US20060231247A1 - Production Plunger - Google Patents
Production Plunger Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20060231247A1 US20060231247A1 US11/279,884 US27988406A US2006231247A1 US 20060231247 A1 US20060231247 A1 US 20060231247A1 US 27988406 A US27988406 A US 27988406A US 2006231247 A1 US2006231247 A1 US 2006231247A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- valve
- plunger
- valve seat
- passage
- well
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 46
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 29
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 230000003116 impacting effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 3
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 abstract description 2
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000002028 premature Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004576 sand Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000013536 elastomeric material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003129 oil well Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/12—Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells
- E21B43/121—Lifting well fluids
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
- F04B47/00—Pumps or pumping installations specially adapted for raising fluids from great depths, e.g. well pumps
- F04B47/12—Pumps or pumping installations specially adapted for raising fluids from great depths, e.g. well pumps having free plunger lifting the fluid to the surface
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to apparatuses for use in plunger lift operations. More particularly, relating to a plunger that operates automatically in response to pressure.
- plunger lift is an artificial-lift method principally used in gas wells to unload formation fluid that has accumulated in the well production string.
- plunger lift can be used in oil wells.
- An automated system mounted on the wellhead controls the well on an intermittent flow regime. When the well is shut-in, a plunger drops down the production string. When the control system opens the well for production, the plunger and a column of fluid are carried up the tubing string. The surface receiving mechanism detects the plunger when it arrives at surface and, through the control system, prepares for the next cycle.
- a liquid loaded well which is a well having formation fluid accumulated in the production string, experiences reduced production or no production entirely. As such it is desirable to unload the well to increase well production. As such there have been many attempts in providing an apparatus which efficiently unloads a liquid loaded well.
- U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,473 to Krueger discloses a production plunger including a body having a passage that allows fluid to bypass packer cups carried by the body.
- a valve in the passageway is held open by a bellows filled with air or an inert gas under pressure. The valve is closed by the pressure of the liquid accumulated above the plunger at which time, gas produced by the well will lift the plunger and the liquid above it to the surface.
- prior art plungers include a fishing neck extending beyond the upper end of the plunger which is formed as part of the valve assembly. As the plunger is lifted, there exists the potential of damage to the valve assembly from the fishing neck impacting the well surface equipment. Also if the plunger is “fished” out of the well with wireline, the jarring action may also damage the valve and internal components, particularly if the plunger is stuck in sand, for example.
- an improved production plunger which overcomes all of the drawbacks of prior devices is provided.
- the production plunger includes a body for reciprocating in a production string of a well, the body having a passage extending longitudinally through the body; a valve seat in the passage; a valve seal positioned in the passage; a valve rod connected to the valve seal and extending through the valve seat in the passage; means containing air under pressure connected to the piston and urging the valve seal away from the valve seat; resilient means urging the valve seal towards the valve seat; locking means for releasable engagement with the valve rod to resiliently lock the valve rod in a first position where the valve seal is away from the valve seat and to resiliently lock the valve rod in a second position where the valve seal is in sealing contact with the valve seat; seal means carried by the body for engaging the inner wall of the production string and preventing fluid in the production string from flowing through the production string between the body and the inner wall of the production string; and the body defining a first opening on a first side of the valve seat through which formation fluid can flow into the passage, across the valve seat and out of the passage through
- FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of the production plunger constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, positioned within a production string and with the valve in an open position;
- FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view of the production plunger of in FIG. 1 , shown with the valve in a closed position;
- FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the production plunger taken along line 3 - 3 in FIG. 1 , showing an arrangement of fluid ports and an upper centralizer;
- FIG. 4 is an enlarged, detailed axial sectional view of the production plunger showing an example of a locking means for resiliently locking the valve in a first open position and a second closed position.
- Seal means 24 are carried by the body 12 for engagement with the inner surface of a production string 26 or the like of a well.
- the seal means 24 includes two packer cups 24 a and 24 b engaging the inner surface of the production string 26 and preventing formation fluid from passing through the production string between the body 12 and the inner surface, thereby causing all fluid flowing through the production string to be directed through the passage 14 .
- a valve assembly 28 is entirely positioned in the passage 14 is operable to control fluid flow through the passage. To prevent damage to the valve assembly 28 , no valve elements extend beyond the surface of the body 12 , as such all of the valve elements are protected from impact with surface or downhole equipment.
