US2676546A

US2676546A - Fluid-operated pump having concentric and parallel tubings

Info

Publication number: US2676546A
Application number: US26306A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clarence J Coberly
Original assignee: DRESSER EQUIPMENT Co
Current assignee: DRESSER EQUIPMENT Co
Priority date: 1948-05-11
Filing date: 1948-05-11
Publication date: 1954-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 1971-04-27

Description

c. J. oBERLY FLUID-OPERATED PUMP HAVING coNcENTRIc April 27. 1954 AND PARALLEL TUBINGS 'Filed May 11, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l llllllllllllllllllllllll II-Jvlllllll affidi Il ril!! April 27, 1954 c. J. coBERLY- 2,676,546 r FLUID-OPERATED PUMP HAVING coNcENTRIc AND PARALLEL TUBINGS Filed May 1l, 1948 4 sheetsfsheex 2 April 27, 1954 J CQBERLY '2,676,516

C. FLUID-OPERATED PUMP HAVING CONCENTRIC AND PARALLEL v'.'JBINGS Filed May ll. 1948 4 Sheets-SINT 4 INVENTOR 'CLARENCE J. COBERLY BY HIJ)` HTTORNEYS.

BY Here ls, KlEcH, FosrRHnRR/s Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED STATE FLUID-OPERATED PUMP HAVING CONCEN- TRIC AND PARALLEL TUBINGS Clarence J. Coberly, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Dresser Equipment Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 11, 1948, Serial No. 26,306

This invention relates to fluid-operated pumping systems for wells, and, more particularly, to apparatus adapted to be used for pumping in connection with a fluid-operated pump.

Ihe invention 'has particular utility in oil well pumping, and will be described in connection therewith, but it to be understood that it may have other applications and do not intend to be limited to the specific form and use described herein.

It is conventional practice in the oil industry to provide a pair of parallel tubings in a well, one being a power oil tubing and the other being a production tubing, the lower ends of which are connected together so as to provide fluid communication therebetween, and to dispose a fluidoperated pump `in the power oil tubing so that it is supplied therethrough with power oil which operates the pump, to pump well fluid to the ground surface through the production tubing. In such a system, the pump can be removed from the well by reversing the circulation of fluid so that power oil is passed downwardly through the production tubing and upwardly through the power oil tubing to carry the pump to the surface. Such a system is shown and described in detail in my Patent No. 2,338,963, issued on January l1, 1944, to which reference is hereby made for the details thereof.

In such a conventional parallel tubing system the parallel tubings occupy considerable lateral space in the well casing or tubing. In deep oil wells it is common practice to reduce the diameter of the casing as it extends downwardly in the well hole. It is also common practice to utilize a perforated liner in the bottom production Zone of the well, which liner is of substantially less diameter than the casing. Under such conditions it is common for the liner or casing in the production zone of the well to be too small in diameter to accommodate the conventional type of parallel tubing system described above. In such a situation heretofore it has been necessary to employ some other more expensive tubing system.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a pumping system in which such parallel tubings can be used down to a depth at which the casing or liner is or" such `reduced diameter as to prevent further downward continuation of the parallel system, and to employ concentric tubings below such depth to accommodate the pump, the over-all diameter of such concentric tubings being substantially less than the casing or liner diameter required for use of the parallel tubings. This permits the parallel tubing system to be used throughout most ofthe well, with its attendant economy and other desirable features, but'also permits the pump to ybe bottomed Claims. (Cl. 10S-46) at a substantially greater pumping depth which is frequently necessary or desirable.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic latch mechanism for retaining or supporting a fluid-operated pump in a well tubing, the mechanism being hydraulically operated to both latched and unlatched positions by the application of power oil under high pressure thereto.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following specification and the drawings, which are for the purpose of illustration only, and in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic utility view, which shows the invention installed in a well;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the invention;

Fig. S is a vertical sectional view of an intermediate portion of the invention, being a downward continuation of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the lower portion of the invention, -being a downward continuation of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken in the line 6-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line i-'l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 2 of an alternative embodiment;

Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. 3 of said alternative embodiment, being a downward continuation of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a. View similar to Fig. 4 of said alternative embodiment, being a downward continuation of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on theline I I-l l of Fig. 8;

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the upper end of a typical pump or pump assembly which may be utilized with the present invention; and

Fig. k13 is a downward continuation of Fig. 12.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l diagrammatically shows a complete well installation including the present invention, which includes a triplex pumping unit l2, of conventional design, which is adapted to pump an operating fluid under high pressure such as clean crude oil, hereinafter referred to as power oil, through supply piping I3 and a four-way valve ist to a column of power oil tubing I5. Also connected to the four-way valve I4 is the upper end of a production tubing I6 adapted to convey well fluid therethrough and to pass such well fluid through the four-way valve to a discharge pipe ll which is adapted to convey the well huid to a point of use or disposal (not shown). The four-way valve lil may be manually operated by a lever I8 to connect the supply piping I3 with the power oil tubing I and to connect the production tubing I6 with the discharge pipe Il, which is the position thereof for normal pump operation. The valve I4 may also be adjusted by the lever I8 to a second position in which the supply piping I3 is connected to the production tubing I6 and the power oil tubing I5 is connected to the discharge pipe Il, which is the pump-out position to be described more fully hereinafter.

The power oil tubing I5 and the production tubing I6 pass downwardly through a casing head 20, which is normally positioned above the surface of the ground, and from which extends downwardly a well casing 2l. The well casing 2l is of conventional form. Projecting into the lower end of the casing 2I and extending downwardly therefrom is a perforated casing 23 which may be provided at its upper end with a collar 24 adapted to be engaged by a conventional J-tool on the lower end of a drill pipe (not shown), all of which is conventional practice. The perforated casing 23 is of substantially smaller internal diameter than the casing 2I and extends down into the producing formation of the well and either being perforated or provided with a perforated liner (not shown). The perforated casing 23, or a perforated liner substituted therefor, may be 300 cr more feet long.

Connected to the lower end of the power oil tubing I5 and the production tubing i6 is a foot member 25 from which extends downwardly a lower tubing 26 which is in axial alignment with the power oil tubing I5, and which forms a downward continuation thereof as described more in detail hereinafter.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the power` oil tubing I5 is provided near its lower end with a sealing collar 28 which is tubular in form and which is provided with an annular shoulder 29 upon which seats a cylindrical sleeve 3i) the upper end of which provides an annular seating shoulder` 3I. Formed in the collar 28 below the shoulder 29 is an annular recess 32 which provides a lower annular seating shoulder 33.

The lower end of the sealing collar 28 is threadedly connected to the foot member 25, as best shown in Fig. 3. The foot member 25 is provided with a first bore 35 and a second bore 36, fluid communication therebetween being provided by a port 3l, and the lower end of the production tubing I6 being threaded into the upper end of the second bore 36. The lower tubing 26 is threaded into the lower end of the first bore 35, and extends downwardly from the foot member 25 into the perforated casing 23. As best shown in Fig. 4, the lower end of the lower tubing 26 is threadedly secured to a lower seating element 33 which is tubular in form and open at its lower end. The lower seating element 38 is provided with an annular seating face 39. Seated on the face 39 is a standing valve assembly 4 provided with a bore 4I therethrough and a ball check valve 42 at the lower end of the bore, the ball check valve being adapted to move upwardly to admit well fluid from the perforated casing 23 into the standing valve assembly but to seat to prevent a reverse iiow of such well fluid.

