US3287960A

US3287960A - Method and apparatus for testing and treating liquids

Info

Publication number: US3287960A
Application number: US318083A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Hinemon L Abercrombie
Original assignee: Mobil Oil Corp
Current assignee: ExxonMobil Oil Corp
Priority date: 1963-10-22
Filing date: 1963-10-22
Publication date: 1966-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-29

Description

29, 1966 H. L. ABERCROMBIE, JR 3,287,960

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING AND TREATING LIQUIDS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 22, 1963 F1432 flas 0 G G 6 W 3 w r r b V V Vw O W 3 u 2 m w m a V 3 2 r V P- u m 9 J l 5 a 4 3 3 3 3 l 2 8 1| O 2 v 4 u 3 f T m n V nlqvlll 1 4 Nov. 29, 1966 H. L. ABERCROMBIE, JR 3,287,960

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING AND TREATING LIQUIDS Filed Oct. 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllb 1966 H. ABERCROMBIE, JR 3,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING AND TREATING LIQUIDS Filed Oct. 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 3lOc| 3070 [PEG 3 United States Patent 3,287,960 METHOD AND APPARATUS FGR TESTING AND TREATING LIQUIDS Hinemon L. Abercrombie, J12, Citronelle, Ala., assignor to Mobil Oil Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 318,083 13' Claims. (Cl. 7353) This invention relates to the handling, testing, and treating of fluids. More particularly, the invention relates to the conservation of energy added to power fluids used in fluid-actuated pumping systems and the testing and treating of these fluids for characteristics thereof harmful to such systems.

It is a conventional practice to pump fluids by means of fluid-actuated pumping systems. For example, in the petroleum industry oil is produced from wells of great depths by hydraulic pumping systems in which power oil is supplied under pressure from power units, e.g., triplex pumps, through transmission tubings to hydraulically actuated pumps in the wells. The power oil is returned to the surface along with the well fluids through produc tion tubings and a portion of the oil produced is used as power oil for further operation of the hydraulic pumps while the remainder is sold to the pipeline. The power oil is stored in power-oil tanks until needed. However, certain characteristics of the oil such as water and sand content may prove harmful to the pumping system. For example, water will result in corrosion of the transmission and production tubings and sand and other abrasives such as scale deposits may cause excess wear and stoppage of the downhole pump itself. Therefore, the power oil is treated to remove these impurities before it is stored. However, despite such precautions, the power oil may still possess one or more of the above-described or other undesirable characteristics at the time it is taken from a power-oil tank for use in a hydraulic pumping system. In accordance with one object of this invention, fluids stored in a plurality of containers, particularly fluids to be used in fluid-actuated pumping systems, are systematically tested for at least one predetermined characteristic and also treated with respect to that characteristic.

In spite of the preventive measures employed, malfunction of a pumping system may occur and result in the development of abnormally high and dangerous pressures at the output of the power unit. In the past it has been the practice to discharge this pressure to the atmosphere, thus losing the energy added to the power fluid. In accordance with another object of thi invention, this energy is conserved by utilizing it in another pumping system.

It also is desirable to monitor the output of a pumping system in order to gain in indication of the quality of the power fluid supplied thereto. For example, in hydraulic pumping systems of the type described above, production fluids having a relatively high water-oil ratio may be indicative of power oil having a high water content. It is therefore advisable to test periodically the wells being pumped and to record the results of such tests.

In carrying out the invention, fluid is sequentially circulated for a predetermined period of time from each of a plurality of containers to a testing zone where it is tested for at least one characteristic thereof and from there to a treating zone. If, at the end of this period of time, the characteristic tested for has not been detected in the fluid from the container under investigation, circulation therefrom is terminated and circulation from the next succeeding container is initiated. If, on the other hand, the characteristic tested for is detected at the testing zone, circulation to the testing and treating zones is continued beyond the predetermined time and until such time 3,287,960 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 as the characteristic is no longer detected. Thereafter, circulation from the next succeeding container to the testing and treating zones is initiated and carried out in the same manner as described above.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as applied in a fluid pumping system, a timing means is' provided for sequentially placing each of a plurality of power-fluid tanks in fluid communication with a testing device and a treater for a predetermined period of time and thereafter terminating such communication. The testing device is adapted to detect at least one characteristic of the fluid which is harmful to the pumping system, that is, a characteristic which may cause physical damage to the system or which may be deleterious to the proper operation of the system. Upon detection by the testing device of a harmful characteristic of the fluid, the timing means is stopped and thus rendered ineffective for terminating the fluid communication between the tank under investigation andthe treater and testing device. The fluid in this tank is thus treated until the harmful characteristic is no longer detected, at which time the timing means again becomes operative and proceeds to terminate the above-described fluid communication and place the next succeeding tank in fluid communication with the treater and testing device.

In a further aspect of the invention, a normally closed fluid conduit extends from a first conduit interconnecting a power unit with a fluid-actuated pumping system to a second conduit interconnecting a second power unit with another pumping system. A pressure-responsive device is provided in the first conduit such that when the pressure therein exceeds a predetermined level, the device will open the normally closed conduit whereby fluid will flow from the first conduit to the second.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment of the invention installed at an oil lease;

FIGURE 2 is an electrical schematic of one form of an automatic testing and treating system embodying the invention; and

FIGURE 3 is an electrical schematic of one form of an automatic recording system embodying the invention.