- the valve assembly 28 includes a valve seat 30 which divides the passage 14 into two portions, one on a first side of the valve seat and a second on a second side of the valve seat.
- a valve seal 32 is positioned approximate the valve seat 30 and is attached to a valve rod 34 that extends through the valve seat and terminates at a collapsible bellows 36 , or the like which contains air under pressure.
- the bellows 36 could reasonably be replaced by any air containment system which is collapsible.
- a piston 38 may be positioned intermediate of and connected to the valve rod 34 and the bellows 36 .
- the body 12 can include a passage 23 extending from a side of the body 12 at a lower end thereof through a bottom 22 of the passage into the bottom portion 20 , thereby establishing a fluidic coupling between bottom portion of the passage 14 with the well annulus 40 .
- a resilient element 44 such as a spring is connected to the bellows 36 or piston 38 and urges the valve seal 32 in a direction towards the valve seat 30 . If the bellows 36 should leak or otherwise fail, the spring 44 acting on the valve rod 34 , will move the valve seal 32 against the valve seat 30 , thereby closing the valve assembly 28 and stopping fluid from flowing through the passage 14 .
- the spring force of the spring 44 is not sufficient to collapse the bellows 36 when the bellows is functioning correctly, or in other words, the air pressure within the bellows is greater than the spring force.
- a locking means 46 for releasable engagement with the valve rod 34 is provided, best shown in FIG. 4 .
- the locking means 46 releasably engages the valve rod to resiliently lock the valve seal 32 in a first position away from the valve seat 30 or in a second position against the valve seat. Without the locking means 46 a probability exists for the valve assembly 28 to open as the plunger 10 rises in the production string 26 and formation fluid is unloaded.
- the locking means 46 prevents the premature opening of the valve assembly 28 from occurring. Further, the locking means 46 ensures the plunger 12 falls to a sufficient depth within the production string 26 before the valve assembly 28 is closed.
- the locking means 46 could include a least one spring loaded detent 48 . It is contemplated that locking means 46 could employ a magnetic catch, or other mechanical locking means to resiliently lock the valve rod 34 .
- the body 12 includes a top centralizer 50 and a bottom centralizer 52 .
- the top and bottom centralizers 50 and 52 can be attached to the body 12 are formed integrally therewith.
- the centralizers 50 and 52 prevents the plunger 10 from being “jostled” from side to side in the production string 26 which other wise result in premature wear on the sealing cups 24 a and 24 b .
- the centralizers 50 and 52 also prevent the body 12 from jarring against the inner surface of the production string 26 and help to ensure better sealing element expansion by keeping the sealing cups 24 a and 24 b centralized within the production string.
- a fishing neck 54 can also be provided for use in retrieval of the plunger 10 if for some reason the spring 44 does not close the valve assembly 28 , or the seal means are worn beyond usefulness.
- the fishing neck 54 and be attached to the body 12 at an upper end thereof or can be made integral with the body.
- the plunger 10 with the valve assembly 28 open travels downward in the production string until it reaches a predetermined stop, or falls under enough fluid to cause the valve to close, whichever comes first.
- formation fluid in the production string flows through ports 38 into passage 14 from the annulus 40 below the sealing cups 24 a and 24 b and out of ports 42 into the annulus above the sealing cups and accumulates above the plunger.
- the formation fluid accumulates an increasing force is applied on the bellows 26 until enough formation fluid is accumulated to collapse the bellows and close the valve assembly 28 , as shown in FIG. 2 .
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Lift Valve (AREA)
Abstract
A production plunger that automatically reciprocates in a production string of a well to remove formation fluid from the well. The production plunger makes a sealing contact with the production string and includes a passage through which all formation fluid is caused to flow through. The passage includes a valve that operates automatically in response to pressure within the production string to open and close the passage to allow and stop formation fluid from flowing in the passage. The plunger includes a locking device to ensure the plunger does not short cycle and a fail safe mechanism ensuring the valve closes in case of plunger failure, or upon a minimal build up of pressure by shutting in the well. Further, the entire valve is enclosed in the plunger preventing damage to valve elements from impacting downhole equipment, and the plunger includes fluid ports positioned so as not to easily capture well solids.
