US2580331A - Pumping apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 25, 1951 n. H. TEETOR PUMPING APPARATUS 2 SHEETS- SHEET l Filed NOV. 22, 1946 fl f EDEL-:ICICI DESDE GEMEINDE :11211211213 Dec- 25, 1951 D. H. TEETOR 2,580,331

PUMPING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 22, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Dec. 25, 1951 Unie erre 2,580,331 rUivnJING APPARATUS kDon H. Teetor, Hagerstown, Ind.

Application November 22, 1946, Serial No. 711,582

The invention relates generally topumping apparatus for use in wells and more particularly to such apparatus used in connection'with oil Wells. v

"1n small oil wells where the oil has to be removed by pumping, a type of vpumping apparatus frequently employed comprises a casing extending to the bottom of the well and having an intake at its lower end which may comprise a slotted 'or perforated pipe or a screen to prevent solid material from being drawn into the apparatus or which may open in case the adjacent earth formation is sufficiently tight. Located in the lower end of the casing is a reciprocating pump operated by a sucker rod extending upwardly through the casing and mechanically actuated above ground. Such mode of operation is obviously inecient.

With wells of this character, the sand or other earth formations at the bottom of the 4Well may become clogged, through age, to such an extent that the yield is too low to warrant further continued operation. The well must therefore either be abandoned or cleaned. Cleaning may be ejiected by forcing water, acids, or other fluid into the sand formation to remove the obstructing material in the Vicinity 'of the lower end of the'casing and thus permit the oil to ow freely.

' Heretofore, in so cleaning a well, theV pump with its sucker rod is removed since no provision is made for carrying iiuid reversely -through the reciprocating pump, and a temporary pipe is inserted in the casing to carry the cleaning uid under pressure to the lower end thereof. After the cleaning has been completed, the temporary pipe is removed and the pump with its sucker cleaning involves considerable expense, and in many cases it is questionable whether, when the' production of the Well at best is small, `the expense is warranted. Y

yThe general object of the invention is therefore to provide novel pumping apparatus for a well, with which the Well may be readily maintained ina clean, free-ilowing condition at relatively small expense.

, Another object is to provide novel pumping apparatus for a well, through which iluid'may kbe reversely conducted to eifect cleaning of the intake of the apparatus 4as well as the sand formations in'the vicinity of the intake.

A further object is to provide novel pumping apparatus for e' well., which includes .a timer for automatically reversing the iiow in the apparatus at predetermined intervals to remove of the apparatus.

Still another object is to provide novel pump'- ing apparatus for an oil well, which 4may be reversely operated to produce a flow from or to the well, the apparatus normally being Aoperated to pump oil from the Well but being operable at predetermined intervals to pump oil to the well under pressure to effect cleaning ofthe intake and the sand thereof.

A still further object is to provide a novel method of maintaining an oil Well in a clean freeowing condition. I

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure l is -a vertical sectional view, partially diagrammatic, of a pumping apparatus embody-r ing the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 -is a view similar to Fig. l but showing a modified-form of apparatus, with the par-ts of the apparatus in .position for producing a normal flow of oil; v v Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the modined form of Fig. 2 but with the parts in position for producing a reverse flow of oil; and i Fig. i is kafvievv similar to Figs. 1 and Z'bu showing another fmodied form of apparatus.

-In the .usual form of apparatusutilized for pumping oil, an lelongated tubular. casingis provided, extending from the ground level to the bottomof the well, ksuch a casing being shown at Ill in Fig. l. The` upper .end .of the casing mayy be closed 'by a cover Il while the lower end "constitutes an intake l2 embedded inthe sand or other Aearth-formation from which the oil is 0btained.y and which may be open if the adjacent earth formation .issuficiently tight, or which may comprise a slotted or perforated pipe or screen. In vthe drawings, the intake l2` is shown in the form of `a' screen.A The roil 'is drawn inwardly through the intake I'2 and forced upv wardly' to Athe ground level by a pumping unit such 'an extent that production of the well be r1ow,ered"'below the point where fitsioperation formations in the vicinity 3 is warranted. At such time, if the well is thought to be capable of continued production, the well is cleaned as described above and operation is thereafter continued. The cost of such cleaning is relatively large, however, and if the maximum production of the well is small, such cleaning is not undertaken and the well is abandoned.

The present invention provides apparatus which maintains the intake and the Surrounding sand formation in a clean free-flowing condition. This result is attained by periodic interruption of the normal flow which causes the collection of obstructions, and effecting a reverse flow, preferably of the oil itself, through the apparatus so that obstructions to flow inwardly through the intake aswell as in the sand formation are cleared away and normal ow can thereafter be resumed. While other liquids than oil could, of course, be employed for the reverse flow, oil from the well itself is preferred since no problem of separation is thereby involved. The periodic reversal occurs at sufficiently short intervals to prevent a large accumulation or solidifying of obstructing material and the reverse flow may therefore be maintained for a relatively short period of time, leaving the major portion of time available for productive pumping.

