US2668500A

US2668500A - Two-zone pump

Info

Publication number: US2668500A
Application number: US53965A
Authority: US
Inventors: Temple P Hoffer
Original assignee: OTIS PRESSURE CONTROL Inc
Current assignee: OTIS PRESSURE CONTROL Inc
Priority date: 1948-10-11
Filing date: 1948-10-11
Publication date: 1954-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 1971-02-09

Description

Feb. 9, 1954 i T. P. HOFFER 2,668,500

' TWO-ZONE PUMP Filed Oct. 11, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Temp/e Hoffer [NI ENFOR- waw z ig T. P. HOFFER TWO-ZONE PUMP Feb. 9, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 11. 1948 lli/la Hm M m m r P m W mg W Feb 9, 1954 T. P. HOFFER TWO-ZONE PUMP Filed Oct. 11, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 P Hoffer Te/n a/e INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 9, 1954 Temple P; Homer, Dalia Pressure Control; Inc.,

tion of Delaware s, et a 'j i i ji i Qii' Dallas; Text; a corpora- Application October 11, 1948', Serial Nb. 59,365 1 (c1. roe-:4)

17 Claims;

This" invention relates to improvements in ap paratus for pumping oil wells and refers more" articuiafl toapparatus for pumping fluid from deep wells having two different zones of production:

This application is a continuation in part of my co' pen'ding' application for United State's Lette'rsPiatent, Serial Number 702,769; filed October 11=, 1946', for Two-Zone Pump, now U. S. Patent No. 2,513,869,

In the production of two-zone completion wells allowable produc'tion must be'shut down whilethe' balance of the allowable'production of the other zoneis produced: Also equipping the wen with the pumping ap aratus I wianeche upper pumping'assembly and thenre' lease theassemblyjin order tliattherod, which is to be used for the actuation" of the pumping units, may be manipulated for the purpose'of're setting a polish rod or the like. It' is desirable to provide a releasable connection between the portion of the upper pumping unit that is supported' on the actuating rod which connection will be remade when this portionof the pumping unit isreleased fro'r'i'iits prior landing so that itmaybe reset by lowering the suckerrod.

This invention has for one of it's objects the provision oftwo-zon'e pumping apparatus which maybe employed t'o'induceflow selectively from one of the production zones or from both zones simultaneously.

Another obj ect" ofthis invention is to provide two-'z'oneipumping equipment which may be em ployd to' pump from either' ofthe production zones separately or from both of the production zones simultaneously.

A further object is to providetw'o-zon'e pumpin'g. equipment whereinmanipulation of'the actuating rodwill'render the pumping unit for one of'th'e-z'one effectiveor'ineffective as desired.

Still-"another object is to provide twa -zone puifi ping equipment 'wl'i'erein rotative manipulatioii or the opi'ara'tirigrod will render one 1 pump unit operative rotational sense" and" wherein reciprocal 'loiigi it is frequently necessary or inoperative dpendenton the" 2 tudnia'i movement or the actuatin rod, outside the limits ofthe usual reciprocation for ump-1 irig purposes, will selectively render the other pumping unit operative or inoperative. i

A still further object is to provide atwo-zon'e pumping mechanism employing a standing-valve ass muy carriedby the actuating rod so as to be insertable and removable from the well tub ing with the red, the mechanism having a means for opening and closing the standing valve upon rotation of the actuating rod, dependent upon the rotational sensei h A I H I Yet another object is to provid two-zone pumping mechanisniemploying' a pump barrel for one o'rthe pump units which is mounted on the actuating rod and is insertable and removable from the well tubing along with the rod and wherein a latch mechanism is provided for se-' curing the pump barrel in one of two positions within the Well tubing SO that with the barrel in one of such positions; the pump unit associated' ther'ewith' will beeffective and with the bar-I rel in thelother position, such pump unit will b inefiective. I Yet a further object is to provide reciprocatin gftype' pumpingapparatus for installation in a" two-zone completionw'ell; the apparatus being capable of being: rendered selectively effective or inefiect-iveby' anipulation of the actuating rod foritheapparatus, V V g i Even another'object'is to provide in two-"zone pumping equipment a release mechanism for anchoring parts carried by' the actuating" rod in operative" positionjwithin a string of How tubing which parts" may be selectively released and then remade without the nece'sfs'ity of pulling theparts' to be anchored 'oalcjk, to the ground surface after they havejon e been anchored in' position;

Evn a further'object is to'provide in two-zone pumping equipment a standing valve and packer assemmy" adapted to, be inserted and withdrawn madam from a well, tubing by'the actuating rod for the pump, there being provided a first rele'asfi able latch mechanism for securing the as's emloly:

in" oper'atifve position within the tubing and a second releasable latch mechanism for securing the asfs e A 1 upon the rod wherein the first mechanism is active to release-the second mechanism when the'rod is moveddownwardly in the tubing arid wherein the'second mechanism re leases thisi first mechanism upon upward move-'- Qther an mailer objects' ofl g n iigenuaiii g desc riptiori.

m" the accompanying'drawings which form a 3 part of the instant specification, are to be read in conjunction therewith and wherein like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view partially in vertical section illustrating an oil well equipped with apparatus embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section upon an enlarged scale illustrating the part of the apparatus of Fig. 1 pertaining to the anchoring of a part of the upper pumpin unit in a crossover flow device;

Fig. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale illustrating the lower pump unit in operative position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the lower pump unit in an inoperative position;

Fig. 5 is a view on an enlarged scale illustrating the standing valve of the-upper pump unit together with a hold-down mechanism for closing the standing valve;

Fig. 6 is an elevational detail of the hold-down mechanism for the upper standing valve showing the'same in half-section and upon a much larger scale than the showing of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view taken along the line 1--1 in Fig. 6 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, upon an even larger scale, of the nut which secures the hold-down assembly to the standing valve assembly;

Fig. 9 is a view upon a greatly enlarged scale illustrating the looking or hold-down mechanism for securing the upper standing valve and packer in operative position and illustrating the parts just as the standingvalve and packer assembly have'been lowered to their operative position;

Fig.'l0 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the parts in operative position with the actuating rod also in operative position for pumping both of the zones of a two-zone well;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view similar to Figs.

