US3077932A

US3077932A - Lift for oil and other fluids

Info

Publication number: US3077932A
Application number: US88541A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herman A Gehrke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-02-10
Filing date: 1961-02-10
Publication date: 1963-02-19
Anticipated expiration: 1980-02-19

Description

H. A. GEHRKE Feb. 19, 1963 LIFT FOR OIL AND OTHER FLUIDS Filed Feb. 10. 1961 FIG. 4

INVENTOR. HERMAN A. GEHRKE fi j/ ATTORNEY FIG. 2

United States Patent 3,077,932 LET F03 OIL AND OTHER FLUIBS Herman A. Gehrhe, Rte. 1, Augusta, Kans. Filed Feb. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 88,541 3 (Ilaiins. (til. 166-105) This invention relates to lifts, and more particularly to a rotary lift constructed and adapted to be used with oil wells and the like. In another aspect, the invention relates to a combination of means whereby chemicals and the like can be supplied to a well and fluids removed therefrom. In another specific aspect, the invention relates to means for removing fluids fro-m an oil well whereby the accumulation of paraffin and the like is eliminated and relatively great volumes of fluids can be removed from the well.

Heretofore various types of means have been provided to remove fluids from a well. A common structure utilized today is a reciprocating type pump wherein the fluid is lifted only during half of the pumping cycle, which substantially reduces the total output of the well and the efliciency of the operation. Furthermore, since the fluids remain stationary during half of the pumping cycle, paraflin accumulates upon the inner peripheral surfaces of the conduit. through which the fluid is being pumped, making it necessary to stop pumping operations periodically to remove the paraflin or provide the unit with complicated paraflin scraping apparatus which at best is only partially effective. Furthermore, the relatively large amount of water present in many old oil fields or in water flooding operations and the relatively small volume of fluid capable of being pumped by present apparatus results in a relatively small amount of oil being recovered in many instances, making it economically unsound or unprofitable to continue these pumping operations with the present day equipment. Thus, while water flooding operations become increasingly used, particularly in the older fields, the pumping units commonly used are so inefiicient or inadequate to pump the relatively large amount of fluid resulting therefrom that profitable operation is difiicult if not impossible to obtain.

The prior art devices in many instances are incapable of easily handling gases within the well, such resulting in the so called gas lock which further reduces pumping efficiency. Also, material of various types tend to accumulate at a lower portion of the well, such resulting from cave-ins, scrapings, broken material accumulating in the well, etc., and as these materials pass or attempt to pass through the pumping unit the apparatus becomes clogged or wears excessively at valves, rubbers, etc. such causing the pumping operation to be periodically shut down to have these members replaced. Furthermore, it is often desirable in pumping operations to force acid or fracturing material and the like into the well to pass through the apertures or perforations in the well casing into the oil bearing formations to release additional oil, and it is presently the practice to remove the pumping apparatus from the Well in order to accomplish this step, such removal causing considerable delay and unnecessary expense.

In accordance with the present invention new well pumping means are provided which eliminate or substantially reduce the deficiencies apparent in the prior art devices. The new lift for oil and other fluids lifts a substantially greater volume of fluids from an oil well or the like in substantially continuous manner which permits economical operation of heretofore unprofitable wells. Furthermore, the present pumping means is so constructed as to continuously eliminate paraffin or the accumulation thereof during operation of the device. Also, means are provided to provide acids or fracturing 3,077,932 Patented Feb. 19, 1963 "Ice material to the well periodically without the necessity of removing the pumping means therefrom. Also, scrapings, sediment, and the like can be removed from the Well as well as gases without any unusual or unnecessary wear occurring on the pumping apparatus, thus eliminating the down time for repairs required by the prior art devices.