In the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, I provide a pumping unit indicated generally at I4 and comprising a motor I5 and a pump I6. Both of these are of a reversible type. Thus, the motor may be of a well known type adapted to be reversely operated by reversal of the connections therefor, and the pump may be of; the gear type which is operable in opposite directionsto produce opposite directions of flow. The motor and pump in the present instance are constructed with proper dimension to permit their insertion into the casing ill, the unit being located adjacent the lower end thereof with space between the unit and the casing and intake to provide an intake reservoir. The pump is provided withan Aopening indicated at I1, which normally serves as an intake through which oil is drawn from the reservoir. The oil delivered by the pump during normal flow is carried upwardly through a delivery pipe 20 which may extend through the cover II and to the tank I3. A packer 2| may be placed in the lower part of the casing I a short distance above the pump unit, segregating the intake reservoir from the upper portion of the casing so that a decreased pressure may be induced in the reservoir by the pump to draw oil from the surrounding earth formation inwardly through theintake I2. The wiring connections for the motor I5, indicated at 22, may extend upwardly to the ground level in the space between the delivery pipe 20 and the wall of the casing for connection 'with a source of current (not shown).

Obviously, continued operation of the pumping unit in a direction to draw oil inwardly through the intake I2 will result in clogging of the earth formation in the vicinity thereof and of the openings in the screen, if that form of intake is employed, by material from the surrounding area. Howeverreversal of flow, particularly if the reverse iiow is under pressure, will clear away such obstructions and reestablish conditions suitable for free inward ow. Thus, by operating the motor I'5 and pump I6 in the reverse direction from that required to produce the normal flow, oil from the tank I3 may be drawn downwardly through the pipe 2D and forced under pressure into 'the reservoir space below the packer 2|.

Such packer being adjacent the lower end of the casing permits a rapid building up of pressure in the reservoir, depending upon the extent of clogging, and the oil will be forced outwardly through the intake to remove the obstructions therefrom. The reversal of the motor and pump may be easily effected by suitable switching means in the wiring connections 22 at the ground level.

The maintenance of a free-flowing condition for the well is better attained if the reversal of iiow is effected periodically and at relatively short intervals of time. While the apparatus may of course be controlled manually to attain this result, it is preferably controlled by an automatic timing device indicated diagrammatically at 23. The timing device 23 includes switch means for effecting a current reversal at predetermined intervals, the reversal being maintained for the desired period of time. The time of reverse operation may be considerably less than the time during which normal operation occurs so that the major portion of time is spent in productive operation, the flow during such period being maintained at a high rate because of the riddance of any substantial clogging.

In the modied form of apparatus shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the pumping unit is generally the same as that shown in Fig. 1, but in this instance the motor and pump are operated constantly in the same direction and a valve means, indicated generally at 30, is provided for reversing the flow. Thus, I provide a motor 3I and pump 32, both of which may be adapted only for one direction of operation. The valve means 30 is preferably mounted above the pump 32 and comprises a valve body 33 having a central vertically extending valve chamber 34 in which a valve member 35 is slidably mounted. The valve member 35 in this instance is of the spool type and has an intermediate section 36 of reduced diameter.

The valve body 33 is provided with an intake A port 40 communicating with the reservoir space in the lower end of the casing and with the Valve chamber 34. During normal flow, oil enters through the intake port 40, passes through the lower end of chamber 34 and then through a passage 4I to the pump, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2.

l FromV the pump, `oil is delivered into a passage 42 carrying it to the portion of the chamber 34 wher-e the reduced portion 35 is then located. From this portion of the chamber 34, the oil is carried through a passage 43 around the upper end of the member 35 and discharged into a delivery pipe 44 preferably aligned with valve chamber 34 and communicating at its upper end with a tank 45. To actuate the valve member 35, a rod 46 is connected to the upper end thereof and extends upwardly through the pipe 44 to the ground level.

For reverse flow, the valve member 35 is adapted to be shifted downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3. In this position, with the pump operating in the samedirection, oil is drawn downwardly from the pipe 44 through a passage 50 in the valve body 33 and is delivered by the pump into the passage 42. Because of the location of the reduced portion 36 lof the valve member 35,