9 and but illustrating the parts in position with the standing valve packer assembly about to be withdrawn from the well tubing and with the hold-down mechanism orlatch released.

Figs. 12 and 12A are enlarged views of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and Figs. 13 and 13A are enlarged views of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2. Referring to Figs. 1, l2 and 12A well casing l5 has upper perforations 15a and lower perforations 15b adapted to communicate with upper and lower producing formations respectively of a two-zone producing well. Extending downwardly within the casing is a string of flow tubing l6 which is connected to special fittings and through these fittings extends to the lower formation. These special fittings house the upper and lower reciprocal-type pump units disposed respectively adjacent the upper and lower producing formations and this equipment will be hereinafter more fully explained.

Referring to the apparatus for pumpin the upper producing formation, it is believed that an understanding of the apparatus will be obtained by first pointing out that the equipment for pumping the upper producing formation is of the reciprocal type and contains a standing valve, a plunger including a traveling valve, and a pump barrel, together with packing means for maintaining separate flow passages for the fluid produced from the two producing zones of the well.

While the pump barrel or liner for the upper pump unit is illustrated as having a stationary mounting on the tubing string so that it can be removed from the well only along with the 4 tubing string, it is, however, contemplated that this pump barrel may be mounted in a fashion to be removable with the actuating rod or sucker rod which is connected to the pump plungers or pumping members. This latter type removable pump barrel is illustrated in conjunction with the lower pump unit.

In order to secure the upper pump barrel to the tubing a special coupling H is threaded to tubing 16 and has a threaded connection with an upper cylinder jacket IS. The lower end of jacket [8 is threaded to fitting It. The coupling l7 and fitting 19 have confronting internal annular shoulders, Ila and I911. respectively, between which the pump barrel or liner 20 is secured.

Fitting [9 has a threaded connection not shown in the drawings with an upper packer sleeve 2| which carries a packin 22 providing a seal between the packing sleeve 2l and the tube 23. The tube 23 communicates with the interior of the pump liner 2!], and provides a portion of the flow passage for conducting fluid from the upper formation to the ground surface. The fitting 24 is threaded to packing sleeve 21 and has a passage 24a therein which communicates between the tubing casing annulus and the annular space between tube 23 and the interior of fitting 24. This latter annular space and the passage 24a provide a portion of the passage for conducting well fluids produced from the lower formation into the tubing casing annulus in a manner to be hereinafter more fully explained. Fitting 24 has a threaded connection with an outer tubular member or packing mandrel 25 and the annular space between the mandrel and'tube 23 provides a portion of the passage for the flow of fluid from the lower formation. The packing mandrel 25, carries externally thereof, annular packings 26 providing a seal between the casing l5 and the mandrel. These packings 26 may be of a conventional type, being supported on the mandrel 25 at an annular flange 2511 provided intermediate the length of the mandrel.

This above packer arrangement has been found to be entirely satisfactory but as an alternative the packer arrangement shown and described in detail in my above-mentioned co-pending application, now U. S. Patent No. 2,513,869, may be employed.

The packing mandrel 25 is threaded to the outer casing 21 of a crossover flow device. Interiorly of the outer casing 21 is a flow member 28 (Fig. 2) which is threaded to the lower end of tube 23. This member 28 has peripheral grooves 280: therein extending axially and providing passages for flow of fluid into the annular space between tubing 23 and mandrel 25. At circumferentially arranged positions, different than the positions of grooves 2811, member 28 is provided with ports 28b extending substantially radially and communicating with the upper ports |5a of the well casing and radial ports 21a in casing 21. With this arrangement the upper producing formation is in communication with the interior of the tubular flow member 28.

The flow member 28 has a threaded fitting with a cylindrical member 29 and concentrically arranged about the cylindrical member 29 is a casing 30. The space between the cylindrical member and casing 30 communicates with the passages provided by grooves 28a and provides a portion of the flow passage for the fluid from the lower producing formation of the well. The

inner tubular or cylindrical member 29 is adapted to receive a packoff means to form a equipment and the tube. whereby the 'passage.--. wellsfiuidfrom the upper.

wayforproducing .-the

formation is sealed oif producing fluids from from the passageway for the lower formation...

The tube or cylindrical member .29 also carries latch partsin the form of a.fitting.3lthreaded thereto and having Y spring. fingers 32; extending. axially therefrom. This latch part. is usedytoanchor a standingvalve and packer assembly in operative position within the cylindrical member and is adapted for interlockingengagement with latch parts carried by the assembly... :This. assembly .will be next described and then .the locking'ofthe assembly in place will be takenup.

The standing valve packer assembly isradapted; to bemounted on a polish rod section 33.=.whichmakesupa part of the actuating .rod for-pump I The .rod length-331s connected to the lower end of pump'plunger or: pumping member v34 which in turn, is connected ing the two pump units.

to .the sucker rod 35. The mountingof, the

standing valve packer assembly onthe rod length. 33 issuch as to permit relative sliding .movementbetween the rod and the assembly.

