US20140328664A1 - Single circuit double-acting pump - Google Patents
Single circuit double-acting pump Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20140328664A1 US20140328664A1 US13/875,754 US201313875754A US2014328664A1 US 20140328664 A1 US20140328664 A1 US 20140328664A1 US 201313875754 A US201313875754 A US 201313875754A US 2014328664 A1 US2014328664 A1 US 2014328664A1
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- Prior art keywords
- water
- hydraulic
- downhole
- water pump
- piston
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- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 477
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 96
- 239000010720 hydraulic oil Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 82
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 90
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 31
- 239000002352 surface water Substances 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000000151 deposition Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000003921 oil Substances 0.000 abstract description 5
- 238000007667 floating Methods 0.000 description 21
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000001133 acceleration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009530 blood pressure measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003129 oil well Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007425 progressive decline Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000750 progressive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000006467 substitution reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- 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
- F04B23/00—Pumping installations or systems
- F04B23/02—Pumping installations or systems having reservoirs
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- 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
- F04B47/02—Pumps or pumping installations specially adapted for raising fluids from great depths, e.g. well pumps the driving mechanisms being situated at ground level
-
- 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
- F04B11/00—Equalisation of pulses, e.g. by use of air vessels; Counteracting cavitation
- F04B11/0008—Equalisation of pulses, e.g. by use of air vessels; Counteracting cavitation using accumulators
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- 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
- F04B47/02—Pumps or pumping installations specially adapted for raising fluids from great depths, e.g. well pumps the driving mechanisms being situated at ground level
- F04B47/04—Pumps or pumping installations specially adapted for raising fluids from great depths, e.g. well pumps the driving mechanisms being situated at ground level the driving means incorporating fluid means
Definitions
- This disclosure relates to a pump driven by hydraulic fluid for pumping water and related fluids from a downhole location.
- Water pumps located downhole and utilized for extracting or pumping water from subterranean wells, such as oil wells, are known. Such water pumps may be powered, at least in part, by a hydraulic pump located on the surface of the Earth. Hydraulic oil lines permit hydraulic fluid to flow to the water pump to drive a piston within the pump.
- the water pump may be double-actuated, which generally means that the piston within the water pump utilizes two hydraulic lines that run from the hydraulic pump on the surface of the Earth to the water pump.
- a first hydraulic line may be connected to a first side or rod side of a piston of the water pump, and a second hydraulic line may be connected to a second side of the water pump that is a non-rod side of the piston of the water pump.
- hydraulic fluid of a predetermined pressure flows to the rod side of the piston to drive the piston in a first direction.
- the hydraulic pressure in the first hydraulic line is lowered to a predetermined pressure and the hydraulic pressure in the second hydraulic line is increased to some predetermined hydraulic pressure to drive the piston in a second direction, opposite from the first direction.
- water is evacuated from the subterranean reservoir in which the water pump resides.
- the water pump may be single-actuated, which generally means that the piston within the water pump utilizes one hydraulic line that runs from the hydraulic pump on the surface of the Earth to the water pump.
- the hydraulic line is connected to only one chamber, which is the chamber adjacent the rod side of the piston of the water pump.
- hydraulic fluid of a predetermined pressure flows to the chamber of the rod side of the piston to drive the piston in a first direction.
- the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic line is lowered to a predetermined pressure and the pressure created by the column of water contacting the non-rod side of the piston drives the piston in a second direction, opposite from the first direction.
- the pressure created by the column of water may be created by the force of gravity acting on the column of water or from an accumulator or a back pressure valve at the surface of the Earth. Such pressure from an accumulator or back pressure valve may always be present. Any hydraulic fluid injected to the rod side of the piston must act against this pressure due to the column of water.
- water is evacuated from the subterranean reservoir in which the water pump resides.
- Double-actuated pumps necessarily require two hydraulic lines and a water removal line that all reach from a subterranean water pump location to an Earthen surface.
- Single actuated pumps necessarily require one hydraulic line and a water removal line that both reach from a subterranean water pump location to an Earthen surface; however, such a single actuated pump operates at a much lower speed, in terms of water pump piston cycles, than a double-actuated water pump.
- Additional hydraulic pressure is also required during the pumping stroke (also called a power stroke), since pressure on the non-rod side is not reduced. What is needed then is a water pump that benefits from operational speeds greater than a single action water pump while maintaining a minimal quantity of hydraulic lines.
- the invention may more particularly include a method of removing fluid such as water from a subterranean formation to an earthen surface such that the method may include providing a hydraulic oil pump at the earthen surface, providing a downhole water pump, providing a hydraulic accumulator at the earthen surface, supplying only one downhole hydraulic oil line from the hydraulic oil pump to the downhole water pump, supplying only one downhole water line from the downhole water pump to the hydraulic accumulator, and supplying a hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil line from the hydraulic oil pump to the hydraulic accumulator.
- providing a hydraulic accumulator may further comprise providing a hydraulic accumulator that defines an internal chamber, a first inlet/outlet at a first end of the hydraulic accumulator, a second inlet/outlet at a second end of the hydraulic accumulator and a hydraulic accumulator piston within the internal chamber that divides the internal chamber into two varying-volume chambers such as a hydraulic accumulator water chamber and a hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil chamber.
- the pumping direction may be that direction of the piston that directly and immediately causes water to move toward the earthen surface or through the only one downhole water line toward the earthen surface.
- the method may further entail pumping hydraulic oil from the hydraulic oil pump through the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil line to the hydraulic accumulator and increasing an internal pressure of the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil chamber, which may cause movement of the hydraulic accumulator piston away from the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil chamber.
- Movement of the hydraulic accumulator piston away from the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil chamber may cause an increasing of pressure within the only one downhole water line thereby increasing force against a non-rod-side of the water pump piston within the downhole water pump thereby moving the piston in a second direction, opposite from the pumping direction.
- a water valve may be provided in the downhole water line at the earthen surface and opening the water valve when the water pump piston reaches a prescribed position with the downhole water pump may be accomplished to evacuate water from the downhole water line.
- Another method of removing water from a subterranean formation to an earthen surface may entail pumping hydraulic oil from a hydraulic oil pump at the earthen surface to a downhole water pump through only one downhole hydraulic oil line from the hydraulic oil pump to the downhole water pump thereby driving or causing movement of a water-pushing piston in the downhole water pump to effectuate pumping water from the downhole water pump to the earthen surface through the only one downhole water line from the downhole water pump to the earthen surface.
- the method may include providing a hydraulic accumulator at the earthen surface and a hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil line from the hydraulic oil pump to the hydraulic accumulator.
- Dividing the hydraulic accumulator into a hydraulic oil chamber and a water chamber separated by a movable piston permits providing and connecting only one downhole water line from the downhole water pump to the hydraulic accumulator at the earthen surface.
- Pumping hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic oil pump via the only one downhole hydraulic oil line to a rod side of a downhole water pump piston thereby moving the downhole water pump piston in a first direction and pumping water into the hydraulic accumulator water chamber causes pressure to build within each chamber of the hydraulic accumulator.
- In another method of removing water from a subterranean formation to an earthen surface may include the steps of providing a hydraulic oil pump at the earthen surface, providing a downhole water pump, providing a surface water pump at the earthen surface, supplying only one downhole hydraulic oil line from the hydraulic oil pump to the downhole water pump, and supplying only one downhole water line from the downhole water pump to the surface water pump.
- the method may further comprise pumping hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic oil pump via the only one downhole hydraulic oil line to a rod-side of a downhole water pump piston within the downhole water pump thereby moving the downhole water pump piston in a water-pumping direction and also moving water through the downhole water line to the earthen surface.
- This method may not utilize a hydraulic accumulator, but may still engage in moving water through a water repository water valve in a water respository filling tube and then depositing water into a water repository at the earthen surface.
- the method may involve closing the water repository water valve and pumping water with the surface water pump at the earthen surface into the downhole water pump via the water removal line to cause pumping of water to a non-rod-side of the downhole water pump piston within the downhole water pump.
- a result may be moving the water pump piston in a direction opposite to the water-pumping direction.
- opening a hydraulic drain line valve in a hydraulic drain line at the earthen surface may permit moving hydraulic oil through the hydraulic drain line valve and into the hydraulic fluid tank as the water pump piston is moving in a direction opposite to the water-pumping direction.
- valves may be opened and closed by a controller based upon pressures, for example.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic of a water evacuation system of a first embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a downhole water pump in accordance with the present disclosure
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a downhole water pump in accordance with the present disclosure
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a hydraulic accumulator in accordance with the present disclosure.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a control module, valves and sensors in accordance with the present disclosure.
- FIG. 6 is a schematic of a water evacuation system of a second embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure.
- FIGS. 1-6 a detailed description of the preferred arrangement or arrangements of the present disclosure will be presented. It should be understood that the inventive features and concepts may be manifested in other arrangements and that the scope of the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described or illustrated.
- FIG. 1 depicts a water evacuation system 10 for extracting water from a subterranean location 12 , such as an oil and gas well, or other well, that traverses a distance from an earthen surface 14 to a water source 16 located below earthen surface 14 .
- a subterranean water pump 18 may be located within water source 16 .
- a downhole hydraulic line 20 and a water removal line 22 may each be connected to the subterranean water pump 18 .
- Water removal line 22 may be connected to a hydraulic accumulator 40 , which may be part of a pumping unit 24 located on earthen surface 14 .
- Pumping unit 24 may be a hydraulic pumping unit and may employ a multitude of components to enable functioning of subterranean water pump 18 and hydraulic accumulator 40 .
