US2179482A - Pulsometer gas anchor and method of operating - Google Patents

Description

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1li Ill C. J. COBERLY Filed March 16, 1938 PULSOMETER GAS ANCHOR AND METHOD 0F OPERATING v M mlhnf Rea o o R v 5 rcm\w\- N. a d n War A" E am b e M/ cm A YV 5H a www ../v r`lchun l a wm a 4 r @mun/2m 4 3 .|1114 ll//ldrll Imlw! ...S

Nov. 14. ,'1939.

NOV. 14, `1939. J, CQBERLY l 2179*;482

PULSOMETER GAS yANCI-IOR' AND METHOD 0F OPERATING Filed March 16, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 //va/Al/roR y CLARENCE d. 6055EA/ H1/1%, K/ECH, Fos TER daga RR/s A rro RNE Ys.

Nov. 14, 1939. C, 1 COBERLY 2.179.482

' PULSOMETER GAS ANCHOR AND METHOD OF OPERATING Filed March 16, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3- HA RRI la cH, FosrgRHA RR/s therefrom.

Patented Nov. 14, 1939 PULSGMETER. GAS ANCHOR AND`METHOD' 0F OPERATING ClarenceJ. Coberly, Los Angeles,v Calif., assignorto Roko Corporation, of Nevada Reno, Nev., a corporation Application March 16, 1938, lSerial No. 196,207 1s Claims. (c1. 10s- 203) My'invention relates to the deep well pumping art, and more particularly to a method and appa.

ratus for introducing a uid to be pumped into a. deep Well pump.

Although my invention is susceptible of many uses, it is of particular utility in the oil industry 'and will be described in connectionwith 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 specific use described.

In the pumping of oil wells numerous types of pumps may besuccessfully utilized, as is well known in the art.. Although the type of pump utilized forms no part of my present invention, I prefer to use my invention in conjunction with a fluid operated deep well pump of the type disclosed in my Letters Patent No. 2,081,220, issued May 25, 1937, entitled Liquid operated pump, which discloses a pump and motor unit adapted to be positioned in a Well so as to pump fluid 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 supersaturated, i. e., to -have more gas in solution than the amount normally corresponding to equilibrium conditions. Agitation of a supersaturated solution causes the release of gas and tends to bring about equilibrium between the gas and the oil. Also when the pressure on the well fluid is decreased or the temperature increased, relatively large quantities of the gas therein are liberated and separate from the oil, forming a mixture therewith in the form of a foam or a suspension. Such gas produces a number of detrimental elfects in the pumping, treating, conveying, and storing of the pumped uid, 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 Tof my invention to provide a method and apparatus for separating at least a portion of the gas in the from a well therefrom fluid from the well.

It is another object of my invention to provide method and apparatusy for introducing into a iiuid to be pumped prior to pumping such Y saturated gas saturation, in which the degree of gas saturation is reduced before the liquid enters the pump. Another object of my invention is to supply a method and apparatus for introducing into a pump a liquid normally containing substantial quantities of gas, in which at least a portion of the gas is removed from the liquid, and the depump a liquid normally having a 'high degree of gree of'gas saturation'of the liquid is then re- I duced before the liquid enters the pump. I prefer to accomplish this by reducing the pressure on the liquid to remove at least a portion of the gas therefrom and then increasing the pressure thereon to reduce the degree of saturation of the liquid.

Another object of my invention is to provide p a method and apparatus for use in connection with a deep well pump of the character described above for reducing to a minimum the tendency of the pump to cause the release of gas from the pumped iiuid and the resulting loss of pump ,capacity due to the space occupied bysuch gas.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method and apparatus for introducing fluid 'into pump in which the pressure of the fluid to. be pumped is reduced to casing pressure so as to liberate gas therefrom, and the fluid is then conveyed to the inlet, of the pump under suflicient pressure so that said fluid is less than with gas when it enters the pump.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for introducing well ud into a'deep well pump, in which gas pressure in. the well is utilized to lift the fluid to a point adjacent the inlet of the pump, and the amount of fluid so lifted is automatically controlled.

Still another object of my invention is to pro- A further object is to providel a .method and apparatus for introducing uid into/a deep well y pump in which the'pump and apparatus may be submerged to a point belowI the pumping fluid level in the well and in which the pumping fluid is subjected to the casing pressure to release gas therefrominto the casing and is then conveyed to the pump at the submergence pressure.

are for the purpose :which:

-ed to be supported onr the liner Another object is to provide a method and apparatus for controlling the now of pumping fluid into the apparatus so that pumping uid will not be permitted to rise in the casing and put an' excessive back pressure on the discharge of gas from the apparatus.

A further object is to provide a method and apparatus for separating gas from a liquid in which a mixture thereof initially at high pressure is carried .through the cycle of reducing it to a lower pressure to release gas from the mixture, discharging the released gas at low pressure until substantial equilibrium is established, then subjecting the remaining liquid to the original high pressure so that it will be undersaturatedat this pressure, and then discharging this stabilized liquid at the high pressure.

