US1792107A - Apparatus for flowing wells by air lift - Google Patents

Description

w. L. MARTIN Feb. 10, 1931.

APPARATUS FOR FIIJOWING WELLS BY AIR LIFT Filed Feb. 1, 1928 g0 INVENTOR W/Yfi riL Mari/n ATTORN EY Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'WILBERT L. MARTIN, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA APPARAT'llS FOR FLOWING WELLS BY AIR LIFT Application am February 1, 1928. Serial no, 251,036.

, maintaining a column of fluid above the level normally maintainable by the rock pressure, and to provide a continuous flow of the oil by introduction of gas under pressure into the tubing at various elevations, whereby a fluid column is maintained by the natural pressure and stepped upwardly in continuous flow by the artificial pressure.

-In accomplishing these and other ob ects of the invention I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 1/

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an 011 well equipped with my improved apparatus, the

well and its casing being in central vertical section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the apparatus s owing the tubing in vertical section, part of the enclosed apparatus being broken away for better illustration.

Referring in detail to the drawings:

1 desi nates a well hole having a well pocket 2 in a strata of oil bearing sand 3, the

I well hole being lined with casing 4 supported upon the cap rock 5 by the casin ishoe 6, the casing being cap ed and sealed y a caslng head 7 Suspen ed within the casing is a well tubing 8 having the usual strainer 9 at its lower end extending into the pocket 2, the upper end of the tubing extending through the casing head 7 and being provided with a T fitting 10 with which the flow pipe 11 is connected. An inlet pipe 12 for gas under pressure, which will be referred to as air, introduced into the casing head whereby air is admitted to the casing to lift the fluid re- 'ceived in the tubing through the strainer for delivery through the pipe 11 to storage means (not shown).

Supported by and in the caslng 8 near the bottom of the well is a packer 13 providing upper and lower chambers 14 and 15 in the so casing and sealing of! the natural rock pressure within the lower chamber to conserve said pressure and to render it efl'ective for lifting the fluid in the tubing, and also for preventing back pressure on the fluid by artificial pressure medium introduced into the i5 casing.

In the early stages of the flowing of wells natural rock pressure lifts the column of fluid to a relatively high level in the tubing, from which level the artificial pressure medium may pick it up and urge it to the top of the well. In'order to assist the natural rock pressure to maintain a fluid column at a desired level after the latter has become partially exhausted, I haveprovided for the introduction of air under pressure at a point adjacent the bottom of the tubing, means therefor comprising a transverse, tubular inlet nipple 16 in the tubin having inlet ports 17 in the walls of the tu ing, and a pipe 18 connected into said nipple extending downwardly in the tubing to a level in the pocket 2 preferably slightly above the level of the oil sand, whereby air under pressure is conducted from the upper casing chamber for discharge into the tubing below the level of the fluid maintained by the rock pressure. Screw-threaded on the lower end of the pipe 18 is a conical cap 19 having a distributing chamber 20 and ducts 21 leading upwardly and angularly from the chamber for delivery into the interior of the tubing, whereby air under pressure passing from the easing into the pipe will be discharged upwardly against the column of fluid in the tubing to assist the 35 natural rock pressure in initially lifting the oil through the tubing. The cap member is provided with exterior grooves or channels 22, whereby fluid admitted to the tubing through the strainer portionthereof is permitted to pass the cap. 4

Positioned in the tubing above the transverse inletg ipple member 16 are nozzles 23 angularly directed upwardly toward the center of the tubing, having inlet ports 24 for admitting air under pressure from the casing into the tubing; the inner ends 25 being restricted slightly to provide stop flanges for retaining the back-check ball valves 27, which" seat downwardly on seats 28 n'n the nozzle channels, for preventing return flow of fluid from the tubing into the casing.

In practicing the invention, the apparatus being installed as described, air under pressure admitted to the casing moves simultaneously through the ports of the inclined inlet nozzles 23 and inlet nipple 16. Air entering through the ni ple is conducted into the cap adjacent the oil pocket and, being emitted therefrom, assists the natural rock pressure in raising the oil in the tubing to a level where it may be acted upon by the air entering the tubing through the nozzles 23 to lift the oil through the tubing to the upper end thereof,

31 from which it is discharged into the flow pipe and conducted to storage. The natural rock pressure being retained beneath the packer is, therefore, permitted to act upon the oil in the pocket to lift the oil to the limit of its ability, and the air under pressure conducted by the depending pipe into the lower end of the tubing picks up the oil at any level to which it has been raised by the rock pressure and elevates it further to a position where it may be acted upon by the primary pressure inflow.

ll hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1" In combination with well. casing, a

an packer in the casing, tubing extending through the packer, a conduit in the tubing communicating with the casing above the packer and terminating in the tubing below the packer, a cap on the lower end of the conduit having a distributing chamber and ducts leading from said chamber to communication with the casing below the packer, nipples in the tubing communicating with the casing above the packer, and means for delivering air under pressure to the casing above the packer. I

2. In combination with well casing, a packer in the casing, tubing extending through the packer, a conduit in the tubing communicating with the casing above the packer and terminating in the tubing below the packer, a cap on the lower end of the conduit having a distributing chamber, having ducts leading from said chamber to communication with the casing below the packer and having exterior passageways for well fluid, nipples in the tubing communieating with the casing above the packer, and means for delivering air under pressure to the casing above the packer.

3. In combination with well casing, a packer in the casing, tubing extending through the packer, a conduit in the tubing having a la -head communicating with the casing above the packer and a body portion terminating in the tubing below the packer, a cap on the lower end of the conduit having a distributing chamber and ducts leading from said chamber to communication with wearer the casing below the packer, nipples in the tubing communicating with the casing above the packer, and means for delivering air under pressure to the casing above the packer.

In testimony whereof ll afix my signature.

WILBERT L. MARTIN.

llii

Images