Description
- This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/672,236, filed Apr. 18, 2005, the entire of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- The present invention relates generally to apparatuses for use in plunger lift operations. More particularly, relating to a plunger that operates automatically in response to pressure.
- In general, plunger lift is an artificial-lift method principally used in gas wells to unload formation fluid that has accumulated in the well production string. However, plunger lift can be used in oil wells. An automated system mounted on the wellhead controls the well on an intermittent flow regime. When the well is shut-in, a plunger drops down the production string. When the control system opens the well for production, the plunger and a column of fluid are carried up the tubing string. The surface receiving mechanism detects the plunger when it arrives at surface and, through the control system, prepares for the next cycle.
- A liquid loaded well, which is a well having formation fluid accumulated in the production string, experiences reduced production or no production entirely. As such it is desirable to unload the well to increase well production. As such there have been many attempts in providing an apparatus which efficiently unloads a liquid loaded well.
- One such apparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,473 to Krueger, which discloses a production plunger including a body having a passage that allows fluid to bypass packer cups carried by the body. A valve in the passageway is held open by a bellows filled with air or an inert gas under pressure. The valve is closed by the pressure of the liquid accumulated above the plunger at which time, gas produced by the well will lift the plunger and the liquid above it to the surface.
- While the prior art plungers perform as intended, they include various drawbacks. For example, fluid flows out of the passageway through ports that are upwardly faced. The upwardly faced ports have a tendency to capture and direct debris such as sand or silt into the passageway which results in increased wear on the valve and internal parts as well as potentially plugging the bypass area. Plungers of the prior art have the potential to short cycle resulting in reduced efficiency. In other words, as the prior plungers drop in the well the pressure may cause the valve to close before it is under enough fluid to benefit unloading of the well. Subsequently, as it is lifted to the surface of the well it may open prematurely and cause the plunger to fall back down in the well making it oscillate within the well, never surfacing properly therefore never unloading any fluid or a very small amount. Further, prior art plungers include a fishing neck extending beyond the upper end of the plunger which is formed as part of the valve assembly. As the plunger is lifted, there exists the potential of damage to the valve assembly from the fishing neck impacting the well surface equipment. Also if the plunger is “fished” out of the well with wireline, the jarring action may also damage the valve and internal components, particularly if the plunger is stuck in sand, for example. Moreover, most prior art plungers are not centralized and therefore have the potential to jar within the production string resulting in premature wear to the seal elements and potentially snagging on a casing collar within the well and hanging up the plunger or further damaging the seal elements and potentially creating costly down time to retrieve the plunger.
- As such it is desirable to have an improved production plunger which does not have upwardly facing fluid ports, which will not short cycle, which does not include valve assembly elements exposed to damage from impacting well equipment, and which is centralized within the production string, and that fails closed to reduce wireline costs.
- In accordance with the present invention, an improved production plunger which overcomes all of the drawbacks of prior devices is provided.
- In general, in one aspect, the production plunger includes a body for reciprocating in a production string of a well, the body having a passage extending longitudinally through the body; a valve seat in the passage; a valve seal positioned in the passage; a valve rod connected to the valve seal and extending through the valve seat in the passage; means containing air under pressure connected to the piston and urging the valve seal away from the valve seat; resilient means urging the valve seal towards the valve seat; locking means for releasable engagement with the valve rod to resiliently lock the valve rod in a first position where the valve seal is away from the valve seat and to resiliently lock the valve rod in a second position where the valve seal is in sealing contact with the valve seat; seal means carried by the body for engaging the inner wall of the production string and preventing fluid in the production string from flowing through the production string between the body and the inner wall of the production string; and the body defining a first opening on a first side of the valve seat through which formation fluid can flow into the passage, across the valve seat and out of the passage through a second opening defined by the body on a second side of the valve seat until a quantity of formation fluid is accumulated which is sufficient to compress the air contained by the means for containing air, and to release the locking means from the valve rod to position the valve seal in sealing contact with the valve seat, thereby allowing gas volume and pressure underneath the body to move the body and the accumulated formation fluid to the surface of the well.
- There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
- Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.
