US2182545A

US2182545A - Oil well apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2182545A
Application number: US124301A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jefferson D Pace
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-02-05
Filing date: 1937-02-05
Publication date: 1939-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 1956-12-05

Description

Dec. 5, 1939'. J. D. PACE 2,182,545

' OIL WELL APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1957 2/ 822587: ,vz'i 23/ 7 Patented Dec. 5, 1939 UNETED STATES PATENT caries 4 Claims.

This invention relates to oil well apparatus, the primary object of the invention being to provide means whereby oil may be removed from oil wells, by forcing the oil to the discharge pipe of the well apparatus, thereby eliminating the usual oil pump commonly used in pumping oil from oil wells.

An important object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for removing oil from oil wells, which will cause the oil in the well to be forced to the discharge end of the pump tubing eliminating the necessity of applying high pressure or powerful machinery, such as used in operating the usual oil well pump.

Another object of the invention is to provide means which may be employed in directing hot water to the oil screen, forming a part of the apparatus, dissolving or reducing the consistency of any foreign matter which may have collected on the screen, to the end that the screen and elements of the apparatus may be readily cleaned, during the removal of the oil from the well.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds,

" the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a View illustrating an oil well apparatus, constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the nozzle or jet which directs the water to the well casing.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 designates a well casing, which is of the usual and well known construction, the casing having at its upper end a discharge pipe indicated by the reference character 6. This discharge ppe 6, has a downwardly extended end, which in the present showing extends into a slush pit or reservoir indicated by the reference character l. A valve indicated by the reference character 8, is disposed in the discharge pipe 6, and controls the passage of fluid to the pit or reservoir 1.

Extending into the well casing 5, is the well tubing 9, which carries the nozzle l0, near the lower thereof. This nozzle or jet I0, is in the form'of a coupling which couples the lower end of the tubing to the section directly thereabove. The lower end of the tubing, which is indicated by the reference character II, carries the usual packer [2 which is of a construction to seal that portion of the Well casing, below the oil screen of the casing, the oil screen in the present showing being indicated by the reference character l3.

As clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawing, the nozzle or jet is provided with a central opening, communicating with the vertical bores or passageways it formed therein, the bores or passageways M, being separated by the ribs l5, which not only cause the water passing through the nozzle or jet to be equally distributed throughout the entire area of the well casing, but at the same time reinforce the upper portion of the nozzle or jet l0, protecting the nozzle or jet l0 against damage by tools which may be used to strike the nozzle or jet.

A reversible valve indicated by the reference character it operates in the body portion of the nozzle or jet H3, and in the present showing, the valve is positioned to move upwardly under the water pressure at the lower end of the well tubing. It rm'ght be further stated however, that when Water is forced downwardly through the well tubing, the water pressure will act to seat the valve l6 and prevent water from entering the nozzle or jet I'll, through the valve 16, from a point below the nozzle or jet.

Owing to the construction of the valve I6, the valve may be reversed in its opening, so that it will open under fluid pressure directed down- Wardly through the well tubing 9, should it be desired to use the device for cleaning the well casing and screen,

By using a reversible valve shown by applicant, the valve may be positioned so that it seats against the lower end of the threaded bore of the nozzle, when it becomes necessary to clean the well and easing screen. Withthe valve IS in this position, it will be obvious that fluid under pressure may be directed into the well tubing 9, whereupon the valve will unseat, allowing the fluid to pass through the well tubing. to the point below the packer l2. It will of course be understood that in order to reverse the valve, the short length of tubing on which the nozzle is supported, will be removed, to properly adjust the valve.

The upper end of the well tubing 9, extends through the bushing 21, which is threaded in the upper end of the coupling 28. The well tubing 9 is formed with external threads adapted to accommodate the threaded collar 29, so that the bushing may be held in position against excessive gas pressure in the well tubing.

A pressure gage 2B, is positioned at the upper end of the well tubing, and is adapted to indicate the pressure in the well tubing, so that the operator may readily determine when the gas pressure reaches a dangerously high point.