The lift for oil wells and the like preferably includes a cylindrical member, such as a pipe or the like, which is received within the oil well. A spiral flight is preferably secure-d to the cylindrical member or pipe so that upon rotation of the pipe fluids within the well will be lifted therefrom. Openings are preferably provided at the bottom of the cylindrical member so that fluids can be pumped therethrough to pass through the openings and into the oil bearing formations. The tubular member and flight conveyor thereon is desirably rotatably mounted at the top and bottom within a tubular member positioned within the well hole. A conduit is preferably provided which can be connected to an outlet or opening in the upper portion of the tubular member so that fluids lifted from the well can be directed to a suitable means for storage and/ or separation of the oil from other fluids. Also, the cylindrical member is preferably connected through suitable conduits to a tank so that acids or fracturing material stored therein can be pumped or otherwise provided to the lower portion of the well.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a new lift means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new lift means for oil and other fluids wherein greater volumes of fluids can be pumped.

A further object of the invention is to providenew lift means for an oil well which provides increased pumping volume and operates so as to prevent accumulation of paraflin within the well.

A further object of the invention is to provide new lift means for oil wells and the like having provision therewith to provide acids, fracturing materials, etc. to the well without the necessity of removing the lift means therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide new lift means for wells wherein abrasive material's, sediment, and the like can be removed therefrom without injury to the lifting apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for lifting fluids from a well wherein the fluids are continuously being lifted.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view, partially in elevation and partially diagrammatic showing lift means for oil and other fluids and illustrating apparatus to receive lifted fluids and to provide acids, fracturing material and the like to the well.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view showinguthe lift means of FIG. 1 in operating position in a we FIG. 3 is a view illustrating for the lift of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view showing the preferred bearing mounting means at the upper portion of the lift.

The following is adiscussion and description of a preferred specific embodiment of the new lift for oil and preferred powering means other fluids of the invention, such being made with reference to the drawings whereon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It is tobe understood that with dis of acids, oil, etc.

sprassa cussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, an elongated Well casing is shown at 14} which is the usual casingfound in oil wells, and the like. A tubular member 12 is preferably substantially coaxially received in the casing and is dimensioned so as to be in spaced relation thereto. For example, when the casing 10 is approximately six inches in diameter, tubular member 12 can be approximately three inches in diameter. 'These dimensions can, of course, be widely varied. Tubular member 12 extends substantially the entire length of the well casing in as best shown in FIG. 2 and can project above the upper end portion thereof. Tubular member 12 is provided with elongated slots as shown at 14 and desirably at least two of these slots 14 are provided and are circumferentially equally spaced around the circumference of the member 12. Slot-s 14 permit the passage of fluids into or out of casing 10.

A bearing block 16 is preferably provided and rigidly mounted in the lower end portion or bottom of the tubular member 12. The bearing block 16 is preferably an acid resisting type since it will be subject to the presence The block 16 is desirably formed with a recess 18' which is most desirably formed in the shape .of-a portion of a sphere. A spherical bearing or ball 20 can be seated in the recess 18 in block 16 and is desirably approximately of the same diameter. Bearing or ball 20 can be approximately one inch in diameter when tubular member 12 is approximately three inches in diameter.

The upper end portion of the tubular member 12 is desirably provided with an outlet or opening 22 in the side of the member 12 and a conduit 24 can be secured to the opening 22 in any suitable manner, such as by a threaded connection, welding, etc.

An elongated member such as. pipe 26 is provided and .coaxially positioned Within the tubular member 12, ex-

tending substantially the length thereof and projecting above the upper end portion thereof. The pipe 26 can be closed at the lowerend thereof and a bearing block 28 is .desirably secured to the lower end of pipe 26. Bearing block 28 has a recess 30in the shape of a p ortion of a sphere which faces downwardly, the

recesses

18 and 30 desirably being of like radii and receiving the hearing or ball 20 to rotatably mount the pipe 26 within the tubular member 12. Bearing block28 is also preferably formed of an acid resisting material.

'The' lower portion of pipe 26 is preferably provided with a plurality of elongated slots 32, two of these slots being preferably provided which are diametrically spaced apart. Preferably, the slots 32 are substantially longitudinally aligned with the slots 14 in the tubular member 12 as best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

The upper end portion of the tubular member 12 is preferably closed in any suitable manner, such as by the use of an annular cover 34 which is rigidly secured in its outer periphery to the tubular member 12. Anti-friction "means, such as the ball bearing unit shown generally at 36 can be provided, such having the inner race 38 secured to the pipe 26 and the outer race 40 secured to the cover member 34- with the cylindrical elements 4'2 permitting substantially frictionless rotation of the pipe 26. Suitable 'sealing means, (not shown) can be provided to seal the bearing unit 36 from dirt, fluids, etc.