cil will pass from the passage 42 transversely through the chamber 34 and to an outlet port 5l for `discharge under pressure into the reservoir space in the lower end of the casing- To shift the valve member 35 between its two accontil positions vdescribed above, .the valve. rod 4B may be provided with shifting means indicated da? g-rammatically at 52. The shifting lmeans 52'may be arranged for manual .control or for automatic control by a timing device indicated at 53 or for both. The apparatus shown in these two figures thus may be'operated to produce a normalv flow draw-ing'oil inwardly through the intake at the lower end of the casing and forcing it upwardly to the tank 45,'and may be r-eversed by shifting the valve member 35 to cause a flow from the tank with the oil forced under pressure by the pump into the reservoir space vin the lower end of the casing` and outwardly through the intake to re,- move obstructions therefrom.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 4 utilizes a reciprooable pump unit somewhat similar to that heretofore employed but modified to provide for theireverse flow. The pump unit in this instance comprises Aa cap ED secured in the lower end of the casingor cylinder. 'Ihe cap 6G is provided with a plurality of ports 6i adapted to be closed bya spring actuated disc valve 62. Located ab-ove the -cap G is a piston 63 adapted to be recipro cated in thecylinder or casing by a piston rod 64 extending upwardly through the casing to the ground level for connection with a source of power (not shown). rlhe piston 63 is provided with aplurality of ports 65 adapted to be closed by a spring actuated disc valve S6.

In the normal action of this unit to produce a flow of oil from the well to the tank, assuming thatv the piston 63 'is at the lower end of its stroke, upward movement of the piston produces a suction lifting the spring valve rv52 and drawing oil inwardly through the intake at the lower end of the casing and upwardly through theports 6I into the space between the cap ii@ and piston 63. On the down stroke of the piston, valve 62 closes andthe oil in the space between the cap and piston is. forced upwardly` through the ports @5 in the piston to lift the valve 66 and thence in to the space above the piston. On the next up stroke, the oil above the piston is lifted in the cylinder, since the valve E6 is then closed, and

`more oil is drawn into the space below the piston..

After a .number of strokes, the cylinder thus becomes filled and the oil is forced outwardly from the top thereof through a pipe 61 to a tank 58.

Theforegoing structure is arranged to provideA for reverse flow whereby oil from the tank 68 may be forced youtwardly through the intake at the lower endl of the cylinder. To this end, the piston rod G4 is made tubular and is provided 4with transverse apertures 1li at a point adjacent but above the piston 53, thus providing communication between the interior of the piston rod and th-e interior of the casing or cylinder. The piston rod extends downwardly through the cap 60 so that it `is'guided thereby and its lower" end opens into the space within the screen- Mounted within the piston-rod is a flushing valve 'Il for controlling the now through the apertures 7S. In vthe present instance, the valve H iscupshaped and is provided withv lateral apertures l2 adapted to be moved into and out of registration with the apertures Iii, as by rotation. To rotate the valve 1I, a rod 13 is connected thereto, which extends upwardly through the piston rod to the ground level.

' In operation, if the obstructions clogging the intake can be removed by an oil pressure equal to the head due to the column of oil in the cylinder and the tank 68, then the valve 'H is rotated to align the apertures 'I and l2, and the oil will flow from the interior .of the cylinder through fthe; apertures "IB and 1.2.downwardly through :the pis: ton rod into the .interior of theintake and thence' outwardly therethrough to remove obstructions;

therefrom. The pressure of the oil may be sunlcient to lift the disc valve 52, but disc valve v.63

will remain seated, since substantially thesame'. pressure .will beapplied to thetop as to the .bot-U adapted to discharge oil under pressure into the..

upper .end of theY casing when the shut-off. valve 'M is closed. Thus a greater pressurecan vbe built up within the casing than that provided by the column of oil `in .the casing andV tank, so that thorough flushing of the intake canybe accomplished. The apparatus illustrated` in this figure may of course be provided with means `for autoe matically effecting the reversal of flow.v Thus :a timing device may be provided for automatically. stopping the reciprocation of .the pistonandthen opening the flushing valve ll.. closing the shut--v on valve 14 and starting the pump. 15. As inthe case of the other forms, such reversal may 'be continued for a short period of timeand then. the normal ow resumed.

I claim: l. Pumping apparatus for an `oil-wellccmprise ng'a casing adapted to extend from the ground level to the bottom of the well and having-an intake at its lowerend, and a pump unit mounted in said casing adjacent the lower end thereof and being normally operableto create a flow of oil. drawn through said intake into the lowerv end of said casing and delivered upwardly through said casing to the ground level, said unit having .a pipe.

extending upwardly through said casing, and valve means shiftably mounted .adjacent thev lower end of .said casing to provide for reverse flow through said unit, said valve means haw. ing an operating member extending upwardly through said pipe to the .ground level.

2. Pumping apparatus for an oil well comprising .a casing adapted to .extendfrom the f-round level to the Abottom `of the wellpand havingxan. intake at its lower end, Va pump unit .mounted in the lower end ofsaid casing ,comprisinga motor, arpump. a valve kmember' vcontrolling the inlet and ydelivery-cf Asaid pumnand a .delivery pipe extending from said valvev member .-to the' ground Alevel, .said u nitv being normally adapted to draw oil inwardly through Vsaid .intake and deliver it upwardly through said pipe, and means, for shifting said valvemeans to cause said pumpy unit to draw oil downwardly through said pipeand force it outwardly through saidintake to. remove obstructions therefrom.'