- As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
- For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
- The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of the production plunger constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, positioned within a production string and with the valve in an open position; -
FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view of the production plunger of inFIG. 1 , shown with the valve in a closed position; -
FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the production plunger taken along line 3-3 inFIG. 1 , showing an arrangement of fluid ports and an upper centralizer; and -
FIG. 4 is an enlarged, detailed axial sectional view of the production plunger showing an example of a locking means for resiliently locking the valve in a first open position and a second closed position. - The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.
- Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to
FIGS. 1-4 , a preferred embodiment of the improved production plunger of the present invention is shown and generally designated by thereference numeral 10. - With reference to
FIGS. 1-4 , theplunger 10 includes abody 12 that can be unitary as shown or made of several joined sections. Thebody 12 includes a longitudinally extending passage 14 having atop portion 16, amid portion 18 and abottom portion 20 all axially aligned. - Seal means 24 are carried by the
body 12 for engagement with the inner surface of aproduction string 26 or the like of a well. In the embodiment shown, the seal means 24 includes twopacker cups production string 26 and preventing formation fluid from passing through the production string between thebody 12 and the inner surface, thereby causing all fluid flowing through the production string to be directed through the passage 14. - A
valve assembly 28 is entirely positioned in the passage 14 is operable to control fluid flow through the passage. To prevent damage to thevalve assembly 28, no valve elements extend beyond the surface of thebody 12, as such all of the valve elements are protected from impact with surface or downhole equipment. Thevalve assembly 28 includes a valve seat 30 which divides the passage 14 into two portions, one on a first side of the valve seat and a second on a second side of the valve seat. Avalve seal 32 is positioned approximate the valve seat 30 and is attached to avalve rod 34 that extends through the valve seat and terminates at acollapsible bellows 36, or the like which contains air under pressure. Thebellows 36 could reasonably be replaced by any air containment system which is collapsible. Apiston 38 may be positioned intermediate of and connected to thevalve rod 34 and thebellows 36. -
Ports 38 located on the first side of the valve seat 30 extend laterally through wall of thebody 12 and connect the annulus 40 below thepacker cups mid portion 18 of the passage 14.Ports 42, located on the second side of the valve seat 30 extend laterally through the wall of thebody 12 and reconnect the annulus 40 above thepacker cups top portion 16 thereof allowing fluid from the annulus below thepacker cups valve seal 32 is spaced from the valve seat 30 as shown inFIG. 1 . Theports body 12 such that the entrance into each port is oriented in a direction that is not upwards towards the surface of the well. - The
bellows 36, connected to thevalve rod 34 throughpiston 38 urges thevalve seal 32 in a direction away from the valve seat 30 or in other words in a first open position where formation fluid is allowed to flow through the passage 14. Thebellows 36, is preferably made of elastomeric material to allow the bellows to expand and collapse under changing pressure conditions in theproduction string 26, thereby opening and closing thevalve assembly 28 respectively. The air pressure within thebellows 36 determines at what pressures within the production string cause the bellows to expand or collapse, as such the air pressure can be adjusted to more precisely control the opening and closing of the valve assembly at predetermined production string pressures. Thebody 12 can include apassage 23 extending from a side of thebody 12 at a lower end thereof through a bottom 22 of the passage into thebottom portion 20, thereby establishing a fluidic coupling between bottom portion of the passage 14 with the well annulus 40. - A
resilient element 44, such as a spring is connected to thebellows 36 orpiston 38 and urges thevalve seal 32 in a direction towards the valve seat 30. If the bellows 36 should leak or otherwise fail, thespring 44 acting on thevalve rod 34, will move thevalve seal 32 against the valve seat 30, thereby closing thevalve assembly 28 and stopping fluid from flowing through the passage 14. The spring force of thespring 44 is not sufficient to collapse thebellows 36 when the bellows is functioning correctly, or in other words, the air pressure within the bellows is greater than the spring force. - To ensure the
