US2254207A - Bellows type stage lift for wells - Google Patents

Description

p 1941', A. BOYN' i' ON 2,254,207

BELLOWS TYPE STAGE LIFT FOR WELLS Filed Nov. 28, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l ALE'MNDE'R BDWTON, V511 TOR ikmlboeam" ATTORNEYS.

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Sept 1941- A. BOYNTO-N BELLOWS- TYPE STAGE LIFT FOR WELLS Filed Nov. 28, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I0, ALEXANDER 50mm mvzmm QMWM. .6 f W 9 m F Patented Sept. 1941 2.254.207 BELLOWS ma s'raen Lu'r Foa wms Alexander Boynton, San Antonio, Tex.. Application November 28, ms, serioino. 242,772

' Claims. (Cl. 103-233) My invention relates to the flow or liquids from wells by means 01' either compressedairor gas, 1

or both in combination.

It is an object oi! the invention to provide a simple, eificient, durable, and economical means for injecting compressed air or gas, either sen-- arately or in combination, into the tubing or casing of a well for the purpose of aeratingthe liquid therein, thereby acting to elongate the colthe well.

To flow a well through the casing, I employ a plurality of devices, each having a pressure responsive element contacting the well liquid exterior oi the induction tube, and arranged at intervals in the induction tube, theintervals usually varying between 150, and 300 feet, considering the depth of the well, size of casing. air or gas pressure, volume of production, and other well conditions.

To flow a well through the tubing, I employ a similar pressure responsive element contacting umn of liquid in order to cause it to flow out oi.

the well liquid in the tubing.

- My device is particularly sensitive to fluid pressure whereby the admission of pressure fluid from the tubing to the well casing and vice versa, may be accurately and efllciently controlled.

Aiurther object of this invention is to provide a diaphragm or bellows unit adapted to control a valve to aerate the'liquid in a well and cause it to flow out of the well, through-either the well casing or through the tubing, by installing such unit in a slightly different housing for each such purpose. To provide a pressure responsive element, such as a metallic bellows, anchored at one end and the other end .free to move, with a valve attached to the free end for the purpose of admitting compressed air or gas into an upstanding column of liquid in either the tubing or the casing 01' a well by means of a predetermined fluid pressure upon the bellows, is the primary object. The imporl tance of this object is emphasized by the easy adaptability of the invention to flowing a well through either the tubing or the casing by using the same pressure responsive element in slightly diflerent housings to accomplish either of said purposes.

A further object is to supply the need for a valve controlling means that will positively admit pressure fluid in the right amount and at the right level to initiate well flow through either the casing or thetubing; and that will positively close after the liquid level has been lowered'to the next valve, which then opens, and so on in series, as the well liquid is lowered.

The inventionfurther consists in the particular construction oi the device, its means of mounting in different housings, and manners of intallation in a well, all of which will more clearly appear from the-drawings and specification which follow.

Fig. 1 is-a broken side view 01' a set or series or assembled devices shown installed-in a well to flow the same through the casing. Fig. 2 is a-longitudinal view partly in section showing the device adapted to be installed as shown in Fig. 1 to flow the well through the cas-' ing.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3, I F18. 2; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4,

' Fig. 2.

Fig. 8. a Fig. '7 is a horizontal section on the line 1-1, v

" casing.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5-5, 1 Fig. 2.

Fig. on a horizontal section on the lines-l.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal view partly in section showing a. modified tom of device adapted to be installed in Fig. 1 to flow the well through the Fig. 9 is a longitudinal view partly in section showing a modifiedi'orm oi'device adapted to be installed as shown in Fig. 10 to flow the well through the tubing.

Fig. 10 is a broken side view of a set or series 01' assembled devices shown installed in a wellto flow the same through the tubing.

Corresponding characters are employed throughout the drawings to indicate and refer to corresponding parts. 1

'Similar but somewhat diil'erent partsin the figures illustrating modifications of the invention Figs. 2 to 8 inclusive (the casing flow method) I contemplate installing air or gas induction tub; ing 4 within a well equippedwith an outer casmg i. Said casing has a casing head 2 having lateral openings as shown at 2b for discharging well liquid and at 20 for discharging gas.