Extending into the bore 4I of the standing valve assembly 45, and adapted to make a iluidtight fit therewith, is a skeeter bill 44, the upper end of which is connected by a fitting 45 to the lower inlet end of a fluid-operated pump 46, the Skeeter bill providing iiuid communication between the bore 4I of the standing valve assemly 45 and an inlet 4'I of the huid-operated pump. The huid-operated pump 46 may be of any conventional type well-known in the art. For example, the pump` 46 may be of the type disclosed in my aforementioned patent. Briefly, and referring to Figs. 12 and 13, such a pump may include a motor piston means 46a reciprocable in a motor cylinder means 46h, the motor piston means having connected thereto a pump piston means 46c reciprocable in a pump cylinder means 46d and carrying the usual working valve means 46e. The external diameter of the huid-operated pump 46 is substantially less than the internal diameter of the lower tubing 26, so as to provide an annular clearance therebetween with which communicates discharge ports 48, best shown in Fig. 3, from which the huid-operated pump pumps well fluid which enters the pump through the inlet 41, pumping the same upwardly through the lower tubing 26 into the foot member 25.

The upper end of the fluid-operated pump 46 is provided with a power oil inlet A5I) through which power oil may be supplied to the fluidoperated pump from the power oil tubing I5 under high pressure, so as to operate the pump, as is well-known in the art. Connected to the upper end of the fluid-operated pump 46 is a tubular fitting 5I into the upper end of which is threaded a nipple 52 connected to the lower end of a flexible tubular conduit 53. The conduit 53 may be made of reinforced rubber, neoprene, or other suitable material, adapted to withstand the expansive force of power oil under high pressure owing therethrough. As shown in Fig. 2, the upper end of the conduit 53 is connected through an upper nipple 54 with a packer means 55.

rlhe packer means 55 includes a lower tubular element 51 into the upper end of which is threaded an upper tubular element 58 which extends upwardly into the power oil tubing I5. Secured to the upper end of the upper tubular element 53 is a plug member 53 having inlet ports 55 therein which communicate between the interior of the upper tubular element and the interior of the power oil tubing l5. Also threaded to the upper tubular member 58 and engaging the plug member 53 is a nut 6I which is engaged by a follower cup 62 which retains the upper end of a resilient packer element 63. The packer element 63 may be made of rubber, neoprene, or other suitable material, and is expanded outwardly into light sealing engagement with the inner wall of the power tubing I5 by spring arms `64, and is retained in its vertical position relative to the upper tubular element 53 by a tubular sleeve 65 the lower end of which engages a nut S6 threaded on the lower end of tl e upper tubular element. The nut 65 engages a clamping washer 61, which in turn engages against the upper end 0f a sealing sleeve 68 provided with an annular, downwardly faced shoulder 69 which, in the position shown in Fig. 2, seats on the shoulder 3| of the sealing collar 28. The lower end of the sealing sleeve 68 engages a shoulder II formed on the lower tubular element 5l, the parts 6l and 68 being rigidly clamped against the shoulder 'II by the nut 65. The periphery of the sealing sleeve 68 makes a close sliding t with the inner wall of the cylindrical sleeve 30, the sealing sleeve being preferably provided with an O-ring packing I2 to provide a fluid-tight seal therebetween. Also, the sealing sleeve 68 is provided in its internal wall with a similar O-ring packing 5 adapted to provide a seal between the sleeve and the outer wall of the lowei` tubular member 5l. It is to be noted that the maximum external diameter of the sealing sleeve 68 is substantially less than the internal diameter of the power tubing I5.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 6', the lower enlarged portion of the lower tubular element 5l is provided with a plurality of circumierentially spaced vertical bores 'I5 in each of which is provided a pin 'i6 resiliently maintianed in its lower position as shown in Fig. 2 by a compression spring ll'. The lower ends of the pins i6 engage radial latch `elements 'I8 which, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 7, are slidably retained in their respeci tive rectangular vopenings 'i9 formed in the lower tubular element 51. Each of the latch lelements 18 is provided with an O-ring packing gli which entirely encircles the same to provide a fluid seal between the latch element and its opening. Each of the latch elements is provided with a lower seating face 8! which is adapted to rest on the lower annular shoulder 33 of the sealing collar 23, and each of the latch elements is provided in its upper face with a groove B2 in which its respective pin 'IE is adapted to enter, the pin serving as a stop to limit inward and outward radial movement of each of the latch elements.