- Pumping unit 24 may employ an electric motor 26 , which may drive or turn hydraulic pump 28 thereby forcing or pumping hydraulic fluid toward a hydraulic control valve 30 located in downhole hydraulic line 20 .
- a hydraulic pump line 32 may be valveless and lead from hydraulic pump 28 and branch into a hydraulic line that leads to hydraulic accumulator 40 and downhole hydraulic line 20 .
- Hydraulic pump line 32 that leads from hydraulic pump 28 may be a relatively high pressure hydraulic line that is a conduit that supplies pressurized hydraulic fluid for passage or distribution to downhole water pump 18 to energize or drive downhole water pump 18 .
- Downhole water pump 18 may have only one downhole hydraulic line 20 and only one water removal line 22 that are attached to it and that run between or fluidly link downhole water pump 18 and earthen surface 14 .
- a water pump piston 60 within water pump 18 may have high pressure hydraulic fluid forced against a rod-side 62 of water pump piston 60 as depicted in FIG. 2 .
- Rod 64 is connected to water pump piston 60 and thus, the side of water pump piston 60 to which rod 64 is connected is referred to as “rod-side.”
- Rod side of water pump piston 60 may also form part of a boundary of a rod side chamber 34 , which is a reservoir that varies in volume and that houses hydraulic fluid pumped in from downhole hydraulic line 20 .
- Force of hydraulic fluid against rod-side 62 of water pump piston 60 causes water pump piston 60 to move upwards, with reference to its normal installation orientation as depicted in FIG. 2 , in accordance with arrow 66 ( FIG.
- traveling valve chamber 70 moves upward and into water channel 72 , which may be vertical or substantially vertical within water pump 18 .
- Traveling valve chamber 70 may be formed within a plunger, which is commonly referred to as a plunger 74 , that is attached to an opposite end of rod 64 as water pump piston 60 ; thus, water pump piston 60 , rod 64 and plunger 74 move together as a collective unit during pumping strokes and water drawing strokes of water pump 18 ( FIG. 1 ).
- a pumping stroke occurs when water is forced into water removal line 22 and toward earthen surface 14 .
- a water drawing stroke occurs when water is drawn into water chamber 114 of water pump 18 when piston 60 moves in an opposite direction as a pumping stroke of piston 60 .
- water within traveling valve chamber 70 water located immediately above plunger 74 , water within water channel 72 , water within water channel 78 , and water located immediately above water pump piston 60 , is able to be lifted or pumped through water removal line 22 because ball 76 seats and seals against ball seat 82 of plunger 74 .
- Water channel 72 and water channel 78 permit water to pass around piston chamber 80 within which water pump piston 60 resides.
- Ball seat 82 and ball 76 of plunger 74 are also referred to as a travelling valve because plunger 74 moves within a sump casing, also known as a standing 94 .
- the vacuum causes water to be drawn from subterranean location 12 below standing 94 , past sump ball 88 and into sump ball valve chamber 92 and subsequently into sump reservoir 86 .
- Upward pumping movement of water pump piston 60 causes water to move through water removal line 22 , and with valve 54 closed during upward movement of water pump piston 60 during this stroke, water enters water chamber 52 of hydraulic accumulator 40 thereby causing floating piston 42 within hydraulic accumulator 40 to move upward, which is away from water inlet of hydraulic accumulator 40 , thereby causing displacement of hydraulic fluid out of hydraulic fluid chamber 36 of hydraulic accumulator 40 , subsequently through open accumulator drain line valve 106 (hydraulic accumulator fill valve 100 is closed when volume of hydraulic fluid chamber 36 is decreasing), and into hydraulic fluid tank 46 .
- hydraulic fluid is drawn from hydraulic fluid tank 46 , into hydraulic pump feed line 27 , through hydraulic pump 28 , through hydraulic pump line 32 , through an open downhole hydraulic line valve 30 and into downhole hydraulic line 20 to a rod side of water pump piston 60 of water pump 18 .
- downhole hydraulic line valve 30 permits hydraulic fluid to flow into downhole hydraulic line 20
- hydraulic fluid is prevented from flowing into hydraulic fluid tank 46 through hydraulic drain line 96 because hydraulic drain line valve 98 is closed.
- hydraulic fluid is prevented from flowing into hydraulic fluid chamber 36 of hydraulic accumulator 40 during upward motion of water pump piston 60 because hydraulic accumulator fill valve 100 is also closed, thus preventing pumped hydraulic fluid and associated hydraulic pressure intended for downhole hydraulic line 20 from escaping into hydraulic accumulator 40 or into hydraulic accumulator drain line 102 .
- a pumping stroke of water pump piston 60 occurs from a lowest possible position of piston 60 within piston chamber 80 of water pump 18 , also known as a lowest bottom position, to a highest possible position, also known as a highest top position, of water pump piston 60 within piston chamber 80 of water pump 18 .
- a pressure sensor 104 located within hydraulic pump line 32 , such as near hydraulic pump 28 , senses hydraulic pressure within hydraulic pump line 32 and causes a control module 112 to actuate hydraulic drain line valve 30 to a closed position and to actuate hydraulic accumulator fill valve 100 to an open position.
- floating transfer piston 42 moves within hydraulic accumulator 40 causing a progressive increase in the volume of water chamber 52 and a corresponding progressive decrease in the volume of hydraulic fluid chamber 36 .
- Piston 42 maintains a contact fit against the cylindrical interior wall of hydraulic accumulator 40 to maintain a leak-proof sealing fit between water chamber 52 and hydraulic fluid chamber 36 so that water and hydraulic fluid are always separated and are prevented from mixing.
- floating transfer piston 42 may move when subjected to a force; such as a force caused by hydraulic pressure, such as hydraulic water pressure within water removal line 22 and water chamber 52 , or hydraulic oil pressure generated within hydraulic fluid chamber 36 from hydraulic fluid pumped through hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil line 38 from hydraulic pump 28 .
- a force such as a force caused by hydraulic pressure, such as hydraulic water pressure within water removal line 22 and water chamber 52 , or hydraulic oil pressure generated within hydraulic fluid chamber 36 from hydraulic fluid pumped through hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil line 38 from hydraulic pump 28 .
- Hydraulic accumulator fill valve 100 is located in a fluid path between hydraulic pump 28 and hydraulic fluid chamber 36 of hydraulic accumulator 40 and is normally closed when hydraulic fluid is flowing into hydraulic fluid tank 46 during movement of floating transfer piston 42 due to water filling water chamber 52 of hydraulic accumulator 40 .
- hydraulic pump 28 pumps hydraulic fluid to rod side chamber 34 thus pressurizing rod side chamber 34 .
- water pump piston 60 rises, water that plunger 74 forces into water channel 78 and water channel 72 , which route water around cylinder housing piston 60 , is forced into water removal line 22 .
- water pump piston 60 may force water into water removal line 22 , which leads in a vertical or generally vertical direction toward earthen surface 14 .
- hydraulic pump 28 operates continuously and thereby continuously draws fluid from hydraulic tank 46 , upon water pump piston 60 reaching its upper stroke limit within xxx 18 , such as when water pump piston 60 resides adjacent interior cylinder end 110 , pressure within downhole hydraulic line 20 and hydraulic pump line 32 will increase, which pressure sensor 104 will detect.
- pressure sensor 104 sensing an increase in hydraulic pressure at or above a predetermined or threshold pressure within hydraulic pump line 32 , which may exhibit the same pressure as downhole hydraulic line 20 , a control module 112 ( FIG. 5 ) in communication with sensor 104 causes a series of valve changes to occur.
- hydraulic fluid exiting hydraulic pump 28 flows only through hydraulic accumulator fill valve 100 , through hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil line 38 and into hydraulic fluid chamber 36 .
- floating transfer piston 42 begins to move within hydraulic accumulator 40 thereby increasing a volume of hydraulic fluid chamber 36 and decreasing a volume of water chamber 52 .
- water pump piston 60 moves in accordance with direction of arrow 67 , water pump piston 60 is returned back to a position from which a pumping stoke may begin. Because water valve 54 in water tank filling tube 56 is closed, water is prevented from exiting through water valve 54 and permitting water pressure to build within water removal line 22 and fully act upon water pump piston 60 as pressure builds within hydraulic fluid chamber 36 of hydraulic accumulator 40 . When water pump piston 60 moves due to increasing force against the non-rod-side of piston 60 , volume of rod side chamber 34 decreases and hydraulic fluid is forced into downhole hydraulic line 20 in a direction that is opposite from the flow direction during a pumping stroke.
- hydraulic control valve 30 is closed at the time of a non-pumping stroke, otherwise known as a return stroke, of water pump piston 60 to require hydraulic fluid to pass through hydraulic drain line valve 98 of hydraulic drain line 96 and into hydraulic fluid tank 46 .
- water pump piston 60 may quickly be returned to either a lower position within piston chamber 80 , or its lowest position within piston chamber 80 , to begin a new pumping stroke.
- the lowest possible position that water pump piston 60 might achieve before beginning its pumping stroke may be when plunger end surface 118 resides adjacent to sump reservoir end interior surface 120 or when surfaces 118 , 120 actually contact.
- water valve 54 When water pump piston 60 is at its position, such as its lowest possible position, before beginning its return to a water-pumping stroke, water valve 54 changes from a closed position to an open position to permit water from hydraulic accumulator 40 and water removal line 22 to exit through water tank filling tube 56 and into water repository 58 . In some cycles, water valve 54 may only be opened to permit water to exit hydraulic accumulator 40 and water removal line 22 into water repository 58 when water pump piston 60 is at its lowest position in its cycle, which is before water pump piston 60 begins its pumping stroke or movement toward interior cylinder end 110 of piston chamber 80 .