Referring to FIGURE 1, there is shown an installation for delivering a power fluid such as oil to a plurality of fluid-actuated pumping systems. This includes a system for periodically and systematically testing, and if necessary treating, the power fluid in order to insure that it has no characteristic which would \prove harmful to the pumping systems. The installation also includes means for detecting an abnormally high pressure at the output of a power unit and transferring at least a portion of the fluid therefrom to another pumping system.

More particularly, and as shown in FIGURE 1, oil flo-ws from a central treating station 8 by way of

conduits

9 and 10 to a pair of power-

oil tanks

12 and 14 which are interconnected with each other and with an additional power-oil tank 13 by a line 19 and branch lines 19a-19c which are provided with suitable valves (not shown). The central treating station receives oil from the respective wells of the lease and treats it in a conventional manner to remove gas and BS & W (Basic Sediment and Water). Power oil is supplied from the top of tanks 12-14 to a plurality of power units 61-63 through lines 51-53, respectively. These power units may be triplex pumps, each having an internal combustion engine as a prime mover. Power oil under pressure is supplied from the power units by way :of discharge lines 71-73 to a plurality of fluid-actuated pumping systems. For example, power unit 61 is fluidly interconnected with three fluidactuated pumping systems by means of line 71 and a manifold 7101. Each of these pumping systems, of which only one is illustrated, includes a transmission string 91, a dow-nho-le pump 92, and a production string 93. Production from each of the wells flows from the production tubing into a gathering line such as that indicated by reference numeral 94 and from there through a three-way valve 95 to the central treating station.

The power-oil tanks 1214 are connected by line 19 and branch lines 19a-19c to a delivery tank from which oil flows through a line 41 to an ACT (Automatic Custody Transfer) unit 42 which in turn delivers it to the pipeline. The ACT unit includes a pump 43, a BS & W monitor 44, and a three-way valve 45. In the event the BS & W monitor detects oil which fails to meet pipeline specifications, valve 45 operates automatically to route the oil from the delivery tank through a line 46 to a heater treater 47 which separates BS & W from the oil. The treated oil then flows through line 47a to power-oil tank 12. The diversion of oil from the delivery tank to the treater 47 will continue so long as the oil has an unacceptable BS & W content. When good oil is again detected by the BS & W monitor 44, valve 45 operates automatically to deliver the oil from the delivery tank to the pipeline. Thus, the ACT unit insures that the oil delivered to the pipeline meets a certain predetermined standard.

The installation also includes

storage tanks

26, 27, and 28which are provided to store oil in excess of the delivery tank capacity. These tanks are interconnected with each other and with the delivery tank by means of branch lines which include valves 29-32.

In accordance with the invention, a system is provided for testing periodically and treating to the extent necessary the oil in the delivery tank and in each of the power-oil tan-ks for an unacceptably high BS & W content. With reference to FIGURE 1, this system includes a pump 21a, a BS & W monitor 22 which detects the presence of BS & W and 'gas in the oil stream, and a heater treater 40. The treater and BS & W monitor are fluidly interconnected to the discharge side of pump 21a by means of

lines

23 and 24 and the outlet of the treater is fluidly interconnected to power-oil tank 13 by means of line 40a. Delivery tank 25 and power-oil tanks 12-14 are connected to the suction side of pump 21a by means of lines 15-18, respectively, each of which has a normally closed motor valve as designated by the reference numerals a-38a. Pump 21a and valves 35a-38a are operated automatically as hereinafter described.

The periodic scanning or testing and treating of the oil in each of the delivery and power-oil tanks take place as follows. Preparatory to scanning the oil in the delivery tank,

valves

29, 30, 32, and 33 are closed and

valves

31 and 34 are opened. Thereafter, valve 35a is opened and pump 21a is energized in order to circulate oil from the delivery tank through line 15, valve 35a, BS & W monitor 22, line 23, valve 34, and line 24 to heater treater for a predetermined scan period, e. g., three minutes. If during this predetermined scan period the oil is found to have an acceptable BS & W content, valve 35a is closed and pump 21a is stopped. However, if monitor 22 detects a BS & W content above a predetermined level, circulation through the monitor into the treater 40- will continue beyond the scan period in order to treat the oil with respect to its BS & W content. This circulation continues for a limited period of time, e.rg., twenty-three minutes, or until the monitor detects good oil for a total cumulative time of three minutes, whichever occurs first. Thereafter, scanning of the delivery tank is terminated 'by closing valve 35a and shutting down pump 21a.

Scanning of the oil in power-oil tank 12 then is initiated by opening valve 36a and again starting pump 21a. With valve 36a open, oil is circulated from power-oil tank 12 through line 16 to BS & W montior 22 and from there through

lines

23 and 24 to heater treater 40. Assuming that the oil is found to be acceptable by the monitor, this circuliation will continue for the three-minute scan period and then terminate. However, should the oil be found to have an unacceptably high BS & W content, circulation will continue beyond the scan period and until such time as the oil passing through the monitor is found to have an acceptable BS & W content for a total cumulative time of three minutes. Thereafter, valve 36a is closed to terminate flow from the tank 12 to the monitor 22 and treater 40, and valve 37a is opened to initiate flow from power-oil tank 13 to the monitor and treater. The power oil in tank 13 and thereafter the power oil in tank 14 is then tested and treated to the extent necessary in the same manner as the power oil from tank 12.

