US2897768A - Deep well pump - Google Patents

Description

J. A. PERRY DEEE WELL PUMP- Filed May' 18, 195e Aug. 4, 1959 INVENToR. ..//vf f4. PERRY i. l n@ LUU" DEEP WELL PUMP James A. Perry, Taft, Calif. Application May 18, 1956, Serial No. 585,824 2 Claims. (Cl. 103-179) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pumps, particularly pumps of the type used for pumping liquids or semi-liquids from relatively deep wells, such as oil wells.

The present application is a continuation-impart of my copending application Serial No. 529,791, tiled August 22, 1955, and entitled Deep Well Pump, now abandoned.

The pump of this invention belongs to the class of pumps generally known as plunger-type pumps wherein a plunger is reciprocated within a barrel from the surface through a drill string secured to the plunger. The pump is provided with a suction opening which, during pumping operations, is submerged in the fluid in the well. The barrel and plunger carry oppositely working valve means which open and close in such a manner during reciprocation of the plunger that fluid is drawn into the pump through the suction opening and discharged from the pump through an opening at the upper end of the latter.

Existing pumps of this type are generally run in a tubing string extending from the surface to the desired depth in the well, the fluid flowing through the aforesaid discharge opening into the tubing string and through the latter to the surface.

To maintain the relatively stationary part of the pump xed within the tubing string, so asA to enable reciprocation of the plunger relative to the barrel, resort is had to variousforms of mechanical hold-down devices for releasably securing the stationary part against axial movement in the tubing. These mechanical hold-down devices appreciably add to the cost of the pump and are prone to maloperation, such as inadvertent releasing of the pump or jamming so that removal of the pump from the tubing is rendered extremely diicult, if not impossible. In such cases, of course, the entire tubing string would have to be withdrawn from the well bore with a substantial loss of time.

Well bores are generally lined with a casing which is perforated below the fluid level in the earth, and it is through the perforations in this casing that the Huid, such as oil, flows from the earth surrounding the well bore into the latter from whence it is pumped to the surface, as just described. This uid has sand and other solid matter entrained therein some of which is withdrawn with the lluid to the surface while the remainder accumulates within the bore.

Existing pumps of the present type have generally been submerged in the iluid to a point some distance above the casing perforations, and because of the relatively stagnant condition of the fluid within the well bore, the solid matter in suspension therein gradually settled in the bore, often to a level above the casing perforations, and substantially impeded, if not entirely prevented, the flow of iluid through the perforations into the bore.

With the foregoing preliminary discussion in mind, the primary object of this invention may be stated as being the provision of a well pump of the class described which avoids the above and other deciencies of the existing pumps of this character.V

States Patent O Another object of the invention is the provision of a well pump of the class described which is devoid of any mechanical hold-down devices and wherein the stationary part of the pump is retained against axial movement in the well bore during pumping strokes by bottoming thereof in the bore during downstrokes of the pump and Whose weight is sucient to retain it against upward movement Within the well bore during upstrokes of the pump.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a well pump of the class described wherein provision iS made for constant agitation of the Huid ywithin the well bore so that sand and other solid matter entrained in the iluid will be retained in suspension in the latter and clogging of the casing perforations due to settling of such matter to the bottom of the well bore is avoided.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a 4well pump of the class described wherein during pumping operations the ilow of iluid is from the casing perforations directly to the suction opening of thepump so that accumulation of solid matter within the well bore is sub- Y stantially reduced and clogging of the casing perforations by settling of such matter in the well bore is substantially eliminated.

Yet a further object of the invention is the provision of a well pump of the class described which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and otherwise Well suited to the purposes for which it is designed.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a section taken longitudinally through a well bore and `illustrating the present pump in operative position therein;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken longitudinally through the present pump;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the present pump sectioned in part to show the interior thereof and with the reciprocal parts thereof illustrated in extended position; and

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are sections taken along line 4 4, 5-5, and 6--6, respectively, of Fig. 2.

