US2179480A - Apparatus for introducing fluid into a deep well pump - Google Patents

Description

Naw. M, W39. c. J. COBERLY 2,179,480

APPARATUS FOR INTRODUCING FLUID INTO A DEEP WELL PUMP Filed April 21, 1957 o .o l,

[/v VEN TOR C A REA/cf l CofRL y A 7* TOR NE r6.

By #ARMs/0501, F

mm T Patented Nov. 14, 1939 2.119.430 ArPAnA'rUs ron INTRODUcmG FLUID' WELL PUMPv INTOADEEP oni-ence J. calmly, Los Angeles, cem., signorto Roko Corporation, Reno, Nev., a corporation of Nevada Application Aprll 21, 1937, Serial No. 138,177

(Cl. ID3-203) 19 Claims.

My invention relates to the deep well pumping art, and more particularly to an apparatus for introducing a huid to be pumped into a deep well 131111119- Although my invention is susceptible of many uses. it is of particular utility in the oil lndustry and will be described in connection with a deep well pump adapted to pump oil from an oil well. It is to be understood, however, that this application of the invention is for the purpose of illustration only, and I do not intend to be limited thereby to the speciiic use described.

In the pumping oi oil wells numerous types of pumps may be successfully utilized, as is well known in the art. Although the type oi' pump utilized forms no part or my present invention, i prefer to use my invention in conjunction with a fluid operated deep well pump of thetype disclosed in my copending Patent No. 2,081,223, issued May 25, 1937, entitled Fluid operated deep well pump, which discloses a pump and motor unit adapted to be positioned in a well so as to pump uid therefrom.

As is well known in the art, oil to be pumped from a well frequently has a substantial quantity of gas mixed therewith or in solution therein. The amount of gas in solution under equilibrium conditions depends on the temperature and pressure in the well and the analysis of both the oil and the gas. It is possible for the oil to be supersaturatedpi. e., to have more gas in solution than the amount normally corresponding to equilibrium conditions. When the pressure on the well fluid is decreased, the temperature increased, or when the fluid is agitated, relatively large quantities of the gas therein are frequently liberated and separate from the oil and form a foam or an emulsion therewith. Such gas produces a number of detrimental effects in the pumping, treating, conveying, and storing of the pumped fluid, and numerous devices have been devised and are common in the art for separating such gas from the oil. Prior art devices for separating the gas from'the oil prior to the pumping of the oil from the well have not produced satisfactory results,` and it is a primary object of my invention to provide an apparatus for separating at least a portion ofV the gas in the fluid to be pumped from a well therefrom prior to pumping such uid from the well.

saturation, in which the degree of gas saturation is reduced before the liquid enters the pump.

Another object of my invention is to supply an apparatus for introducing into a pump a liquid normally supersaturated with gas, in which the degree of supersaturation of the liquid is reduced. and the degree of saturation is then further reduced before the liquid enters the pump.

I prefer to accomplish this by reducing the pressure on the liquid to decrease the degree of supersaturation thereof and then increasing the pressure thereon to reduce the degree of saturation.

Another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for use in connection with a deep well pump of the character described above for reducing to a minimum the tendency of the pumpl4 to cause the release of gas from the pumped fluid and the resulting loss of pump capacity due to the space occupied by such gas.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for separating gas from a fluid to be pumped by creating a sudden drop in pressure between spaced portions of the iiuid before the huid enters the pumping means adapted to pump said iiuid.

Another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for separating gas from a fluid to be pumped by passing said uid through an orifice designed so as to decreasethe fluid pressure on said uid.

Still another object of my invention is to provide means for separating gas from a fluid to be pumped by passing said uid through an orifice and maintaining a substantially uniform pressure dierential across the orifice.

A further object of the invention lies in providing an apparatus for separating gas from a uid to be pumped by maintaining a substantially uniform pressure diierential between spaced portions of a iiuid to be pumped regardless of fluctuations in the amount of uid pumped.