A further object is to provide a method and apparatus for introducing liquid into a well pump in which all the gas-liquid mixture from the well must pass through Athe .apparatus and in which gas from the mixture is discharged into the casing at low pressure and the liquid is conveyed to the pump'at the well pressure. ,y

Ahfurther object of the invention is toprovide an apparatus having a plurality of chambers adapted to receive@ fluid having a gas mixed therewith, there being means for alternately subecting said chambers to low and high pressures to liberate gas from said fluid and discharge said fluid from said chambers alternately, and having me'ans adapted to be reciprocated as a result thereof.

I Other objects and advantages will appear from the following specication and drawings, which of illustration only, and in Fig. l is an elevational view, partly in sectio of my invention installed in a well. y Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the inlet means of my invention.

Fig. 31s an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-8 of Fig. ,2.

Fig. 4 is another vertical sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 2, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. v

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 5,-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Eig. 2. e l

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional viewA taken onthe line I8-I0 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the inlet means of my invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, I show a well casing 28 adapted to bepositioned in a well as is well known in the art, having the usual perforated liner 2| in the lower end thereof. Adapt- A 2| is a packer means `22. comprising` an upper ring clamp 23 having a tubular extension 24 on which rides a lower` ring clamp 25 secured thereon by a suitable nut 25. The lower ring .clamp 25 rests on the upper end of the liner 2|, and a resilient packing.

member 21, ,made of rubber or other resilient material, is held between the lower and upper ring clamps. AThe upper face of the upper ring clamp 23 of the packer means 22 is -provided with a con,

cave seat 28 adapted to receive a convex; face 28 fluid-tight flt therewith,

drical bore 1|) which receives an upper formed on'the lower end of an inlet means 38 of my invention. The lower end of the inlet means 30 is counterbored and internally threaded to rewardly therefrom to the 'surface of the ground.

and a conical pump l.seat is formed in the upper end of the inlet means' to receive the lower tapered end of a pump unit 31,-'which has suitably connected thereto macaroni tubing 38 adapted to supply the pump unit with actuating iluild, the pump unit preferably being of the fluid operated type such as shown in my Letters Patent No. 2,081,220, issued May 25, 1937, although any suitable type of pump unit may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The inlet means 38, as shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 4, has an upper body 40 and a centrall body 4| preferably connected together by a' threaded upper shell preferably connected to the central body by means of a threaded lower shell 44, forming an upper chamber 45 and a lower chamber 48.

Formed in the lower body 43 is an offset inlet passage 41 communicating through a radial passage 48 with a central valve bore 48', also formed therein. Adapted to be reciprocated in the valve bore 48 and forming a sliding fluid-tight nt there- 42, and a lower body-43, Y

with is an inlet valve member 50 having upper and lower heads 5| and 52, respectively-con nected by a stem 53. Connected to the upper head 5| by means of a suitable bolt 54 is a plate member 55 secured to the lower end of a flexible Sylphon bellows 53 which extends into a tubular cap 51 threaded into the lower body 43 concentric with the valve bore 49. Communicating with the interior of the valve bore 49 and the tubular cap 51 is a pressure passage 58 formed in the lower body 43, which also communicates with the exterior of the lower body, as shown in Fig. 2. Also communicating with the valve bore 49l is a radial opening 59 formed in the lower body 43 in the same plane'as the radial passage 48, which opens into an intermediate passage 58 communicating with a sleeve bore 5| which receives the lower end of a 4lower sleeve 52 which makes a the upper end of the lower sleeve being similarly received in a lower counterbore 53 of an intermediate opening 64 formed in the central body 4|. The upper end of theintermediate opening 54 has an upper counterbore 55 which receives the lower end of an upper sleeve 55, the upper end thereof being received ,valve member 50, the Sylphon bellows 58 connected therewith, and theassociated passages form a iiow governor for controlling the 'ow of well iiuid into the inlet means 38 from the well through the tubing member 3|, as will be described hereinafter.

The upper body isv provided with a cylinpiston 1| ,Y 13 joined by a anced uid pressures comprised of a lower head l12 and an upper head stem 14 to providean annular gas discharge chamber 15 adapted to communicate with a pair of upper gas discharge openings 16 which communicate with the exterior of the upper body 40, and which communicates through an upper exhaust passage 16a with the upper chamber 45.- Threadedly received in the lower end of the cylindrical bore G is 'a plug 11 having. a vertical orifice 18 communicating between the upper chamber 45 and the lower face of the piston 1| to permit uid pressure in the upper chamber to act on the lower face of the piston 1|, and a deected passage 19 is likewise provided in the upper body40 communicating between the upper chamber and the upper face of the piston' to permit fluid pressure in the upper-chamber to act on the upper-face of the piston to maintain balon opposite ends of the piston. x