Monitor 22 may be of the capacitance-probe type which detects the presence of a predetermined amount of water or gas in the oil by the change in the dielectric constant of the fluid stream and acts to open the appropriate one of a pair of contacts in the hereinafter-described circuitry. The monitor per se is conventional and may be obtained from United Engineers, Tulsa, Oklahoma, as their Model No. TDMX with gas circuit modification.

The operation of the automatictesting and treating system will now be described in greater detail with respect to FIGURE 2, which is an electrical schematic thereof. As shown in FIGURE 2, this system includes a program timer 103 and a scan-start timer 104, both of which are shown in their reset positions. Program timer 103 includes a cam 203 which operates to close successively a plurality of contacts 14 and 103a, and timer 104 comprises a cam 204 which operates to close a contact 104a upon the expiration of a predetermined time, e.g., ninety minutes. In scanning the delivery and power-oil tanks, hand-operated switches 112-115 are placed in the A (automatic) positions. Timers 103 and 104 are then energized by closing a master switch 300 to a voltage source E, and

cams

203 and 204 start to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. Upon such rotation, earn 203 first closes contact 1, thus initiating testing of bottom oil from the delivery tank 25.

The scanning of oil from the delivery tank takes place as follows. When cam 203 closes contact 1, a testing circuit is completed through a solenoid 35, a relay 121, and an indicating light 131. This testing circuit may be traced from the left side of the power line through a normally closed contact 111a, contact 1, switch 115, and normally closed contacts 142s and 1430. Solenoid 35 opens motor valve 35a (FIGURE 1) and relay 121 closes a contact 12111. This energizes a relay which closes a contact 135a, thus completing a pumping circuit and starting a motor 21 which drives pump 21a. Relay 135 is energized through a circuit which is traced from the left of the circuit diagram through normally closed

contacts

143a and 142d, contact 1210, and a normally closed contact 134a. With

valves

29, 30, 32, and 33 (FIGURE 1) closed and

valves

31 and 34 open, the pump 21a will cir culate oil from the delivery tank to the BS & W monitor 22 and the heater treater 40 for the predetermined scan period of three minutes. If during this scan period the oil from the delivery tank meets specifications, cam 203 will continue its rotation to open contact 1, thus opening the first testing circuit and allowing valve 35a to close.

After the oil in the delivery tank is scanned, cam 203 closes contact 2 to initiate scanning of oil from the bottom of power-oil tank 12. When contact 2 is closed, another testing circuit is completed through a solenoid 36, a relay 117, and an indicating light 127. Solenoid 36 will open valve 36a (FIGURE 1) and relay 117 will close a contact 117a, thus completing a pumping circuit in the manner described above. During the period that contact 2 is closed, indicating light 127 will be illuminated to indicate that tank 12 is being scanned. If during the threeminute scan period the oil in power tank 12 is found to meet specifications, the timer will proceed to open contact 2 and close contact 3 to initiate scanning of poweroil tank 13.

In an embodiment of the invention now in use, timer 103 is formed such that each of contacts 1-3 opens be;

fore the succeeding contact closes in order to prevent any two of valves 35a-38a from being open at the same time. It will be recognized, however, that the timer may be such that each of contacts 1-3 opens immediately after the next succeeding contact closes, thus preventing repeated stopping and starting of pump 21a.

If the oil in tank 12 is found to be substandard because of a water content above a predetermined level, monitor 22 will act to open a contact 22a (FIGURE 2), thus deenergizing a relay 100. Relay 100 then acts to open a contact 100a to stop the program timer 103. Simultaneously therewith, relay 100 closes a contact in a recording circuit, thus energizing an elapsed-time recorder 122 which indicates the total cumulative time that bad oil is circulated from tank 12. During the time the program timer is de-energized, oil is circulated from tank 12 to treater 40. When the BS & W monitor again detects oil to specifications, it acts to close contact 22a and relay 100 then is energized to open and close contacts 1005 and 100a, respectively. The program timer will thereupon start and proceed to close contact 3 in another testing circuit and initiate scanning of power-oil tank 13 and thereafter tank 14 in the same manner as tank 12. The testing andrecording circuits for

tanks

13 and 14 are the same as the testing and recording circuits for tank 12 and therefore will not be described further.