Another object of the invention is to provide agitation of a fluid to be pumped before it enters the pump by subjecting the fluid to a turbulent ow through an orice.

Another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for separating gas from a fluid only and in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the inlet member of my invention installed in conjunction with a deep well pump.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of an alternative form of my invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of still another alternative form oi' my invention.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the inlet valve of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows an inlet member I0 threaded at II to a collar I2 which in turn is threadedly secured to an oil well tubing I3. 'Ihe oil well tubing I3 may be suspended in a Well by any suitable means well known in the art, such as a casing head or other means, not shown. The collar I2 is internally threaded to receive the upper end of a tube I 6 forming a pump receptacle member which is concentric with and projects downwardly in the inlet member I0. The tube IB is internally threaded at its lower end I1 to receive a valve body I8 havling a chamber I9 in the lower part thereof which is connected to the interior of the pump receptacle I 8 by a vertical passage 20, the upper end of which is flared to form a pump seat 2i. A radial opening 22 in the wall of the valve body I8 connects the chamber I9 with the exterior of the valve body, and has therein a valve seat 23 adapted to be engaged by a closure member preferably consisting of a metal ball 24 disposed in the chamber I9. 1

A deep well pump mechanism 28, which may be o'f any desired type but which is preferably of the type disclosed in my copending Patent No. 2,081,223, is provided at the lower end with a 'tapered portion 23 adapted to seat in the pump seat 2| and to form a fiuid-tight seal between the pump and the valve body I8. The pump 28 may be lowered through the oil tubing I3 or otherwise positioned therein so as to seat on the pump seat 2 I, so as to be capable of drawing fluid thereinto from the passage 20 and pump it upwardly through the tube I8 and the oil tubing I3.

The inlet member I 0 has an auxiliary valve member 30 internally threaded at 3I to the collar I2, the valve member having an internally threaded recessed portion 3Ia at its lower end. The valve member 30 is provided with a passage 32 therein which communicates between the interior of the inlet member I0 and the exterior thereof, and directly communicates with a space 25 between the inlet member and the tube I6, the passage 32 being counterbored at 33 to provide a seat for a closure member preferably fonned by a metal ball 34, the passage and the ball forming auxiliary valve means for releasing gas from the interior oi' the inlet member as hereinafter described. A ring member 35 is threaded on the upper end of the valve member 38 and partially obstructs the outer end of the counterbore 33 so as to permit gas to pass through the passage 32 from the interior to the exterior of the inlet member I0 but confining the ball 34 in the counterbore, the ball being free to move therein so as to permit the passage of such gas.`

Threadedly secured to the lower end of the valve member 30 is an upper tube member 38 on the lower end of which is threadedly received lan inlet collar 39 having fluid orifices 40 therein which may be of any convenient form which will create a pressure differential thereon when fluid is flowing therethrough as described hereinafter. I prefer to provide six orifices 40 spaced around the perimeter of the inlet collar 39 and communicating between the exterior thereof and the space 25 between lthe inlet member I0 and the tube I6, although any desired number of orifices may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. I also prefer to form the orifices 40, as shown in Fig. 1, so that they slant upwardly and inwardly from their external openings 4I on the exterior of the inlet collar to their internal openings 4I on the interior of the collar, so that the fluid is directed upwardly toward the upper end of the space 25. Internally threaded in the lower end of the inlet collar 38 is a lower tube member 43, which is preferably of the same diameter as the upper tube 38, to.

the lower end of which a closure member 44 is connected by a threaded lower collar 45. In practice, the tubes 38 and 43 may be made in one or more sections threaded together by suitable collars to obtain correct lengths of the upper and lower portions of the space 25. Although I have shown the upper sleeve 38, the inlet collar 39, the lower sleeve 43, the lower collar 45, and the closure member 44 as separate elements for simplicity of manufacture, it will be understood that these elements can be formed integrally as a single shell Without departing from the spirit of the invention. The closure member 44 forms a chamber 46 surrounding and extending below the inlet body I8 and communicating with the space 25.