A pulley'44 is secured to pipe 26 to turn-therewith, the pulley being located at the upper end portion of the pipe 26 above the cover member 34. Suitable power means,

such as electric motor 46 is provided and is operatively connected to pulley 44 by a belt 48, chain means or the like so that upon operation of the motor 46 the pulley 44 will be rotated to turn the pipe 26. Motor 46 can be mounted on or carried by a platform as shown at 47.

H A flightStl is provided anddesirably rigidly secured to and'spirallysurrounds the pipe 26, the flight preferably being continuous from the lower end portion of the pipe 26 to the upper end portion thereof. Pipe 26 and flight 50 form a flight conveyor, the flight 50 being dimensioned so that the radially outer portion thereof is in close proximity with the inner surface of the tubular member 12.

In operation, electric motor 46 will rotate pulley 44 on pipe 26 to turn the pipe and flight 50, such causing fluids in the lower end portion of tubular members 12 to be lifted by the flight conveyor upwardly to the upper end portion of tubular member 12 whereupon they are discharged through the outlet of opening 22 in the conduit 24. The fluid can then be dispersed in the common manner, such being shown in FIG. 1 as being directed to a separation tank 52 where the oil is separated from salt water and the like and taken from the separation tank through conduit 53 into an oil receiving tank 54 or pumped to a collecting point in the common manner. Salt water and the like can be removed from the separation tank through a conduit diagrammatically shown at 56, which can, in some instances, lead to a disposal well such as is commonly used in water flooding operations.

The apparatus of the invention can also be used to supply acids, fracturing material and the like to the well. Tank 58 contains these acids, fracturing materials, etc. and this material can be pumped by pump 60 through conduit 61 into the pipe or conduit 62 to pass therethrough and out of the elongated slots 32 and the lower end portion thereof, through slots 14 in tubular member 12 and through the usual perforations, in the well casing 10 into the oil' bearing formations. This step can, of course, be carried out without removing or otherwise modifying the pumping structure, thus eliminating the usual shut down and removal of the pump from the well prior to providing additional fracturing material to the oil bearing formation.

*Also, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that by reversing the direction of rotation of pipe 26 the fracturing materials or acids should be supplied through conduit 24 and forced downwardly by the action of the flight member 5% to the lower end portion of the tubular member 12 to pass therethrough slots 14 and into the oil bearing formations.

The lift means for oil wells and the like of the invention provides a continuous movement of fluids from the lower end portion of tubular member 12 upwardly to the conduit 24, thus eliminating the accumulation of paraflin normally occurring during the pumping of a well. Furthermore, the outer edge of flight 50 is desirably in close proximity to the inner surface of tubular member 12 so that should any paraflin tend to collect thereon the continual rotation of the flight will operate to continuously scrape or remove any parafi'in therefrom. Furthermore, the flight conveyor type lifting action can handle sediment, scrapings and the like Without injury.

In many oil fields, particularly the older fields, water flooding operations are currently being used to a great extent. In these fields, it is not uncommon for as much as percent of the fluid pumped from the well to be salt water or the like, such being pumped normally into a separation tank as shown at 52 to remove the oil from the salt water. The relatively small volume of oil obtained by common pumping means often makes operations of these units economically unsound. With applicants device, on the other hand, substantially greater volumes of fluid can be lifted, thus making previously uneconomical operations profitable. The present invention can, of course, be used in any type of oil field, whether water flooding is being used or not. Also, applicants flight conveyor type lift means can handle gas as well as oil Without encountering any difficulty, such being a problem in many fields where gas lock occurs with normal suction pumps.