The central body 4| is-likewise vprovided with a cylindrical bore 80 having a lower piston 0| therein comprised of head 83 connected by a stem 84 to provide an annular gas discharge chamber B85 adapted to wings 16, which communicate with the exterior of ltween the upper l nalled therein at one endV the central body. and which communicates through a lower exhaust passage 06a with the lower chamber 46. Threadedly received in the upper end of the cylindrical bore 80 is a lock plug 81 having a vertical orifice 88 communicating bechamber 45 and the upper face lof the piston 8| to permit fluid pressure -in' the upper chamber to act on the upper face of the piston, and a deflected passage 89 is likewiseprovided in-the central body 4| communicatinglbetween the upper chamber and the lower face of the piston to permit fluid pressure in the 'upper on the lower face of the piston to maintain balanced iluid pressures on opposite ends of the piston 8|.

iThe upper and lower pistons 1| and 8| are preferably rigidly connected together by a piston rod 90 so that the pistons and rod move in unison, the piston rod passing through a suitable journalling opening formed in the plug 11. Secured.

hereinafter. Also secured on Vthe piston rod 90 is a' locking sleeve 92 having V-shapedl annular grooves 93 and 94 in the exterior surface thereof,

as shown in Fig. 4, which are ternately engaged by a ball carried in a radial passage 96 formed in the lock' ing plug 81, the ball member being forcibly held in engagement with the locking sleeve by a spring 91 held in lplace by a screw plug 98, as shown in Fig. 2. i

As shown in Fig. 2, the central body 4| is provided with check valve means in the form of an oiisetbore |00 having a concentric counterbore |0| receiving a tubular valve seat member |02 in which a ball valve |03 is adapted to seat, the ball valve normally being held in seated position by a compression spring |04 retained in the seat mem- -ber by the lower end of a discharge pipe jourand Journalled at its other end in a discharge opening |06 formed in the uppr body 40. 'I'he discharge opening |06 rcommunicates at its upper end with the inlet |01 of the pump unit 31.

adapted to be a1- locking member 95 a lower head 82 and an upper/ -less than the height to The lower end of the oiwith a central disthe central body 4| set bore |00 communicates charge passage |00 formed in and communicating with`the lower end of the upper chamber 45. V i

. As shown in Fig. 4, the lower body 43 is provided with check valve means in the form of an oilset bore 0 having a concentric counterbore receiving a tubular valve yseat member ||2 in which a ball valve ||3 is adapted to seat, the ball member normally being held in seated position by a compression spring I4 retainedln the seat member by the lower end of a discharge pipe I5 journalled therein at one end and journalled at its other end in a vertical opening ||6 formed in the central body 4|. A connecting pipe |1 is received in the upper end of the opening ||6 and shown in Figs. 2 and 7. The lower end of the offset bore ||0 communicates through a lower discharge passage 8 formed in the lower body 43 with the lower end of the lower chamber 46, as best shown in Fig. 2. f

In installing the device in a well, the liner 2| is rst lowered intothe casing in the usual manner, the .liner being of a length considerably which well uid would normally rise in the well, as represented, for example, by the line A A shown in Fig. 1. To the lower end of the production tubing 35 is connected the inlet means 30 and the packer means 22 which are then lowered into the casing 20 as a unit by means of the production tubing until the lower clamp ring of and is supported on the upper end of the liner 2|. 'Ihe weight of the production tubing 38 and the inlet means bears on the upper clamp ring 23 of the packer means to move down relative to the lower clamp ring 25 to compress and expand the packing member 21' packer means and inlet meansjare not perfectly axially aligned. Preferably before the inlet means 30 is lowered into the casing 20, the flexible Sylphon bellows 56 is illed with fluid under Ipressure, such as air, by any suitable means, the pressure used therein being determined by operating conditions in the well. I have found that 100 pounds per square inch is a common working pres- -sure for the ilexible Sylphon bellows 56, but it will be understood that creased lor decreased to conform to ow 'conditions in a particular well. l

After the packer means 22 is positioned in the casing 20, as shown in Fig. 1, the pump unit 31 may then be. assembledand connected to; the macaroni tubing38 by means of which it is lowered through the production tubing 35 until the lower tapered end thereof seats in the conical seat 36 to form a fluid-tight jointA therewith. Although I have disclosed a system in which for convenience the pump unit 31 is suiliciently small in diameter to be lowered into operating .position through the productiontubing 35, it will be apparent that a pump of any suitable size and design may be utilized without ldeparting from theinvention. I

The operation of the invention is as follows:

Oilfrom the well formation flows through the perforations in the liner 2| and-the Skeeter bill 33, and is forced upwardly through the tubing member 3| by the iluidpressure on the well fluid below the packer means 22. As is well known in the packer means engages made between the .packer means 22 and the inlet means 30 even though the.

this pressure may be in-A 22, causing the upper clamp the oil industry,

formation pressure in an oil well is ordinarily sufficient to lift the well uid through considerable distances, which fact has been widely utilized in the art in various well known types of oil lifts. The course of the well iiuid is indicated by arrows in Fig. 2, the uid 4flowing upwardly from the tubing member 3|,-

through the inlet pasage 41, the radial passage 48, around the stem 53 through the radial opening 56, through the lower sleeve 62, the intermediate opening 64,.the upper sleeve 66, and through the upper and lower inlet oriiices 68 and 60 into the upper and lower chambers and 46, respectively. The inlet passage 41, the valve member and associated openings, the lower sleeve 62, the intermediate opening 64, and the upper sleeve 66 thus vform an entrance passage |20 for fluid iiowing from the well.