In the position shown in Figs. l to '7, inclusive, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the fluid-operated pump llt is shown as disposed substantially within the lower tubing adjacent to the upper end of the lower portion of the well casing 2I. This is merely for convenience of illustration. In practice, the fluid-operated pump 46 may be many feet below the upper end of the perforated casing 23, in some cases 300 feet or more. In such case, the Flexible conduit may be of very substantial length.

In installation, the packer means 55, the flexible conduit 53, the fluid-operated pump d5, and the Skeeter ybill 44 are assembled preferably at the surface of the ground. The standing valve assembly t0, which has a maximum diameter small enough to pass downwardly through the f power oil tubing I5, the sealing collar 28, the first bore 35 of the foot member 25, and the lower tubing 26, is dropped or otherwise passed downwardly through the same to it seated position illustrated in Fig. 4, the tubing first being lled i with fluid. The fluid-operated pump assembly is then inserted into the upper end or" the power tubing I5, the upper end of the power tubing is suitably plugged, and the triplex pumping unit I2 is then operated to pump high pressure power oil through the supply piping I3, the fourway valve Hi, and downwardly through t -e power tubing I5 to force the fluid-operated pump assembly downwardly through the power oil tubing to the positions thereof shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. During this movement of the uid-operated pump assembly, the Skeeter bill t4 enters the bore 6I of the standing valve assembly dil, to the position illustrated in Fig. 4. Before starting downward movement of the fluid-operated pump assembly, the radial latch elements 'I8 are manually moved inwardly to retracted position so that the iiuidoperated pump unit may pass downwardly. The latch elements are held in this position frictionally by the compressi-on springs TI. As little fluid pressure on the upper end of the fluidoperated assembly is required to force it downwardly to its pumping position as illustrated, the latch elements do not move outwardly during this lfow-'nward movement of the assembly. 'However, as soon as the shoulder 69 on the sealing sleeve 63 engages the shoulder 3| on the upper end of the cylindrical sleeve 30 further downward movement of the huid-operated pump assembly is checked thereby, and power oil immediately flows from the power oil tubing I5 through the inlet ports vIi and through the packer means 55 to the flexible conduit 53. Appli-cation of the full pressure of the power oil to the inner faces of the radial latch elements 78 force them outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2 in which the lower seating faces 8I thereof engage and are supported by the lower annular shoulder S3 of the sealing collar 2S. As will be noted, the area of engagement between the shoulder t5 and the seating shoulder 3| is relatively small due to space requirements in the packer means, and would not support the full pressure of the power oil, which might provide a pressure differential across the packer means of 2,500 pounds per square inch or more. Consequently, this engagement is not designed to do more than to check the downward movement of the huid-operated @pump assembly and to temporarily support the assembly in the pumping position. As soon as the downward pressure of the power oil starts to rise within the packer means '55 the radial latch elements 'I8 are moved outwardly as described to their position, as shown in Fig. 2, in which they are adapted to support the entire fluidnoperated pump assembly and to withstand vany downward pressure diierential thereon.

Power oil then flows downwardly through the iiexible conduit St, through the power oil inlet 50, to the huid-operated pump d5 to operate the same. Operation of the fluid-operated pump d6 causes it to draw well fluid from the perforated casing 23 into the lower end of the lower seating element 36, upwardly through the standing valve assembly ii, the Skeeter bill itil, and into the inlet 41 of the duid-operated pump te, The pump end of the fluid-operated pump de then discharges such well fluid from the discharge ports d8 into the lower tubing 35 through which it flows upwardly around the fluid-operated pump and the flexible conduit 53 into the foot member 25. Such well fluid, which may be termed the production now, then passes through the port Si and the second bore $6 and into the production tubing I5 and upwardly therethrough, passing through the four-way valve I4 and into the discharge pipe II through which it is conveyed to a point of storage or use. t is also to be noted that since the sealing sleeve 68 forms a fluid-tight seal with the cylindrical sleeve 35, the interior of the power oil tubing I5 below the packer means 55 around the flexible conduit 53 and thereabove is maintained at relatively low pressure of the production flow. This provides a iiuid pressure differential across the radial latch elements "IS, retaining them in their latched position, shown in Fig. 2.