plunger 10 does not short cycle, a locking means 46 for releasable engagement with thevalve rod 34 is provided, best shown inFIG. 4 . The locking means 46 releasably engages the valve rod to resiliently lock thevalve seal 32 in a first position away from the valve seat 30 or in a second position against the valve seat. Without the locking means 46 a probability exists for thevalve assembly 28 to open as theplunger 10 rises in theproduction string 26 and formation fluid is unloaded. The locking means 46 prevents the premature opening of thevalve assembly 28 from occurring. Further, the locking means 46 ensures theplunger 12 falls to a sufficient depth within theproduction string 26 before thevalve assembly 28 is closed. In one example, the locking means 46 could include a least one spring loadeddetent 48. It is contemplated that locking means 46 could employ a magnetic catch, or other mechanical locking means to resiliently lock thevalve rod 34. - The
body 12 includes atop centralizer 50 and abottom centralizer 52. The top andbottom centralizers body 12 are formed integrally therewith. Thecentralizers plunger 10 from being “jostled” from side to side in theproduction string 26 which other wise result in premature wear on the sealing cups 24 a and 24 b. Thecentralizers body 12 from jarring against the inner surface of theproduction string 26 and help to ensure better sealing element expansion by keeping the sealing cups 24 a and 24 b centralized within the production string. - A
fishing neck 54 can also be provided for use in retrieval of theplunger 10 if for some reason thespring 44 does not close thevalve assembly 28, or the seal means are worn beyond usefulness. Thefishing neck 54 and be attached to thebody 12 at an upper end thereof or can be made integral with the body. - In use, it can now be understood, the
plunger 10 with thevalve assembly 28 open, as shown inFIG. 1 , travels downward in the production string until it reaches a predetermined stop, or falls under enough fluid to cause the valve to close, whichever comes first. As theplunger 10 travels downward in theproduction string 26, formation fluid in the production string flows throughports 38 into passage 14 from the annulus 40 below the sealing cups 24 a and 24 b and out ofports 42 into the annulus above the sealing cups and accumulates above the plunger. As the formation fluid accumulates an increasing force is applied on thebellows 26 until enough formation fluid is accumulated to collapse the bellows and close thevalve assembly 28, as shown inFIG. 2 . Gas produced by the well increases pressure in the annulus 40 below the sealing cups 24 a and 24 b. The gas pressure eventually reaches a point that overcomes the pressure of the accumulated formation fluid and theplunger 10 is caused to rise in theproduction string 26. The formation fluid is unloaded from the production string at the surface as theplunger 10 rises. The formation fluid is unloaded, and the pressure drops until thebellows 36 expands releasing the locking means 46 from thevalve rod 34 and opening thevalve assembly 28, at which point theplunger 10 falls back downward in theproduction string 26. - A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims (19)
1. A plunger for reciprocating in a production string of a well to unload the well of formation fluid to increase well production, the plunger comprising:
a body for reciprocating in a production string of a well, said body having a passage extending longitudinally through said body;
a valve seat in said passage;
a valve seal positioned in said passage;
a valve rod connected to said valve seal and extending through said valve seat in said passage;
means containing air under pressure connected to said piston and urging said valve seal away from said valve seat;
resilient element urging said valve seal towards said valve seat;
locking means for releasable engagement with said valve rod to resiliently lock said valve rod in a first position where said valve seal is away from said valve seat and to resiliently lock said valve rod in a second position where said valve seal is in sealing contact with said valve seat;
seal means carried by said body for engaging the inner wall of the production string and preventing fluid in the production string from flowing through the production string between said body and the inner wall of the production string; and
said body defining a first opening on a first side of said valve seat through which formation fluid can flow into said passage, across said valve seat and out of said passage through a second opening defined by said body on a second side of said valve seat until a quantity of formation fluid is accumulated which is sufficient to compress the air contained by said means for containing air, and to release said locking means from said valve rod to position said valve seal in sealing contact with said valve seat, thereby allowing gas pressure below said seal means to move said body and the accumulated formation fluid to the surface of the well.
2. The plunger of claim 1 , further comprising:
first and second centralizers positioned at opposite ends of said body.
3. The plunger of claim 1 , wherein said first and second openings are defined by said body such the entrance into said first opening and the entrance into said second opening are not facing upward towards the surface of the well.
4. The plunger of claim 1 , further comprising:
a retrieval means attached to said body for use in retrieving said body from the production string.