The tubing 4 is threadedly joined to coupling I which rests on packing or is otherwise secured in leak prooi connection with cap 3. A seal is also made between the casing head 2 and cap 3 by threaded engagement in the same manner as the casing head and casing are Joined in order to confine the path of flow from the well through the flow discharge line i0. At the lower end oi. the induction tubing I have shown funnel shaped discharge opening 4' through-which the air or gas may enter the well after the well liquid has been removed to a level proximate the bottom of the induction tubing.

At intervals along the length of the induction tubing 4 I contemplate placing housings II, each containing a device as shown in Fig. 2, and which serve also to threadedly connect together the adjacent sections of the tubing. I have shown these housings evenly spaced along the'tubing, although they may be unevenly spaced, and in fact only a very small number need be employed, depending upon well conditions such as the volume and physical property of the liquid to be discharged, depth of the well, air or gas pressure available, etc. v 4

Induction tubing 4 may hang from the casing head with the discharge nipple 4' anywhere-intermediate of the ground surface G and bottom 'of the well B or the tubing may be allowed to rest on the bottom of the well by placing the extension 4a below nipple 4 v Case nipple II, which may be made of cast steel, malleable iron, bronze, or a drop forging, has a. cylindrical passage II of the same size and in line with the tubing opening in order to offer a minimum of resistance to the flow and in order that a swab or other cleaning instrument may be run through the tubing for cleaning it or for any other purposes. A bellows housing IIg formed on the outer wall of the passage, is integral with the nipple II and has slots Ila through which slots well liquid may contact the bellows I2. A central opening through a wall Ild formed at the upper end of said bellows housing serves to guide the valve I upon its seat in the lower end of plug l8 which is threadedly connected into the case between external opening Ilb and an internal opening Ilc. Said-plug engages upon packing I1 to hermetically close the space around said plug between said openings. The passage Ilia through the plug is controlled by valve I5 as will be later explained. The sloping extensions lIe and Ila on the nipple merely provide that the device will not land or hang uponobstructions in the casing wall while it is being lowered into the well or withdrawn therefrom.

Within the'longitudinal chamber Ilh in the bellows housing, the metallic bellows I2 has an easy working fit. The lower end of the bellows is closed by connection I3 and is hermetically sealed by weld or solder I3a. The upper end of the bellows is closed by connection I4 welded or soldered to the bellows at I la except for the 1ongitudinal opening through member l4 which opening is closed by threaded connection with valve I5 and weld or solder I5a, thus completing the hermetical seal of the bellows. Such a seal is necessary in order that the bellows will be responsive to external pressure, this being the purpose for which it is employed. Within the bellows a guide pipe I8, preferably polished inside and outside, has an easy working fit between the interior of the bellows and the exterior of a spring 23. The upper end of the guide pipe I8.

may be pressed over a lower extension of said to make the bellows expand with greater force and certainty.

The interior of the bellows may be partially filled with a lubricant above which must be left a vacuum or an air pocket of such length as will allow the bellows to contract far enough to properly open valve I5 at a predetermined external pressure upon the bellows. It will be understood that'the air pocket or vacuum will predetermine or assist in predetermining the external force required to compress the bellows. Passages I9a and IS!) in plug I9 and perforations Ila in the guide pipe provide that the lubricant may circulate as the bellows contracts and expands in operation.

It is apparent that'the end clearance between the guide pipe I8 and the plug should be equal to, or slightly greater than the length pf the chamber or'pocket within the bellows above the lubricantin'order to prevent the guide pipe from limiting the compression of the bellows rather than leaving this operation to the gaseous contents of said chamber. A

Connection I3 is threaded to engage the female threads in the lower end of bellows housing IIg, thereby anchoring the bellows assembly at its lower end; so that all movement of the bellows will be transmitted to valve l5. As the connection I3 is screwed upward, valve l5 contacts its seat with greater force requiring greater pressure upon the bellows to unseat it, and vice versa. Plug 20 is screwed into the lower end ,of the opening in housing lIg merely to reinforce the shell thereof against damage while the device is being lowered into or withdrawn from a well.