In the above description it was assumed that the oil from the delivery tank met the desired specifications. However, if this oil is found to be substandard by monitor 22, relay 100 will be tie-energized to open contact 100a and to close contacts 100 and 100q. The program timer is stopped by the opening of contact 100a as described above and an elapsed-time recorder 126 similar to recorder 122 is energized through contact 100 Simultaneously therewith, a relay 133 is energized through contact 100q. Relay 133 acts to close a contact 1331:, thus completing a circuit through an interval timer 132 which limits the time during which oil will be circulated to the BS & W monitor 22 and the treater 40, regardless of the water content thereof. The circuit through the interval timer 132 may be traced from the left side of the power line through contacts 111a and 1, switch 115, and

contacts

142e, 143a and 133a. Relay 133 also is connected in series with contact 133a so that it will not be de-energized by a subsequent opening of contact 100q. Due to relay 133 and its associated contact 133a, the interval timer is unaffected by a subsequent closing and opening of contact 22a as would occur when slugs of good and bad oil intermittently pass through the monitor. Timer 132 is set for a predetermined time period, e.g., twenty minutes. At the end of this period, timer 132 will close a contact 132a, thus closing a circuit through the program timer 103 and allowing it to time out on the delivery tank if it has not already done so by reason of contact 100a being closed for a total cumulative time of three minutes. Thereupon, the program timer 103 will proceed to examine the oil in tanks 12-14 in the above-described manner.

It will be noted that oil from the tank being scanned is circulated to treater 40 from the beginning of the respective scan period, rather than only upon the detection of an unacceptably high water content. While this, of course, results in the treatment of some good oil, it advantageously eliminates the need for the additional valves and lines which would be required to circulate oil to the treater only after it was found to have an unacceptably high water content. While such continuous circulation to the treater is highly advantageous, it is not essential. Therefore, in accordance with the broad concept of the invention, the fluid being tested is circulated to the treater at least during the period of time in which the testing device detects the characteristic involved; while, in the preferred, more limited form of the invention, such circulation is effected prior to this detection period as well.

Those skilled in the art also will recognize that testing devices such as BS & W monitors of the type described above may include a time delay circuit such that they respond to oil containing an unacceptable amount of water only after it continues beyond the time delay set into the monitor. Therefore, in describing and claiming the instant invention, the monitor 22 is considered to detect water only when it responds externally thereto as, for example, by opening contact 22a.

Upon timing out on power-oil tank 14, the program timer will open contact 4 and close contact 103a in a reset-relay circuit which includes a relay 105 which operates only on a pulsating current, a rectifier 107, a pair of

resistors

106 and 110, a pair of

capacitors

108 and 109, and also the contact 104a of the scan-start timer. When contacts 103a and 104a are closed by their respective timers, a pulsating unidirectional current is provided through rectifier 107, causing the relay 105 to pick up and close a contact 105a and also a contact 105b which is connected in parallel with contacts 103a and 104a. When contact 105a is closed, reset

clutches

101 and 102 are energized to reset timers 103 and 104, respectively, to their starting positions. As the timers are reset, the

capacitors

108 and 109 will first charge and then begin to discharge, thus providing a relatively smooth undirectional current through relay 105 which will cause it to go off and open contacts 105a and 1051). After the timers are reset, scanning of the delivery and power-oil tanks will be repeated.

The testing and treating system also includes means for transferring oil from one or more of

storage tanks

26, 27, and 28 to the delivery tank 25. In order to transfer oil from any one of the storage tanks to the delivery tank, valves 31 and 34 (FIGURE 1) are closed and valve 33 and the appropriate one of

valves

39, 30, 32 are opened. Thereafter, a hand-operated switch 116 (FIG- URE 2) is moved to the D (delivery tank) position in order to close a circuit through a relay 142. Relay 142 acts to close

contacts

142a, 142b, and 142a and to open contacts 142s and 142d. Contact 1420 prevents the delivery-tank testing circuit from being energized through switch should it be in the H (hand) position and contact 142d further insures that relay will not be energized through the bank of

contacts

117a, 121a, etc. The closing of contacts 142a and 142b completes a circuit through a relay 111 which operates to open contacts lllb and 111a in order to stop timers 104 and 103 and to deenergize any one of motor valves 36a38a then in operation. Simultaneously therewith, solenoid 35 is energized through contacts 142a and 143s and opens valve 3511 while relay 135 acts to close contact 135a, thus energizing the pump motor 21 to transfer oil from the appropriate storage tank to the delivery tank. The circuit through relay 135 may be traced from the left side of the circuit diagram through

contacts

143d, 142e, 10%, and 13401. Assuming that the oil being transferred is to specifications, such transfer will continue until the respective storage tank approaches the empty condition. As this occurs, pump 21a will start to pump gas. This gas will be detected by the BS & W monitor 22 which will then act to open a contact 22b, thus de-energizing a relay 134. This relay will act to open contact 134a which opens the circuit to relay 135, thus de-energizing the pump motor and preventing gas-lock of the pump. If, on the other hand, monitor 22 detects a BS & W content above a predetermined level, it will act to open contact 22a, thus deenergizing relay 100. Relay 100 will then act in the abovedescribed manner to open the contact 100k, thus de-energizing relay 135 and stopping the pump.

If oil in one or more of the storage tanks is found to be substandard, the operator may desire to circulate the oil from. these tanks through the treater 40. In order to accomplish this, valves 31 and 33 (FIGURE 1) are closed and valve 34 and the appropriate one of

valves

29, 30, and 32 are opened. Thereafter, switch 116 is moved to the T (treater) position in order to close a circuit through 7 a relay 143 which acts to close contacts 143a, 1431), and 143s and to open

contacts

143a and 143d. Relay 111 is energized through a circuit which includes contacts 143a and 143b and opens contacts 111a and 111b as described above. The closing of contact 143e completes a circuit through relay 135 which energizes the pump motor, and, simultaneously therewith, solenoid 35 acts to open valve 35a, thus allowing oil to be pumped from the storage tank to the treater. In this operation, transfer of oil to the treater will continue regardless of the detection by monitor 22 of an undesirably high water content, and the only condition effective to shut down the system will be the detection by monitor 22 of gas in the oil. As in all of the above-described operations, the persence of a predetermined amount of gas in the oil will cause the monitor 22 to open contact 22b, thus stopping the pump 21a.