In practice, the inlet member I0 is secured to the pump tubing I3 by the collar I2, and the tubing islowered into the well until the inlet member is wholly submerged in the fluid in the Well which is to be pumped. The level of fluid in the Well is diagrammatically represented in Fig. 1 by the line A-A, but it will be understood that ordinarily in practice this level may be considerably higher relative to the inlet member I0. Before actuation of the pump 28 is commenced, the head of fluid in the well forces well fluid through the orifices 40 into the chamber 46 and the space 25. The well fluid substantially fills the space 25 so as to form a column of fiuid in the space above the orifices 40, although a small amount of gas may remain in or collect in the upper end oi the space.

In operation, when the pump 28 is started, well fluid is drawn through the opening 22 and the valve seat 23, the ball 24 moving away from the seat to permit such entry of fluid. As fluid is pumped out of the chamber 46 by the pump 28, fluid pressure in the space 25 is reduced, and the head of uid in the well above the orifices 40 operates to force well iiuid through the orifices into the interior of the inlet member I0. The orifices 40 are restricted openings so that any flow of well fiuid therethrough creates a substantial pressure differential on the orifices. It will be apparent that the pressure ofthe well fluid at the opening 4I at the outer end of the orifice 40 will always be considerably higher than the pressure of the iiuid at the opening 42 at the inner end of the orice when the pump 28 is being actuated. This drop in pressure is due to the friction loss through the passage 40 and the conversion of pressure head into velocity head in the orifice.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 1, the size and shape of the orifices are so designed that for a given iiow of fluid through the orifices 40, the total drop in pressure thereacross will be equal to the pressure exerted by a head of fluid h2 such as, for example, between the lines B-B and C--C. It will be understood that the head of' fluid in the well between the lines B-B and D-D will not allbe required to force the well Huid through the orifices, and that a part thereof comprising a head of duid ha will be avail- `(able to create an upward pressure in the space 25 above the inner opening, 42 of the orifice 40, which I utilize to exhaust gas from the space 25 as described hereinafter, this being an important ieature or the invention.

As pointed out, the well fluid iiowing into the openings 4l oi the orifices 40 may be mixed with gas as well as supersaturated with gas, but due to the reduction of pressure in the orices 48, as the uuid flows inwardly therethrough a substantial part oi this gas is freed from the fluid by this drop in pressure therein and by the turbulence caused by the discharge of this fluid into the space 25, and when the fluid and free gas expand by reduction of pressure into the space 25, the gas rises through the fluid therein to the top ci the space where it collects. The head h4, which is the amount the iiuid level is depressed below the line C-C, exerts an upward force against the gas collected in the upper end of the space 25, and this gas in turn exerts an upward force against the ball 34. Consequently, the upward force exerted on the ball 34 is equal to the head h4 plus the head h1, whereas the downward force is merely equal to h1, and, accordingly, the ball moves away from its seat to permit excess gas in the space 25 to exhaust through the passage 32 and the counterbore 33 into the well. It will be understood that the pressure exerted by the head h4 on the ball 34 depends upon the amount of gas in the upper end of the space 25, due to the difference in speciiic gravities of the gas and the oil. Thus, i1' the space 25 is entirely filled with oil, the effective upward pressure tending to move the ball 34 will be zero, but as the amount of gas in the space increases beyond h2, the effective upward pressure h4 approaches the head ha. As soon as suflicient gas has exhausted from the space 25 to reduce the pressure in the space below the pressure exerted by the head h1 and the weight of the ball 34, the ball seats to close the auxiliary valve means. In operation, the internal and external pressures on the ball 34 quickly attain a substantial balance at which the level of oil in the space 25 maintains a substantially uniform level such as represented by the line E-E. ns additional gas collects in the upper end of the space 25, the pressure therein increases, and the ball 34 is unseated to permit such gas to exhaust into the well, the level E-E oi the uid in the space 25 remaining substantially constant.