It will be noted thatwhen the exible Sylphon bellows 56 is assembled in the tubular cap 51 in the inlet means 30, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, operating pressure within the bellows will causen it to expand, moving the plate member and inlet valve member 50 connected thereto downwardly substantially to the bottom of the valve bore 4 3 to the position shown. When in this position, the stem 53 and the space between the upper and lower heads 5| and 52 is substantially aligned opposite the radial passage 48 and radial opening 59. so that open communication is provided between the inlet passage 41 and the intermediate passage through the valve bore 49 around the stem. Any rise of fluid pressure in the space |25 between the well casing 20 and the inlet means 30 is communicated through the pressure passage 56 to the valve bore 48 above the valve member 50 and to the interior of the tubular cap 51 to act against the exterior of the Sylphon bellows 56 and the bottom of the plate 55 to tend to compress the bellows. If this fluid pressure rises above the operating pressure within the Sylphon bellows 56, as described hereinafter, the Sylphon bellows will contract as a result of the action thereof to raise the valve member 50. As the lower head 52 restricts the communication between the radial passage 48 and the radial opening 58 to'decrease the flow of .well fluid therethrough. A suiilcient rise in fluid pressure in the space |25 will cause the Sylphon bellows 55 to contract to such an extent that the lower head 52 of the valve memberv 50 will completely close the communication between the radial passage 48 and the radial opening 59, to prevent any well iluid from owing into the inlet means 30 from the tubing member 3| until the uid pressure inthe space |25 decreases to such an extent that the operating pressure within the Sylphon bellows 56 can operate to expand the bellows to force the valve member downwardly until the lower head clears the radial passage and opening, at which time the flow of well uid will be resumed from the tubing member into the inlet means. The amount of opening of the valve member 50 will thus be understood to be inversely proportional to the dierence in iiuid p .e in the space |25 and the Sylphon bellows 56, the amount of opening automatically increasing or decreasing with such change in pressure difference within the. limits of the device, thus providing means lfor automatically controlling the volume of now of well uid into the inlet means in accordance with the fluid inthe space |25. As will be pointed of the valve member 50,

. corporate this the valve member 50 rises, v

it is desirable to discharge gas at low pressure into the space |25, and, since both the inlet means 30 and the pump unit 31 are preferably submergedV in fluid to a level such as represented by the level A-A in Fig. 1, it is an important object to maintain the` level of the fluid in thel space |25 above the packer means 22 below a' predetermined maximum so as yto prevent the fluid pressure on the gas discharge openings 16 and 86 from exceeding that at which gas is to be discharged therefrom. Thus, it will be understood that ythe head of fluid in the space |25 above the packer means 22 will automatically control the ilow of well fluid into the inlet means. If this head of fluid rises above its predetermined maximum, the flow of well fluid into the inlet out hereinafter,

means 30 will be restricted or stopped, and the pump unit 31 will then operate to reduce theA trolled mechanism for controlling the ow of well fluid into the inlet means, I prefer to yin mechanism to provide universal application of the invention. It will be understood, however, that I do not intend to be limited to a device incorporating such a mechanism as described.

The fluid pressure in the space |25 is also communicated to the lower end of the valve bore 46 below the valve member 50 through a ance passage 58a, so that the valve member will be subjected to equal fluid pressures above and below it to substantially balance the valve member. A y

The well uid flowing from the well into the inlet means 30 normally has a substantial quantity of gas mixed therewith or in solution therein so as to have a high degree of gas saturation, as described hereinabove, and, as stated, this well uid iiows from the entrance passage |20 through the upper and lower inlet oriilces 68 and 69 into the upper and lower chambers 45 and 46, respectively. When the parts .are in the position shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the upper chamber 45 is in open communication with the space |25 in the well. casing 20 through the upper exhaust passage 16a, the gas discharge chamber 15, and the gas discharge openings 16. and consequently the upper chamber is at casing pressure, which may be at or about atmospheric pressure depending on the head of uid above the openings 16 in the'space 25. Well fluid owing into the upper chamber 45 from' the entrance passage |20 is under considerable pressure, due to the natural formation pressure of the well, but when it enters the upper chamber the pressure thereon is reduced to or about casing pressure, and gas is liberated, the liberated gas flowing upwardly in the upper chamber 45, through the exhaust passage 16a, the exhaust chamber 15, and the gas discharge openings 16, into the space |25 of the well casing 20 exterior to the inlet means 30, from whence the gas/'may iiow upwardly through the casing to a suitable point of discharge or storage (not shown). In the meantime, clean oil from which the gas has been released commences to llthe upper chamber 45, the level thereof rising therein.

As the upper chamber 45 is nlling with oil, well y however, the lower piston 8| is in lowered posithe oil owing thereinto. Although tion in which the upper head 83 thereof closes the lower gas discharge openings 86, and consequently the pressure in the lower chamber quickly rises so that very little gas is released from in the lower chamber 46 tends to rise, the compression -spring ||4 maintains the ball -valve member ||3 closed to prevent a premature discharge of oil from the lower chamber.

When the oil level in the upper chamber 45 contacts the oat 9|, due to the buoyancy of the latter. vWhen the upward pressure on the iioat 9| reaches a predetermined value, the oat, piston rod 98, and locking sleeve 92 will move upwardly, forcing the ball locking member 95 outwardly in the radial passage 96 against the action of the spring 91. The locking sleeveP 92 and associated elements will move upwardly until the lower annular groove 94 thereof moves into alignment with the radial passage 96, at which time the ball locking member 95 enters the lower annular grooveto lock the locking sleeve, the iioat 9|, the piston rod 98, andthe upper and lower pistons 1| and 8| in raised position. The locking sleeve 92 andball locking member 95 thus comprise a locking means for lockingy the piston assembly comprised of the piston rod 98, oat 9|, and upper and lower pistons 1| and 8|, in -either an upper or lower position, and preventing the rod from creeping between such positions. The elements are preferably so proportioned that the piston rod will snap from one position to another, which is another object of the invention.

When the piston rod 98 moves to its raised position,`as described, the lower head 12 of the upper piston 1| closes the gas discharge openings 16 so that communication between the upper chamber andthe casing 28 is cut on, and,'accordingly,

the uid .pressure in'the upperchamber commences to rise. With the piston rod 98 in such raised position, the lower piston 8| will be 4raised suiliciently so that theannular discharge chamber 85 registers with the lower gas discharge openings 66 to open communication between the upper end4 of the lower chamber 46 and the casing 28, through the exhaust passage 86a, the annular discharge chamber, and the lower discharge openings, lower chamber exhausts into the casing, vand the iiuid in the lower chamber is reduced to casing pressure. When this occurs, well iiuid ows into the lower chamber 46 through'the lower inlet passageway 64 from the entrance passage |28, and, being immediately reduced to casing pressure, gas is liberated therefrom and the lower chamber starts to ll with oil, as described above in connection with the operation of the upper chamber 45.

Fluid pressure in the builds up to a pressure valve member |83 upper chamber' 45 quickly suilicient to cause the ball and this pressure then causes oil to flow from the upper chamber through the central discharge passage |08, the offset bore |88, the valve seat member |82, the discharge pipe |85, and the discharge opening |86 to the inlet |81 ofl the pump unit 31,

= the-ground as is customary the pressurev it tends to raise the float and, accordingly, the free gas in theto move away-from its seat against the action of the compressionspring |84,

drops in the upper chamber until it is adjacent the lower end of the oat 9|, at which time the weight of the piston assembly overcomes the locking action of the ball locking member 95 in the lower annular member to move outwardly to release the locking groove 94, causing, the ball4 sleeve 92 to permit the locking sleeve, the piston rod 98, andconnected upper and lower pistons 1| and 8| to move downwardly until the ball locking member moves into the upper annular groove 93, at which time .the piston rod assembly is locked in its lower position.

While the piston rod assembly is in` its upper position, as described. oil ows from the upper chamber 45 under a relatively high pressure to the inlet |81 of the pump unit 31, and during such period the lower chamber 4,6 is iilling with oiland discharging gas into the casing 28. As s oon as the piston rod assembly moves downwardly into its lower position, as described, the action of the upper and lower chambers is reversed, and the upper chamber 45 rells with oil and discharges gas into the casing 28 while the lower chamber 46 discharges oil to the inlet |81 of the pump unit 31. It will beapparent that the lower chamber `4|; discharges oil tothe pump unit 31 similarly to the upper chamber, the pressure in the lower chamber displacing the ing oil to iiow through the lower discharge passage ||8, the oiset bore 8, the valve seat member'l i2, the discharge pipe ||5, the vertical open-` ing ||6, and the connecting pipe |1 into the discharge pipe |85 from whence it is conveyed'to the pump inlet 81 through the discharge opening |86. The device is so designed that a substantially continuous now of oil under pressure is supplied to the inlet |81 of the pump unit 31. By maintaininga relatively high pressure on the oil iiowing to the pump unit 31, any gas remaining in the oil is compressed so that the oil flowing to the pump unit *is at all times less than saturated with gas. 'I'his prevents the release of gas in the pump unit 31l during pumping, andinsures that the pump is entirely filled with oil and is free from gas bubbles, which`maintains a high pumping emciency.

It will also be apparent that during normal operation of my device the piston rod 98 reciprocates in accordance with the operation of the object of my invenequilibrium conditions being the pressurevand temperature existing in the well below the packer means 22. The oil, under any of these conditions, may also have free gas mixed therewith in the form of a foam or suspension of gas bubbles inl the oil.