The standing valveis madeup of abody part havingvertical passages 36a therein. The

body 36 surrounds rod 33 and has a tapered seat,

surfiace 36b at its upper endin which the passages36a terminate. .This seat surface. is tapered to receive the surface u'ponan annular valve member 31. which has a sliding movement upon a guide extension 360 of the body member.

formed of spring fingers and is adapted to.-be

connected to a movable stoptolimit movement of valvemember 31 as will be hereinafter more fully .described.

The body 36 of the standing valve carries a packing 38 about its outer peripheryv which is held against .a down-turned annular shoulder.

intermediate the ends of the bodyand a gland ring 39 which is threaded-to the body. This packing preferably is of the chevron type and provides a seal between the valve body and the lower end of tube 23.

Obviously with the packing38 sealing oii bein the gland ring 39. Thus flow may .takeiplacev from the upper producing formation throughthe seal between the actuating rod of the pumping corresponding tapered The extension 360 is.

perforation l5a, ports 21a and 28b. and 39a and thence through passages 36a.

1 In order to prevent intermingling of the fluids from the two producing formations it is necessaryto pack oif the interior, of the cylindrical membermade .up of

tubes

28 and 29 and forming apart of, the crossover device. This latter may r be accomplished by extending thevalve body. 36

downwardly .to :connect to a packing :sleeve .40.

This sleeve, 40 .is threaded .to the lower end of the valve body 38; The packer, sleeve 40 has disposed about its. outer periphery. packing 4| which1maybe-of the chevronorthe .cup types.

and which is held in place upon the sleeve'bes tween; a diowniturned annular. shoulder 40a and a gland ring or washer 42 which in .turniis r'held 1 upon the packer sleeve by-. retainer 43'threaded to .-the' lower end .of .ithe sleevepyRetainerz43: carriesrinternal- -packing;.44awhich:zalso prefer-z;

ably is of the :V'-type. '.'i:The: packing:-:44f re"-. tained. within an enlarged diameter: :portionof. the retainer. 43. by the upper end of .a latch part 45 threaded to thelower end of-the retainers:

The' latch part 45 is provided for the purpose; of anchoring or securing the standing valve packer assembly in operative rpositionito control the passageway through the tubular or cylindrical member and carries anienlarged diameter portion 45a adapted to nest-in the interlocking finger parts 32 which haveinternal recesses 32a formed therein for this purposes The fingers 32 have a tapered portion 32b extending upwardly and outwardly from the recess 32a and :down-: wardlyv and outwardly tapering surfaces 320.

This locking 0r. latch mechanism-is:detailed in Figs. 9, l0- and 11. -With-.this'arrangement it is clear that. if means is provided upon the rod 33 for latching onto the assembly and pulling it: downwardly within the tubing string and tubular parts .28 and 29, the enlarged portion 45a of the locking part 45 will first engag'exthe tapered surfaces 32b on the fingers 32 spreading-thesefingers to an outward position. When the en-- larged portion 45 reaches the'recess 32a the parts will interlock to secure the standingvalve packer assembly in operative position. However, it is then necessary to releasethe connection between the assembly and the rod 33 in'order that the rod 33 may be reciprocated to actuate the pump units. I

In my co-pending application mentionedzabove. ashearset-screw was employed-tov securethe rod 33 to the standingrvalve packer'assemblym While this. arrangement was entirely 'satisfac-".=.

tory for certain purposes, itwas not possible to II re-engage the connection between the assembly I and the rod without pullingthe rod to'the ground surface and resetting the set screw.- In installing the apparatus in Wellsit 1 is often desirable' to release the standing valve packer assembly" from operative locked position to permit manipulation of the actuating. rod for purposes of setting a polish. rod at the ground s'urface or the like and then pass the actuating rod downward- 1y again into a position to reseatgthe standing" valve and packer assembly. If it is necessarytopull .the entire length of actuating rod it is a very expensive-"and timeconsuming operation. In accordance. with -this invention there hasbeen provided a releasable set oflocking elements between" the actuating I rod and the standing valve p'acker assembly These interlocking latch elements "include an.

internal recess 45b in the part. secured to the of fingers 46 secured to coupling member fl;

Coupling member .41 has opposed end sockets for receiving ends of .adjacentzsections of the actuating rod. v

The fingersv 46have-at their ends out-turned lugs 4662 with hook surfaces *a'daptedto engage; surface 450- in order to pull the: assembly down 1 wardly within the string of tubing along with the lowering of the rod. In order to release these 1 fingers when the standing valve' packer assembly. has been landed in operative position, the: fingers 46 are provided with taperedsurfaces- 46b. The inherent. resiliency of the spring'ifingers32 is much strongerthan is that of'thespring fingers 46 and when-the enlarged :portion'f45a is-ne'sted*=' ingtherecesses 32a. theitapered surfaces .32e -upon -i the fingers 32".engage 'the surfaces 462) to collapse the locking'elements inwardly sumciently to provide for clearancebetween lug 4ua and shoulder 450. This particular position of the parts is shown in Fig. 9; Further downward movementof actuating rod 33 will release the interlocking elements45b and 46; as shown in Fig. 10. 1

It is then necessary to provide parts carried by the actuating rod for engagement with the fingers 32 to release them from interlocking engagement with the enlarged portion 450; upon upward'movement'of the rod. This may be accomplished by providing large diameter parts 460 upon the fingers 46 which are adapted upon upward movement of the rod to engage the tapered portions 320 to expand fingers 32 to the position shown in Fig. 11 where the enlargedportion 451:. is free to be released from the recesses 32a. This expansion of the fingers 32 will take place because the fingers 46 will be collapsed into abutment with the rod as shown in Fig. 11 preventing further inward collapsing of these fingers whereby with this support they are strong enough to spread the fingers 32 outwardly. It is preferable to provide a rounded shoulder 45d upon the upper edge of the enlargement 45a. which will abut a tapered shoulder 32d carried by the spring fingers in the event of any engagement between the fingers and the enlargement as the enlargement is removed upwardly from the recess 32a. 7

Referring now to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the holddown mechanism for securing valve member 31' of the standing valve in closed position to render the upper pump unit inefiective, will be explained. This releasable hold-down for the valve member 31 is manipulatable by rotation of the actuating rod string. It is therefore necessary to provide a movable stop carried by the standing valve assembly and a wrench mechanism between the stop and the actuating rod for selectively raising and lowering the stop.