In one embodiment of the system illustrated in FIG- URE 2, the following components were found to be satisfactory:

The program timer 103 and reset clutch 101 were obtained from Eagle Signal Company, Moline, Illinois, as a single unit, identified as Poly-Flex HO Series.

The scan-start timer 104 and reset clutch 102 were obtained from Eagle Signal Company, as a single unit, identified as Cycl-Flex HP Series.

The interval timer 132 was obtained from Eagle Signal Company, and identified as Timo-Flex HO Series.

In the reset-relay circuit of FIGURE 2,

resistors

106 and 110 were 50- and 100,000-ohm resistors, respectively; and

capacitors

108 and 109 were 20- and 4-microfarad capacitors, respectively. Relay 105 was an A.C.-type relay obtained from Potter & Brumfield, Division of American Machine and Foundry Company, Princeton, Indiana, and identified as Model No. KRP HAG-115V AC Relay.

The above-described system is highly advantageous in that it insures that only power oil having an acceptable BS & W content is supplied to the power units. This greatly decreases the possibility of failure of a downhole pumping system.

Should such failure occur, however, and result in an abnormally high pressure at the discharge side of a power unit, a further aspect of the present invention provides a method and apparatus for conserving the energy added to the power oil by the power unit. This is accomplished by operating the several power units at different maximum discharge pressures. If the discharge pressure at a power unit exceeds the maximum, at least a portion of the oil from this unit is diverted to another lower-pressure pumping system. The power unit which normally supplies oil to this system is then cut back to reduce the output therefrom by an amount essentially equal to the amount of power oil diverted from the first power unit.

More particularly, and as illustrated in FIGURE 1,

power units

61, 62, and 63 are operated at progressively decreasing maximum pressures, e.g., 3400 p.s.i., 2800 p.s.i., and 2100 p.s.i., respectively; and

discharge lines

71 and 72 of

units

61 and 62 are fluidly connected to bypass regulators 65 .and 66, respectively, by way of

lines

65a and 66a. Each of

regulators

65 and 66 is set such that it will begin to bypass power oil to discharge line 73 by way of a line 67 when the pressure upstream of the regulator reaches, or just exceeds, the maximum discharge pressure of its respective power unit. The bypass regulators per se are conventional and suitable regulators are available from Kobe, Inc., Huntington Park, California, identified as their Model No. 4-31066.

Lines

71, 72, and 73 are provided with constant-

flow controllers

81, 82, and 83 which will maintain constant flow rates through the respective lines regardless of the pressure fluctuations therein. Like the bypass regulators, the constant-flow controllers are conventional. A suitable controller may be obtained from Kobe, Inc., as their Model No. #32932.

Line 73 is also provided with an engine-throttle modulation control 85 which regulates the output of power unit 63 in response to the pressure in line 73. Control 85 may comprise any suitable system which acts to decrease the output of unit 63 in response to a pressure increase in line 73 above the set point, e.g., 2100 p.s.i., and vice versa. However, a preferred engine-throttle modulation control comprises a pressure controller and a diaphragm motor, both of which are available from Mason-Neilan, Division of Worthington Corporation, Nor-wood, Massachusetts, and identified as their Model Nos. 2707 and 6607, respectively. The diaphragm motor and pressure controller are arranged such that a pressure increase in line 73 will increase the control pressure on the diaphragm motor and extend the diaphragm-motor actuator rod. The actuator rod will then act through a mechanical linkage, indicated by broken line 85a, to the throttle of the prime mover to reduce the engine r.p.m. and thus the output of the power unit.

The operation of the above-described system is as follows. Should a downhole pump such as pump 92 stop stroking, it will stop taking fluid causing the pressure upstream in the discharge line to increase. In the case of pump 92, regulator 65 will begin to bypass oil to line 73 when the pressure in line 71 exceeds 3400 p.s.i. Since controller 83 will let only a constant amount of oil per unit time pass therethrough, the pressure in line 73 will start to increase due to the additional oil diverted to the line from power unit 61. This pressure increase will be sensed by the engine-throttle modulation control 85 which acts through linkage 85a to the throttle of the prime mover of power unit 63 to reduce the output therefrom by an amount equal to the amount of power oil supplied to line 73 from unit 61.

In a further aspect of the invention, a system is provided for separately testing each of the wells with respect to the amounts of water and oil produced and for recording the results of such testing as a function of time on a single, easily read chart. The water-oil ratio of a given well is an important indication of the quality of the well and the effectiveness with which it is being produced. For example, an increase in the water-oil ratio may be due to an increased watervinflux into the wellbore or it may be caused by the use of power oil having a high water content. The latter would, of course, be indicative of a malfunction in the above-described testing and treating system. Thus, the testing and recording system described below provides a means for checking the proper operation of the testing and treating system, as well as a means for testing a particular well and providing clean oil to the power-oil tanks.