5. The plunger of claim 5 , wherein said retrieval means is a fishing neck.
6. The plunger of claim 1 , wherein said means containing air under pressure is collapsible.
7. The plunger of claim 6 , wherein said means containing air under pressure includes bellows.
8. The plunger of claim 1 , wherein said locking means includes a spring loaded detent.
9. The plunger of claim 1 , wherein said locking means includes a magnet.
10. The plunger of claim 1 , wherein said resilient means is a spring.
11. A plunger for reciprocating in a production string of a well to unload the well of formation fluid to increase well production, the plunger comprising:
a body for reciprocating in a production string of a well, said body having a passage extending longitudinally through said body;
a valve seat in said passage;
a valve seal positioned in said passage;
a valve rod connected to said valve seal and extending through said valve seat in said passage;
a piston connected to said valve rod;
means containing air under pressure connected to said piston and urging said valve seal away from said valve seat;
resilient means connected to said piston and urging said valve seal towards said valve seat;
locking means for releasable engagement with said valve rod to resiliently lock said valve rod in a first position where said valve seal is away from said valve seat and to resiliently lock said valve rod in a second position where said valve seal is in sealing contact with said valve seat;
seal means carried by said body for engaging the inner wall of the production string and preventing fluid in the production string from flowing through the production string between said body and the inner wall of the production string; and
said body defining a first opening on a first side of said valve seat through which formation fluid can flow into said passage, across said valve seat and out of said passage through a second opening defined by said body on a second side of said valve seat until a quantity of formation fluid is accumulated which is sufficient to compress the air contained by said means for containing air, and to release said locking means from said valve rod to position said valve seal in sealing contact with said valve seat, thereby allowing gas pressure below said seal means to move said body and the accumulated formation fluid to the surface of the well.
12. The plunger of claim 11 , further comprising:
first and second centralizers positioned at opposite ends of said body.
13. The plunger of claim 11 , wherein said first and second openings are defined by said body such the entrance into said first opening and the entrance into said second opening are not facing upward towards the surface of the well.
14. The plunger of 11, further comprising:
a retrieval means attached to said body for use in retrieving said body from the production string.
16. The plunger of claim 1 , wherein said means containing air under pressure is collapsible.
17. The plunger of claim 11 , wherein said resilient means is a spring.
18. A plunger for reciprocating in a production string of a well to unload the well of formation fluid to increase well production, the plunger comprising:
a body for reciprocating in a production string of a well, said body having a passage extending longitudinally through said body;
a valve seat in said passage;
a valve seal positioned in said passage;
a valve rod connected to said valve seal and extending through said valve seat in said passage;
a piston connected to said valve rod;
a collapsible means containing air under pressure connected to said piston and urging said valve seal away from said valve seat;
resilient means connected to said piston and urging said valve seal towards said valve seat;
locking means for releasable engagement with said valve rod to resiliently lock said valve rod in a first position where said valve seal is away from said valve seat and to resiliently lock said valve rod in a second position where said valve seal is in sealing contact with said valve seat;
seal means carried by said body for engaging the inner wall of the production string and preventing fluid in the production string from flowing through the production string between said body and the inner wall of the production string;
first and second centralizers positioned at opposite ends of said body;
a retrieval means attached to said body for use in retrieving said body from the production string; and
said body defining a first opening on a first side of said valve seat through which formation fluid can flow into said passage, across said valve seat and out of said passage through a second opening defined by said body on a second side of said valve seat until a quantity of formation fluid is accumulated which is sufficient to compress the air contained by said means for containing air, and to release said locking means from said valve rod to position said valve seal in sealing contact with said valve seat, thereby allowing gas pressure below said seal means to move said body and the accumulated formation fluid to the surface of the well.
19. The plunger of claim 18 , wherein said first and second openings are defined by said body such the entrance into said first opening and the entrance into said second opening are not facing upward towards the surface of the well.