This may be accomplished by providing-a tubular stop member 48 having an internal threaded portion receiving a nut 49 threaded therein. Preferably the threads between the nut and stop are heavy fast-lead Acme-type threads which will turn easily as compared to the threaded connection employed in making up the usual actuating or sucker rod. This nut 49 has an annular recess in its inner periphery shown at 49a which receives the enlarged end portions of spring extension members 360. The upper ends of .these members 360 have lugs 35d adapted to mate with the openings between lugs 49a on nut i 49 to hold the nut 49 against rotation with stop" 48 whereby rotation of the stop will raise or lower the nut within the stop dependent uponthe di-' rection of rotation.

The stop 48 has a telescoping clutch engageturned'fianges having fiat inner peripheral surfaces as shown in Fig. '7. engagement, the non-circular clutch parts prevent rotation between the

members

48 and 50. The wrench part 50 carries at its upper end With this telescoping wrench elements 50av adapted to mate with re-'- cesses formed in .aspecial coupling 5| included iniithe .actuating rod string; This coupling is shownintFig; 5; andpreferably constitutes the 7 connection between the lower portion ofthe'ro'd' rod and assembly released, the actuating rod may be lowered until coupling 5| engages wrench part 58 with lugs 58a mated in the sockets formed in the lower end of the coupling. Then rotation of the actuating rod will impart rotation to the

telescoping parts

48 and 50 and inasmuch as nut 49 is held against rotation with the stop 48 thenut will be raised or lowered relative to the stop dependent on the direction of rotation. If the rotation is such as to move the stop downwardly the lower end of the stop will abut the upper end of valve member 31 and force it into seated position against the seat formed on the standing valve body 36. When it is desired to release the valve member 31, reversed rotation of the actuating rod with the parts 5 and 5| engaged will effect a raising of the stop 48 relative to the valve member whereby the valve member willbe free to slide upwardly and downwardly upon the giude 350 to serve as a check valve to control.

back flow through the standing valve.

'In order'to hold the lugs 50a in engagement with'th'e wrench part of coupling 51 it is prefer.-

able to'provide a'sp'ring or resilient member 52 Thus there is provided a movable part associ- I ated with the upper pump unit for selectively renderingjthis unit operative and inoperative upon movement of the part; In addition, there is provideda lost motion connection between the part and the actuating rodwhich permits normal pumping reciprocation of the rod without oper ative movement of the movable part and which operatively moves the part upon a movement of} the rod in other'than its normal pumping reciprocation. p

The plunger 34 heretofore referred to is carried at the lower end of the string of rods 35 and is:

shown somewhat schematically in the drawings. For more detailed description, the co-pending application mentioned ab'ove,"now U. SJPaLtent No. 2,513,869 may be referred to. The plunger comprises a hollow tubing 34 having a snug fit within linear or pump barrel'20' and carries a travelingvalve shown'schematically 9.1353. The valve cage of the traveling valve has radial ports 53a which provide communication between the interior of' tubinglfi and the interior of the plunger 34. This'completes the passage to the ground surface for well fluidsproduced'irom theupper producing zone;

Turning now to the pump units for the lower formation; this'i's shown in Figs; '1, 3 and 4. The

outer casing 30 isc'onnected at'its lower end with an adapter 54 whichis coimecte'dto a continuation of the string ioftubing i 8 thereby providing The external respectively. shoulder 62a engaging shoulder 550 of the shoe, the tapered surface 58a sealingly seats on the lower formation because the communication between the interior of casing tion.

Near its lower end the string of tubing 16 carries a landing shoe 56. This landing shoe may be "threadedly or otherwise secured to the tubing and has a tapered seating or landing-surface 56a ems upper end. Thistapered seating surface is adapted to sealingly receive a correspondingly tapered seating surface ;or part carried by the lower-pump'unit. The shoe 56 has a passageway ftherethrough and contains a-recess 56b adapted to receive a latch element carried by the lower pump unit. The shoe also has an internal shoulder EBc-adapted to be engaged by'latch ele 'ments carried 'by the lower pump unit to secure it in a second position relative the reto.'

' The lowerpump-unit-comprises a barrel portion -1 having a sliding guide connection atits upper end with the actuating rod. This guide connection has'ports 51a communicating between the-interior of the pump-barrel and the interior of tubing I 6. Atthe lower end barrel 51 is connected to a standing valve or seating part 58 having a lower-seating-s-urface 580,, a central passageway and a seat surface 581) at'the upper end adapted to seat a. ball check valve 59. Within the pump barrel is mounted a plunger, in-

cluding-a pump-member 60 mountedon the-lower end of actuatingrod 35 which extends within the pump barrel, and a traveling valve. Cage BI is secured to the lower end of the plunger. Passages in the ends of the plunger place the interior thereof in communication with the interiorof the pump barrel. The seating part 58 carries latching-members 62 in the form of spring elements having outturned tapered lugswith-shoulders 62a and 62b.

