US1856197A - Method of and apparatus for evacuating oil wells - Google Patents

Description

May 3, 1932. w. soUTHGATE 1,856,197

METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR EVACUATING OIL WELLS Filed NOV. 17, 1928 Patented May 3, 1932 1 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE LOUIS-W. SOUTHGATE, l' WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0l' COLUEBIA.

METHOD 0l' AND APPARATUS FOB IE'V.A.CUA'.LIIN`(1 OIL WELLS Application med November\17, 1928. 'Serial No. $0,203.

In patent granted to me October 2nd,1928, to force the oil along on its journey from No. 1,686,47 5, I have described and shown a the well; and at the same time the gas as it method of andapparatus for causing oileto comes up in the well or is evolved intermitfiow through pipe lines, which consists in tently or continuously may be collected and a employing a suction pump to suck the oil utilized.

along in a section of the pipe line, in remov- The apparatus and connections are illusing the gas and utilizing the same, if detrated in diagram or outline in thev accomsii-ed, and in then forcing the oil along on panying drawings, in whichA its nextjourney byapressure pump. v Fig. 1 illustrates a lay-out in which the f In the present im rovement, plan t0 connections extend directly from the oil well, 60 apply this method an apparatus directly to and v i the top of one or more oil wells. By doing Fig. 2 illustrates a lay-out in which a this, several important advantages are obseparating tank is employed. tained. First, the pumping or lift in the Referrin first to Fig. 1, in detail,W desigi well is assisted by the suction effect, and secnates an oi well in which is arranged a suitond, the gas which comes alon with the oil, able pumping apparatus, which may comor which is evolved as the oil is pumped up prise pistons P-P and check valve C, coin the well can be separated from the oi ordinated so that by reciprocating the pisand salvaged and utilized. tons, the oil will be lifted up in the well 3" When an `oil well is driven and comes in casing. 70

the gas rst released is very often saved an The top of the Well Casin is extended utilized, as it is very rich in hydro-carbons. above the ground and is close by a stutng This initial flow generally is limited. y box S-tlirough which the pump piston or After this flow of gas is over, unless the rod works.

25 well is a gusher, it is the practice to pump A pumping mechanism M,which ma be 75 the oil up out of the well, usually with pistons constructed in accordance with Fig. 2, o my reciprocated in the well casing, the pumping prior patent, is arranged at a suitablelocavery often being done from great depths. tion and is driven by a suitable motor. This As this pumping goes on, considerably pumping mechanism consistsnof a liquid cen- 3 more gas may be drawn from the ground, or trifugal pump having one or more impellers 80 may be evolved by the churning action of I and a hydro-turbine gas pump H employthe pumping mechanism, and this gas thus ing the oil Jfor its pumping action. The well drawn along or evolved during the pumping casing is connected near its top by a pipe 10 usually has been allowed to go to waste. to the gas pump and is connected at a lower 35 By the application previously described, level by pipe 11 to the liquid or oil pump. 85 this gas can be savedand utilized.. The gas pump H is connected to suck the To accomplish these desirable ends I close gas or air from the top of the well casing the top o the Well casing with a stuiiig box and force the same through a pipe 12 to any 'through which the piston rod for rec1procat- .suitable storage place, as a gasometer G, from ing the pistons of the lift pump will work, which the salvaged gas may beled and utiand I connect the pumping a paratus shown lized. in my patent to the top of t e oil well. A blow-ofi' can be arranged at a low point The connections to the pumping apparaon the gasometer to allow any air or heavy tus may extend directly from the casing of non-inflammable gas to escape as very often the oil well, or the separating tank, ilusair comes up in the well or leaks into the trated in my prior patent may be employed. apparatus.

Thus the pumping action in the well will The oil pump I--I is connected to force he helped to a de ee, depending upon the the oil along on its journey from the oil well,

n and the oil pump thereof may be employed a pipe line.

vacuum generated y the applied apparatus, by a pipe 13, which may be the first section of 1m It is not thought necessary to illustrate the pumping mechanism in greater detail, as the same is fully shown in my prior patent and the eiact apparatus there shown may be emlo e p y the combination and connections d escribed, the pumping action in the well will be assisted and the gas which comes alon up in the well with the oil or which is evolve 'by the churning action of the pump .pistons will be separated out and can be utilized.