Referring no'w to Fig. l of the drawings, the numeral 10 denotes a well bore, having a bottom l2, extending upwardly through the earth to the surface (not shown). Positioned Within well bore lll is a well casing 14 which extends from the surface to the bottom 12 of the well and which is formed with perforations 16 at a level corresponding to the level of a reservoir of fluid (not shown) in the earth. Illustrated in pumping position in the well bore 10 is the pump 20 of this invention.

Pump 20 comprises an elongate pump body including a relatively stationary part designated by the numeral 22, including a tail pipe 24 bottoming in the well bore, and a reciprocable part designated by the numeral 26. Tail pipe 24 is formed with perforations 23 approximately opposite the perforations 16 in well casing 14. Perforations 28 form the suction openings of the pump. A string of hollow drill pipe 30 is rigidly secured at its lo'wer end to the movable part 26 of the pump and extends upwardly through the well bore to suitable reciprocating mechanism, not shown, at the surface to enable reciprocation of the movable part 26 of the pump relative to the stationary part 22 during pumping operations. During such pumping operations, fluid will be drawn into tail pipe 24 through the perforations 28 and will ilow upward- Stationary part 22 of the pump comprises a lower valve cage 32 including a sleeve 34 which is internally threaded at its opposite ends, as shown at 36 and 38. Tail pipe 24 comprises a hollow tubing section having its upper end externally threaded for threaded attachment in lower end of sleeve 34. Sleeve 34 has an intermediate, internally reduced diameter portion dening an upwardly facing annular shoulder 40 on which is seated a centrally apertured disk 42. The central aperture 44 of the disk 42 has its upper edge beveled, as illustrated at 46, so as to form a seat for a ball check valve 48. Valve 48 is adapted for upward movement olf its seat 46 to permit the ow of fluid upwardly through the central opening 44 of the disk 42 and is limited in such upward movement, to the dotted line position illustrated, by a bridge pin 50.

Secured inthe threaded upper end 38 of sleeve 34 is an externally threaded nipple 52 having an axial passage 54 therethrough opening through the opposite ends thereof. Threaded on the upper end of nipple 52 is an internally threaded sleeve 56 Within the upper end of which, in turn, is threaded the lower end of an elongated sleeve 58 radially enlarged at its upper end to provide a downwardly facing annular shoulder 60 and radially enlarged adjacent its lower end to form an upwardly facing annular shoulder 62. Nipple 52 is formed at its upper end with an externally threaded, reduced diameter extension 64 on which is threaded the lower end of an elongated pump barrel 66 having an external diameter somewhat less than the internal diameter of sleeve 58, as shown.

Movable part 26 of the present pump comprises an upper valve cage 68 including a sleeve 70 threaded at its opposite ends and internally reduced in diameter at an intermediate portion thereof to form an upwardly facing annular shoulder 72. The open upper end of the sleeve 70 forms the discharge opening 31 of the pump. Seating against annular shoulder 72 is a second centrally apertured disk 74, the wall of the central aperture 76 of which is, at its upper end, beveled at 78 to form a valve seat for a second ball check valve 80. Valve 80 is adapted for upward movement olf valve seat 78 to permit the flow of fluid upwardly through central aperture 76 in the disk 74 and is limited in its upward movement, to the dotted line position shown, by a bridge pin 82. Hollow drill pipe 30 has its lower end threaded for threaded engagement in the upper end of sleeve 70 for reciprocation of the movable parts 26 of the pump, as will presently be more fully described.

Threaded in the lower end of sleeve 70 is an externally threaded nipple 84 on the lower end of which is threaded the upper end of an elongated outer sleeve 86 telescoped over inner sleeve 58. The lower end of outer sleeve 86 has an internal annular shoulder 88 slidably engaging the inner sleeve 58 of the stationary parts and providing upwardly and downwardly facing annular faces 90 and 92, respectively. During upward movement of the movable part 26, face 90 will move into abutment with the shoulder 60 on the stationary inner sleeve 58 to limit the up stroke, while on the down stroke, lower face 92 on sleeve 86 will engage upwardly facing shoulder 62 on sleeve 58 to limit the down stroke. Outer sleeve 86 is formed with side openings or ports 94 and 96 adjacent its opposite ends for reasons to be presently described.

