in the tubing is 300 feet above the level of the oil in the casing, several valves in the tubing will be exposed to the admission of face of the oil in the tubing and the compressed air or gas would enter by Way of some or all of the exposed valves and expand below slugs of oil, which expansion and consequent lifting is accelerated as the air or gas approaches the surface.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1.- An induction valve for well tubings comprising a body having an annular Valve chamber extending longitudinally thereof, said body being'provided with a flow passage for the reception of said liftin fluid and with ports establishing communication between said chamber and said flow passage, the upper portion of said chamber being provided with an annular seat, a valve seat ring in the lower portion of said chamber and having a valve seat, and a sleeve valve provided at the opposite ends thereof with means to engage said seats and close said ports and thereby control the flow of said lifting fluid into said'flow passage.

2. An induction valve for well tubings comprising a body having'an annular valve chamber adapted for the flow of a lifting fluid, a valve seat ring secured in said chamber and having a seat and a port, said body being provided with an annular groove constantly communicating with said port and with a fluid passage in constant communication therewith. I

3. An induction valve for well tubings comprising a body having an annular valve chamber adapted for the flow fluid, a valve seat ring secured in said chamber and having a seat and a port, said body being provided with an annular move constantly communicating with sai port and with a fluid passage in constant communi'cationtherewith, and a sleeve valve in said annular chamber, said valve being in the path of travel of and responsive to the lifting fluid.

4. An induction valve for well comprising a body consisting of a pair of detachably connected sections having conducting means for a lifting fluid, one of the sections being provided with an annular groove and ports communicating with said groove, a valve seat ring carried by the other section and having ports in constant communication with said groove, and'a sleeve valve adapted to engage said valve seat ring and being in the path of travel of and responsive to the lifting fluid.

5. In a fluid control device, a body having of a lifting air or gas below the surtubings Y a flow passage and an annular chamber encircling and communicating with said passage, and a sleeve valve movable endwise in said annular chamber, there being inlet and outlet valve seats in the path of travel of and adapted to be separately engaged by said sleeve valve.

6. An induction valve for well tubings comprising a body having a flow passage and m an annular valve chamber provided with ports establishing communication between the valve chamber and the flow passage, a

valve seat ring detachably secured in said chamber and having a valve seat and orts, and a sleeve valve in said chamber an provided at opposite ends thereof with means to separately control said ports.

7. In a fluid lift for wells, a body having communicating vertical flow and valve chambers, the valve chamber being annular and having upper and lower passages for supplying a pressure fluid to said flow chamber, and a sleeve valve in said valve chamber, between the passages thereof and in the path of travel of the lifting fluid, said sleeve valve having means for separately closing said passages to control. the flow of fluid throu h the same and being moved upward by said pressure fluid and downward by gravity.

8. In a fluid lift for wells, a body having an annular chamber for a compressed lifting fluid and provided at one end with an inlet and at the other end with an outlet,

and a sleeve valve in said annular chamber between the inlet and the outlet thereof and having means separately controlling said inlet and said outlet and being urged toward said outlet by the pressure of the lifting fluid and toward the inlet by gravity.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALEXANDER BOY-NTON.

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