- FIG. 4 depicts exemplary positions of floating transfer piston 42 within hydraulic accumulator 40 during a pumping stroke of water pump piston 60 and a subsequent return stroke of water pump piston 60 during operation of water evacuation system 10 .
- floating transfer piston 42 initially may be at a position 42 A, and may begin to move toward position 42 B throughout such a pumping stroke.
- Initial position 42 A may be a position closest to an end 23 of hydraulic accumulator 40 that connects to water removal line 22 .
- Exactly how far floating transfer piston 42 may move within hydraulic accumulator 40 depends upon the size, such as a length and internal volume, of hydraulic accumulator 40 , and the acceleration, speed and force of water against piston 42 .
- Floating transfer piston 42 moves upward in accordance with arrow 66 due to a hydraulic force created during such pumping stroke of water pump piston 60 .
- floating transfer piston 42 may reach a position 42 B, as depicted in FIG. 4 .
- Position 42 B may be a position anywhere between position 42 A and an end 25 of hydraulic accumulator 40 .
- control module FIG. 5
- Water valve 54 may not necessarily be opened on every pump cycle when water pump piston 60 is so positioned. Opening of water valve 54 may be accomplished upon sensing a position of floating transfer piston 42 . More specifically, sensing a position of floating transfer piston 42 within hydraulic accumulator 40 may be accomplished by using a tube 122 centered longitudinally in hydraulic accumulator 40 that spans the entire length of the hydraulic accumulator 40 .
- the tube may house a sensor coil 124 , which may communicate with control module 112 and traverse some length, an entire length, or specific portions of tube 122 , to detect a magnet 126 in floating transfer piston 42 .
- a sensor coil 124 may communicate with control module 112 and traverse some length, an entire length, or specific portions of tube 122 , to detect a magnet 126 in floating transfer piston 42 .
- the position of floating transfer piston 42 within hydraulic accumulator 40 may be known at all times and communicated to control module 112 .
- Sensing positions of floating transfer pistons within hydraulic accumulators is known in the art.
- Water valve 54 may or may not be opened upon water pump piston 60 reaching a specific position within piston chamber 80 of water pump 18 because opening of water valve 54 to expel water into water repository 58 is dependent upon a position of floating transfer piston 42 within hydraulic accumulator 18 and not only a position of water pump piston 60 reaching a specific position within piston chamber 80 .
- Such a specific position of water pump piston 60 may be a position within piston chamber 80 that is immediately before water pump piston 60 begins a new pumping stroke.
- water pump piston 60 may be in a position to immediately begin a pumping stroke with plunger end surface 118 located immediately adjacent to sump reservoir end interior surface 120 such that no further travel of plunger end surface 118 toward sump reservoir end interior surface 120 is possible or effective.
- piston rod-side surface 62 of water pump piston 60 may be aligned with an inside diameter of hydraulic line inlet into rod-side chamber 34 of piston chamber 80 such that the full diameter or complete cross-sectional area of hydraulic fluid inlet into rod-side chamber 34 is capable of delivering fluid into rod-side chamber 34 in an unobstructed delivery by any part of water pump piston 60 .
- piston rod-side surface 62 of water pump piston 60 may be aligned with an inside diameter of hydraulic line inlet into rod-side chamber 34 of piston chamber 80 such that the full diameter or complete cross-sectional area of hydraulic fluid inlet into rod-side chamber 34 is capable of delivering fluid into rod-side chamber 34 in an unobstructed delivery by any part of water pump piston 60 , and plunger end surface 118 is located immediately adjacent to sump reservoir end interior surface 120 such that no further travel of plunger end surface 118 toward sump reservoir end interior surface 120 is possible or effective.
- water valve 54 may not be opened on every pump cycle, or water valve may be opened on every pump cycle.
- a pump cycle may be defined as the motion of plunger end surface 118 moving from an initial position adjacent to sump reservoir end interior surface 120 to its farthest possible location from sump reservoir end interior surface 120 , and then returning to the same position adjacent to sump reservoir end interior surface 120 from which plunger end surface 118 began.
- FIG. 6 depicts a water evacuation system 150 for extracting water from a subterranean location 12 , such as an oil and gas well, or other well, that traverses a distance from an earthen surface 14 to a water source 16 located below earthen surface 14 .
- a subterranean location 12 such as an oil and gas well, or other well
- FIG. 6 shares many of the same components as the apparatus depicted in FIG. 1 .
- a backflow mechanism 152 which includes water repository 154 , surface water pump 156 , water pump draw pipe 158 , water pump feeder pipe 160 , water tank filling tube 162 and water dump valve 164 .
- Water evacuation system 150 may have subterranean water pump 18 located within water source 16 .
- Downhole hydraulic line 20 and downhole water removal line 22 may each be connected to the subterranean water pump 18 .
- Downhole water removal line 22 may be connected to water tank filling tube 162 , which may be located at earthen surface 14 (i.e. not subsurface) and which may be part of a pumping unit 166 located on earthen surface 14 .
- Downhole water removal line 22 may also be part of a backflow mechanism 152 of pumping unit 166 .
- Pumping unit 166 may be a hydraulic pumping unit and may employ a multitude of components to enable functioning of subterranean water pump 18 and backflow mechanism 152 , including surface water pump 156 .
- Pumping unit 166 may employ an electric motor 26 , which may drive or turn hydraulic pump 28 thereby forcing or pumping hydraulic fluid into downhole hydraulic line 20 and into water pump 18 to energize or drive downhole water pump 18 .
- Downhole water pump 18 may utilize only one downhole hydraulic line 20 and only one downhole water removal line 22 for operation. Downhole hydraulic line 20 and downhole water removal line 22 run between or fluidly link downhole water pump 18 and components on earthen surface 14 . Details of internal components of water pump 18 are explained above in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 3 .
- hydraulic fluid is drawn from hydraulic fluid tank 46 , into hydraulic pump feed line 27 , through hydraulic pump 28 , through hydraulic pump line 32 and into downhole hydraulic line 20 to a rod side of water pump piston 60 of water pump 18 .
- hydraulic fluid is prevented from flowing into hydraulic fluid tank 46 through hydraulic drain line 96 because hydraulic drain line valve 98 is closed.
- a pumping stroke of water pump piston 60 occurs from a lowest possible position of piston 60 within piston chamber 80 of water pump 18 , also known as a lowest bottom position, to a highest possible position, also known as a highest top position, of water pump piston 60 within piston chamber 80 of water pump 18 .
- a pressure sensor 104 located within hydraulic pump line 32 , such as near hydraulic pump 28 , senses hydraulic pressure within hydraulic pump line 32 and causes a control module 112 to actuate hydraulic drain line valve 30 to a closed position and to actuate hydraulic accumulator fill valve 1500 to an open position.
- hydraulic pump 28 pumps hydraulic fluid to rod side chamber 34 thus pressurizing rod side chamber 34 .
- water pump piston 60 rises, water that plunger 74 forces into water channel 78 and water channel 72 , which route water around cylinder housing piston 60 , is forced into downhole water removal line 22 .
- water pump piston 60 may force water into downhole water removal line 22 , which leads in a vertical or generally vertical direction toward earthen surface 14 .
- hydraulic pump 28 continuously operates and draws fluid from hydraulic tank 46 , upon water pump piston 60 reaching its upper stroke limit within downhole water pump 18 , such as when water pump piston 60 resides adjacent interior cylinder end 110 , pressure within downhole hydraulic line 20 and hydraulic pump line 32 will increase, which pressure sensor 104 will detect. Pressure within downhole hydraulic line 20 and hydraulic pump line 32 could also be measured by a human-readable pressure gage. Upon pressure sensor 104 or a gage sensing or indicating an increase in hydraulic pressure at or above a predetermined or threshold pressure within hydraulic pump line 32 , a series of valve changes may occur. With hydraulic pump 28 continuing to operate and pump hydraulic fluid, hydraulic drain line valve 98 switches from closed to opened, and water valve 164 switches from open to close.
- surface water pump 156 pumps water into water pump feeder pipe 160 and into downhole water removal line 22 toward downhole water pump 18 .
- Water pressure builds within downhole water removal line 22 which forces water pump piston 60 downward in accordance with a direction of arrow 67 , which is also a direction opposite that of a water-pumping stroke as depicted with direction of arrow 66 .
- water pump piston 60 moves in accordance with direction of arrow 67 , water pump piston 60 is returned back to a position from which a full and complete pumping stoke may begin. Because water valve 164 in water tank filling tube 162 is closed, water is prevented from exiting through water valve 164 and permits water pressure to build within downhole water removal line 22 and cause motion of water pump piston 60 . When water pump piston 60 moves due to increasing force against the non-rod-side of piston 60 , hydraulic fluid is forced into downhole hydraulic line 20 in a direction that is opposite from the flow direction during a pumping stroke.
- hydraulic fluid is forced into downhole hydraulic line 20 , through open hydraulic drain line valve 98 of hydraulic drain line 96 and into hydraulic fluid tank 46 .
- Pump 28 may continue to pump and discharge hydraulic fluid into hydraulic drain line 96 and into hydraulic fluid tank 46 .
- hydraulic fluid passes through hydraulic drain line valve 98 of hydraulic drain line 96 and into hydraulic fluid tank 46 .
- water pump piston 60 may quickly be returned to either a lower position within piston chamber 80 , or its lowest position within piston chamber 80 , to begin a new pumping stroke.
- the lowest possible position that water pump piston 60 might achieve before beginning its pumping stroke may be when plunger end surface 118 resides adjacent to sump reservoir end interior surface 120 or when surfaces 118 , 120 actually contact.