Nipple 84 has an axial passage 98 opening through its opposite ends, the lower end of which passage is reduced in diameter and internally threaded at 100 for receiving the threaded upper end of a hollow tubular stem 102, the lower end of which is threadedly engaged with the upper end of a hollow tubular piston 104 slidably engaged within barrel 66.

In operation of the present well pump, upper sleeve 70 is secured to the hollow drill rod 30 in the manner previously described, and the pump is lowered into the 4 on the bottom of the bore and the pump body is submerged in liquid in the bore.

In this connection, it is pointed out that the suction openings 28 in the tail pipe 24 will be so axially located along the length of the latter that upon bottoming of the tail pipe in the well bore, said openings 28 will be disposed opposite the perforations 16 in the well casing. In practice, several tail pipes, having perforations at different axial positions therealong, may be kept in storage and selected for use on the pump in accordance with the height of the casing perforations above the well bottom.

The uid level 106 in the well bore will be at some distance above the bottom of the wellfso that the pump will be submerged in such fluid. It will be apparent, that if the stationary part 22 of the present pump is retained against axial movement in the well bore and the movable part 26 is moved upwardly in the bore, piston 104 will move upwardly in barrel 66 to create a low pressure area above lower ball check valve 48 and below upper ball valve with resultant seating of upper ball valve 80 against the valve seat 78 and unseating of lower ball valve 48. Fluid will be drawn through the tail pipe openings 28, upwardly through the tail pipe 24, past the now unseated lower ball valve 48, into the plunger barrel 66 to the limit of the stroke. As previously mentioned, this upstroke is limited by abutment of annular face against annular shoulder 60, as shown in Fig. 3. Upon the subsequent downstroke of movable part 26, piston 104 will be moved downwardly in barrel 66 with resultant seating of lower ball valve 48 and unseating of upper ball valve 80, and the fluid entrapped within plunger barrel 66 and displaced by the downwardly moving piston 104 will flow upwardly through the hollow piston and stem 102, past the unseated ball valve 80 and through the discharge opening 31 into hollow drill pipe 30 and thence to the surface. This downstroke of movable parts is, as previously mentioned, limited to engagement of annular face 92 with annular shoulder 62. It will be apparent, therefore, that continued reciprocation of movable part 26 will produce a pulsating flow of uid through the hollow drill rod 30 to the surface.

As previously indicated, a highly important and novel feature of the invention resides in the means for retaining the stationary part 22 against axial movement in the well bore during the up and down strokes of the movable part. It will be obvious that downward movement of the stationary part during the downstrokes of the movable parts is prevented by virtue of the bottoming of tail pipe 24 in the well bore. The invention contemplates a tail pipe of sucient mass that during the upstrokes of the movable part, the stationary part will be retained against upward movement in the well bore by the Weight thereof. It will be appreciated, accordingly, that there is provided a simple, economical and foolproof expedient for retaining the stationary parts fixed in the well bore during the pumping strokes. Thus, the present pump is not prone to becoming fast in the well bore as often occurs during use of existing pumps wherein mechanical hold-down devices are employed which frequently become jammed or otherwise inoperable.