While the invention has been described particularly in connection with a tubular member 12 located within a well casing 10, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the tubular member 12 can be used without the necessity of the normal well casing in many instances. It is noted in this regard that should cave-ins or the like occur, the sand, etc. which would accumulate at the lower portion of the tubular member 12 can be easily removed from the well by applicants device, while in the normal pumping unit this sand would cause unnecessary and expensive wear on the pumping unit. As will be evident to those skilled in the art, various other modifications of the invention can be made, or followed, in the light of this description and discussion, without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. Means for lifting oil and other fluids from a well and for providing chemicals thereto comprising, in combination, an elongated well casing in the ground, a tubular member coaxially received in said casing in spaced relation thereto and extending substantially the entire length thereof, said tubular member having a plurality of axially elongated and circumferentially spaced slots in the lower end portion thereof, a bearing block rigidly mounted in the bottom of said tubular member, said bearing block having a spherical recess in the top surface thereof, a spherical bearing member seated in said recess, an outlet opening in the side of said tubular member near the upper end thereof, a conduit connected to said opening and in fluid communication with said tubular member, an elongated hollow pipe coaxially positioned and rotatably mounted in said tubular member and spaced from the inner surface thereof, said pipe being closed at the lower end thereof, a bearing block on the lower end of said pipe, a spherical recess in the lower surface of said last-named bearing block, said spherical recesses in said bearing blocks rotatably receiving said spherical bearing member with said bearing member supporting the weight of said pipe during rotation thereof, two axially elongated and diametrically opposed slots in the lower end portion of said pipe in longitudinal alignment with said slots in said tubular member, means constructed and adapted to contain chemicals, said pipe being operatively connected in the upper end portion to said means to contain chemicals and operable to receive chemicals in said upper end portion thereof and discharge same therefrom through said slots in said lower end portion of said pipe into said tubular member, an annular cover closing said upper end of said tubular member and having bearing means centrally therein positioned between said cover and said pipe and rotatably receiving said upper end portion of said pipe, a pulley secured to said pipe to turn therewith at the upper end portion thereof above said casing and said cover, an electric motor, a belt connecting the drive shaft of said electric motor and said pulley to rotate said pipe, and a spiral flight rigidly secured to and spirally surrounding said pipe and extending continuously substantially the entire length of said pipe to form with said pipe 2. flight conveyor, said flight extending downwardly beyond said slots in said pipe and said tubular member and terminating in closely spaced relation to said bearing block on said pipe, said flight conveyor being dimensioned so as to be in close proximity with the inner surface of said tubular member, said means being constructed and adapted so that chemicals can be pumped through said pipe to the bottom thereof Where they are discharged through said slots in said lower end portion of said pipe and pass through said slots in said tubular member, and when said motor is operating said pulley and said pipe will be rotated and fluids in the bottom of said tubular member will be lifted by said flight conveyor and discharged through said outlet opening into said conduit, said flight conveyor in operation preventing the accumulation of paraffin within said tubular member.

2. Means for lifting fluids from a well and for providing well treating chemicals thereto comprising, in combination, an elongated well casing in the ground, a tubular member positioned within said casing in spaced relation thereto, said tubular member having a plurality of axially elongated and circumferentially spaced slots in the lower end portion thereof, a bearing block mounted in the bottom of said tubular member and having a spherical recess in the top surface thereof, a spherical bearing member seated in said recess, an outlet opening in said tubular member at the upper end portion thereof, a hollow pipe positioned within said tubular member and spaced from the inner surface of said tubular member, a bearing block on the lower end of said pipe having a spherical recess in the lower surface thereof and receiving said spherical bearing member with said bearing member supporting the weight of said pipe upon rotation thereof during operation, at least one axially elongated slot in the lower end portion of said pipe positioned in substantial longitudinal alignment with said slots in said tubular member, means for containing fluid chemicals, conduit means connecting said means for containing chemicals and an upper end portion of said pipe to pass chemicals into the upper end portion of said pipe and downwardly therethrough and discharge same therefrom through said slot in said lower end portion of said pipe into said tubular member and through said slots in said tubular member into said well casing, bearing means connected to said upper end portion of said pipe and said tubular member to rotatably mount said pipe in said tubular member, power means operatively connected to said upper end portion of said pipe to rotate same, and a spiral flight connected to and surrounding said pipe and extending continuously along substantially the entire length of said pipe to form therewith a flight conveyor, said flight extending downwardly beyond said slots in said pipe and said slots in said tubular member, said means being constructed and adapted so that chemicals can be provided from said means for containing fluid chemicals through said pipe to the bottom thereof for discharge through said slots in said pipe and said tubular member into said well casing, and when said power means is operating, said pipe will be rotate-d and fluids in the bottom of said tubular member will be lifted by said flight conveyor and discharged through said outlet opening in said tubular member, said flight conveyor in operation preventing an accumulation of paraffin and the like within said tubular member.