it will also be noted that the inlet orices 4l) are positioned considerably above the radial opening 22 of the inlet body I8 to .provide a fluid head ht between the lines D--D and F-F. The elements of the device are so formed and positioned that the pressure exerted by the head ha is always greater than the friction head required to draw the pumped fluid into the pump 28 at the normal pumping capacity so that the fluid is always less than saturated with gas when it passes into the pump. This feature of construction is important in that it provides an additional means for lowering the gas saturation of the pumped fluid prior to pumping, which prevents the liberation of gas in the pump during pumping and insures that the pump is entirely iilled with oil and free from gas bubbles.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 2, in which an inlet member 58 is connected to a collar 5I of oil well tubing 52 through an annular valve member 53 having a valve passage 54 containing a.closure element 55. In this embodiment a pump receptacle tube 58 is threaded directly to the collar 5I, the valve member 53 making a sliding t with the exterior of the tube and being in engagement with a shoulder 51 formed on the collar. The valve member 53 is provided with an external shoulder receiving an upper sleeve 58 of the inlet member 50 which bears against an upper shoulder of an inlet collar 59 which in turn has a lower shoulder which bears against a lower sleeve 68. The inlet collar 59 is provided with inlet orifices 6l similar in function to the orifices 40 shown in Fig. l, but has one or more studs 62 adapted to engage the pump receptacle 56 to concentrically align the upper and lower sleeves 58 and 68 therewith. The lower end of the lower slee've 68 bears against a shoulder formed on a closure member 63.

The pump receptacle tube 56 is provided at its lower end with a valve body 64, similar in construction and function to the valve body I8 shown in Fig. 1, but having a threaded opening 65 in the lower end thereof adapted to receive a threaded bolt 66 projecting through an axial opening 61 in the closure member 63. The lower end of the bolt 66 is provided with a nut B8, and when the elements of the inlet member 58 are assembled as shown in Fig. 2, the nut may be tightened to draw the closure member 63 upwardly relative to the pump receptacle 56 to form fluid-tight joints between all the elements. Thus, when the device is assembled, fluid-tight fits are formed between the valve member 53 and the shoulder 51, between the valve member 53 and the upper sleeve 58, between the upper sleeve 58 and the inlet collar 55, between the inlet collar 59 and the lower sleeve 60, and between the lower sleeve 68 and the closure member 63. The operation of the device shown in Fig. 2 is the same as the operation of the embodiment shawn in Fig. 1, as described hereinabove, excess gas being discharged through the gas valve formed by the valve passage 54 and closure element 55. The chief advantage of the construction shown in Fig. 2 is its simpliicty of elements and ease of assembly.

Another alternative embodiment is shown in Fig. 3, which has the same general construction as the form shown in Fig. 2. A collar 10 is engaged by an annular valve member 1l, similar to the valve member 53, which is in turn engaged by an outer sleeve 12. The outer sleeve 12 is provided with studs 13 adapted to axially align the sleeve with a pump receptacle 14, similar to the pump receptacle 56. The sleeve 12 has an external annular channel 15 covered by a tubular screen 16 suitably iixed to the sleeve, and has an inlet passage 11. formed therein communicating between the annular channel and a passage 18 in an annular ring 19 formed integrally with the sleeve 12 or suitably fixed therein as by welding. The passage has a lower enlarged counterbore portion which receives a ball valve member 8| held in seating engagement with the upper end of the counterbore by a compression spring 82. A threaded plug 83 closes the lower end of the counterbore and has an opening 84 therein to permit the passage of fluid therethrough. The pump receptacle 14 has an inlet body 85 at its lower end, similar in construction to the inlet body 64.