- water valve 164 changes from an open position to a closed position to permit water from water removal line 22 to only flow toward downhole water pump 18 to move piston from the end of a pumping stroke to the beginning of a pumping stroke.
- a complete cycle or pumping cycle of water pump piston 60 may be the greatest linear length of motion possible during a pumping stroke and subsequent return stroke or resetting of water pump piston 60 to begin a subsequent pumping stroke.
- a complete cycle water pump piston 60 may be the combined motion of rod-side surface 62 from alignment with surface of tube 122 to non-rod-side surface of piston 60 positioned adjacent to interior cylinder end 110 and then rod-side surface 62 re-aligning with surface of tube 122 .
- water pump piston 60 may be in a position to immediately begin a pumping stroke with plunger end surface 118 located immediately adjacent to sump reservoir end interior surface 120 such that no further travel of plunger end surface 118 toward sump reservoir end interior surface 120 is possible or effective.
- piston rod-side surface 62 of water pump piston 60 may be aligned with an inside diameter of hydraulic line inlet into rod-side chamber 34 of piston chamber 80 such that the full diameter or complete cross-sectional area of hydraulic fluid inlet into rod-side chamber 34 is capable of delivering fluid into rod-side chamber 34 in an unobstructed delivery by any part of water pump piston 60 .
- a pump cycle also may be defined as the motion of plunger end surface 118 moving from an initial position adjacent to sump reservoir end interior surface 120 to its farthest possible location from sump reservoir end interior surface 120 , and then returning to the same position adjacent to sump reservoir end interior surface 120 from which plunger end surface 118 began.
- piston rod-side surface 62 of water pump piston 60 may be aligned with an inside diameter of hydraulic line inlet into rod-side chamber 34 of piston chamber 80 such that the full diameter or complete cross-sectional area of hydraulic fluid inlet into rod-side chamber 34 is capable of delivering fluid into rod-side chamber 34 in an unobstructed delivery by any part of water pump piston 60 , and plunger end surface 118 is located immediately adjacent to sump reservoir end interior surface 120 such that no further travel of plunger end surface 118 toward sump reservoir end interior surface 120 is possible or alternatively, effective.
- a controller in closing and opening all valves, and turning on or off all electric pumps, a controller may be employed to automate such processes. Manually causing closing and opening all valves, and turning on or off all electric pumps is also envisioned.
Abstract
Removing water from a subterranean formation entails pumping hydraulic oil from a surface-located hydraulic oil pump through a hydraulic oil line to a downhole water pump piston to drive it in a first direction to pump water through a downhole water line to a water chamber of a hydraulic accumulator at the surface. A piston separates the water chamber and an oil chamber and moves to compress the hydraulic oil in the oil chamber of the hydraulic accumulator. The hydraulic oil pump may then pump hydraulic oil into the oil chamber causing the piston to move toward the water chamber, thereby moving water in the downhole water line and resetting the piston in the downhole water pump. A water valve in the downhole water line at the surface may open and release water when the piston in the downhole water pump reaches a predetermined or reset position.
Description
- None.
- This disclosure relates to a pump driven by hydraulic fluid for pumping water and related fluids from a downhole location.
- Water pumps located downhole and utilized for extracting or pumping water from subterranean wells, such as oil wells, are known. Such water pumps may be powered, at least in part, by a hydraulic pump located on the surface of the Earth. Hydraulic oil lines permit hydraulic fluid to flow to the water pump to drive a piston within the pump.
- In one such combination of a hydraulic pump and a subterranean water pump, the water pump may be double-actuated, which generally means that the piston within the water pump utilizes two hydraulic lines that run from the hydraulic pump on the surface of the Earth to the water pump. A first hydraulic line may be connected to a first side or rod side of a piston of the water pump, and a second hydraulic line may be connected to a second side of the water pump that is a non-rod side of the piston of the water pump. In operation, hydraulic fluid of a predetermined pressure flows to the rod side of the piston to drive the piston in a first direction. Upon the piston reaching a maximum travel position from the pressurized hydraulic fluid in the first hydraulic line acting on the rod side of the piston, the hydraulic pressure in the first hydraulic line is lowered to a predetermined pressure and the hydraulic pressure in the second hydraulic line is increased to some predetermined hydraulic pressure to drive the piston in a second direction, opposite from the first direction. Using two hydraulic lines from the surface hydraulic pump to the subterranean water pump, water is evacuated from the subterranean reservoir in which the water pump resides.
- In another combination of a hydraulic pump and a subterranean water pump, the water pump may be single-actuated, which generally means that the piston within the water pump utilizes one hydraulic line that runs from the hydraulic pump on the surface of the Earth to the water pump. The hydraulic line is connected to only one chamber, which is the chamber adjacent the rod side of the piston of the water pump. In operation, hydraulic fluid of a predetermined pressure flows to the chamber of the rod side of the piston to drive the piston in a first direction. Upon the piston reaching a maximum travel position from the pressurized hydraulic fluid in the first hydraulic line acting on the rod side of the piston, the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic line is lowered to a predetermined pressure and the pressure created by the column of water contacting the non-rod side of the piston drives the piston in a second direction, opposite from the first direction. The pressure created by the column of water may be created by the force of gravity acting on the column of water or from an accumulator or a back pressure valve at the surface of the Earth. Such pressure from an accumulator or back pressure valve may always be present. Any hydraulic fluid injected to the rod side of the piston must act against this pressure due to the column of water. Thus, using only one hydraulic line from the surface hydraulic pump to feed only one chamber on the rod side of the piston of the subterranean water pump, water is evacuated from the subterranean reservoir in which the water pump resides.
- While the above-described hydraulically actuated water pumps have proven satisfactory for their given purpose, each is not without its share of limitations. Double-actuated pumps necessarily require two hydraulic lines and a water removal line that all reach from a subterranean water pump location to an Earthen surface. Single actuated pumps necessarily require one hydraulic line and a water removal line that both reach from a subterranean water pump location to an Earthen surface; however, such a single actuated pump operates at a much lower speed, in terms of water pump piston cycles, than a double-actuated water pump. Additional hydraulic pressure is also required during the pumping stroke (also called a power stroke), since pressure on the non-rod side is not reduced. What is needed then is a water pump that benefits from operational speeds greater than a single action water pump while maintaining a minimal quantity of hydraulic lines.
- The invention may more particularly include a method of removing fluid such as water from a subterranean formation to an earthen surface such that the method may include providing a hydraulic oil pump at the earthen surface, providing a downhole water pump, providing a hydraulic accumulator at the earthen surface, supplying only one downhole hydraulic oil line from the hydraulic oil pump to the downhole water pump, supplying only one downhole water line from the downhole water pump to the hydraulic accumulator, and supplying a hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil line from the hydraulic oil pump to the hydraulic accumulator. Moreover, providing a hydraulic accumulator may further comprise providing a hydraulic accumulator that defines an internal chamber, a first inlet/outlet at a first end of the hydraulic accumulator, a second inlet/outlet at a second end of the hydraulic accumulator and a hydraulic accumulator piston within the internal chamber that divides the internal chamber into two varying-volume chambers such as a hydraulic accumulator water chamber and a hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil chamber.
- Pumping hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic oil pump via the only one downhole hydraulic oil line to a rod side of a piston within the downhole water pump causes movement of the piston in a first direction, such as a pumping direction. The pumping direction may be that direction of the piston that directly and immediately causes water to move toward the earthen surface or through the only one downhole water line toward the earthen surface. The method may further entail pumping hydraulic oil from the hydraulic oil pump through the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil line to the hydraulic accumulator and increasing an internal pressure of the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil chamber, which may cause movement of the hydraulic accumulator piston away from the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil chamber. Movement of the hydraulic accumulator piston away from the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil chamber may cause an increasing of pressure within the only one downhole water line thereby increasing force against a non-rod-side of the water pump piston within the downhole water pump thereby moving the piston in a second direction, opposite from the pumping direction. A water valve may be provided in the downhole water line at the earthen surface and opening the water valve when the water pump piston reaches a prescribed position with the downhole water pump may be accomplished to evacuate water from the downhole water line.
- Another method of removing water from a subterranean formation to an earthen surface may entail pumping hydraulic oil from a hydraulic oil pump at the earthen surface to a downhole water pump through only one downhole hydraulic oil line from the hydraulic oil pump to the downhole water pump thereby driving or causing movement of a water-pushing piston in the downhole water pump to effectuate pumping water from the downhole water pump to the earthen surface through the only one downhole water line from the downhole water pump to the earthen surface. The method may include providing a hydraulic accumulator at the earthen surface and a hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil line from the hydraulic oil pump to the hydraulic accumulator. Dividing the hydraulic accumulator into a hydraulic oil chamber and a water chamber separated by a movable piston, permits providing and connecting only one downhole water line from the downhole water pump to the hydraulic accumulator at the earthen surface. Pumping hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic oil pump via the only one downhole hydraulic oil line to a rod side of a downhole water pump piston thereby moving the downhole water pump piston in a first direction and pumping water into the hydraulic accumulator water chamber causes pressure to build within each chamber of the hydraulic accumulator. Pumping hydraulic oil from the hydraulic oil pump through the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil line to a hydraulic oil chamber of the hydraulic accumulator thereby increasing an internal pressure of the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil chamber moves the hydraulic accumulator piston away from the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil chamber due to increasing internal pressure of the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil chamber. Increasing pressure within the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil chamber causes the piston to move toward the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic water chamber thereby increasing pressure within the only one downhole water line and at the same time increasing force against a non-rod-side of the water pump piston. Increasing the force against the non-rod-side of the water pump piston causes the water pump piston to begin moving in a second non-pumping direction. Providing a water valve in the downhole water line at the earthen surface and then opening the water valve to release or evacuate water at the earthen surface and from the downhole water line, such as when the water pump piston reaches its extreme or maximum downward position in the non-pumping direction permits water to be removed from the subterranean reservoir.