Theabsolute amount of gas in solution at constant temperature depends on the pressure and the percent of saturation at this pressure, which may vary from zero to more than 100%. A liquid which is less than saturated at high pressure may become supersaturated at low pressure andjgelease gas. Conversely, a liquid which is supersaturated at low pressure will be saturated fat a certain higher pressure and will have only a small percentage saturation at a relatively very high pressure. 4'Both undersaturated and oversaturated solutions are unstable, but oversaturated solutions, can be reduced to approximate saturaball valve ||3 and causoil. Since the casing pressure in either the uption more readily than undersaturated solutions can be saturated because when gas is released, a mechanical gravity separation of gas bubbles takes place, and yhence the gas can rise rapidly through the liquid. However, when gas is going into solution, it must diffuse into the liquid un- 'less artificially agitated, and diffusion is a very slow process.

If the oil is supersaturated with gas as it ows into the inlet means 30, it will have more gas dissolved therein than normal under equilibrium conditions at the particular temperature andv pressure existing. Flow of this oil through the inlet means 30 into the entrance passage |20 causes considerable agitation and will release from the oil at least a portion of the gas causing the supersaturated condition. Whe'n the oil flows into either the upper or lower chambers 45 or 46 which are at reduced pressure-(casing pressure), a large amount of gas is released from the per or lower chamber 45 or- 45 is much lower than that of the oil entering it, the amount of gas ther supersaturated by reducing the pressure, the 4excess gas corresponding to the supersaturation then flashing out of solution to form a substantially saturated solution of oil and lgas in the chamber at a low pressure.

If the oil is substantially saturated with gas as it ows into the inlet means 30, the reduction in pressure in either of the chambers 45 or 46 into which it ows causes a reduction in the stable amount of gas corresponding to the saturation point at the reduced pressure, which in turn ren'- ders the oil supersaturated with relation to drequilibrium conditions in the chamber, and the excess gas separates from the oil, leaving oil substantially saturated vwith gas in the chamber.

If the oil is less than saturated with' gas as it ilows into the inlet means III, the reduction in pressure thereon on flowing into either of 'the chambers saturation of the oil. If more gas is in solution than would be normally possible for an equilib-` rium condition in the chamber, as the pressure is lowered the .oil will first become saturated and -will then become supersaturated, and the excess:

gas will then tiash'out,"leaving a saturated oil in the chamber. If, however, less gas is in solution than would normally be possible for an equilibrium condition in the chamber, then the degree of saturation will rise but will not exceed the saturation point, and consequently no excess gas will be available to separate from the oil.

It will'be appreciated that any free gas in the oil in the chambers 45 or 48, whether released from the oil by reason of the change in pressure conditions as described above or merely mixed therewith, willseparate from the oil by gravity separation under the low pressure conditions existing in the chambers, and, consequently, such always be less than with the amount of gas origi- 45 or 45 will increase the degree of iirst lvalve means movable between open of the gas from the oil is another important feature of the invention.

Since, from the foregoing explanation, the oil in either of the chambers 45 or 46 will never be substantially more than saturated with gas at the conditions of temperature and pressure existing in the chambers which corresponds to the casing pressure, which is materially less than the well pressure, and since well pressure is put on this oil to cause it to iiow to the pump unit 31, it will be apparent upon the increase of pressure thereof, that the clean oil iiowing to the pump unit will saturated, whichis an important purpose of the invention, since it is desirable t'o always supply il `to the pump which is less than saturated so as to prevent the liberation of free gas in the pump unit during the operation thereof. i

Although I have herein shown and described gravity separation 'm'y invention in simple and practical form, it

will be recognized that certain parts or 'elements thereof are representative of other parts, elements, or mechanisms which may be used in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially the same results; therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details of sructure or application disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a liquid treating device, the combination of: a first chamber; a second chamber; means for introducing a liquid containing gas into said chambers; means for removing gas from said liq' uid alternately in said chambers; means for re ducing the degree of saturation of said liquid to a value at which said liquid is less than satu ratedwith said gas alternately in said chambers; and means for alternately conveying said liquid from said chambers.

2. In a liquid treating device, the combination of: a first chamber; fa second chamber; means for, introducing a liquid normally containing gas into said chambers; means for increasing the degree of saturation of said liquid alternately in said chambers so as to liberate gas from said liquid; means for' alternately conveying said liquid .from said chambers; .and means for automatically governing the amount of said liquid introduced into said chambers.

3. In a liquid treating device, the combination of: a first chamber; a second chamber; means for introducing liquid into said chambers; valve means for reducing-the presure in saidI first chamber and permitting the exhaust of gas therefrom; port means for reducing the pressure in said second chamber and permitting the-'exhaust of gas therefrom; valve closing means for closing said valve means to raisethe pressure in said first chamber to cause liquidvto discharge therefrom; and port closing -means for closing said port means to'raise the pressure in said second chamber to' cause liquid to discharg'etherefrom, said valve closing means and said port closing means operating so that said chambers discharge l fluid alternately.