In order to place a particular well on test, the production from that well is diverted through a productionrouting means such as three-way valve 95 (FIGURE 1) to a test heater treater 96 which separates water and gas from the oil. The oil eflluent from the treater flows through a meter 97 and a line 97a to power-oil tank 12 while the water eflluent flows through a meter 98 and a line 98a to a suitable water disposal zone. The oil and water meters are each equipped with a transducer which sends out an electric impulse for each unit volume, e.g., one barrel, of fluid measured. Suitable meters are of the positive-displacement type available from Flow Equipment Company, Santa Fe Springs, California, and identified as their Model No. FSWA with impulse transmitter.

The amounts of oil and water measured by

meters

97 and 98 are recorded by means of a single recording element on a record receiver, in either barrels 0r multiples of ten barrels. When the system is adjusted to record every barrel, a recording is made at a specific distance to the left of the base line of the record receiver for each barrel of oil measured by meter 97 and a specific distance to the right of the base line for each barrel of water measured by meter 98. When the recording system is adjusted to record in ten-barrel units, a recording is made at an increased distance to the left of the base line for every ten barrels of oil and similarly a recording is made at an increased distance to the right of the base line for every ten barrels of water.

More particularly, and with reference to FIGURE 3, this system includes a recorder 308 having a single recording element and means for positioning the recording element relative to the record receiver in response to the voltage across the recorder. At an intermediate voltage, the recordingelement will be at a reference position, for example, at the center line of the receiver. It will move to the left of the center line at a relatively low voltage and to the right of the center line at a relatively high voltage. The voltage supply to the recorder is varied by connecting it in parallel with one or more of a plurality of resistors 331-336 as appropriate. Prefereably, the resistances of resistors 331336 are equal so that the voltage across each of these resistors is the same. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, recorder 308 is of the graphic type and includes a recording stylus 303a which is adapted to make visual marks on a record chart 308b. The record chart is moved relative to the stylus by a motor 3080 which is connected in a separate circuit so to be unaffected by the voltage fluctuations. For example, the chart may be mounted on a drum (not shown) which in turn is rotated by the motor. A suitable graphic recorder is available from Rustrak Instrument Company, Manchester, New Hampshire, and identified as. their Model No. 92.

The system will first be described with reference to its' operation in recording each barrel of oil and water measured by the meters. To record in units of one barrel, a hand-operated oil switch 301 and a hand-operated water switch 302 are placed in their respective 1 positions, as shown in FIGURE 3. A pair of switches 303 and 304 are mechanically coupled to switches 301 and 302, respectively, such that they are moved concomitantly with switches 301 and 302 to their respective 1 positions as shown. Upon the closing of master switch 305 to a voltage source -E, relays 306 and 307 are energized, thus closing contacts 306a and 307a and opening contacts 30Gb and 307b. The recorder 308 is then connected in parallel with

resistors

331, 332, 333 through normally closed contacts 3119b and 3113b and the recording stylus is positioned at the center of the chart.

When a barrel of oil is measured by oil meter 97, it sends out an impulse and momentarily energizes a relay 315 which acts to close a contact 315a and to open a contact 315b. During this time a capacitor 320 is charged by a unidirectional current through a rectifier 317. When the impulse from the oil meter terminates, relay 315 is de-energized and contacts 315a and 31515 are opened and closed, respectively. With contact 315b closed, the capacitor 320 discharges through a relay 309, thus energizing it and causing it to close contacts 30% and 3090 and to open contact 30%. Recorder 30% then is connected in parallel with

resistors

331 and 332 in a voltage-divider circuit which includes contacts 309a, 306a, and switch 303 in the 1 position. The recording stylus will thus move to a recording position at the left of the center line and make a Visual mark representative of a barrel of oil. The closing of contact 3090 completes a circuit through a hereinaftendescribed stepping switch coil 319 and a totalizing counter 340 which records one barrel each time it is energized. Counter 340 thus shows the total cumulative amount of oil measured by meter 97.

When a barrel of water is measured by meter 98, it sends out an impulse and momentarily energizes a relay 311. This relay acts to open a contact 311b and to close a contact 311a, thus allowing a capacitor 312 to be charged by a unidirectional current through a rectifier 318. When the pulse terminates, relay 311 is de-energized and contacts 311a and 311b are opened and closed, respectively. The capacitor 312 then discharges through a normally closed contact 313a and contact 311b and energizes a relay 314. Relay 314 then acts to close a contact 314a which completes a circuit through a relay 310 and a totalizing counter 341 similar to counter 340. Relay 310 closes a contact 310a and opens a contact 310b, thus connecting recorder 308 in parallel with

resistors

331, 332, 333 and 334 in a second voltage-divider circuit which includes

contacts

309b, 310a, 307a, and switch 304 in the 1 position. The recording stylus then moves to the right of the center line and makes a mark indicating a single barrel of water.