- In another method of removing water from a subterranean formation to an earthen surface may include the steps of providing a hydraulic oil pump at the earthen surface, providing a downhole water pump, providing a surface water pump at the earthen surface, supplying only one downhole hydraulic oil line from the hydraulic oil pump to the downhole water pump, and supplying only one downhole water line from the downhole water pump to the surface water pump. The method may further comprise pumping hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic oil pump via the only one downhole hydraulic oil line to a rod-side of a downhole water pump piston within the downhole water pump thereby moving the downhole water pump piston in a water-pumping direction and also moving water through the downhole water line to the earthen surface. This method may not utilize a hydraulic accumulator, but may still engage in moving water through a water repository water valve in a water respository filling tube and then depositing water into a water repository at the earthen surface.
- Subsequently, the method may involve closing the water repository water valve and pumping water with the surface water pump at the earthen surface into the downhole water pump via the water removal line to cause pumping of water to a non-rod-side of the downhole water pump piston within the downhole water pump. With water striking a non-rod-side of the downhole water pump piston, a result may be moving the water pump piston in a direction opposite to the water-pumping direction. When the water pump piston moving or arriving at a prescribed location with the water pump, opening a hydraulic drain line valve in a hydraulic drain line at the earthen surface may permit moving hydraulic oil through the hydraulic drain line valve and into the hydraulic fluid tank as the water pump piston is moving in a direction opposite to the water-pumping direction.
- In the methods describe above, valves may be opened and closed by a controller based upon pressures, for example.
- A more complete understanding of the present disclosure and benefits thereof may be acquired by referring to the follow description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic of a water evacuation system of a first embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure; -
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a downhole water pump in accordance with the present disclosure; -
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a downhole water pump in accordance with the present disclosure; -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a hydraulic accumulator in accordance with the present disclosure; -
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a control module, valves and sensors in accordance with the present disclosure; and -
FIG. 6 is a schematic of a water evacuation system of a second embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure. - Turning now to
FIGS. 1-6 , a detailed description of the preferred arrangement or arrangements of the present disclosure will be presented. It should be understood that the inventive features and concepts may be manifested in other arrangements and that the scope of the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described or illustrated. -
FIG. 1 depicts awater evacuation system 10 for extracting water from asubterranean location 12, such as an oil and gas well, or other well, that traverses a distance from anearthen surface 14 to awater source 16 located belowearthen surface 14. Asubterranean water pump 18 may be located withinwater source 16. A downholehydraulic line 20 and awater removal line 22 may each be connected to thesubterranean water pump 18.Water removal line 22 may be connected to ahydraulic accumulator 40, which may be part of apumping unit 24 located onearthen surface 14.Pumping unit 24 may be a hydraulic pumping unit and may employ a multitude of components to enable functioning ofsubterranean water pump 18 andhydraulic accumulator 40. Pumpingunit 24 may employ anelectric motor 26, which may drive or turnhydraulic pump 28 thereby forcing or pumping hydraulic fluid toward ahydraulic control valve 30 located in downholehydraulic line 20. Ahydraulic pump line 32 may be valveless and lead fromhydraulic pump 28 and branch into a hydraulic line that leads tohydraulic accumulator 40 and downholehydraulic line 20.Hydraulic pump line 32 that leads fromhydraulic pump 28 may be a relatively high pressure hydraulic line that is a conduit that supplies pressurized hydraulic fluid for passage or distribution todownhole water pump 18 to energize or drivedownhole water pump 18.Downhole water pump 18 may have only one downholehydraulic line 20 and only onewater removal line 22 that are attached to it and that run between or fluidly linkdownhole water pump 18 andearthen surface 14. - During a pumping stroke of
water pump 18, awater pump piston 60 withinwater pump 18 may have high pressure hydraulic fluid forced against a rod-side 62 ofwater pump piston 60 as depicted inFIG. 2 .Rod 64 is connected towater pump piston 60 and thus, the side ofwater pump piston 60 to whichrod 64 is connected is referred to as “rod-side.” Rod side ofwater pump piston 60 may also form part of a boundary of arod side chamber 34, which is a reservoir that varies in volume and that houses hydraulic fluid pumped in from downholehydraulic line 20. Force of hydraulic fluid against rod-side 62 ofwater pump piston 60 causeswater pump piston 60 to move upwards, with reference to its normal installation orientation as depicted inFIG. 2 , in accordance with arrow 66 (FIG. 1 ). Aswater pump piston 60 moves upward withinpiston sleeve 68 in accordance witharrow 66, water within travelingvalve chamber 70 moves upward and intowater channel 72, which may be vertical or substantially vertical withinwater pump 18. Travelingvalve chamber 70 may be formed within a plunger, which is commonly referred to as aplunger 74, that is attached to an opposite end ofrod 64 aswater pump piston 60; thus,water pump piston 60,rod 64 andplunger 74 move together as a collective unit during pumping strokes and water drawing strokes of water pump 18 (FIG. 1 ). A pumping stroke occurs when water is forced intowater removal line 22 and towardearthen surface 14. A water drawing stroke occurs when water is drawn intowater chamber 114 ofwater pump 18 whenpiston 60 moves in an opposite direction as a pumping stroke ofpiston 60. - Continuing with an explanation of
water pump 18, water within travelingvalve chamber 70, water located immediately aboveplunger 74, water withinwater channel 72, water withinwater channel 78, and water located immediately abovewater pump piston 60, is able to be lifted or pumped throughwater removal line 22 becauseball 76 seats and seals againstball seat 82 ofplunger 74.Water channel 72 andwater channel 78 permit water to pass aroundpiston chamber 80 within whichwater pump piston 60 resides.Ball seat 82 andball 76 ofplunger 74 are also referred to as a travelling valve becauseplunger 74 moves within a sump casing, also known as a standing 94. Aswater pump piston 60,rod 64 andplunger 74 together translate upwards in accordance witharrow 66, water is drawn intobottom sump 84 ofwater pump 18. More specifically, water is drawn intobottom sump reservoir 86 whensump ball 88 lifts fromsump ball seat 90 of standing 94.Sump ball 88 andsump ball seat 90 of standing 94 are referred to as a stationary valve.Plunger 74 fits within standing 94 to permit movement ofplunger 74 within interior walls of standing 94. Whenplunger 74 moves away from sumpball valve chamber 92 within standing 94, a volume ofsump reservoir 86 increases while a vacuum is created withinsump reservoir 86. The vacuum causes water to be drawn fromsubterranean location 12 below standing 94,past sump ball 88 and into sumpball valve chamber 92 and subsequently intosump reservoir 86. Upward pumping movement ofwater pump piston 60 causes water to move throughwater removal line 22, and withvalve 54 closed during upward movement ofwater pump piston 60 during this stroke, water enterswater chamber 52 ofhydraulic accumulator 40 thereby causing floatingpiston 42 withinhydraulic accumulator 40 to move upward, which is away from water inlet ofhydraulic accumulator 40, thereby causing displacement of hydraulic fluid out of hydraulicfluid chamber 36 ofhydraulic accumulator 40, subsequently through open accumulator drain line valve 106 (hydraulic accumulator fillvalve 100 is closed when volume of hydraulicfluid chamber 36 is decreasing), and intohydraulic fluid tank 46. - When downhole
hydraulic line 20 is energized byhydraulic pump 28 with hydraulic pressure sufficient to generate enough force to causewater pump piston 60 to move upwards in a pumping stroke that removes water fromxxx 16, hydraulic fluid is drawn fromhydraulic fluid tank 46, into hydraulicpump feed line 27, throughhydraulic pump 28, throughhydraulic pump line 32, through an open downholehydraulic line valve 30 and into downholehydraulic line 20 to a rod side ofwater pump piston 60 ofwater pump 18. - At the same time that downhole
hydraulic line valve 30 permits hydraulic fluid to flow into downholehydraulic line 20, hydraulic fluid is prevented from flowing intohydraulic fluid tank 46 throughhydraulic drain line 96 because hydraulicdrain line valve 98 is closed. Additionally at the same time, hydraulic fluid is prevented from flowing into hydraulicfluid chamber 36 ofhydraulic accumulator 40 during upward motion ofwater pump piston 60 because hydraulic accumulator fillvalve 100 is also closed, thus preventing pumped hydraulic fluid and associated hydraulic pressure intended for downholehydraulic line 20 from escaping intohydraulic accumulator 40 or into hydraulicaccumulator drain line 102. Uponwater pump piston 60 moving during a pumping stroke (upward stroke to move water to hydraulic accumulator 40), water moves upward towardearthen surface 14 throughwater removal line 22 and intowater chamber 52 ofhydraulic accumulator 40 withwater valve 54 closed. A pumping stroke ofwater pump piston 60 occurs from a lowest possible position ofpiston 60 withinpiston chamber 80 ofwater pump 18, also known as a lowest bottom position, to a highest possible position, also known as a highest top position, ofwater pump piston 60 withinpiston chamber 80 ofwater pump 18. Whenpiston 60 reaches its highest top position, which is completion of a pumping stroke, apressure sensor 104 located withinhydraulic pump line 32, such as nearhydraulic pump 28, senses hydraulic pressure withinhydraulic pump line 32 and causes acontrol module 112 to actuate hydraulicdrain line valve 30 to a closed position and to actuate hydraulic accumulator fillvalve 100 to an open position. - During each pumping or upward stroke of