These lugs are adapted to engage the shoe at two different locking positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4 In the Fig. 3 position with the tapered surface -5fiaof the shoe. In this position 'the lower pump unit is operatively mounted and will induce flow of well fluid from the lower formation when the plungeris reciprocated within the pump barrel 5?. Howeven'by lifting up on the'actuating-rod 35 until the upper end of the plunger engages the guide at the upper end of the pump barrel, the plungerwill be elevated to release the element 62 from the Fig. 3 position and thelugs of the latching members'BZ will then lodge in the recess'56b as shown in Fig. 4. In

this position the'lower pump unit is mounted in af-airly stable position but reciprocation of the pump plunger will not induce flow from the fluid will by-pass through the upper ports 57a of the pump barrel,

between the pump barrel and tubing 18 and through the central passage of the standing valve member 58. Thus intheFig. 4 position thepump will be'ineffective to pump thelower formation and'the arrangement is such that the pump may be selectively locked in either operative or ineffective pumping position.

. !-Thus there hasbeenprovided a movable part associated with thelower pump unit for selectively renderingit operative andinoperative upon movement .of the partand alost motion'conv separating the casing tubing annulus into upper,

lower and intermediate chambers. The actuating rod 353 is then made up with plunger 60 secured to the lower end thereof and residing within the pump barrel 57. This is then lowered into the tubing string l6 and as-the rod is made up'the coupling 37- carrying releasable latch'elements 46 is secured therein and connected torod ;33 which has'mounted thereon the standing ,valve packer assembly for the upper pump unit. "This is all assembled on the rod string with the interlocking elements 46 of the coupling member 4'! locked in position within the recess 45!). This section of the rod is then lowered into the well tubing and in proper position there is secured to the rod the special coupling 5 I- which will serve as the wrench unit for actuating thehold-down mechanism to close off the upper standing valve member 31. Pump plunger 34 is then secured to the fitting 5i and the traveling valve 5 3"connects the lower end of the suc'ker rod 35 with the plunger.

With all thisequipm'ent mounted on the rod the rod is then lowered into the tubing 'l6-until the interlocking latch parts 45 carried by the upper standing valve Pac er assembly engage with the 'interlocking la'tch parts '32 carried by the cylindrical 'member 29 constituting a part of the crossover flow device. By referringto-Fig. 9 it will be seen that-when the enlarged portion 15a seats in the recess 32a the relatively stifi fingers 32 have their tapered surface 320 engaged with the tapered surface 46bof the interlocking latching elements carried by the'rod. These relatively stronger fingers collapse the elements 56d releasing the latch between "the' assembly and the rod. The actuating rod is thenlowered until the seating part 58a engages the seating shoe 56. Suiflcient weight is placed on the rod assembly to force the latching elements 6-2 into their Fig. 3-position.

The actuating rod is then raised somewhat to place the pump plungers 3 4"and 60in operative position relative to the upper and lower pump barrels respectively. Reciprocation of the rod will induceflow from both the upper and lower formation. The well fluidsproduced from the lower formation will pass upwardly through the lower'pump unit, through the lower portion of tubing l6, through the annular space between the cylindrical parts 30 and; 2 9,' upwardly through passages 28a and 24a and into thecas'ing' tubing annulus above the packers 26. The fluid*isthen produced through this annulus to the ground surface. It is contemplated that this fluidcould be produced through an auxiliary tubing string lodged in this annulus.

Flow from the-upper producing-formation enters the'casing' through perforations [5a and is retained in the casing between the

packers

26 and 55. The fluid, upon -aotuation of the upper pump unit, will. then enter through the por'ts' 27a, 28b: and 39a .into the interior-of .the standing valve body. The fluid will then pass upwardly through passages 36a in the standing valve body and when the valve 31 is free to rise upwardly upon the guides 36c the fluid will force the valve out of position, blocking the passages 36 and will then enter into the liner or pump barrel Of course this latter movement will take place when the plunger is moving upwardly and when the plunger 34 is moving downwardly the valve member 31 will prevent back flow of fluid from the liner. The traveling valve 53 serves in its usual function to raise the fluid upon the upstroke of the plunger. The fluid is then transferred to the ground surface through the tubing string ii.

If, during the landing operation for installing the two pump units in the well equipment, it becomes necessary to dislodge the upper standing valve packer assembly from operative position for any reason, this may be readily accomplished by raising the actuating rod until elements 46 are collapsed and enter into the recess within the enlarged portion 45a of the locking part carried bythe standing valve packer assembly. The tapered surfaces 320 of the looking parts carried by the cylindrical member 29 will first engage the tapered ends of lug 46a and then the tapered surfaces 46?) to collapse elements 48. However, they can not collapse further after engagement withthe rod and fur- .ther raising of the rod will bring the surfaces ,460 into contact with the tapered ends of members 32 to spring them'outwardly as shown in Fig. 11 to release the locking parts between the standing valve packing assembly and the cylindrical member 29. Further movement upwardly of the rod will carry the assembly upwardly and the members 6 will expand outwardly to engage the interlocking element carried by the packing standing valve assembly as soon as the shoulders- 450 are brought out of engagement with the relatively stiff elements of'the locking parts 32. Thus when it is again-desired to'land'the assembly in operative position, lowering-of the actuating rod will pull the standing valve packer assembly into locked position ready for operation.