Ii operation, the spring-actuated inlet valve, formed by the valve member 8l and the spring 82, maintains a uniform pressure differential across the inlet passages 'I1 and 1B regardless of the length and size oi the passages, whereas in the embodiments shown in Figs. l and 2 the length and size of the inlet orifices have to be very carefully coordinated to maintain the correct desired stabilizing action on the fluid flowing therethrough. 'I'his is an important feature of this embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, with the construction shown in Fig. 3, a variable amount of fluid can flow'through the inlet passages ll and 'i8 without varying the pressure drop therein, due to the uniform action of the compression spring 82, and consequently the agitation o1' the fluid flowing through the passage remains uniform regardless of the amount of fluid flowing therethrough. The screen 16 acts to prevent clogging of the inlet passages 'Il and 18. Although I have only shown one inlet valve in the annular ring 19, I prefer to use three of such valves spaced at equal intervals around the shoulder, and it will be apparent that any desirable numberv may be used depending upon pumping conditions.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a deep well pumping device, the combination of pump means adapted to pump fluid from a well, said pump means having a pump inlet; an inlet member connected to said pump means so as to supply well fluid thereto, said inlet member having an orifice communicating between said well and the interior of said member at a point above said pump inlet, said orifice being so formed that a pressure differential is impressed on well fluid flowing therethrough so as to separate gas from said fluid, said gas collecting, in said member; and valve means associated with said member for removing at least a portion of said gas from said member.

2. In a deep well pumping device, the combination of: pump means adapted to pump fluid from a well, said pump means having an inlet; wals forming a chamber communicating with said inlet; means for conducting well fluid into said chamber at a point above said inlet, said 4means being adapted to reduce the pressure on said fluid flowing into said chamber below the fluid pressure in said well so as to cause gas to separate from said fiuidand collect in said chamber; valve means for permitting the escape of gas from said chamber; and means for maintaining the amount of gas in said chamber below a predetermined maximum.

3. In a deep well pumping device, the combination of: lpumping means adapted to be positioned in a well adjacent the production zone thereof; a shell member forming a chamber; means for securing said shell member relative to said pumping means; walls forming a restricted orice communicating between the fluid in said well and said chamber, said orifice being so formed as t0 impress a substantial pressure differential on fluid flowing therethrough so as to separate gas therefrom in said chamber; fluid inlet means communicating between said chamber and said pumping means, said inlet means being below said orice; and valve means associated with said walls for permitting at least a portion of said gas to escape from said chamber.

4. In a deep well pumping device, the combination of: pumping means adapted to be positioned in a well adjacent the production zone thereof; a shell member forming a chamber; means for securing said shell member relative to said pumping means; walls forming an orifice communicating between the fluid in said well and said chamber, said orifice being so formed as to impress a pressure differential on fluid flowing therethrough so as to separate gas therefrom in said chamber; iluid inlet means communicating between said chamber below said orifice and said pumping means; valve means associated with said shell member for permitting at least a portion of said gas to escape from said chamber; and means for maintaining the lower level of said gas in said chamber above said orifice.

5. In a deep well pumping device, the combination of: pumping means adapted to be positioned in a well adjacent the production zone thereof; a shell member forming a chamber; means for securing said shell member relative to said pumping means; walls forming an orifice commiunicating between the uid Ain said well and said chamber, said orifice being so formed as to impress a pressure differential on fluid flowing `therethrough so as to separate gas therefrom to collect in said chamber; fluid inlet means communicating between said chamber below said orifice and said pumping means; valve means associated with said shell member above said orifice for permitting at least a portion of said gas to escape from said chamber; and means for maintaining the lower level of said gas in said chamber above said oriilce.

6. In a deep well pumping device, the combination of: a production tube adapted to be extended down into a well to the uid producing zone thereof for carrying' well fluid to the surface into said shell from the well above the lower end of said inlet body, said means being so formed as to impress a fluid pressure differential on the fluid flowing therethrough so as to liberate gas in the interior of said shell; and valve means associatedl with 'said shell and communicating between the interior of said shell and the well forpermitting the escape of at least a portion of said gas from said shell.