When it is desired to remove the fluid-operated pump 46 from the well, the four-way valve iii is adjusted to its reverse position by the lever i8, so as to provide communication between the supply piping iS and the production tubing I5, and to provide communication between the power oil tubing I5 and the ydischarge pipe I'i. Power oil then iiows downwardly through the production tubing IS and enters the foot member 25, passing through the port 3l into the power oil tubing I5 below the packer means 55. As such iiuid pressure builds up, it exerts an inward radial force on the radial latch elements '38, moving them to retracted position in which they are moved inwardly until the pins 1'6 engage the outer ends of the grooves 82. Continued application of such high fluid pressure below the packer means 55 causes the fluid-operated pump assembly, cluding the packer means, flexible conduit C3, and the fluid-operated pump 46, to move upwardly into the power oil tubing l5. As soon as the sealing sleeve @8 of the packer means 55 passes out of the cylindrical sleeve 30, such fluid pressure below the packer means 55 is then applied on the lower end of the packer element 63 to continue the upward movement of the fluidoperated pump assembly to the surface of the ground. As the fluid-operated pump assembly is relatively light, only a relatively low fluid pre."- sure below the packer means 55, for example, pounds per square inch, is required to move the fluid-operated pump assembly upwardly through the power oil tubing i5. Consequently, there is substantially no tendency for the packer element 63 to blow out during such upward movement of the pump assembly. As soon as the Skeeter bill 44 leaves the standing valve assembly 40, during the upward movement of the fluid-operated pump assembly, downward fluid pressure on the ball check valve l2 will close the same, so as to retain oil in the system and prevent the same from bleeding back into the well casing. The use of the flexible conduit 53, where the same must be made very long, is a substantial advantage over the use of metal tubing, as such flexible conduit may be stored on a drum or reel and readily moved to and from the well rig and readily assembled thereat.

The alternative embodiment illustrated in Figs.

8, 9, 10, and 11 is generally similar to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the preceding figures, described above. It differs somewhat in structure, however, which provides certain advantages under certain conditions of operation. Similar parts are given the same reference numerals as used in connection with the preferred embodiment, but with the suiiix a added.

In the alternative embodiment, the packer means 55a, as shown in Fig. 8, differs somewhat from the packer means 55. In the packer means 55a, there is no shoulder equivalent to the shoulder 69 of the preferred embodiment, although a temporary seating shoulder is provided elsewhere as will be described hereinafter. The sealing collar 28a is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced grooves 84, each of which provides an annular seating shoulder S5. Carried in the lower tubing element 51a are radial latch elements 18a, which are engaged by pins 16a, in this case the pins being disposed below the latch elements. Inserted into the lower end of the lower tubular element 5la, is a nipple member 85 against which the compression springs 'Ha engage and in the lower end of which is threaded a rigid tubular conduit 8l which is substituted for the ilexible conduit 53 in the preferred embodiment, and which is preferably made of metal, the lower end of the conduit 8! being threaded into the tubular tting 5| d which, in turn, is connected to the upper end of the fluid-operated pump 46a. Inserted into the lower end of the fluid-operated pump 46c, as shown in Fig. 10, is a fitting 45a with which is threadedly connected a tubular stem 83 which extends downwardly therefrom, the lower end of the stem being provided with a conical seat 89 adapted to seat on a conical seating face 90 provided in the upper end of the standing valve assembly 40a. Carried on the tubular stem 88 is a lower packer element 92 f seating shoulder of such groove.

which is generally similar in construction to the upper packer element 63a. The lower packer element 92 is adapted to provide a low pressure fluid seal between the lower end of the iuidoperated pump 46a and the inner wall of the lower tubing 26a.