3. Pumping apparatus for an'oil well compris-' ing a casing adapted to extend 'from the 'ground level to the bottom of the well and having an' intake at its lower end, and a pump unit mounted in the lower end of said casing comprising a motor, a rotary pump driven by said motor, a delivery pipe extending to the ground level, shiftable valve means connected to said delivery pipe and to said pump and adapted when in one position to cause said pump to draw oil through said intake and force it upwardly through said pipe and in another position to cause said pump to' draw oil downwardly through said pipe and force it outwardly through said intake to remove obstructions therefrom, and a valve operating rod extending upwardly through said pipe to the ground level.

4. Pumping apparatus for an oil well comprising a casing adapted to extend from the ground level to the bottom of thewell and having an intake at its lowerv end, and a pump unit mounted in the lower end of said* casing and having a delivery pipe extending upwardly through said easing to the ground level, said pump comprising a motor, a rotary pump driven by said motor, and valve means comprising a valve casing having a valve chamber aligned with said pipe and intake and outlet passages, a valve member slidably mounted in said chamber and adapted when in one position to cause said pump to draw oil inwardly through said intake and force it upwardly fromsaid pipe and in another position to draw oil downwardly through said pipe and force it outwardly through said intake to remove obstructionslltherefrom, and a rod extending upwardly fromv said valve member' through said pipe for shifting said member from one position to the other.

, 5. Pumping apparatus for an oil well comprising acasing adapted to extend from the ground level to the bottom of the well and having an intake at its lower end, a pump unit mounted in the lower end of said casing and including a piston reciprocable in said casing, a piston rod extending upwardly to the ground level, said unit being 1 normally operable to draw oil inwardly through said intake and force it upwardly through said casing to the ground level, said piston rod being tubular and having an aperture located above said piston providing communicationto the rod from the interior of said casing, and-a shiftable valve for closing said aperture during normal operation of said unit, and means for forcing oil from the ground level through said-casing and said piston rod, when said valve is shifted, into the lower end of said casing and thence outwardly through said intake to remove obstructions therefrom.

1 6...Pumping apparatus for an oil well comprising a casing adapted to extendfrom the ground level:.to the bottom of the well and having an intake at its lower end, a tank at the ground level,

a piston pump mounted in the lower end of said casing and normally operable to draw oil inwardly through said intake and force it upwardly through saidY casing to said tank, said pump including a tubular piston rod communieating at its lower end with the lower end of said casing below said unit and having an opening to the upper part of the casing above said unit, and a flushing valve controlling said opening, a shutoi valve -for controlling communication between said'y casing and said tank, and a pump for delivering oil under pressure from said tank through said casing and said piston, when said shut-oi valve is closed and said flushing valve is open, to the lower end of said casing to force it outwardly il i.)

8. through said intake to remove obstructions therefrom.

7. Pumping apparatus for an oil well comprising a casing adapted to extend from the ground level to the bottom of the well and having an intake at its lower end, a tank connected to the upper end and provided with a shut-off valve, a pump unit comprising a ported cap fixed in the lower end of said casing and having a springoperated valve for closing the ports thereof, a ported piston mounted in the lower end of said casing and having a spring-operated valve for closing the ports thereof, a tubular piston rod connected to said piston and extending from the upper end of said casing downwardly through said cap with its lower end open, said piston rod having lateral apertures above said piston, a flushing valve mounted in said piston rod for opening and closing said apertures and closingl said piston rod above said apertures, and an operating rod for said flushing valve extending up, wardly through said piston rod, and a pressure pump connected to the upper end of said casing for delivering oil from said tank to said casing,. when said shut-off valve is closed and said flushing valve is open, whereby said oil passes throughthe lower end of said piston rod into the lowerend. of said casing below said cap and is forced.A outwardly through said intake to remove ob#l structions therefrom,

8. Pumping apparatus for arl-oil well comprising a casing adapted to extend from the ground level to the bottom of the well and having an intake at its lower end, and a pump unit mounted in the lower end of said casing, and having a delivery pipe extending upwardly through said casing to the ground level, said pump unit compris-i ing a motor, a rotary pump driven by said motor. and having an inlet and an outlet, andvalve Y means comprising a casing having a chamber communicating with the casing intake and with the delivery pipe and also with the inlet and outlet of said means, and a shiftable valve member in said chamber adapted in one position toconnect the pump inlet with casing intake and. to connect the pump outlet with the delivery pipe. and in another position to connect the pump inlet with the delivery pipe and the pump outlet to the casing intake to pump oil under pressure into the casing intake to clear obstructions therefrom. f

DON vH. TEETOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the" le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Coberly Jan. 11, 1944V

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