water pump piston 60 ofdownhole water pump 18, floatingtransfer piston 42 moves withinhydraulic accumulator 40 causing a progressive increase in the volume ofwater chamber 52 and a corresponding progressive decrease in the volume of hydraulicfluid chamber 36.Piston 42 maintains a contact fit against the cylindrical interior wall ofhydraulic accumulator 40 to maintain a leak-proof sealing fit betweenwater chamber 52 and hydraulicfluid chamber 36 so that water and hydraulic fluid are always separated and are prevented from mixing. Despite such a leak-proof seal, floatingtransfer piston 42 may move when subjected to a force; such as a force caused by hydraulic pressure, such as hydraulic water pressure withinwater removal line 22 andwater chamber 52, or hydraulic oil pressure generated withinhydraulic fluid chamber 36 from hydraulic fluid pumped through hydraulic accumulatorhydraulic oil line 38 fromhydraulic pump 28. Thus, each upward movement ofwater pump piston 60 ofwater pump 18 causes floatingtransfer piston 42 to move so as to increase the volume ofwater chamber 50 withwater valve 54 closed. Also, during movement of floatingtransfer piston 42 due towater chamber 52 filling with water, a volume of hydraulic fluid equal to a volume of hydraulic fluid displaced by movement of floatingtransfer piston 42 flows out of hydraulicfluid chamber 36 and into hydraulic accumulatorhydraulic oil line 38, through accumulatordrain line valve 106 resident within hydraulicaccumulator drain line 102 and intohydraulic fluid tank 46. When hydraulic accumulatordrain line valve 106 is open, hydraulic accumulator fillvalve 100 is closed. Hydraulic accumulator fillvalve 100 is located in a fluid path betweenhydraulic pump 28 and hydraulicfluid chamber 36 ofhydraulic accumulator 40 and is normally closed when hydraulic fluid is flowing intohydraulic fluid tank 46 during movement of floatingtransfer piston 42 due to water fillingwater chamber 52 ofhydraulic accumulator 40. - Thus, with continued reference to
FIGS. 1-4 , in an exemplary cycle ofwater evacuation system 10, with accumulatordrain line valve 106 open, hydraulic accumulator fillvalve 100 closed, hydraulicdrain line valve 98 closed,water valve 54 closed, andhydraulic control valve 30 open,hydraulic pump 28 pumps hydraulic fluid torod side chamber 34 thus pressurizingrod side chamber 34. Aswater pump piston 60 rises, water that plunger 74 forces intowater channel 78 andwater channel 72, which route water aroundcylinder housing piston 60, is forced intowater removal line 22. More specifically,water pump piston 60 may force water intowater removal line 22, which leads in a vertical or generally vertical direction towardearthen surface 14. - Because
hydraulic pump 28 operates continuously and thereby continuously draws fluid fromhydraulic tank 46, uponwater pump piston 60 reaching its upper stroke limit withinxxx 18, such as whenwater pump piston 60 resides adjacentinterior cylinder end 110, pressure within downholehydraulic line 20 andhydraulic pump line 32 will increase, whichpressure sensor 104 will detect. Uponpressure sensor 104 sensing an increase in hydraulic pressure at or above a predetermined or threshold pressure withinhydraulic pump line 32, which may exhibit the same pressure as downholehydraulic line 20, a control module 112 (FIG. 5 ) in communication withsensor 104 causes a series of valve changes to occur. Withhydraulic pump 28 continuing to operate and pump hydraulic fluid, accumulatordrain line valve 106 switches from open to close, hydraulic accumulator fillvalve 100 switches from closed to open, hydraulicdrain line valve 98 switches from closed to open,water valve 54 switches from open to close, andhydraulic control valve 30 switches from open to close. Thus, uponvalves hydraulic pump 28 flows only through hydraulic accumulator fillvalve 100, through hydraulic accumulatorhydraulic oil line 38 and into hydraulicfluid chamber 36. With hydraulic fluid flowing into hydraulicfluid chamber 36 and thus increasing pressure withinhydraulic fluid chamber 36, floatingtransfer piston 42 begins to move withinhydraulic accumulator 40 thereby increasing a volume of hydraulicfluid chamber 36 and decreasing a volume ofwater chamber 52. Withwater valve 54 closed, water pressure builds withinwater removal line 22 as hydraulic pressure inhydraulic fluid chamber 36 increases and floatingtransfer piston 42 moving to evacuate water fromwater chamber 52. Increasing water pressure inwater chamber 52 andwater removal line 22 forceswater pump piston 60 downward in accordance with a direction ofarrow 67, which is also a direction opposite that of a water-pumping stroke as depicted with direction ofarrow 66. - As depicted in
FIG. 3 , aswater pump piston 60 moves in accordance with direction ofarrow 67,water pump piston 60 is returned back to a position from which a pumping stoke may begin. Becausewater valve 54 in watertank filling tube 56 is closed, water is prevented from exiting throughwater valve 54 and permitting water pressure to build withinwater removal line 22 and fully act uponwater pump piston 60 as pressure builds withinhydraulic fluid chamber 36 ofhydraulic accumulator 40. Whenwater pump piston 60 moves due to increasing force against the non-rod-side ofpiston 60, volume ofrod side chamber 34 decreases and hydraulic fluid is forced into downholehydraulic line 20 in a direction that is opposite from the flow direction during a pumping stroke. That is, because of motion ofwater pump piston 60, hydraulic fluid is forced into downholehydraulic line 20, through open hydraulicdrain line valve 98 ofhydraulic drain line 96 and intohydraulic fluid tank 46 whilehydraulic control valve 30 is closed. That is,hydraulic control valve 30 is closed at the time of a non-pumping stroke, otherwise known as a return stroke, ofwater pump piston 60 to require hydraulic fluid to pass through hydraulicdrain line valve 98 ofhydraulic drain line 96 and intohydraulic fluid tank 46. Thus, by reversing the direction of water flow throughwater removal line 22 and by reversing the direction of hydraulic fluid flow through downholehydraulic line 20 during a return stroke ofwater pump piston 60,water pump piston 60 may quickly be returned to either a lower position withinpiston chamber 80, or its lowest position withinpiston chamber 80, to begin a new pumping stroke. As an example, the lowest possible position thatwater pump piston 60 might achieve before beginning its pumping stroke may be when plunger end surface 118 resides adjacent to sump reservoir end interior surface 120 or when surfaces 118, 120 actually contact. Whenwater pump piston 60 is at its position, such as its lowest possible position, before beginning its return to a water-pumping stroke,water valve 54 changes from a closed position to an open position to permit water fromhydraulic accumulator 40 andwater removal line 22 to exit through watertank filling tube 56 and intowater repository 58. In some cycles,water valve 54 may only be opened to permit water to exithydraulic accumulator 40 andwater removal line 22 intowater repository 58 whenwater pump piston 60 is at its lowest position in its cycle, which is beforewater pump piston 60 begins its pumping stroke or movement towardinterior cylinder end 110 ofpiston chamber 80. -
FIG. 4 depicts exemplary positions of floatingtransfer piston 42 withinhydraulic accumulator 40 during a pumping stroke ofwater pump piston 60 and a subsequent return stroke ofwater pump piston 60 during operation ofwater evacuation system 10. Whenwater pump piston 60 ofwater pump 18 begins to move towardwater removal line 22 to force or pump water throughwater removal line 22, and toward and intowater chamber 52 ofhydraulic accumulator 40, floatingtransfer piston 42 initially may be at aposition 42A, and may begin to move towardposition 42B throughout such a pumping stroke.Initial position 42A may be a position closest to anend 23 ofhydraulic accumulator 40 that connects towater removal line 22. Exactly how far floatingtransfer piston 42 may move withinhydraulic accumulator 40 depends upon the size, such as a length and internal volume, ofhydraulic accumulator 40, and the acceleration, speed and force of water againstpiston 42. - Floating
transfer piston 42 moves upward in accordance witharrow 66 due to a hydraulic force created during such pumping stroke ofwater pump piston 60. As a result, floatingtransfer piston 42 may reach aposition 42B, as depicted inFIG. 4 .Position 42B may be a position anywhere betweenposition 42A and anend 25 ofhydraulic accumulator 40. Whenwater pump piston 60 reaches its maximum pumping stroke position andpressure sensor 104 senses an increase in hydraulic pressure that is above a predetermined or threshold pressure limit, control module (FIG. 5 ) may trigger a switching ofvalves water pump piston 60 may reverse direction to be reset for continued pumping of water fromwater source 16 ofsubterranean location 12, as previously described. Pressure may be used to optimize the cycle time, but pressure measurement is not required. Although floatingtransfer piston 42 may be hydraulically forced to position 42A fromposition 42B, for example, to causewater pump piston 60 to return to its position withinwater pump 18 such that plunger end surface 118 is immediately adjacent sump reservoir end interior surface 120,water valve 54 may not necessarily be opened on every pump cycle whenwater pump piston 60 is so positioned. Opening ofwater valve 54 may be accomplished upon sensing a position of floatingtransfer piston 42. More specifically, sensing a position of floatingtransfer piston 42 withinhydraulic accumulator 40 may be accomplished by using a tube 122 centered longitudinally inhydraulic accumulator 40 that spans the entire length of thehydraulic accumulator 40. The tube may house a sensor coil 124, which may communicate withcontrol module 112 and traverse some length, an entire length, or specific portions of tube 122, to detect a magnet 126 in floatingtransfer piston 42. In this manner the position of floatingtransfer piston 42 withinhydraulic accumulator 40 may be known at all times and communicated to controlmodule 112. Sensing positions of floating transfer pistons within hydraulic accumulators is known in the art.Water valve 54 may or may not be opened uponwater pump piston 60 reaching a specific position withinpiston chamber 80 ofwater pump 18 because opening ofwater valve 54 to expel water intowater repository 58 is dependent upon a position of floatingtransfer piston 42 withinhydraulic accumulator 18 and not only a position ofwater pump piston 60 reaching a specific position withinpiston chamber 80. Such a specific position ofwater pump piston 60 may be a position withinpiston chamber 80 that is immediately beforewater pump piston 60 begins a new pumping stroke. Thus,water pump piston 60 may be in a position to immediately begin a pumping stroke with plunger end surface 118 located immediately adjacent to sump reservoir end interior surface 120 such that no further travel of plunger end surface 118 toward sump reservoir end interior surface 120 is possible or effective. - In another example of a specific position of
water pump piston 60 at whichwater pump piston 60 is in a position withinpiston chamber 80 to begin a new pumping stroke, piston rod-side surface 62 ofwater pump piston 60 may be aligned with an inside diameter of hydraulic line inlet into rod-side chamber 34 ofpiston chamber 80 such that the full diameter or complete cross-sectional area of hydraulic fluid inlet into rod-side chamber 34 is capable of delivering fluid into rod-side chamber 34 in an unobstructed delivery by any part ofwater pump piston 60. - In yet another example of a specific position of