20. The plunger of claim 18 , wherein said locking means includes a spring loaded detent.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US11/279,884 US20060231247A1 (en) | 2005-04-18 | 2006-04-15 | Production Plunger |
CA 2550057 CA2550057A1 (en) | 2006-04-15 | 2006-06-09 | Improved production plunger |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US67223605P | 2005-04-18 | 2005-04-18 | |
US11/279,884 US20060231247A1 (en) | 2005-04-18 | 2006-04-15 | Production Plunger |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20060231247A1 true US20060231247A1 (en) | 2006-10-19 |
Family
ID=37107364
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US11/279,884 Abandoned US20060231247A1 (en) | 2005-04-18 | 2006-04-15 | Production Plunger |
Country Status (1)
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US (1) | US20060231247A1 (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20110073322A1 (en) * | 2005-02-24 | 2011-03-31 | Smith Jesse L | Gas lift plunger acceleration arrangement |
US20150322754A1 (en) * | 2014-05-09 | 2015-11-12 | 1773915 Alberta Ltd. | Method of gas lift in wells experiencing hydrostatic loading |
CN108979595A (en) * | 2018-08-24 | 2018-12-11 | 中国石油化工股份有限公司江汉油田分公司石油工程技术研究院 | A kind of plunger mining device adapting to low yield shale gas well |
CN109386259A (en) * | 2017-08-09 | 2019-02-26 | 中国石油天然气股份有限公司 | Self-operated plunger system |
CN109505566A (en) * | 2018-12-25 | 2019-03-22 | 成都理工大学 | A kind of temperature control swimming type eddy flow gas well drainage plunger |
CN109915053A (en) * | 2019-04-15 | 2019-06-21 | 成都百胜野牛科技有限公司 | Structure is discharged in a kind of fastening device, downhole tool and underground |
US10378321B2 (en) | 2016-06-10 | 2019-08-13 | Well Master Corporation | Bypass plungers including force dissipating elements and methods of using the same |
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US6637510B2 (en) * | 2001-08-17 | 2003-10-28 | Dan Lee | Wellbore mechanism for liquid and gas discharge |
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US2878754A (en) * | 1956-05-18 | 1959-03-24 | Harold Brown Company | Fluid lift plunger for wells |
US4070134A (en) * | 1975-04-17 | 1978-01-24 | William Dwight Gramling | Gas powered swabbing device |
US4986727A (en) * | 1988-07-20 | 1991-01-22 | Petro-Well Supply, Inc. | Pressure-operated oil and gas well swabbing device |
US4889473A (en) * | 1989-01-23 | 1989-12-26 | E-Z Lift Pump, Inc. | Production plunger |
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US6971856B1 (en) * | 2001-08-03 | 2005-12-06 | Paal, L.L.C. | Plunger for well casings and other tubulars |
US6637510B2 (en) * | 2001-08-17 | 2003-10-28 | Dan Lee | Wellbore mechanism for liquid and gas discharge |
US6644399B2 (en) * | 2002-01-25 | 2003-11-11 | Synco Tool Company Incorporated | Water, oil and gas well recovery system |
US20030215337A1 (en) * | 2002-04-18 | 2003-11-20 | Dan Lee | Wellbore pump |
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US7188670B2 (en) * | 2004-09-24 | 2007-03-13 | Stellarton Technologies Inc. | Plunger lift system |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20110073322A1 (en) * | 2005-02-24 | 2011-03-31 | Smith Jesse L | Gas lift plunger acceleration arrangement |
US8607880B2 (en) * | 2005-02-24 | 2013-12-17 | Well Master Corp | Gas lift plunger acceleration arrangement |
US20150322754A1 (en) * | 2014-05-09 | 2015-11-12 | 1773915 Alberta Ltd. | Method of gas lift in wells experiencing hydrostatic loading |
US10167705B2 (en) * | 2014-05-09 | 2019-01-01 | 1773915 Alberta Ltd. | Method of gas lift in wells experiencing hydrostatic loading |
US10378321B2 (en) | 2016-06-10 | 2019-08-13 | Well Master Corporation | Bypass plungers including force dissipating elements and methods of using the same |
CN109386259A (en) * | 2017-08-09 | 2019-02-26 | 中国石油天然气股份有限公司 | Self-operated plunger system |
CN108979595A (en) * | 2018-08-24 | 2018-12-11 | 中国石油化工股份有限公司江汉油田分公司石油工程技术研究院 | A kind of plunger mining device adapting to low yield shale gas well |
CN109505566A (en) * | 2018-12-25 | 2019-03-22 | 成都理工大学 | A kind of temperature control swimming type eddy flow gas well drainage plunger |
CN109505566B (en) * | 2018-12-25 | 2020-11-27 | 成都理工大学 | Temperature control floating type rotational flow gas well drainage plunger |
CN109915053A (en) * | 2019-04-15 | 2019-06-21 | 成都百胜野牛科技有限公司 | Structure is discharged in a kind of fastening device, downhole tool and underground |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |