US2307016A - Differential stage lift flow device, diaphragm type - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 5, 1943. A, BOYNTON 2,307,016

DIFFERENTIAL STAGE LIFT FLOW DEVCE, DIAPHRAGM TYPE Filed Dec. a'. 1939 l .A from/frs.

A15/@auw Patented Jan. 5, 1943 UNi'iD STATES PATENT OFFICE DIFFERENTIAL STAGE LIFT FLOW DEVICE, DIAPHRAGM TYPE Alexander Boynton, San Antonio, Tex.

lApplication December 8, 1939, Serial No. 308,312.v 6 claims. (o1. 13min) My invention relates to flowing devices for cased wells.

The principal object is to startl wells at comparatively low pressures andv to cause them to flow through either the tubing or the casing at` low gas-oil ratios by employing similar means for flowing either way.

Other objects are: (l) to cause .the valve to seat with comparatively great force; (2) to automatically control the admission of pressure iiuid .to the load in proportion to the work required;

(3) to avoid the'use of 'all sliding contacts; and (4) to employ'mechanism of extremely few parts, simple vin design and inexpensive to manufacture. These objects are attained by interposing a diaphragm with a valve yattached to it, between the pressure fluid and the upstanding liquid column in the eduction tube. The valve has an opening extending through it and the diaphragm and is adapted to allow passage of pressure fluid into. the well liquid in the eduction tube at low differentifals and to cut off such iiow at higher differentials.

The foregoing will clearly appear from mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an installationv plan of the -devices in awell.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention for tubing flow. (Svi) Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the device of the invention illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a partial vertical section of the devicef shown in Fig. 4.

Similar referencecharacters are employed -to designate similar parts throughout the several In Figs. 2 and'3, the tubular body I2, havingglf) The column of well liquid 'caused to stand upi) in the eduction tube above the liquid level in the induction tube will be referred to as the upstanding column.

The induction tube will be 4considered as the one having its inner surface in contact with the '5 vvaried to meet-diierent well conditions.

pressure fluid, -and the eduction tube will be considered to be the one having itsV inner surface in contact with the well liquid.

The annularly corrugated diaphragm l0., having the circular ange I4a tting closely over the tubular boss I2d. is hermetically secured between this boss and the packing I8 by the cap I3, having threaded engagement over the boss I2d which boss is centrally disposed between the guide fins 2c. Theidiameter of Athis diaphragm may be such as two inches. The circular Vplate I5, having slight clearance within the chamberiZh.- is secured to the flat central portion of the diaphragm by means .of the threaded engagement between this plate and the screw I6. The diaphragm and the plate l5 are urged against the Icap I3 by the force of the'sprng I'I installed-under some compression between the plate I5 and the floor of the bore |211I within which bore the spring has slight clearance. The opening I3a, central of thecap I3, is aligned with the extension having the valve I5a formed upon its-end, and is adapted to receive the head of the screw I6, as appears in Fig.V 3. The purpose of the plate I5 is to restrain the diaphragm and thus prevent it from rupture during high diiierentials.

The tubular valve I 5a, which may have a diameter such as to 1/2 inch, is adapted to closefupcn .the seat.A I2f, and is positioned central of the tapered bore I2g. The extension formed into the valve I5a, in the open position of the valve as shown in Fig. 3, has impaired clearance within Athe bore I2g as the valvel approaches its seat |23. In this manner, the valve will Permit th-e passage of less pressure fluid into the opstanding column as the differential increases, and vice versa.

The diameter of the opening |52) through the valve member and the screw I6 ordinarily may be such as 1A; to --e inch, and, vcf course, may be The greatest clearance between the valve member and the tapered'bore I2g is when the valve is widest open -as appears. This clearance at such time may be, for example, such as the equivalent of a circular opening having a diameter of 1/8 to 1% inch. When the valve is seated, the side clearance between it and the tapered bore I2g may be such as two to five thousandths inch.

The only valve seating -force for tubingL flow is exerted upon the exterior of the diaphragm by the pressure uid acting through theopening i3d. This force is predetermined and constant at any given value of the pressure fluid.

The seating of the valve is resisted by the force required to flex the diaphragm, the force of the spring, and the presure of the upstanding column. These are the only valve unseating forces. The force required to ilex the diaphragm and spring is predetermined and constant; whereas, the upstanding column exerts the only variable force, the value of which depends upon the position in the upstanding column where it is exercised.

In both forms of the invention, the valves are normally supported resiliently open until closed by the differential force.

The valves in both forms may be adjusted to close at progressively more or less differential from the uppermost to the lowermost and to admit in the same order or in reverse order,v progressively more or less pressure fluid as diilferent well conditions may require.

In flowing the wel] through the tubing, the path of the pressure uid out of the annular space Ia and into the tubing 2 is via the opening I3a, the passage |519, the annular space be'- tween the extension formed into the valve I5a and the wall of the bore |2g, the chamber I2h, and the openings I2e, in the order named.

The valve I 5a should be adjusted to close at a pressure per square inch somewhat greater than the force per square inch exerted by the well liquid between adjacent devices, Which'may be spaced 150 to 300 feet apart. In both forms of the invention, the valve should be so adjusted in order to provide for continuous even flow of well liquid through the eduction tube, which will result from two or more valves being open at once.

The valve of the pressure fluid employed to iiow the well should be at least two to three times the differential force required to close the Valves, and may be much greater. Manifestly,

increasing the value of the pressure fluid Vwill in-` crease the rate of liquid expulsion.

The diameter of the diaphragm, being man;7 times greater than the diameter of the valve, it is evident that comparatively great force will be imparted to the valve, enabling it to be leakproof upon its seat.

It will be understood that expulsion of well liquid will be accomplished by theA expansion of pressure uid injected int-o the upstanding column through the devices herein shown.

During tubing flow, in Fig. 1 the discharge opening 4a in the casing head will be considered as closed. The devices I2 are shown connected into the tubing 2 central of the well casing I, the casing head 4 being employed to effect a hermetic seal between the tubing and the casing proximately above the ground surface 8. Within the upper portion of the well, the tubing may be enlarged for tubing flow, the two sizes being joined together by the swaged nipple 5. For casing flow, the tubing, which then becomes the induction tube, may be smaller and preferably all of one size. The flow line 2b, being an extension of the eduction tube 2, will be considered as open and connected to a production tank.

The anchor string ,'I, connected to the eduction tube 2 by means of the nipple 6, having lateral CFI line 3 into the annular space Ia. The valves in all devices will be quickly closed by the excess pressure exterior of the diaphragm. The liquid in the casing will be depressed to a level shown at B, while the balancing upstanding column will rise to C.

The valve in the device next above the base of the upstanding column will open, while the next valve above will be closed by either slight pressure or will be partially open, according to the differential obtaining there.

If the rate of liquid flow from the Well exceeds the rate of in-flow, the level B will be gradually lowered, uncovering the lower valves; While the upper valves will close, in turn, as the liquid level is lowered within the annular space I a.

The construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is an adaptation to casing flow of the device shown in Figs. 2 and 3 for tubing ow.

The diaphragm and valve are reversed in position from that shown in Fig. 3. The cap I9 intermediate of the guide ns I2C and having the openings ISU., is threadedly engaged within the boss I ZAd, and hermetically clamps the diaphragm upon the packing I8, thereby positioning Iing force is exerted upon the diaphragm through the opening I2Ae; while the unseating force of the well liquid in the upstanding column acts through the openings IBa and the chamber I 9b upon the other side of the diaphragm by contacting the plate I5. This unseating force is aided by the spring Il and the force required to flex the diaphragm, as was stated for the tubing flow method.

In Fig. 5 the casing ow path of the pressure fluid is out of the induction tube 2 via the opening I2Ae, the opening |51), the annular clearance between the tubular extension of the member I5 having its end formed into the valve I5a and the wall of the tapered bore I2g, the chamber IBb, and the openings I 9a, in the order named.

The installation plan in Fig. 1 will'be modified for ilowing through the casing by replacing the larger size tubing and swaged nipple 5 with tubing of the smaller size shown below. The input pressure iluid line 3 of the tubing flowvmethod Y will be replaced by a plug. The eduction'tube discharge opening 4a. will be open, and the pressure fluid will be supplied into the induction tube 2 through the line 2b. The liquid level in both induction and eduction tubes will be assumed to be at A, Fig. 1.

openings 6a, may extend to the bottom of the Y 5, in all of the devices.