water pump piston 60 at whichwater pump piston 60 is in a position withinpiston chamber 80 to begin a new pumping stroke, piston rod-side surface 62 ofwater pump piston 60 may be aligned with an inside diameter of hydraulic line inlet into rod-side chamber 34 ofpiston chamber 80 such that the full diameter or complete cross-sectional area of hydraulic fluid inlet into rod-side chamber 34 is capable of delivering fluid into rod-side chamber 34 in an unobstructed delivery by any part ofwater pump piston 60, and plunger end surface 118 is located immediately adjacent to sump reservoir end interior surface 120 such that no further travel of plunger end surface 118 toward sump reservoir end interior surface 120 is possible or effective. As previously stated,water valve 54 may not be opened on every pump cycle, or water valve may be opened on every pump cycle. A pump cycle may be defined as the motion of plunger end surface 118 moving from an initial position adjacent to sump reservoir end interior surface 120 to its farthest possible location from sump reservoir end interior surface 120, and then returning to the same position adjacent to sump reservoir end interior surface 120 from which plunger end surface 118 began. - Turning now to
FIG. 6 , a detailed description of another embodiment of the present disclosure will be presented.FIG. 6 depicts awater evacuation system 150 for extracting water from asubterranean location 12, such as an oil and gas well, or other well, that traverses a distance from anearthen surface 14 to awater source 16 located belowearthen surface 14. As can be seen in a comparison ofFIGS. 1 andFIG. 6 ,FIG. 6 shares many of the same components as the apparatus depicted inFIG. 1 . One difference, however, is in a backflow mechanism 152, which includeswater repository 154,surface water pump 156, waterpump draw pipe 158, waterpump feeder pipe 160, watertank filling tube 162 andwater dump valve 164. -
Water evacuation system 150 may havesubterranean water pump 18 located withinwater source 16. Downholehydraulic line 20 and downholewater removal line 22 may each be connected to thesubterranean water pump 18. Downholewater removal line 22 may be connected to watertank filling tube 162, which may be located at earthen surface 14 (i.e. not subsurface) and which may be part of apumping unit 166 located onearthen surface 14. Downholewater removal line 22 may also be part of a backflow mechanism 152 ofpumping unit 166. Pumpingunit 166 may be a hydraulic pumping unit and may employ a multitude of components to enable functioning ofsubterranean water pump 18 and backflow mechanism 152, includingsurface water pump 156. Pumpingunit 166 may employ anelectric motor 26, which may drive or turnhydraulic pump 28 thereby forcing or pumping hydraulic fluid into downholehydraulic line 20 and intowater pump 18 to energize or drivedownhole water pump 18.Downhole water pump 18 may utilize only one downholehydraulic line 20 and only one downholewater removal line 22 for operation. Downholehydraulic line 20 and downholewater removal line 22 run between or fluidly linkdownhole water pump 18 and components onearthen surface 14. Details of internal components ofwater pump 18 are explained above in conjunction withFIGS. 2 and 3 . - When downhole
hydraulic line 20 is energized byhydraulic pump 28 with hydraulic pressure sufficient to generate enough force to causewater pump piston 60 to move upwards in a pumping stroke that removes water fromwater source 16, hydraulic fluid is drawn fromhydraulic fluid tank 46, into hydraulicpump feed line 27, throughhydraulic pump 28, throughhydraulic pump line 32 and into downholehydraulic line 20 to a rod side ofwater pump piston 60 ofwater pump 18. At the same time that hydraulic fluid to flows into downholehydraulic line 20 during a water pumping stroke ofwater pump 18, hydraulic fluid is prevented from flowing intohydraulic fluid tank 46 throughhydraulic drain line 96 because hydraulicdrain line valve 98 is closed. Uponwater pump piston 60 moving during a pumping stroke (upward stroke inFIG. 2 ), water moves upward towardearthen surface 14 through downholewater removal line 22 and into watertank filling tube 162 withwater valve 164 in watertank filling tube 162 open. A pumping stroke ofwater pump piston 60 occurs from a lowest possible position ofpiston 60 withinpiston chamber 80 ofwater pump 18, also known as a lowest bottom position, to a highest possible position, also known as a highest top position, ofwater pump piston 60 withinpiston chamber 80 ofwater pump 18. Whenpiston 60 reaches its highest top position, which is completion of a pumping stroke, apressure sensor 104 located withinhydraulic pump line 32, such as nearhydraulic pump 28, senses hydraulic pressure withinhydraulic pump line 32 and causes acontrol module 112 to actuate hydraulicdrain line valve 30 to a closed position and to actuate hydraulic accumulator fill valve 1500 to an open position. - During each pumping or upward stroke of
water pump piston 60 ofdownhole water pump 18,hydraulic pump 28 pumps hydraulic fluid torod side chamber 34 thus pressurizingrod side chamber 34. Aswater pump piston 60 rises, water that plunger 74 forces intowater channel 78 andwater channel 72, which route water aroundcylinder housing piston 60, is forced into downholewater removal line 22. More specifically,water pump piston 60 may force water into downholewater removal line 22, which leads in a vertical or generally vertical direction towardearthen surface 14. - Because
hydraulic pump 28 continuously operates and draws fluid fromhydraulic tank 46, uponwater pump piston 60 reaching its upper stroke limit withindownhole water pump 18, such as whenwater pump piston 60 resides adjacentinterior cylinder end 110, pressure within downholehydraulic line 20 andhydraulic pump line 32 will increase, whichpressure sensor 104 will detect. Pressure within downholehydraulic line 20 andhydraulic pump line 32 could also be measured by a human-readable pressure gage. Uponpressure sensor 104 or a gage sensing or indicating an increase in hydraulic pressure at or above a predetermined or threshold pressure withinhydraulic pump line 32, a series of valve changes may occur. Withhydraulic pump 28 continuing to operate and pump hydraulic fluid, hydraulicdrain line valve 98 switches from closed to opened, andwater valve 164 switches from open to close. Additionally,surface water pump 156 pumps water into waterpump feeder pipe 160 and into downholewater removal line 22 towarddownhole water pump 18. Water pressure builds within downholewater removal line 22 which forceswater pump piston 60 downward in accordance with a direction ofarrow 67, which is also a direction opposite that of a water-pumping stroke as depicted with direction ofarrow 66. - As depicted in
FIG. 3 , aswater pump piston 60 moves in accordance with direction ofarrow 67,water pump piston 60 is returned back to a position from which a full and complete pumping stoke may begin. Becausewater valve 164 in watertank filling tube 162 is closed, water is prevented from exiting throughwater valve 164 and permits water pressure to build within downholewater removal line 22 and cause motion ofwater pump piston 60. Whenwater pump piston 60 moves due to increasing force against the non-rod-side ofpiston 60, hydraulic fluid is forced into downholehydraulic line 20 in a direction that is opposite from the flow direction during a pumping stroke. That is, because of motion ofwater pump piston 60, hydraulic fluid is forced into downholehydraulic line 20, through open hydraulicdrain line valve 98 ofhydraulic drain line 96 and intohydraulic fluid tank 46.Pump 28 may continue to pump and discharge hydraulic fluid intohydraulic drain line 96 and intohydraulic fluid tank 46. Thus, during a non-pumping stroke ofdownhole water pump 18 hydraulic fluid passes through hydraulicdrain line valve 98 ofhydraulic drain line 96 and intohydraulic fluid tank 46. Thus, by reversing the direction of water flow through downholewater removal line 22 usingsurface water pump 156 and by reversing the direction of hydraulic fluid flow through downholehydraulic line 20 during a return stroke ofwater pump piston 60,water pump piston 60 may quickly be returned to either a lower position withinpiston chamber 80, or its lowest position withinpiston chamber 80, to begin a new pumping stroke. - With reference again including
FIGS. 2 and 3 , as an example, the lowest possible position thatwater pump piston 60 might achieve before beginning its pumping stroke may be when plunger end surface 118 resides adjacent to sump reservoir end interior surface 120 or when surfaces 118, 120 actually contact. Whenwater pump piston 60 is at its position, such as its lowest possible position, before beginning its return to a water-pumping stroke,water valve 164 changes from an open position to a closed position to permit water fromwater removal line 22 to only flow towarddownhole water pump 18 to move piston from the end of a pumping stroke to the beginning of a pumping stroke. A complete cycle or pumping cycle ofwater pump piston 60, may be the greatest linear length of motion possible during a pumping stroke and subsequent return stroke or resetting ofwater pump piston 60 to begin a subsequent pumping stroke. For instance, a complete cyclewater pump piston 60 may be the combined motion of rod-side surface 62 from alignment with surface of tube 122 to non-rod-side surface ofpiston 60 positioned adjacent tointerior cylinder end 110 and then rod-side surface 62 re-aligning with surface of tube 122. Thus,water pump piston 60 may be in a position to immediately begin a pumping stroke with plunger end surface 118 located immediately adjacent to sump reservoir end interior surface 120 such that no further travel of plunger end surface 118 toward sump reservoir end interior surface 120 is possible or effective. - In another example of a specific position of
water pump piston 60 at whichwater pump piston 60 is in a position withinpiston chamber 80 to begin a new pumping stroke, piston rod-side surface 62 ofwater pump piston 60 may be aligned with an inside diameter of hydraulic line inlet into rod-side chamber 34 ofpiston chamber 80 such that the full diameter or complete cross-sectional area of hydraulic fluid inlet into rod-side chamber 34 is capable of delivering fluid into rod-side chamber 34 in an unobstructed delivery by any part ofwater pump piston 60. A pump cycle also may be defined as the motion of plunger end surface 118 moving from an initial position adjacent to sump reservoir end interior surface 120 to its farthest possible location from sump reservoir end interior surface 120, and then returning to the same position adjacent to sump reservoir end interior surface 120 from which plunger end surface 118 began. - In yet another example of a specific position of
water pump piston 60 at whichwater pump piston 60 is in a position withinpiston chamber 80 to begin a new pumping stroke, piston rod-side surface 62 ofwater pump piston 60 may be aligned with an inside diameter of hydraulic line inlet into rod-side chamber 34 ofpiston chamber 80 such that the full diameter or complete cross-sectional area of hydraulic fluid inlet into rod-side chamber 34 is capable of delivering fluid into rod-side chamber 34 in an unobstructed delivery by any part ofwater pump piston 60, and plunger end surface 118 is located immediately adjacent to sump reservoir end interior surface 120 such that no further travel of plunger end surface 118 toward sump reservoir end interior surface 120 is possible or alternatively, effective. - In the above-described embodiments, in closing and opening all valves, and turning on or off all electric pumps, a controller may be employed to automate such processes. Manually causing closing and opening all valves, and turning on or off all electric pumps is also envisioned.