Valve 5 controls line 8 which communicates with the annular space between tubing 4 and easing I for purposes not related to this invention.

The installation and construction having been described, it will now be assumed that air or gas under 240 lbs. pressure is turned into the induction tube 4 through valve 6. This pressure depresses the well liquid in the induction tube to the level L and causes the same to upstand in the well casing exterior of the induction tube to the level L. It is further assumed that the well liquid weighs 40 lbs. per sq. in. per 100 feet of height. The difference between the levels L and L' is, therefore, 600 feet (the pressure 240 lbs. divided by 40 lbs. the weight per sq. in. per 100 feet). The bellows assembly in each device is assumed to be adjusted to open valve I5 at 100 lbs. external pressure on the bellows, and the devices are assumed to be uniformly spaced 200 feet connection I4 to which it may be welded at I8b.

The lower end of the guide pipe has an easy working fit over a'plug I9 resting at its lower tapered end within a central bore of corresponding taper in member I3. A spring 23, installed under some compression, has its lower seat upon the top of plug I9 and its upper seat upon the lower end of connection I4. This spring serves apart, and it is further assumed that the first device R above the level L is 50 feet therefrom. The well liquid at device R acting through slot Ila contacts the bellows and exerts 220 lbs. (240 lbs. less 20 lbs. weight of well liquid between the device and level L) per sq. in. pressure upon it.

The valve in device R is, therefore, open and discharging air or gas at 240 lbs. per sq. in. pressure into the upstanding colunm of liquid in the casing. The second valve Q above level L is also open by a margin of 40 lbs. over its closing force of lbs., this fact being apparent as follows: 240 lbs. total weight per sq. in. of the upstanding column in the casing minus 20 lbs. (the weight of the liquid between level L and the first device R above it) and further minus 80 lbs. (The weight of the liquid between the first device R and the second device Q) equals lbs. The devices will generally flow the well liquid out of the well faster than it comes in from the higher levels such as L.

As soon as the upstanding column is lowered by 40 .-lbs., closing the valve in device Q, the level L will be lowered 100 feet uncovering lower device S which is open by 140 lbs. when uncovered (240 lbs. weight of, upstanding column minus 100' lbs. force required to open "the valve). It is therefore apparent that the valves are uncovered in the open position as level L is lowered and that they close from the top downward as the level L is lowered. Device P did not become active in the foregoing example, because of its position above the level L. V

When the depressed liquid level L is lowered to air or gas outlet 4' the well liquid will be aerated wholly from that level unless more than 180 lbs.

- of air or gas is required to flow the-well from that level. If more than 180 lbs. is required to flow the well from the level of 4' the valve S will be open corresponding to the pressure used above 180 lbs. The 180 lbs. in this instance is arrived at by adding 80 lbs. (the assumed weight of the well liquid per sq. in. between the level of 4' and the valve S) to the 100 lbs. required to compress the be lows.

Regardless of the air or gas pressure used, the spacing of the devices, the weight of the well liquid, and the external force required to compress the bellows, the valve in any device will ering the air or gas pressure will manifestly tend to accomplish the opposite result. By testing the operating eillciency at diiferent air or gas pressures the proper pressure for most economical operation of each well can be quicklydetermined. In making such tests it is sometimes found that increasing or decreasing the diameter of the passage through valve seat plug IE will improve the air or gas oil ratio. At'the same time increasing or decreasing the taper of the pointed upper end of the valve will often cause the input volume be preferred.

open when the weight per sq. in. of the upstand- L ing column of liquid in the casing is greater than the force required to compress the bellows in that device.