Installation of the alternative embodiment illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, and 10 is substantially similar to that described above in connection with the preferred embodiment except in the following particulars. As the fluid-operated pump assembly, consisting of the packer means 55a, the conduit 8l, and the stem 88 with its lower packer element 92 thereon, seats on the standing valve assembly 43a, the conical seat 3S making iluidtight engagement with the seating face 90, further downward movement of the fluid-operated pump assembly is stopped. Thus, seating of the conical seat 89 on the seating face Q0 has a function equivalent to that of the seating of the shoulder $9 on the seating shoulder 3| in the Preferred embodiment. If the full operating pressure of the power oil were applied to the upper end of the fluid-operated pump assembly, however, the tubular conduit 8l, which may be formed of re1- atively thin material, might collapse or otherwise corkscrew, making it impossible to withdraw the fluid-operated pump assembly from the well, which would be very undesirable. Before this can occur, however, the radial latch elements Ita are moved outwardly by the increasing uid pressure within the lower tubular element 51a to latch in one of the grooves 84 to support the iiuicboperated pump assembly on the annular This rigidly supports the fluid-operated pump assembly against further downward movement due to pressure of the power oil in the power oil tubing l5a above the packer means 55a. A stepped succession of such grooves Bil is provided so as to obviate any necessity of closely controlling the respective lengths of the tubular element ttings therebelow, which would otherwise be necessary if only one such groove were provided.

When it is desired to remove the fluid-operated pump assembly of the alternative embodiment, asv

shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, from the well, the direction of the flow of the power oil is reversedy as described above, so as to ow downwardly through the production tubing l6a, through the port 3'Fa of the foot member 25a and into the lower end of the power tubing Ia and into the lower tubing 25a. In this alternative form of the invention, it is to be noted there is not suflicient effective area on the downward side of the lower tubing element 'la on which power oil therebelow can adequately act to satisfactorily raise the fluid-operated pump assembly into the power oil tubing l5a. However, in this form, such power oil passing downwardly through the lower tubing 26a readily compresses the lower packer element 92, passes thereby, and acts upon the lower end thereof so as to raise the fluid-operated pump assembly into the power oil tubing. Obviously, as soon as the fluid-operated pump as sembly moved upwardly to a point at which the 0-ring '52a moves out of the cylindrical sleeve 30a power oil can then flow therepast and upwardly to exert an upward lifting force on the lower end of the upper packer element 63a, to continue the upward movement of the fluid-operated pump assembly. Also, it will be understood, as soon as the flow of power oil is reversed and directed down through the production tubing 16a, the pressure differential across the radial4 latch elements. 18a will be reversed so as to be directed inwardly to move the same inwardly out of engagement with the sealing collar 28a, to permit the duid-operated pumpto move upwardly as described. The alternativeembodiment shown in Figs. 8 to 1l, inclusive, is particularly adapted for use in deep wells, in which high fluid pressures must be used on the power oil, which pressures will. not be withstood by an adequate flexibletype of conduit between the fluid-operated pump 46a and the packer means 55a.

As pointed out above, the primary advantage of the present invention is to permit the pump-in and pump-out type of fluid-operated pump to be used in deeper wells with greater economy than has heretofore been possible with pumps of this type. For example, in a well using a 9-inch casing and a 7-inch liner atA the bottom thereof, it is. impossible to use present commercial types of parallel tubings with pumps larger than 2% as the same cannot be run into the relatively small perforated casing 23. With the present invention, practical pumping depths with this type of equipment may be substantially extended.

A further advantage of the alternative embodiment, illustrated in Figs. 8 to 1l, inclusive, is that upon removing the fluid-operated pump assembly from the well, when the packer means 5% is moved upwardly and out of the valve mechanism Illa and detached from the tubular conduit Sl', the

lower packer element 92 is still operated by the application of power oil at the lower end thereof, which permits the relatively long string or conduit 81 to be pushed upwardly and out of the well so that the huid-operated pump 4ta may be re- :v

pressure is readily carried by the lower packer v element 92.

Although I have shown and described two preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that substitutions and modiiications in both thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and, therefore, I do not intend to be lim- 1. In a fluid-operated pumping device, the combination of: a well tubing; a duid-operated pump adapted to be passed downwardly through said tubing; an upper annular seat of relatively small cross-sectional area in said tubing; a lower annular seat of relatively large cross-sectional area in said tubing below said upper seat; a tubular member on said pump; an upper seating face on said tubular member and adapted to engage said upper annular seat to support said tubular member and said pump; hydraulically actuated latch means carried by said tubular member and radially movable to engage on said lower seat; and means for exposing said latch means to luid pressure.