,If it becomes desirable to produce only from the lower formation and to render the upper pumping unit ineffective this may be accomplished by lowering the'actuating rod 35 until coupling member engages with wrench part 50a carried by part 50. Then rotation of the rod in a clock-wise direction when looking down on the rod will raise nut '49 relative to the stop 48 and the stop 48 will be moved into engagement with valve member 31 to hold it seated and thus close off allflow through the standing valve. This renders this upper pump-unit ineffective. Reverse rotation of the'rod, with the coupling 5! engaged with the; member 50 will back the stop off so as to again render, the upper pump unit operative;

When it is desirable to produce only. from the upper producing formation, the lower pump unit may be rendered ineffective by picking up on the actuating rod 35 "until the upper end of the plunger engages "the guidepart of the barrel 51. Then by pulling on the actuating rod the spring members 52 will be pulled into-the recess 56b. This anchors this lower-pump assembly in a relatively stationary position but breaks the seal between the seating surfaces 58d and. 55a. The actuating rod is then lowered somewhat into position forreciprocation-and only th 99 pump unit will be effective due to the'bypassing of fluid about the lower pump unit.-' This unit may be selectively rendered operative by lowering the actuating rod until the lower end of the pump plunger engages the standing valve ball member 59. The weight of the rod will then cause the pump barrel 5! to be forced to its lower or Fig. 3 position with a seal formedbetween the tapered

seating surfaces

56a and 58a.

It will be seen that the objects of this invention have been accomplished. There has been provided two-zone pump apparatus which is capable of selectively pumping either of the upper or lower producing zones simultaneously or separately. The constructionis such that all the operating parts for the pumps, for both upper and lower producing zones, may be carried by the actuating rod and selectively landed or released from operative position by manipulation of the rod. The arrangement is such that one of the pump units may be rendered effective or ineffective by selected rotative manipulation of the actuating rod for the two pump units and the other pump unit may be rendered selectively operative or ineffective by reciprocal manipulation of the actuating rod without thelimits of the normal pumping reciprocation. The apparatus is such that the production from each of the producing zones is conducted to the ground surfaces through separate flow passages preventing intermingling of the fluids from the two zones.

From the foregoin it will be seen that this invention is'one well'adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be enrployed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the appended claims and to the terminology used therein, it is tobe understood that the standard valve and packer assembly made up of body part 36 and other parts, the valve member or movable means 31, the stop member or movabl part 48, as well as elements represented by numerals 5D, 52 and other elements cooperating with the named parts, form a part of the first pump unit, all of these elements being shown generally in Figure 12. Further, in this same connection, the lower pump barrel 51 and latching members 62 and generally the parts shown in Figures 3, 4 and 12A form a part of the second pump unit.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein setforth orshown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not i n-a limiting sense. t

Having described the invention,- W at is claimed 1. In two-zone well pumping apparatus for use in pumping wells having two vertically spaced fluid-producing formations, communicating with a well bore, said apparatus including in combination a string of flow tubing extending downwardly within the well bore and having openings to place its interior in communication 'with- -both for-mations, two reciprocating-type pump units disposed within the tubing adjacent the two formations respectively, said units having pump barrels, pump members and standing'and trav'ellingvalves arranged in a conventional manner, a single actuating rod operably connected withboth pump units, and means including a movable part for selectively and releasably closing one of the standing valves, a releasable connection between said means and said actuating rod for moving said part upon rotation of the rod with the connection made.

2. In two-zone well pumping apparatus for use in pumping wells having two vertically spaced fluid-producing formations communicating with a. well bore, said apparatus including in combination a string of flow tubing extending downwardly within the well bore and. having openings to place its interior in communication with both formations, two reciprocating-type pump units disposed within the tubing adjacent the two formations respectively, said units having pump barrels, pump members and standing and travelling valves arranged in a conventional manner, a single actuating rod operably connected with both pump units, a stop carried by the standing valve of one pump unit adapted upon rotationin one direction to be advanced into engagement with the valve member of last said standing valveto hold it closed and upon rotation in the other direction to be moved to an out-oi-the-w'ay position to permit the valve member to move to an open position, and releasable interlocking parts carried by the stop and rod adapted upon engagement 1 and rotation 'of the rodto rotate the stop.

-3. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said standing valve of said one pump is of the annular type.

4. In pumping apparatus for use in pumping wells having two vertically spaced fluid-producing formations communicating with the well bore, said apparatus including in combination a string of flow tubing extending downwardly within the Well bore and having openings to place its interior in communication with both formations, two reciprocating-type pump units disposed within the tubing adjacent the two formations respectively, said units having pump barrels, pump members and standing and travelling valves -arranged in a conventional manner, a seating shoe carried by the tubing-string adjacent one producing formation, the pump barrelof one of the pump units constituting a cylindrical element communicating at both ends with the interior of the tubing string, one of the standing valves carried by the lower end of the cylindrical element to controlflow therethrough, a part on the-cylindrioal element-adapted to be sealingly seated on the seating shoe and a latch mechanism including engageableparts carried by the cylindrical element and by the tubing string to releasably secure the cylindrical element in seated and and non-seated relationship with the seating shoe.

5. In apparatus for use in pumping wells having two vertically spaced fluid-producing dormations communicating with the well bore, said-apparatus including in combination a stringoi flow tubing extending downwardly within the well bore and having openings to placeits interiorlin communication with both formations, two reciprocating-type pump units disposed within the tubing adjacent the two formations respectively, a common actuating rod for said pump units, said units having pump barrels, pump members and standing and travelling valves arranged ma oon-- ventional manner, a seating surface carried by the tubing string adjacent one producing formation, the pump barrel of one of the pump units comprising a cylindrical element communicating ntbothends with the, interior of the tubing string,

one of the standing valves carried by thelower end-of the cylindrical element to control flow therethrough, a seating part on the cylindrical element adapted to be sealingly seated on the seating surface, a latch mechanism including engageable parts respectively carried by the cylindrical element and by the tubing string to releasably secure the cylindrical element in seated and non-seated relationship with the seating surface, and parts carried by the actuating rod and cylindrical element adapted to engage upon reciprocation of the rod outside the usual limits of a pumping operation to move the cylindrical element within the tubing string to manipulate the latch mechanism.