Now, to ilow the well through the annular space Ia, employing the casing as the eduction tube, turn pressure fluid from theY line 2b into the tubing 2 which pressure fluid will soon build up enough pressure to close the valves I5a, Fig.

The liquid in the induction tube will be depressed t0 D, while the upstanding column in the eduction tube will rise and upstand from D to E.

The device next above the base of the upstanding column at I) will then be open, due to'the slight diierential obtaining therej While thedevice next above it will remain closed by slight force or be partially open, as was explained for the tubing flow, to which this operation vof flowing through the casing is so similar as to be readily understood without further explanation.'

Manifestly, the size of the openings thro-ugh which the pressure uid p-asses in its travel through the devices should vary according to the volumetric flow and physical properties of the liquid, the depth of the well, and the value of the pressure fluid.

The comparatively low starting pressures resulting from stage lifting and the metered flow of the power medium to the load, affords unusually low gas-liquid ratios and, at the same time, enables the well to produce more than the employment of higher pressures would permit.v It is obvious that many mechanical changes, substitutions, and adaptations may be made' in the construction, and that equivalents maybe substituted for the parts shown; and I reserve the right to make such mechanical changes, substitutions, and adaptations within the scope of the invention as comprehended by the stated objects and appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A tubing coupling having a cylindrical chamber in the wall thereof, ports opening in- Wardly and outwardly from within said chamber to the interior and exterior of the valve body, a tapered bore in the wall of the chamber opposite one of said ports, a diaphragm adjacent said last mentioned port and having its periphery hermetically secured to the walls of the chamber, a tubular valve passing through said diaphragm and terminating within said tapered bore to control the flow of uid as the valve vmoves within the bore and to close the passage through the chamber when the valve seats Within the bore, and means resiliently urging the valve outwardly from within said bore.

2. A tubular valve body having a chamber in the wall thereof with ports opening to the interior and exterior of the body, one of said ports opening centrally of the chamber, a tapered bore in the wall of the chamber opposite said last mentioned port and in alinement therewith, a tubular valve extending inte said bore, the walls of said bore cooperating with the surface of the valve to control the flow of uid through the valve, there being a valve seat at the inner end of the bore for engagement by the valve to close the passage therethrough and means resiliently urging the valve away from said bore.

3. A valve body having a chamber in the Wall thereof with ports inwardly and outwardly therefrom to the interior and exterior of the body, one of said ports opening centrally of the chamber, a tapered bore in the wall opposite said last mentioned port and in alinement therewith, a valve moveable in the chamber and having a portion extending into said bore, a passage in said valve terminating within said bore, the walls of said bore cooperating with the surface of the valve to control the ow of fluid through the valve, there being a valve seat at the inner end of the bore for engagement by the valve to close the passage therethrough, and means within said chamber resiliently urging the valve from within said bore.

4. A valve body having a tubular boss thereon, a diaphragm, means securing the periphery of said diaphragm to said boss and forming a chamber therein, ports opening from said chamber to the interior of the valve body, a tubular valve member secured to the diaphragm and extending into said chamber, a tapered bore in the Wall of the chamber receiving the inner end of the valve member and forming a closure seat when the diaphragm is flexed by a differential pressure between the outside and inside of the body, and means normally urging the valve member resiliently outwardly.

5. A valve body having a tubular boss thereon, a shoulder within said boss, a diaphragm, a cap member secured within the boss to clamp the periphery of the diaphragm to the shoulder and form a chamber, a port opening from the interior of the body to the inner surface of said diaphragm, an inwardly opening tapered bore within the cap member, and a tubular valve secured to the diaphragm and extending into said bore, there being openings through the cap member from within the chamber, whereby passage of pressure uid from the interior to the exterior of the body is controlled in accordance with the differential pressure therebetween.

6. A flow device for wells including a tubular valve body having a radial counterbore in the wall thereof, means closing said counterbore to form a chamber in the wall of the body, a diaphragm sealably .engaging the wall of the counterbore proximate one end of the chamber, a tubular valve member secured centrally of the diaphragm and providing a passage axially of the chamber, a tapered bore in the wall of the chamber into which said valve member extends, and means normally urging the valve outwardly from within said bore, there being passages from ythe interior of said chamber to the interior and exterior of the valve body, whereby pressure fluid is admitted through said chamber and valve member lby a predetermined diierential pressure between the interior and exterior of the valve body.

ALEXANDER BOYNTON.

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