'7. In a deep well pumping device, the combination of: a production tube adapted to be extended down into a well to the fluid producing zone thereof for carrying well fluid to the surface of the ground; an outer shell extending downwardly from the lower end of said tube; a pump receptacle in the lower part of said shell; means connecting the upper end of said pump receptacle to said tube; pumping means adapted to be lowered through said tube into said pump receptacle; means forming a seal between the exterior of said pumping means and said receptacle; an inlet body at the lower end of said receptacle connecting the inlet of said pumping means with the interior of said shell; means for conducting said fluid into said shell from the well, said means being so formed as to impress a fluid pressure differential on the fluid flowing therethrough so as to liberate gas in the interior of said shell; valve means communicating between the interior of said shell and the well for permitting the escape of at least a portion of said gas from said shell; and

means between said valve body and said shell for rigidly holding said shell relative to said lower end of said tube and forming a fluid-tight joint therebetween.

8. In a deep well pumping devicefthe combination of: pump means adapted to pump uid from a well; an inlet member connected to said pump means so as to supply well fluid thereto, said inlet member having an orifice communicating between said well and the interior of said member, said oriiice being so formed that a pressure differential is impressed on well fluid owing therethrough so as to separate gas from said huid; and means associated with said orifice for maintaining said pressure differential substantially uniform regardless of iluctuations in the amount of fluid iiowing therethrough.

9. In a deep well pumping device, the combination of: pumping means adapted to be positioned in a well; a shell member forming a chamber; means for securing said shell member relative to said pumping means; walls forming an orifice communicating between the exterior of said shell and said chamber, said orifice being so formed as to impress a substantial pressure diierential on Huid owing therethrough so as to separate gas therefrom in said chamber; fluid inlet means communicating between said chamber and said pumping means; valve means for permitting at least a portion of said gas to escape from said chamber; and means associated with said orice for maintaining said pressure differential substantially uniform regardless of fluctuations in the amount of fluid flowing therethrough.

10. In a deep well pumping device, the combination of: pumping means adapted to be positioned in a well; a shell member forming a chamber; means for securing said shell member relative to said pumping means; walls forming an orice communicating between the exterior of said shell and said chamber, said oriic/ being so formed as to impress a substantial plessure differential on huid flowing therethrough so as to separate gas therefrom in said chamber; fluid inlet means communicating between said chamber and said pumping means; valve means associated with said shell for permitting at least a portion of said gas to escape from said chamber; and means associated with said orifice for maintaining said pressure differential substantially uniform regardless of uctuations in the amount of fluid flowing therethrough.

1l. In a deep well pumping device, the combination of: pumping means adapted to be positloned in a well; a shell member forming a chamber; means for securing said shell member relative to said pumping means; walls forming an oriiice communicating between the exterior of said shell and said chamber, said orifice being so formed as to impress a substantial pressure dierential on uid owing therethrough so as to separate gas therefrom in said chamber; iluid inlet means communicating between said chamber and said pumping means; valve means associated with said shell for permitting at least a portion of said gas to escape from saidchamber; and valve means associated with said orice for maintaining said pressureV differential substantially uniform regardless of uctuations in the amount of fluid owing therethrough.

l2. In a deep well pumping device, the combination of: pumping means adapted to pump uid from a well; a shell member forming a chamber, said shell member being -submerged in the fluid in said well; means for securing said shell member relative to said pumping means; walls forming an orice communicating between the fluid in said well and said chamber, said orifice being so formed as to impress a pressure differential on fluid flowing therethrough so as to separate gas therefrom in said chamber; uid inlet means communicating between said chamber and said pumping means at a point below said orice; and valve means for permitting gas to escape from said chamber, said gas being expelled from said chamber by the action of at least a portion of the submergence head of said uid above said orifice.