6. As a sub-combination, apparatus for use with equipment for pumping .from two vertically spaced production zones in a well comprising a seating shoe adapted to be connected into a tubing string and havinga seat surface thereon, a cylindrical element including a pump barrel with a passageway therethrough and a seat part car-.- ried by said element adapted to sealingly engage the seat surface of said shoe, and a latch mecha nism including a part carried by said element, said mechanism being adapted to releasably secure the cylindrical element in two selected positions relative to the shoe, the positions being with the seat part seated upon and unseated from the seat surface.

7. As a sub-combination,apparatus for use-with equipment for; pumping from two vertically spaced production zones in a well comprising a seating shoe adapted to be connected into a tubing string and having a seat surface thereon; a cylindrical elementincludinga pump barrel with a passageway therethrough, a seat part carried by said element adapted to sealingly engage the seat surface of said shoe, and a standing valve controlling :the passageway; and a latch mechanism including apart carried by said element; said mechanism being adapted to releasably secure the cylindrical element in two selected :positions relative to theshoe, thepositions being with th seat part seated upon-and unseated from the seat surface.

8. In apparatus for pumping wells having two vertically spaced production zones and equipped with a stringof well teasing and a string of flow tubing, thelatter having'openings to place its interior in communication with two vertically spaced producing formations, said apparatus including upper and lower pump cylinders-disposed in the tubing string adjacent therespective producing formations and providing a part or" the passageway through said tubing, pump members reciprocally mounted in the cylinders with a common actuating rod interconnectingthem, and a standing valve and packer assembly carried by the .rod and insertabl and removable therewith intoandout of the tubing, the packer adapted to seal off the passageway between the standing valve and thclower formation, the improvement which resides in the combination therewith :01 latch mechanism for releasably securing the assembly in operative position comprising coacting latch parts carried by the assembly and tubing string adapted to engage upon movementofthe assembly into operative position relative to the tubing to rcleasably anchor the assembly, releas-- ably engageable latchelements carriedbythe "rod and assembly, a part carried by thetubing for releasing said latch elements When the assembly islancho-red, and-a part-carried by the rod adapts.

ed to release th latchjparts when the r-odds withdrawn from the string or tubing.-

9. In apparatus for pumping wells having two vertically spaced production zones and equipped with a string of well casing, a string of flow tubing extending to the lower producing zone and having openings to plac its interior in communication with both zones, said apparatus including two reciprocating-type pump units, with a common actuating rod, disposed within the tubing ad-' jacent the two producing zones respectively; one of the pump units including a standing valve and packer assembly slidably mounted upon and surrounding the actuating rod and adapted to be lowered into and withdrawn from the tubing string with said rod, the standing valve having a passage therethrough communicating with one of the zones and adapted to control flow therefrom, the packer adapted to divid the tubing to separate the portions thereof communicating with the two zones, a hold-down mechanism for releasably anchoring the assembly in operative position relative to said one pump unit including interlocking parts carried by the assembly and tubing adapted to be releasably engaged and anchor the assembly, and interlocking elements carried by the assembly and rod adapted to releasably secure the assembly against sliding on the rod, and

means carried by'the interlocking parts and elements respectively adapted to co-act with each other whereby the elements are released upon downward travel ofthe assembly into position to lock the parts and the parts are released upon upward travel of the "rod to engage the inter locking elements.

10. As a sub-combination, reciprocating-type pump apparatus adaptable for use in conjunction with well production apparatus for pumping from a plurality of vertically spaced production zones in 'a well comprising a cylindrical member adapted to be disposed within a string of flow tubing to receivea standing valve and packer, a rod adapted tobe connected as a part of an actuator for reciprocating a pump member, a standing valve and packer assembly slidably mounted on said rod, interlocking latch parts carried by the cylindrical member and assembly adapted when interlocked to anchor the assembly, interlocking latch elements carried by the assembly and rod adapted to releasably secure the assembly against sliding on th rod, and means carried by the interlocking parts and elements respectively adapted to co-act with each other whereby the elements are unlocked upon downward travel of the assembly into position to lock the parts and the parts are unlocked upon upward travel or the rod to lock the interlocking elements.

11. As a sub-combination, reciprocating-type pump apparatus adaptable for use in conjunction with well production apparatus for pumping from a plurality'of vertically spaced production zones in a well comprising a cylindrical member adapted to be disposed within a' string'of flow tubi g to receive a standing 'valve and packer, a rod within said cylindrical member and adapted to be connected as a part of anactuator for a reciprocating pump, a standing valve and packer assembly slidably mounted on said rod, interlocking latch parts carried by the cylindrical member and assemblyadapted to releasably engage each other to anchorthe' assembly, and interlocking latch elementscarii'ed by the assembly and rod adapted to releasably'se'cure the assembly against sliding on the rod, surfaces on the latch parts carried'by the cylindrical member adapted to engage peripheral parts on the latch elements carried by the rod to release same when the latch parts of the assembly are drawn into engagement with the cylindrical member latch parts on lowering of the rod, and other peripheral portions on the rod latch elements adapted to engage surfaces on the cylindrical member latch parts to release same when the rod is raised to re-engage the latch elements.