4. In a liquid treating device, the combination of: a rst chamber; check valve means associated with said rst chamber so as to permit a dis-` chargeof liquid from said chamber; a second chamber; discharge valve means associated with said second chamber so 'as to permit a discharge of liquid from said chamber; means for introducing liquid to be treated into said chambers; a

and"

valve means when in closed position closing said iirst chamber to permit uid pressure to build up 4therein to force said liquid from said first chamber through said check 'valve means; second valve means movable between open and closed positions, said valve when in open position reducing the pressure in said second chamber and permitting the exhaust of gas therefrom and permitting said chamber to ll with liquid, said valvel means when in closed position closing said second chamber to. permit iiuid pressure to build up therein toforce' said liquid from said second chamber through said discharge valve means; and

means for causing said first valve means to open andsaid second valve means to close simultaneously, and for causing said first valve means to close and said second valve means to open simultaneously. v

'5. In a deep well pumping device, the combirnation of: packer means'adapted to be positioned in a well below the normal level of fluid in said well to form a fluid-tight seal with the casing of said well; pumping means adapted to be positioned in said well," said pumping means having a pump inlet; and inlet means communi- -cating between said well below-said packer and said pump inlet for supplying well iiuid from said well to said pump inlet, all of the flow of well fluid.

from said well passing through said inlet means,

said inlet means being adapted to separate gas from said well fluid and to convey said well uid under pressure to said pump inlet.

6. In a deep well pumping device, the combination of: packer means adapted to be positioned in a well below the normal level of fluid in said well to form a huid-tight` seal with the casing of said well; pumping means adapted to be positioned in said well, said pumping means having a pump inlet; inlet means communicating between said well below said packer and said pump inlet for supplying Welliluidirom said well to said pump inlet, allof the flow of well fluid from said well passing through said inlet means, said inlet means being adapted to separate gas from said well iiuid 'and to convey said well fluid "under pressure to jsaid pump inlet; and means for vcontrolling the rate of flow of well iiuid through said inlet means.

7. In a deep well pumping device, the combination of: packer means adapted to be positioned in a well below 'the level to which fiuidwould normally rise in said well to form' a` uid-tight seal with the casing ofv said well; pumping means having a pump inlet, said pumping means being adapted to be positioned in said well so that the' inlet thereof is below said level; and inlet means `communicating, between said well below said packer and said pump inlet for supplying well iluid from said well to said lpumpinlet, all of the llow o f Well iiuid from said Well passing through said inlet means, said inlet means being adapted to separate gas from said well `fluid and to convey said well fluid under pressure tovsaid pump inlet. f

.Y 8. In a ldeep Well pumping device, the combination of: packer means adapted to be positioned in a well below the level to which liquid would normally rise in said well to form a uid-tight seal with the casing of said well; pumping means adapted to be positioned in said well, said pumping means having a. pump inlet; inlet means adapted to be positioned in said well above said said inlet means having said well fluid to said pumping means, said inlet means being adapted to separate gas from said well fluid and to convey said well fluid under pressure through said discharge passage to said pump inlet.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of: a body member having a discharge opening; Walls defining a first chamber in said body member; walls dening'a second chamber in said body member; means for introducing fluid into said chambers; walls forming a ii`rst exhaust passage communicating betweensaid first chamber and the exterior of said body member;4 walls forming a second exhaust passage communicating between said second chamber and the exterior of said body member; valve means adapted to cooperate With said. exhaust passages to open and close said passages; Walls forming a first discharge passage communicating between said first chamber and said discharge opening; walls forming a second discharge passage communicating between said second chamber and said discharge opening; and means for actuating said valve'meansto open and close said exhaust passages.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of a-body member having a discharge opening; walls defining a rst chamber in l said body member; walls defining a second chammember; means for lintroducing b er in said body fluid into saidchambers; meansY for controlling the rate of ow of said fluid into said chambers; walls forming a first exhaust passage communicating between said first chamber and the exterior of said body member; Walls forming a second exhaust passage communicating between said second chamber and the vexterior of said body member; valve means adapted to cooperate with said exhaust passages to open and close said passages; walls forming a rst discharge passage communieating between said rst chamber and said clischarge opening; Walls forming a second discharge passage communicating between said second chamber and said discharge opening; and means for actuating said valve means to open and close ber in said body member; means for introducing fluid into said chambers; walls forming a first exhaust passage communicating between said first chamber and the exterior of said body member; walls'forming a second exhaust passage communicating between said second chamber and' the exterior of said body member; valve means adapted to cooperate with said exhaust passages to open and close said'passages; walls forming a iirst discharge passage communicating between said rst chamber and said discharge opening; walls forming a second discharge passage communicating between said second chamber and said discharge opening; and means operable in response to a predetermined change in the level of fluid in one of said chambers for actuating said valve means to open and close said exhaust passages.