Should simultaneous, or nearly simultaneous, pulses be received from

meters

97 and 98, the invention provides a novel means for storing the water signal until after the oil signal has been recorded. This operates as follows. When relay 309 is energized and closes contact 3090, a circuit is completed through a relay 313 which then acts to open a contact 313a in the water-relay circuit. Thus, should a signal be received from the water meter while relay 309 is energized, capacitor 312 will be charged in the normal manner, but will not be allowed to discharge until such time as relay 313 is de-energized to close contact 313a. Thereafter, capacitor 312 will discharge through contact 313a, contact 311b, and relay 314. This, of course, will not take place until after the oil signal is recorded.

As stated above, the recording system may be adjusted to record the oil and water output of treater 96 in tenbarrel units. This is accomplished by moving switches 301 and 302 to their respective 10 positions. Switches 303 and 304 will move concomitantly therewith to their respective 10 positions. With switch 301 open to the 10 position, relay 306 can be energized only through an active contact 31% of a stepping switch 31911 which also has nine blank contacts. Similarly, relay 307 can be energized only through the active contact 320b of a tencontact stepping switch 320a.

When an impluse is received from oil meter 97, relay 315 and thereafter relay 309 are energized as explained above. However, in this case, relay 306 remains deenergized so long as switch 319a is on a blank contact and the recorder 308 is thus connected in parallel with

resistors

331, 332, and 333 and the recording stylus remains at the center of the chart. The circuit in which recorder 308 is connected in parallel with the above resistors may be traced from the left side of the circuit through contact 306b and parallel contacts 307b and 3110b. Contact 309c closes the circuit through the stepping-switch coil 319 which then advances stepping switch 31% by one contact. Similarly, when a pulse is received from the water meter 98, relay 314 closes cont-act 314a and completes a circuit through a stepping-switch coil 320 which advances stepping switch 320a by one contact. Again, recorder 308 will be connected in parallel with

resistors

331, 332, and 333 so long as switch 320a is on a blank contact.

The above sequence of operations is repeated until one of switches 319a and 320a is advanced to its respective active contact, at which time relay 306 or relay 307 is energized and the recorder 308a is connected in the appropriate voltage-divider circuit. For example, when stepping switch 319a closes contact 319b, relay 306 acts to close contact 306a and open contact 306b. Thereafter, relay 309 closes contact 309a, and recorder 308 is connected in parallel with resistor 331 in a voltage-divider circuit which includes contacts 309a, 306a, and switch 303 in the 10 \position. When this occurs, the recording stylus moves to the left and makes a mark on the chart which indicates ten barrels of oil. This mark is made at twice the distance to the left of the center line as those mark-s indicating .a sing-1e barrel of oil.

The output from the water meter is recorded in tenbarrel units similarly as that from the oil meter. When switch 320a closes contact 320b, a circuit is completed through relay 307. Relay 307 then acts to close and

open contacts

307a and 307b, respectively. When contacts 310a and 310b are later closed and opened, respectively, recorder 308 is connected in parallel with

resistors

331, 332, 3 33, 334, and 335 through contacts 30%, 310a, 307a, and switch 304, and the recording element is moved to the right of the position it occupies when recording in units of one barrel. As in the case when the recording system is adjusted to record in one-barrel units, the signal from the water meter will be stored temporarily should it arrive simultaneously with the signal from the oil meter. Also, it will be recognized that the oil can be recorded in ten-barrel units while the water is recorded in onebarrel units or, vice versa, by proper manipulation of switches 301 and 302.

Having described specific embodiments of the invention, it is understood that further modifications may be suggested to those skilled in the art, and it is intended to cover all such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of testing and treating fluid in a plurality of containers, comprising the steps of sequentially flowing fluid from each of said containers to a testing zone for at least a predetermined time period, flowing said fluid from said testing zone to a treating zone during said predetermined time period, continuing to flow fluid from said each of said containers to said testing and treating zone-s beyond said predetermined time period upon the detection of at least one characteristic of said fluid at said testing zone, and terminating fluid flow from said each of said containers to said testing and treating zones when said at least one characteristic is no longer detected at said testing zone.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of recording the time during which said at least one characteristic is detected.

3. In an automatic testing and treating system, a plurality of tanks adapted to contain fluid, means for testing said fluid for at least one characteristic, means for treating said fluid with respect to said at least one characteristic, timing means for sequentially placing each of said tanks in fluid communication with said testing means and said treating means for a period of time and thereafter terminating said fluid communication, and means responsive to the detection by said testing means of said at least one characteristic for rendering said timing means ineifective for terminating said fluid communication during the time that said characteristic is detected.

4. In an automatic testing and treating system, a plurality of tanks adapted to contain a fluid, means for testing said fluid for at least one characteristic, means for treating said fluid with respect to said at least one characteristic, a normally open electric testing circuit for each of said tanks, means in each of said testing circuits for placing its respective tank in fluid communication with said testing means and said treating means when said each of said testing circuits is closed, timing means for sequentially closing each of said testing circuits for a period of time and thereafter opening said each of said testing circuits, and means responsive to the detection by said testing means of said at least one characteristic for rendering said timing means ineffective for opening said each of said testing circuits.