It will be noted that valve i5 is tapered to a point at its upper end. That portion of the valve above the seat acts as a gauge or meter to regu in proportion to the submergence of the valve. If the submergence be great, that is if the valve is operating near-the base of the upstanding column, the upper tip end of valve it: should be at the level of the valve seat. This is the wide open position of the valve. The next higher valve will be partially closed, and the next still higher valve will be closed or nearly so, depending, of course, upon the spacing, of the valves, weight of well liquid, and air or gas pressure used in flowing. 1 v

A limitation in spacing is that the devices'must be in such proximity to each other that the valve in the device next above the liquid level in the tubing will not close before the valve next below late the input of gas into the upstanding column the liquid level in the tubing is uncovered by the i receding liquid" as the wellpumps down. For example, if the valves are set to open at '100 lbs. ex,-

Case nipple or shell I IA and bellows housing I iAg may be cast in one piece. vA crescent shaped passage HA! i thu provided for the pressure fluid supplied through induction tube 5, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The chamber-Ah, slots 8 la, external cored opening lib, valve guide member lid, valve seat plug ISA, and packing i'iA correspond to and serve the same purpose as the similar parts bearing the same numbers without subscripts in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 8 plug 20A closes upon packing 22 urged upon plug 2| toprevent the escape of compressed air or gas from the tubing 4 to the passage |6Aa which i controlled by valve it. I

It should be observed. that whether the well is to be flowed through'the casing as in Figs; 2 and 8, or throug'h'the tubing as in Fig. 9, the bellows anchored at its lower end and free to move valve it at its upper end, is exposed to the well liquid pressure only.

The device shown in Fig. 9 (tubing flow method) is shown installed in Fig. 10. It operates the same as the device shown in Figs. 2 and 8 except the well liquid is discharged through the flow.

tubing IDA.

Casing head base 2A, having side openings 2a,

cap 3, and coupling I serve to provide a hermetb.

cal seal between well casing i and flow tubing loA. Anchor joint loAa serves to support part of the weight of the tubing uponbottom of well B. Intake nipple 4" affords suitable means for admitting well liquid into the flow tubing.

ternal pressure upon the bellows the devices must be so spaced that the well liquid between the devices will weigh less'than 100 lbs-per sq.in-. I

prefer to space the devices so that when one is wide open (just uncovered by the depressed liquid level in the tubing) the valve next above will be half open, while the third valve above the level L is just closing. a

The taper of valve l5 and the resulting auto- A matic increase of compressed air or gas forced into the upstanding column in the casing as the submergence increases is one of the important features of this device. Another important feature which becomes apparent from the foregoing discussion is that using higher. air or gas pressure and consequently increasing the weight of the upstanding column of liquid will open more Air or gas is supplied to the .well casing exterior of the flow, tubing through pipe line A controlled by gate valve 5A, the other side of the casing head being closed by bull plug 9. My prior Patent No; 1,952,581 issued March 27, 1934 shows a similar device to the one shown in Fig. 9 except that in Fig. 9 of this application the bellows assembly is housed entirely outside of the central passagethrough the flow tubing, together with other changes in construction that are important though not basic. This device may also be installed in any of the other ways shown in my said valves and consequently cause the well to flow faster, within certain limits, by discharging more air or gas into the upstandingcolumn; while lowcopending application. 7

In Fig. 9 case nipple B and bellows housing llBg may be cast in one'piece. Openings Ha" provide that well liquid may contact the bellows in chamber Biz. The opening Ho" and pas sage I6Ba, through plug ISB, provide that pressurefluid can flow into the flow tubing IOA when valve I5 is opened by pressure of well. liquid exerted upon the bellows. Packing I I3 serves I the obvious purpose of preventing leakage around plug IBB. The plate section I Id", through which valve l5 has a'free sliding flt, guides this valve to register with its seat in the lower end of plug ISB as is apparent. It will -be observed that the lower end of bellows housing chamber llBh is hermetically closed by packing 22 compressed by plugs 20A and 2| in the same manner and for the same purpose as the similar closure was provided in Fig. 8.