13. In a deep well pumping device, the combination of: pumping means adapted to pump uld from a well; a shell member forming a chamber, said shall member being submerged in the uld in said well; means for securing said shell member relative to said pumping means; walls forming an orifice communicating between the uid in said well and said chamber, said orice being so formed as to impress a pressure diflerential on fluid iiowing therethrough so as to separate gas therefrom in said chamber, said orice being so formed that a portion of the submergence head of the fluid in the well above said orice exerts an upward pressure on the gas in said chamber; fluid inlet means communicating between said chamber and said pumping means; and valve means for permitting gas to escape from said chamber.

14. In a deep well pumping device, the combination of: collar means; an upper tube member secured relative to said collar; an orifice collar connected to the lower end of said upper tube member, having a restricted orifice therein; a lower tube member secured to the lower end of said orice collar .and having its lower end closed. said upper and lower tube members forming a chamber; and a tubular pump receptacle within said chamber adapted to receive pumpingmeans, the lower end of said pump receptacle communicating with said chamber so as'to provide an inlet for said pumping means.

15. In a deep well pumping device, the combination of: collar means; an upper tube member secured relative to said collar; an oriilce collar connected to the lower end of said upper tube member, having -a restricted orice therein; a lower tube member secured to the lower. end of said orifice collar and having its lower end closed,

said upper and lower tube members forming a chamber; a tubular pump receptacle within said chamber adapted to receive pumping means, the lower end of said pump receptacle communicating with said chamber so as to provide an inlet for said pumping means; and a valve at the upper end of said upper tube member communicating between said chamber and the exterior of said upper tube member.

16. In a deep well pumping device, the combination of: collar means; an upper tube member secured relative to said collar; an orifice collar connected to the lower end of said upper tube member, having a restricted orice disposed so as to slant inwardly and upwardly therein; a lower tube member secured to the lower end of said orifice collar and having its lower end closed, said upper and lower tube members forming a chamber; a tubular pump receptacle within said chamber adapted to receive pumping means, the lower end of said pump receptacle communicating with said chamber so as to provide an inlet for said pumping means; and a valve at the upper end of said upper tube member communicating between said chamber and the exterior o! said upper tube member.

17. In a deep well pumping device. the combination of: collar means; an upper tube member secured relative to said collar; an oriilce collar connected to the lower end of said upper tube member, having a restricted orifice therein; inwardly opening valvemeans in said oriilce; a lower tube member secured to the lower end of said orice collar and having its lower end closed. said upper and lower tube members forming a chamber; a tubular pump receptacle within said chamber adapted to receive pumping means, the lower end of said pump receptacle communicating with said chamber so as to provide an inlet for said pumping means; and a valve at the up= per end of said upper tube member communicating between said chamber and the exterior ot said upper tube member.

18. In a deep well pumping device, the combination of: collar means; an upper tube member secured relative to said collar; an orice collar connected to the lower end of said upper tube member, having a restricted oriilce therein; a lower tube member secured to the lower end of said oriice collar and having its lower endclosed, said upper and lower tube members forming a chamber; a tubular pump receptacle within said chamber adapted to receive pumping means. the lower end oi' said pump receptacle communicating with said chamber so as to provide an inlet for said pumping means; a valve at the upper end oi' said upper tube member communicating between said chamber and the exterior of said upper tube member; and a perforated tubular member surrounding and spaced from said oriice collar.

19. In a deep well pumping device. the combination of: pumping means adapted to pump uid from a well; a shell member forming a cham--l ber, said shell member being at least partially submerged in the fluid in said well; means for securing said shell member relative to said pumping means; walls forming an orice communieating between the iiuid in said well and said chamber, said oriiice being so formed as to impress a pressure diierential on uid owing therethrough so as to separate gas therefrom in said chamber, .said orice being so formed that the pressure diierential impressed on said orice is less than the pressure exerted by the submergence head of the iiuid in the well above said oriilce; iiuid inlet means communicating between said chamber and said pumping means; and

-valve means for permitting gas to escape-from laid chamber.

CLARENCE J. COBERLY.

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