- Although the systems and processes have been described herein in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. Those skilled in the art may be able to study the preferred embodiments and identify other ways to practice the invention that are not exactly as described herein. It is the intent of the inventors that variations and equivalents of the invention are within the scope of the claims while the description, abstract and drawings are not to be used to limit the scope of the invention. The invention is specifically intended to be as broad as the claims below and their equivalents.
Claims (16)
1. A method of removing fluid from a subterranean formation to an earthen surface, the method comprising:
providing a hydraulic oil pump at the earthen surface;
providing a downhole water pump;
providing a hydraulic accumulator at the earthen surface;
supplying only one downhole hydraulic oil line from the hydraulic oil pump to the downhole water pump;
supplying only one downhole water line from the downhole water pump to the hydraulic accumulator; and
supplying a hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil line from the hydraulic oil pump to the hydraulic accumulator.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein providing a hydraulic accumulator further comprises providing a hydraulic accumulator that defines an internal chamber, a first inlet/outlet at a first end of the hydraulic accumulator, a second inlet/outlet at a second end of the hydraulic accumulator and a hydraulic accumulator piston within the internal chamber that divides the internal chamber into a hydraulic accumulator water chamber and a hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil chamber.
3. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising:
pumping hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic oil pump via the only one downhole hydraulic oil line to a rod side of a piston within the downhole water pump thereby moving the piston in a first direction.
4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising:
pumping hydraulic oil from the hydraulic oil pump through the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil line to the hydraulic accumulator and increasing an internal pressure of the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil chamber;
moving the hydraulic accumulator piston away from the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil chamber;
increasing pressure within the only one downhole water line; and
increasing force against a non-rod-side of the water pump piston within the downhole water pump thereby moving the piston in a second direction.
5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising:
providing a water valve in the downhole water line at the earthen surface; and
opening the water valve when the water pump piston reaches a prescribed position with the downhole water pump to evacuate water from the downhole water line.
6. A method of removing water from a subterranean formation to an earthen surface, the method comprising:
pumping hydraulic oil from a hydraulic oil pump at the earthen surface to a downhole water pump through only one downhole hydraulic oil line from the hydraulic oil pump to the downhole water pump; and
pumping water from the downhole water pump to the earthen surface through only one downhole water line from the downhole water pump to the earthen surface.
7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:
providing a hydraulic accumulator at the earthen surface and a hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil line from the hydraulic oil pump to the hydraulic accumulator; and
wherein providing only one downhole water line from the downhole water pump to the earthen surface further comprises providing one downhole water line from the downhole water pump to the hydraulic accumulator.
8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
pumping hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic oil pump via the only one downhole hydraulic oil line to a rod side of a downhole water pump piston thereby moving the downhole water pump piston in a first direction and pumping water into a hydraulic accumulator water chamber;
pumping hydraulic oil from the hydraulic oil pump through the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil line to a hydraulic oil chamber of the hydraulic accumulator thereby increasing an internal pressure of the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil chamber;
moving a hydraulic accumulator piston away from the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil chamber due to the internal pressure of the hydraulic accumulator hydraulic oil chamber;
increasing pressure within the only one downhole water line; and
increasing force against a non-rod-side of the water pump piston thereby moving the water pump piston in a second direction.
9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
providing a water valve in the downhole water line at the earthen surface;
moving the water pump piston in a non-pumping direction; and
opening the water valve when the water pump piston reaches a prescribed position within the downhole water pump thereby evacuating water from the downhole water line.
10. A method of removing water from a subterranean formation to an earthen surface, the method comprising:
providing a hydraulic oil pump at the earthen surface;
providing a downhole water pump;
providing a surface water pump at the earthen surface;
supplying only one downhole hydraulic oil line from the hydraulic oil pump to the downhole water pump; and
supplying only one downhole water line from the downhole water pump to the surface water pump.
11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
pumping hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic oil pump via the only one downhole hydraulic oil line to a rod-side of a downhole water pump piston within the downhole water pump;
moving the downhole water pump piston in a water-pumping direction; and
moving water through the downhole water line to the earthen surface.
12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
moving water through a water repository water valve in a water respository filling tube; and
depositing water into a water repository at the earthen surface.
13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
closing the water repository water valve; and
pumping water with the surface water pump at the earthen surface to the downhole water pump via the water removal line.
14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein pumping water with the surface water pump at the earthen surface to the downhole water pump via the water removal line further comprises:
pumping water to a non-rod-side of the downhole water pump piston within the downhole water pump.
15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
moving the water pump piston in a direction opposite to the water-pumping direction.
16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:
opening a hydraulic drain line valve in a hydraulic drain line at the earthen surface; and
moving hydraulic oil through the hydraulic drain line valve and into the hydraulic fluid tank as the water pump piston is moving in a direction opposite to the water-pumping direction.
Priority Applications (1)
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US13/875,754 US20140328664A1 (en) | 2013-05-02 | 2013-05-02 | Single circuit double-acting pump |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
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US13/875,754 US20140328664A1 (en) | 2013-05-02 | 2013-05-02 | Single circuit double-acting pump |
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US20140328664A1 true US20140328664A1 (en) | 2014-11-06 |
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ID=51841507
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US13/875,754 Abandoned US20140328664A1 (en) | 2013-05-02 | 2013-05-02 | Single circuit double-acting pump |
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Cited By (4)
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EP3128122A1 (en) * | 2015-08-05 | 2017-02-08 | Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC | Pumping system and method |
US9903187B2 (en) | 2015-08-05 | 2018-02-27 | Weatherford Technology Holdings, Llc | Hydraulic pumping system with enhanced piston rod sealing |
US10167865B2 (en) | 2015-08-05 | 2019-01-01 | Weatherford Technology Holdings, Llc | Hydraulic pumping system with enhanced piston rod sealing |
US10344573B2 (en) | 2016-03-08 | 2019-07-09 | Weatherford Technology Holdings, Llc | Position sensing for wellsite pumping unit |
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EP3128122A1 (en) * | 2015-08-05 | 2017-02-08 | Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC | Pumping system and method |
EP3128123A3 (en) * | 2015-08-05 | 2017-05-31 | Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC | Pumping system and method |
US9903187B2 (en) | 2015-08-05 | 2018-02-27 | Weatherford Technology Holdings, Llc | Hydraulic pumping system with enhanced piston rod sealing |
US10167865B2 (en) | 2015-08-05 | 2019-01-01 | Weatherford Technology Holdings, Llc | Hydraulic pumping system with enhanced piston rod sealing |
US10619464B2 (en) | 2015-08-05 | 2020-04-14 | Weatherford Technology Holdings, Llc | Hydraulic pumping system with detection of fluid in gas volume |
US10760388B2 (en) | 2015-08-05 | 2020-09-01 | Weatherford Technology Holdings, Llc | Slant mounted hydraulic pumping system |
US11098708B2 (en) | 2015-08-05 | 2021-08-24 | Weatherford Technology Holdings, Llc | Hydraulic pumping system with piston displacement sensing and control |
US10344573B2 (en) | 2016-03-08 | 2019-07-09 | Weatherford Technology Holdings, Llc | Position sensing for wellsite pumping unit |
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Owner name: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY, TEXAS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HEARN, DAVID DEWITT;REEL/FRAME:030390/0081 Effective date: 20130509 |
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