In all forms of this invention it should be observed that the valve action is much more positive and forceful than the action of the ordinary valve generally used for such'purposes which is nearly always opened or closed by the differential of pressures prevailing at thelevel where the valve is installed. Such valves have the same area exposed to the pressures exterior and interior of the tubing and consequently may be said to be geared 1 to 1. With my valve, however, the cross sectional area of the bellows as compared with the similar area of the valve where it seats determines the forces with which the valve seats. If this area of the bellows is 20 times the area of the valve, a difference of lbs. pressure on the bellows will transmit a force of 200 lbs. per sq. in. to the valve. The ordinary differential valve is, as stated, seated by 1 lb. at 1 lb. diiferential; whereas my valve, with the areas assumed, will seat by 20 lbs. My valve with the assumed areas is, therefore, always open or closed by 20 times the force opening or closing a differential type of valve, a difference which makes the latter valve uncertain in action and the former valve accurate and positive in action.

It is understood that the details of construction and arrangement of parts are subject to many obvious variations and minor changes without departing from the scope and purpose of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A stage lift device for wells including a casing, a tubing in said casing, a housing secured outside said tubing and open for entrance thereto of liquid from the well outside said tubing, a passage for gas from the inside of said tubing to the casing, a valve, tapered at its free end to engage within said passage to close the same, a flexible, bellows member in said housing connected with said valve, means on said valve to seal one end of said member, a support in said housing sealing the other end of said member, a guide tube secured to said valve and slidable in said housing, a spring in said tube to assist said bellows in holding said valve seated, liquid means in said bellows member to resist collapse thereof, said member being adapted to be contracted by liquid pressure in said casing to gradually unseat said valve and allow passage of gas from said tube to said casing.

2. In a well flowing apparatus, a well casing, a tubing supported therein, a plurality of spaced stage lift devices on said tubing, each including a housing on said tubing having openings therein for the passage of gas to the outside of said and said spring, said bellows member being compressible responsive to fluid pressure in said casing to gradually compress said spring and open said valve and permit passage of gas from said tube to said casing.

3. In a stage lift device for wells, an induction tube, a housing thereon sealed from fluid connection with the interior thereof but having openings to the outside of said tubing, a guide plate at the upper end of said housing, a fluid passage from the exterior to the interior of said tube above said guide plate, a valve slidable through said guide plate and seating in said passage, said valve tapering upwardly, means to hold said valve normally seated including a bellows member in said housing, a support for said bellows in said housing, an upper recess in said support, a tapered plug fitting within the recess in said support, a spring between said valve and said plug, and a tube between said spring and said bellows member.

4. A: flow device for wells comprising an assembly including a nipple, a shell attached thereto and having openings communicating with the exterior of the nipple, a pressure responsive element within and having one end thereof attached I to said shell, a valve upon the other end of said element adapted to control the flow of pressure fluid between one of said openings and the interior of the nipple,.a body of lubricant partially filling said element, a guide pipe within the element, a spring within said guide pipe, there being end clearance between said guide pipe and an opposed end member of the assembly, said end clearance being less than the length of the chamber within the element above said lubricant so that the action of the gaseous fluid within the element determines the compression of the element, the cross-sectional area of said element being greater than the crosssection of the valve.

5. A flow device for wells comprising in combination a well casing, an induction tube therein for pressure fluid, a seal between said casing and said tube proximate their upper ends, an annular eduction passage for well liquid between said casing and tube, a plurality of spaced nipples in said induction tube, each of said nipples having a shell attached thereto, there being openings in said shell, said openings communicating with said annular passage, a hermetically sealed pressure responsive element in said shell, upper and lower end connections on said element, means for adjust-ably securing said lower end connection within said shell proximate the lower end thereof, a plate across the upper end of said shell, an

' opening in said plate, said opening being axial tubing, a passage through said tubing above said housing, an upwardly tapered valve engaging in I seated, a guide tube between said bellows member of said shell, a lateral protrusion on said nipple above said shell, a transverse openingrbetween said plate and said protrusion, said opening having communication with said annular space, a transverse opening in said protrusion, said last opening having communication with the interior of said nipple, a valve seat member in said protrusion between said transverse openings, a passage through said valve seat member axial thereof, a valve seat surrounding the lower extremity of said passage, and a valve upon the upper end connection of said pressure responsive element, said valve normally engaging said seat, said valve and the upper portion of said upper end connection being slidable through the opening in said plate.

ALEXANDER BOYN'I'ON.

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