2. In a fluid-operated pumping device, the combination of a well tubing; a fluid-operated pump adapted to be passed downwardly through said tubing; an upper annular seat of relatively small cross-sectional area in said tubing; a plurality of vertically spaced steps in the interior of said tubing below said upper seat; a tubular member on said pump; an upper seating face on said tubular member and adapted to engage said upper annular seat to support4 said tubular member and said pump; hydraulically actuated latch means carried by said tubular member and radially movable to engage on one of said steps and means for exposing said latch means to fluid pressure.

3. In a fluid-operated pumping device, the combination of a pair of parallel tubings of diierent lengths; a fluid-operated pump assembly which includes cylinder means having piston means therein and which is insertable into and smaller in diameter than the longer one of said tubings so that it is adapted to be passed through said one tubing to a point adjacent the lower end thereof; a member engageable in sealing relation with the lower end of said pump assembly, said member being carried by said one tubing adjacent the lower end thereof; means providing a fluid communication port between said tubings at the lower end of the other tubing and at a distance above said member greater' than the length of said pump assembly so that said pump assembly is disposed entirely below said port when it has been moved downwardly into engagement with said member; tubular means on said pump assembly and adapted to extend upwardly through said one tubing to a level above said port; and packer means adapted to form a duid-tight seal between said tubular means and said one tubing, said packer means being disposed above said port.

4. In a huid-operated pumping device, the combination of: a pair of parallel tubings of different lengths; a fluid-operated pump assembly which includes cylinder means having piston means therein and which is insertable into ane smaller in diameter than the longer one of said tubings so that it is adapted to be passed through said one tubing to a point adjacent the lower end thereof; a member engageable in sealing relation with the lower end of said pump assembly, said member being carried by said one tubing adjacent the lower end thereof; means providing a fluid communication port between said tubings at the lower end of the other tubing and at a distance above said member greater than the length of said pump assembly se 'that said pump assembly is disposed entirely below said port when it has been moved downwardly inte engagement with said member; tubular means on said pump assembly and adapted to extend upwardly through said one tubing to a level above said port; packer means adapted to form a fluidtight seal between said tubulai` means and said one tubing, said packer means being disposed above said port; and means for supporting said pump assembly from said one tubing at a position above said port and independently of said member.

5. In a duid-operated pumping device, the combination of: a pair of parallel tubings of different lengths; a fluid-operated pump assembly which includes cylinder means having piston means therein and which is insertable into and smaller in diameter than the longer one of said tubings so that it is adapted to be passed through said one tubing to a point adjacent the lower' end thereof; a member engageable in sealing relation with the lower end of said pump assembly, said member being carried by said one tubing adjacent the lower end thereof; means providing a fluid communication port between said tubings at the lower end of the other tubing and at a distance above said member greater than the length of said pump assembly so that said pump assembly is disposed entirely below said port when it has been moved downwardly into engagement with said member; flexible tubular means on said pump assembly and adapted to extend upwardly through said one tubing to a level above said port; packer means adapted to form a duid-tight seal between said tubular means and said one tubing, said paci: r means being disposed above said port; and means for supporting said iiexible tubular means from said one tubing at a position above said port.

6. In a fluid-operated pumping device for wells, the combination of: a tubing; a huid-operated pump assembly slidable in said tubing and having a power uid inlet; tubular means in said tubing connected to said inlet and adapted to convey power fluid to said inlet; a radially slidable latch element carried by said tubular means and having an inner end exposed to the interior thereof, said latch element being adapted to be moved radially outwardly by power fluid passing through said tubular means and acting on said inner end, said latch element having its outer end outside said tubular means but within said tubing; a shoulder in said tubing engageable by said latch element to support said pump assem- .1

bly, said latch element being adapted to be moved radially inward in response to fluid pressure applied to the outer end thereof in said tubing: and means for selectively controlling the iiuid pressure in said tubing and in said tubular means.