Another highly important feature of the invention resides in the provision of the side openings 94 and 96 in the outer sleeve 86. It will be seen that during operation of the present pump, the volumes of the first annular space or chamber 107a between outer sleeve 86 and inner sleeve 58 and the second annular space or chamber 107b within the sleeve 86 are alternately increased and decreased and will become filled with the fluid in which the pump is submerged during alternate strokes of the pump. Shoulders 60 and 88 restrict ilow of this fluid from opposite ends of the lirst chamber 107:1. During upstrokes of the pump, this entrained uid will be discharged, in the form of jets through the lower well bore 10 until the bottom of the tail pipe 24 rests 715'. side openings v9 6 and during downstrokes will be discharged, in the form of jets, through the upper side openings 94 to agitate the lluid about the pump, as indicated in Fig. 1 at 108. This agitation of uid about the pump tends to retain sand and other solid matter, in suspension in the uid, from settling to the bottom of the wellv so as to avoid clogging of the casing perforations 16 as has frequently occurred in the past. The inner sleeve 58, therefore, acts as a plunger member which is relatively reciprocated in the outer sleeve to effect drawing of fluid into and expelling of iluid through the side openings of the pump body during operation of the pumping means 66, 104 of the pump.

The clogging of the casing perforations is also substantially eliminated due to the positioning of the tail pipe perforations opposite the casing perforations so that fluid Hows from the casing perforations directly into the tail pipe. Substantially all solid matter entrained in the uid is, therefore, drawn into the pump and moves with the iluid to the surface where it may be readily separated from the fluid by employment of well known separation techniques. A substantially reduced amount of such solid matter, accordingly accumulates in the well bore, and such reduction in the amount of solid matter in the well bore in conjunction with the agitating actions of the jets issuing from the side openings 94 and 96 in the outer sleeve 86 substantially eliminate the possibility of the well casing perforations becoming clogged.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of the same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specication shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a deep well pump, the combination of an elongated pump body to be submerged in liquid in a well bore and including a pair of relatively axially reciprocable parts, one of said parts comprising an axial outer sleeve open at one end and closed at the other end, said sleeve comprising 'the outer wall of said pump body, the other part comprising a cylindrical inner sleeve member extending concentrically into said outer sleeve through said open end of the latter, said inner sleeve being radially spaced from said outer sleeve so as to provide an annular space between said sleeves, the open end of said outer sleeve having an internal annular shoulder for restricting ow of liquid from one end of said space and the inner end of said inner sleeve member having an external annular shoulder for restricting ow of liquid from the other end of said space, said space between said shoulders forming a first chamber in the pump body and the interior of said outer sleeve inwardly of said inner sleeve member deiining a second chamber in said pump body, said outer sleeve having ports opening to said respective chambers through which liquid in the well bore is alternately drawn into and expelled from said chambers to the exterior of the pump body when said parts are relatively reciprocated with said body submerged in the liquid, and cooperating liquid pumping means on said parts independent of said chambers, operable by relative reciprocation of said parts and including a suction opening on one part and a discharge opening on the other part.

2. The subject matter of claim l wherein said pumping means comprises a tubular openended pump barrel eX- tending concentrically through said sleeves and secured to one of said parts, a hollow tubular piston slidable in said barrel and secured to the other part, there being a passage through said pitson and barrel communicating with said suction and discharge openings, and a pair of check valves in said passage carried on said parts, respectively, and arranged to be opened by liquid iiow through said passage from said suction opening to said discharge opening.

References Cited in the ijle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 118,496 Sparks Aug. 29, 1871 388,943 Woodward et al. Sept. 4, 1888 955,024 Walker et al. Apr. 12, 1910 974,342 Bell Nov. 1, 1910 1,165,105 Kraeer Dec. 21, 1915 1,268,964 Hahn June 11, 1918 1,313,359 Watson Aug. 19, 1919 1,378,268 Northrup May 17, 1921 1,401,440 Provorse et al Dec. 27, 1921 1,483,369 Miller Feb. 12, 1924 1,488,987 Hulsey Apr. 1, 1924 1,499,690 Pine et al. July l, 1924 1,545,475 Adams July 14, 1925 1,549,175 Adams et a1 Aug. l1, 1925 1,667,900 Mucklerath May 1, 1928 1,865,912 Horn July 5, 1932 2,460,179 Knott Jan. 25, 1949 2,764,940 Long Oct. 2, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 495,152 Canada Aug. 1l, 1953

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