. tioned in a well below the normal level of fluid in said well to form a huid-tight seal with the wall 4 of said well; pumping means adapted to be positioned in said well, said pumping means having a pump inlet; and inlet means communicating between said well below said packer means and said pump inlet for supplying well fluid from said well to said pump inlet, said inlet means being adapted to separate gas from said well iluld and to convey said well iluidv under pressure to said pump inlet. i

13. In a device for introducing well fluid into a deep well'pump, the combination of: packer means adapted to be positioned in a well below the normal level of iluid in said well to form a huid-tight seal with the casing of said well,said packer means forming a fluid space thereabove; pumping means adapted to be positioned in said well, said pumping means having a pump inlet;

inlet means communicating between said well below said packer means and said pump inlet for supplying well iluid from said well to said pump inlet, said inlet means being adapted to separate gas from said well fluid and to convey said well fluid under.` pressure to said pump inlet; and control means for adjustably regulating the :dow of well huid through said inlet means. said control means operating in response to iluid pressure in said uidspace.

14. In a device for introducing well fluid into a deep well pump, the combination of: packer means adapt-ed to be positioned in a well below the normal level of uid in said well to form a uidtight seal with the casing of said well; pumping means adapted to be positioned in said well.said pumping means having a pump inlet; and inlet means communicating between said well below 0 said packer means and said pumping inlet for Y ducing the'pressure on said well fluid to substansupplying well fluid from inlet, said inlet means including means for retially atmospheric pressure to separate gas from said well fluid and including means for conveying said well iluid under pressure to said pump inlet.

15. In a device for introducing well iluid into a deep well pump, the combination of: packer -means adapted to be positioned in a well below the normal level of Ailuid in said well to form a huid-tight seal with the casing o! said well; pumping means adapted to be positioned in said well, said pumping means having a pump inlet; and inlet means communicating between said well below said packer means and said pump inlet for supplying well fluid from said well to said pump inlet, said inlet means including means for reducing the pressure of said well huid to substantially atmospheric pressure to separate gas from said iluid, means for increasing the pressure of said well fluid above said atmospheric pressure, and means for conveying said well fluid Ato said pump at said increased pressure so that said well iluid is less than saturated with gas as it enters said pump..

16. In a device for introducing well iluid into -a deep well pump, the combination of: packer means adapted to be positioned in a well below the normal level of fluid in said weil to form a huid-tight seal with the casing of said well; pumping means adapted to be positioned in said well. said pumping means having a pump,inlet:

said well to said pump and inlet means communicating between said well below said packer means and said pump inlet for supplying well iluid from said well to said pump inlet, said inlet means including means for increasing the degree of gas saturation of said well fluid so as to liberate gas from said liquid, means for reducing the degree of gas saturation of said well huid materially below the saturation point of said well iiuid, and means tor conveying said well iluid to said pump inlet so that said well iluid will be less than saturated with gas as it enters said pumping means.

17. In a device ot the character described, the combination of: walls forming a chamber; an inlet passage communicating between said chamber and a source of liquid under relatively high pressure; discharge valve means associated with andcommunicating with said chamber, said discharge valve means being adapted to prevent a ilow of liquid therethrough when the huid pressure in said chamber is below a predetermined value and adapted to permit a flow of liquid therethrough when the pressure in said chamber is above said predetermined value; walls forming an exhaust passage communicating between said chamber' and a point of exhaust; valve means cooperating with said exhaust passage. said valve means when open reducing the iluid pressure .in said chamber below said predetermined value to permit liquid to ilow into said sure to liberate'gas therefrom, said gas discharging through said exhaust passage; and

means for closing said valve means so that saidl liquid ilows into said chamber from saidinlet passage at increased pressure to raisethe fluid pressure in said chamber above said predetermined value, causing liquid to flow from said chamber under pressure through said discharge valve means.

18. In a device of the character described, the.

combination of: walls forming' a chamber; -an

inlet passage communicating between said cham-- ber and a source ot liquid undr relatively high pressure; discharge valve means associated with and communicating with said chamber, said discharge valve means being adapted to prevent a ilow or liquid therethrough when the iluid presis below a predetermined closing said valve means so that'said liquid flows.

into said chamber from said inlet e at increased pressure to raise the fluid pressure in said'chamber above said predetermined value, causing liquid to ilow from said chamber under pressure through said discharge valve means; and a piston rod adapted to be reciprocated in response to the rise and fall of in said chamber.

CLARENCE J. COBERLY.

the liquid level l chamber from said inlet passage at reduced presline 70, claim 8, for -the word "liquid" read fluid; page 8, first column,

"to the record of the `casev -inthe PatentAvOffice.

e 'CERTIFICATE-0F CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,179J482., November lli, 195 9.

`CLARENCE J.y coBERLY;

It is, hereby certified that error appears 'in 4the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Pagefffirst column, line 2.5, for "chamber 885" read' chamber 85;"page 7, fir's't column,

line LLO, claim-1h, for "pumping" read pump; and that the said Letters Patent Should be read with this correction thereinptha't the ,same may conform signed and sealed thisv:261m day of Deember, lA.' n. 1939*.

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