3. Means for lifting fluids from a Well and for providing well treating chemicals thereto comprising, in combination, a well hole in the ground, a tubular member positioned within said well hole in spaced relation to the walls thereof, said tubular member having a plurality of spaced apertures therethrough in the lower end portion thereof, bearing means mounted in the bottom of said tubular member, an outlet opening in said tubular member at the upper end portion thereof, a hollow pipe positioned within said tubular member and spaced from the inner surface of said tubular member, bearing means on the lower end of said pipe cooperatively engaging said bearing means mounted in the bottom of said tubular member with said bearing means supporting the weight of said pipe during rotation thereof in operation, at least one aperture in the lower end portion of said pipe providing a passageway for fluid communication between the inside of said pipe and the outside of said tubular member through said apertures in said pipe and tubular member, means for containing fluid chemicals, conduit means connecting said means for containing chemicals and an upper end portion of said pipe to pass chemicals into said upper end portion of said pipe downward through said pipe and discharge same therefrom through said aperture in said lower end portion of said pipe into said tubular member and through said aperatures in said tubular member into said well hole, bearing means connected to said upper end portion of said pipe and said tubular member to rotatably mount said pipe in said tubular member, power means operatively connected to said upper end portion of said pipeto rotate same, and a spiral being constructed and adapted so that chemicals can be provided from said means for containing fluid chemicals through said pipe to the bottom thereof where they are discharged through said aperture in said lower end portion of said pipe and passed through said apertures in said tubular member into said well hole to treat same, and when said power means is operating, said pipe will be rotated and fluids in the bottom of said tubular member will be lifted by said flight conveyor and discharged through said outlet opening in said. tubular member, said flight conveyor in operation preventing an accumulation of paraifin and the like within said tubular member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS esgoffe Dec. 24, 1895 Tilden Apr. 17, 1906 Clark Aug. 13, 1907 Anderson Sept. 4, 1928 Welsh July 10, 1934 Van Willigen Mar. 29, 1955 Nixon Aug. 29, 1961 Weaver Dec. 26, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland May '1, 1935 Canada Aug. 12, 1952 Great Britain Nov. 17, 1954

Claims

1. MEANS FOR LIFTING OIL AND OTHER FLUIDS FROM A WELL AND FOR PROVIDING CHEMICALS THERETO COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, ARE ELONGATED WELL CASING IN THE GROUND, A TUBULAR MEMBER COAXIALLY RECEIVED IN SAID CASING IN SPACED RELATION THERETO AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTH THEREOF, SAID TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY ELONGATED AND CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED SLOTS IN THE LOWER END PORTION THEREOF, A BEARING BLOCK RIGIDLY MOUNTED IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID BEARING BLOCK HAVING A SPHERICAL RECESS IN THE TOP SURFACE THEREOF, A SPHERICAL BEARING MEMBER SEATED IN SAID RECESS, AN OUTLET OPENING IN THE SIDE OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER NEAR THE UPPER END THEREOF, A CONDUIT CONNECTED TO SAID OPENING AND IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, AN ELONGATED HOLLOW PIPE COAXIALLY POSITIONED AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND SPACED FROM THE INNER SURFACE THEREOF, SAID PIPE BEING CLOSED AT THE LOWER END THEREOF, A BEARING BLOCK ON THE LOWER END OF SAID PIPE, A SPHERICAL RECESS IN THE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID LAST-NAMED BEARING BLOCK, SAID SPHERICAL RECESSES IN SAID BEARING BLOCKS ROTATABLY RECEIVING SAID SPHERICAL BEARING MEMBER WITH SAID BEARING MEMBER SUPPORTING THE WEIGHT OF SAID PIPE DURING ROTATION THEREOF, TWO AXIALLY ELONGATED AND DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED SLOTS IN