The reference character i'l, designates a pipe which is connected to the upper end of the well tubing, by means of the coupling l8, the pipe I! being also connected with the pump I 9, which may be of any suitable character to accomplish the purpose of the invention.

The pipe 20, which is shown as entering one side of the pump I9, is connected with the vertical pipe 2|, through the elbow 22. At the lower end of the pipe 2| is a perforated head 23 through which water' passes to the pipe 21, where it is forced through the pipe H, by the pump l9, from'where the water passes downwardly through the well tubing, as previously described.

In the present showing, the pump it is of the steam actuated type, and is fed with steam, through the pipe 24.

A suitable heater, indicated by the reference character 25 is interposed in the pipe H, and may be utilized to heat the water passing through the pipe I'l, should it be desired to direct hot water to the well tubing, to melt parafiin, or reduce the consistency of foreign matter which may collect to render the screen !3 inoperative.

Assuming that the well tubing has been positioned in the wall casing, and the lower end of the casing sealed as indicated by the drawing, and a quantity of oil has entered the well casing, the operation of the apparatus is as follows:

Water is now pumped from the tank or reservoir I, through the perforated head 23, and into the well tubing 9. The water passes through the nozzle or jet Hi, and is directed upwardly within the well casing. Inasmuch as the oil will remain on the surface of the water within the well casing, it is obvious that as the level of the water in the well casing rises, the oil will be forced to the discharge pipe 6 and deposited in the pit or reservoir 1.

The oil will rise to the top of the water level within the pit or reservoir 7, and the water which remains below the oil in the tank or reservoir, may be returned to the well tubing 9, by the pump l9.

As the oil collects in the pit or reservoir 7, it may be carried off to a suitable place of deposit, by any desirable means.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, it is unnecessary to provide high powered machinery for forcing water into the well casing, and that a predetermined quantity of water may be utilized in operating the apparatus for an indefinite period.

Having thus described the invention, whatis claimed is:

1. An, apparatus for removing oil from oil Wells, comprising a well casing having an oil screen, well tubing extending into the well casing, sealing means on the tubing and adapted to seal the casing below the screen, means for directing water to the well tubing and discharging the water into the well casing at a point below the screen, and means for heating the water prior to its passage into the well tubing.

2. An apparatus for removing oil from oil wells, comprising a well casing, an oil screen in the casing, well tubing extending into the casing, sealing means on the well tubing and adapted to seal the well casing below the screen, a nozzle on the tubing and disposed between the sealing means and the screen of the casing, said nozzle having a plurality of vertical bores formed with widened upper discharge ends, a reversible valve within the nozzle and against which liquid under pressure is directed, the liquid being forced laterally through the vertical bores, elevating oil entering the casing through the screen, to the top of the casing, and a pipe for carrying off oil from the casing.

3. An apparatus for removing oil from oil wells, comprising a well casing, an oil screen in the casing, well tubing extending into the casing, sealing means on the well tubing and adapted to seal the well casing below the screen, a nozzle on the tubing and disposed between the sealing means and the screen of the casing, said nozzle having a plurality of discharge openings, said nozzle having a central bore, a reversible spring pressed valve adapted to be positioned to seat at either end of the bore, and said valve adapted to normally close said central bore and direct water laterally and upwardly when the valve is positioned at the upper end of the bore.

4. An apparatus for removing oil from oil 4 wells, comprising a well casing, an oil screen in the casing, well tubing extending into the casing, sealing means on the well tubing and adapted to seal the well casing below the screen, a nozzle on the tubing and disposed between the sealing means and the screen of the casing, said nozzle having a plurality of discharge openings, said nozzle having a central bore, a disk valve member adapted to normally close the upper end of the bore restricting the passage of fluid through the nozzle and directing the fluid laterally through the discharge openings, and said valve adapted to be reversed to close the opposite end of said bore restricting movement upwardly through the tubing and permitting liquid under pressure to be forced downwardly through the tubing.

' JEFFERSON D. PACE.