In Fig. 2, I have shown a modification in which a pipe 15 extends from the oil well to a separating tank B similar to the s eparating tank B of my prior patent. This separating tank may be advantageously Aemployed in locations where a large quantity of oil is to be handled or where the apparatus is applied to a plurality of wells, it ein obvious, of course, that a plurality of wel can be piped to ther, so that one pumping apparatus will ndle the combined output thereof.

vThe pumps and rmechanisms herein described have been selected as the best elements now known b me for practicing the invention, and I fu y appreciate that other kinds of pumps may be employed.

The details and arrangements herein shown Aand describedmay be greatly varied by' a skilled mechanic without departing from the scope of my invention as expressed in the Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by' Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The method of evacuating an oil Well which lconsists in iirst lifting fluids comprising oil and gas therein b pumping, then separatin the gas from t e oil, and assisting the li of fluids by the application of suction applied tothe fluids at a point beyond the point of separation.

2. The method of evacuating an oil well which consists in first lifting fluids comprising oil and gas thereinb pumping, then s eparatin the s from t` e oil, and assisting the `li o f fluids by the independent lapplication of suction to the gas and to the oil.

3. The method of evacuating an oil well which comprises in rst lifting fluids comprising oil and gas therein by pumping, then separatigtthe as from the oil, and assisting the of. uids by the simultaneous independent application of suction to the gas and to the oil. v

4. The method of evacuatin an oil well, which consists in'pumpin oil om the well,

in separating the whic comes along with the oil, or which is evolved by he churnm action ofthe pumping from` the well during such pumping, and 'permanently removing such gas.' p l 5. The method of evacuating an oil well, which consists in pumpin oil from the well, in separating the gas whic comes along with the oil, or which is evolved by the churning action of the pumping from the well during such pumping, and permanently removin such gas oil thereby to assist the pumping action of the well. v

6. The method of evacuating an oil well which consists in lifting fluids com rising oil lanot er point in the well, permanently removing the gaseous fluids from the oil and then forcing the oil along on its ourney.

8. The method of causing'fluids to flow from an oil well, which consists in applying pressure to the fluids at one point in the well,

separating the fluids from each other and applying suction to the separate fluids at a point adjacent the well, permanently removing the gaseous fluids from the oil and then forcing the oil along on its journey.

9. The combination of an oil well, a pumping mechanism therein for -lifting iluids in the well, including gas and oil'in the well1 means for separating the oil and gas, and means to independently apply suction to the gas and oil respectively whereby the liftv in the well is assisted and the' gas is removed for subsequent utilization.

10. The combination of an oil well, a pumping mechanism therein for lifting fluids in the well, including gas and oil in the well, means for separating the oil and gas, and means to simultaneously independentl apply suction to the gas and oil respectively, whereby the lift in the well is-assisted and the gas is removed for subsequent utilization.

11. The combination of an oil well, a pumping mechanism therein for lifting fluids in the well, means including agas suction pump connected to the well to assist the umping action in the well by application o suction to fluids therein and to handle the gas raised in thewell. Y

12. The combina-tion of an oil well, al pumping mechanism therein for lifting fluids in the well, a gas pump and an oil pump connected to the well to assist the pumping action by the independent application of suction to the fluids thereby to separate the gas from the oil and separately remove the gas and oil for subsequent utilization.

13. The combination of an oil well, a pumping mechanism therein for lifting fluids in and applying suction to the lifte the well, a gas-pump and an oil pump connected to the well to assist the pumping action byv suction, to separate and handle the t as and to force the oil and gas respectively orward from the well.

14.. The combination of an oil well, aI pumping mechanism therein for lifting the oil, a separating tank, a, gas pump and an oil pump respectively connected to the well to assist the pumping action therein b suction, to separate and handle the gas an to force the oil forward on its journey from the well, said gas and oil pumps bein effective to handle the gas and oil indepen ently of each other.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

LOUIS W. SOUTHGATE.

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