7. In a device for use in connection with a fluid-operated well pump having a power fluid inlet, the combination of a tubing, tubular means in said tubing adapted to be connected to and to extend upwardly from the pump and having a passage adapted to communicate with the inlet, said passage being open at both ends; a radially slidable element carried by said tubular means and having an inner end exposed to the interior thereof and an outer end outside said tubular means, said element being adapted to be moved radially outwardly by a predetermined hydraulic pressure in said passage acting on said inner end, and being adapted to 'be moved radially inwardly by a predetermined hydraulic pressure applied to the outer end thereof inside said tubing; a shoulder in said tubing engageable by said element to support said tubular means; and means for selectively controlling the fluid pressure in said tubing and in said tubular means.

8. In a fluid-operated pumping device, the combination of a pair of parallel tubings, one of said tubings being substantially longer than the other thereof; a fluid-operated pump assembly which includes cylinder means having piston means therein and which is insertable into and smaller in diameter than said one tubing so that it is adapted to be passed through said one tubing to a point adjacent the lowei` end thereof, said pump assembly having a power fluid inlet, a well fluid inlet, and a discharge port communicating with the interior of said one tubing; a member engageable in sealing relation with the lower end of said pump assembly, said member being carried by said one tubing adjacent the lower end thereof; means providing a fluid communication orifice between said tubings at a distance above said member greater than the length of said pump assembly and at the lower end of the other tubing so that said pump assembly is disposed entirely below said orice when it has been moved downwardly into engagement with said member; an upper tubular element on said pump assembly communicating with said power fluid inlet; upper sealing means between said upper tubular element and said one tubing and disposed above said orice; lower tubular means forming said lower end of said pump assembly and communicating with said well fluid inlet; and lower sealing means between said lower tubular means and said member and disposed below said discharge port.

9. In a duid-operated pumping device, the combination of; a pair of parallel tubings, one of said tubings being substantially longer than the other thereof; a fluid-operated pump which includes cylinder means having piston means therein and which is insertable into and smaller in diameter than said one tubing so that it is adapted to be passed through said one tubing to a point adjacent the lower end thereof, said pump having a power fluid inlet, a well fluid inlet, and a discharge port adapted to communicate with the interior of said one tubing; a member engageable by the lower end of said pump carried by said one tubing adjacent the lower end thereof; means providing a uid communication orifice between said tubings at a distance above said member greater than the length of said pump so that said pump is disposed entirely below said orifice when it has been moved downwardly into engagement with said member; an upper tubular element on said pump communicating with said power fluid inlet; upper sealing means between said upper `tubular element and said one tubing and disposed above said orice; a lower tubular element forming said lower end of said pump and communicating with said well fluid inlet; lower sealing means between said lower tubular element and said member and disposed below said discharge port; and hydraulically operated latch means adapted to latch one of said elements relative to said one tubing.

1G. In a fluid-operated pumping device, the combination of: power and production tubings of different lengths; a fluid-operated pump assembly which includes cylinder means having piston means therein and which is insertable into and smaller in diameter than the longer one oi said tubings so that it is movable through said one tubing to an operating position adjacent the lower end thereof, said pump assembly having an inlet and an outlet; a member engageable in sealing relation with the lower end of said pump assembly, said member being carried by said one tubing adjacent the lower end thereof; means providing a port connecting said tubings in iiuid communication at a distance above said member greater than the length of said pump assembly and at the lower end of the other tubing so that said pump assembly is disposed entirely below said port when it has been moved downwardly into engagement with said member; and a rst passage means connecting said power tubing to said inlet and a second passage means connecting said production tubing to said outlet, one of said passage means including said port.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,568,447 Forsyth Jan. 5, 1926 1,776,416 Cornell Sept. 23, 1930 2,338,903 Coberly Jan. 11, 1944 2,364,600 Church Dec. '12, 1944 2,527,184; Gerhold Oct. 24, 1950