12. As a sub-combination, reciprocating-type pump apparatus adaptable for use in conjunction with well production apparatus for pumping from a plurality of vertically spaced production zones in a well comprising a cylindrical member adapted to be disposed within a string of flow tubing to receive a standing valve and packer, a reciprocative. rod within the cylindrical member, a standing valve and packer assembly slidably mounted on said rod within said cylindrical member, spring fingers carried by the cylindrical member and. extending axially thereof, said fingers formed with an annular internal recess adjacent their ends, and having internal beveled surfaces at their ends, a latch extension secured to the assembly and having an exterior annular enlargement at its end adapted to nest in the recess'of the spring fingers to releasably anchor the assembly to the cylindrical'member, said extension having an internal annular recess with an annular opening thereto at the end of the extension and between the extension and rod, spring latch elements secured to the rod and extending axially thereof with out turned' lugs at the ends for engaging the extension recess to releasably secure the assembly against sliding on therod, the latch elements being Weaker than the spring fingers and having parts engageable thereby to release the assembly when the extension enlarge ment is nested in the spring fingers recess and having other parts adapted to engage the beveled ends of the spring fingers to spread same and thereby release the enlarged end of the extension when the rod is raised. I

13. In a two-zone well pumping apparatus for use in pumping wells having two vertically spaced fluid-producing formations communicating with a well bore, said apparatus including in combination, a flow string of tubing extending downwardly within the well bore and having openings to place its interior incommunication with both formations, first and second reciprocating-type pump units disposed within the tubing adjacent the two formations respectively, a single actuat: ing rod operably connected with both pump units, a closable standing valve assembly associated with said first pump unitcomprisinga body, a valve member movable relative to said body, a stop carried by the body and movable relative to the body upon rotation to limit movement of the valve member, a part carried by said stop adapted to be engaged by a co-acting wrench part carried by said rod, a valve assembly associated withsaid second pump unitcomprising a seating shoe dis posed within the tubing string, a valve element carried by the second pump unit adapted to be sealingly seated on the seating shoe and a latch mechanism carried by the second pump unit and tubing string to releasably secure the valve element in seated and non-seated relationship with the shoe." J

14. In two-zone well pumping-apparatus, for use in pumping wells having two vertically spaced fluid-producing formations communicating with a well bore, said apparatus including in combination a flow string of tubing extending downwardly within the well bore and having openings to place its interior in communication with both formations, first and second reciprocating-type pump units disposed Within the tubing adjacent the two formations respectively, a single actuating rod operably connected with both pump units. a closable standing valve assembly associated with said first pump unit comprising a body member with port means therethrough, a valve member having a movable mounting relative to the body member and movable into open and closed positions relative to the port means to control flow therethrough, a stop carried by the body member to limit movement of the valve member, the mounting of the stop being such as to cause it to move toward and away from the port means upon relative rotation of the stop and body member, the direction of movement depending upon the rotational sense, and a part carried by said stop adapted to be releasably engaged by a co-acting wrench part carried by said actuating rod, said second pump unit comprising a seating shoe adapted to be connected to the tubing string and having a seat surface thereon, a cylindrical element including a pump barrel with a passageway therethrough and a seat part adapted to sealingly engage the seat surface of said shoe, and latch mechanism between the cylindrical element and the tubing string adapted to releasably secure the cylindrical element in two selected positions relative to the shoe, the positions being with the seat part and seat surface seated and unseated.

15. In a two-zone well pumping apparatus for use in pumping wells having two vertically spaced fluid-producing formations communicating with a well bore, said apparatus including in combination, a flow string of tubing extending downwardly within the well bore and having at least one opening for each formation to provide communication between the interior of the tubing and both formations, means within the tubing communicating with each of said tubing openings, two reciprocating type pump units disposed within the tubing adjacent the two formations respectively, an actuating rod operably connected with both pump units, first additional means rendering one of said pump units inoperable upon rotation of said rod and including a first part having an operating connection with the rod and said first part being movable relative to the tubing by rotation of the rod and cooperating with the communicating means within the tubing, to interrupt normal fluid flow through the communicating means and from said one pump unit, and second additional means rendering the other of said pump unit inoperable upon reciprocation of said rod outside the usual limits of a pumping operation and including a second part having an operating connection with the rod and movable relative to the tubing to cooperate with said communicating means to interrupt normal fluid flow through said communicating means and from said other pump unit.

16. A pumping apparatus which comprises, in combination, a tubing, first and second reciprocating type pump units arranged in tandem in said tubing, a reciprocative actuating rod connecting said pump units for operation thereof, movable means having an operating connection with said rod and cooperating with means forming a part of said first pump unit selectively rendering said first unit operative and inoperative upon movement of said movable means, and a lost motion connecting means between said movable means and said rod providing normal pumping reciprocation of said rod without operative movement of said movable means and operatively moving said movable means upon a movement of said rod in other than said normal pumping reciprocation and on an axis extending longitudinally with respect to the tubing axis.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 in combination with second movable means having an operating connection with said rod and cooperating with means forming a part of said second pump unit for selectively rendering said second unit operative and inoperative upon movement of said second movable means, and a second lost motion connecting means between said second movable means and said rod permitting normal pumping reciprocation of said rod without operative movement of said second movable means and operatively moving said second movable means upon a movement of said rod in other than said normal pumping reciprocation and on an axis extending longitudinally with respect to the tubing axis.

TEMPLE P. HOFFER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,832,725 Mueller Nov. 17, 1931 1,968,379 Curtis July 31, 1934 2,242,166 Bennett May 13, 1941 2,281,899 White May 5, 1942 2,298,834 Moore Oct. 13, 1942 2,304,303 Ferguson Dec. 8, 1942 2,499,356 Coberly Mar. 7, 1950 2,499,849 Coberly Mar. 7, 1950 2,513,869 Hoffer July 4, 1950 2,522,825 Hoffer Sept. 19, 1950