'5. In an automatic testing and treating system, a plurality of tanks adapted to contain a fluid, means for testing said fluid for at least one characteristic, means for treating said fluid with respect to said at least one characteristic, a normally open electric testing circuit for each of said tanks and a normally open electric recording circuit associated with each of said testing circuits, recording means in each of said recording circuits, means in each of said testing circuits for placing its respective tank in fluid communication with said testing means and said treating means when said each of said testing circuits is closed, timing means for sequentially closing each of said testing circuits for a period of time and thereafter opening said each of said testing circuits, means responsive to the detect-ion by said testing means of said at least one characteristic for rendering said timing means ineffective for opening said each of said testing circuits, and'means responsive to the detection by said testing means of said at least one characteristic for closing the recording circuit associated with said each of said testing circuits whereby the recording means therein is energized.

'6. In an automatic testing and treating system, a plurality of tanks adapted to contain a fluid, means for testing said fluid 'for at least one characteristic, means for treating said fluid with respect to said at least one characteristic, fluid conduit means interconnecting each of said tanks with said testing means and said treating means and having normally closed valve means therein for successively placing each of said tanks in fluid communication with said testing means and said treating means, means for pumping fluid in said fluid conduit means, a normally open electric testing circuit for each of said tanks, means in each of said circuits for opening said valve means with respect to one of said tanks whereby said one of said tanks is separately placed in fluid communication with said testing means and said treating means when said-each of said circuits is closed, means in each of said circuits for activating said pumping means when said each of said circuits is closed, timing means for sequentially closing each of said testing circuits for a period of time and thereafter opening said each of said testing circuits, and means responsive to the detection by said testing means of said at least one characteristic for rendering said timing means ineffective for opening said each of said circuits.

7. In a system for delivering and testing power fluid, a plurality of power-fluid tanks, a plurality of power units in fluid communication with said power-fluid tanks, each of said power units having a first conduit in fluid communication with the outlet thereof and adapted to be fluidly interconnected with at least one fluid-actuated pumping system, means for separately testing the power fluid in each of said tanks for at least one characteristic thereof harmful to said pumping systems, means for treating said fluid with respect to said at least one characteristic, means for placing said treating means in fluid communication with the tank in which fluid is being tested during at least the period of time in which said testing means detects said at least one characteristic, a normally closed fluid conduit extending from one of said first conduits to another of said first conduits, and means responsive to the pressure in said one of said first conduits reaching a predetermined level for opening said normally closed conduit to fluid flow.

8. In a system for delivering power fluid to a plurality of fluid-actuated downhole well pumping systems, a plurality of power units, each of said power units having a first fluid conduit in fluid communication with the outlet thereof and fluidly interconnected with at least one of said pumping systems and a second fluid conduit extending from the intake thereof and fluidly interconnected with a source of power fluid, a normally closed fluid conduit extending from one of said first conduits to another of said first conduits, and means responsive to the pressure in said one of said first conduits reaching a predetermined level for opening said normally closed conduit to fluid flow.

9. In a system for delivering power fluid to a plurality of fluid-actuated downhole well pumping systems, a first power unit, a first fluid conduit in fluid communication with the outlet of said power unit and fluidly interconnected with at least one of said pumping systems, a second power unit, a second fluid conduit in fluid communication with the outlet of said second power unit and fluidly interconnected with at least another of said pumping systems, means responsive to the pressure in said first conduit exceeding a predetermined level for transferring at least a portion of the fluid flowing in said first conduit to said second conduit, means in fluid communication with said second conduit for maintaining an essentially c011- stant flow rate therethrough, and means responsive to an increase in pressure in said second conduit for de creasing the fluid output from said second power unit.

10. In a fluid pumping system, a plurality of powerfluid tanks, a plurality of fluid-actuated pumping systems, means for transferring power fluid under pressure from said tanks to said fluid-actuated pumping systems, treating means for separating an impurity from the fluid discharged from at least one of said fluid-actuated pumping systems, means for transferring fluid from said treating means to one of said power-fluid tanks, means for sequentially testing the power fluid in each of said tanks for said impurity, second treating means for separating said impurity from said power fluid, and means for placing the tank in which fluid is being tested in fluid communication with said second treating means during at least the period of time in which said testing means detects a predetermined amount of said impurity in the power fluid.

11. The fluid pumping system of claim further comprising means for measuring and'recording the amount of fluid transferred from said first named treating means to said one of said power-fluid tanks and the amount of impurity separated from said fluid.

12. In a system for producing and managing fluids from a plurality of oil wells each equipped with a hydraulically actuated pumping system including a downhole pump, a plurality of tanks adapted to contain power oil for use in actuating said pumping systems, means for testing the power oil in said tanks for an impurity harmful to said pumping systems and separating said impurity from said power oil, a plurality of power units for delivering power oil under pressure from said tanks to said pumping systems, each of said power units having means fluidly interconnecting the outlet thereof with at least one of said pumping systems and the intake thereof with at least one of said tanks, means responsive to the pressure at the outlet of one of said power units reaching a predetermined level for transferring at least a portion of the power oil comprising the output of said one of said power units to the output of another of said power units, treating means for separating said impurity from the oil discharged from at least one of said pumping systems, and means for measuring and recording the amount of oil treated by said treating means and the amount of impurity separated from said oil.

13. In a system for producing and managing fluids from a plurality of oil wells each equipped with a hydraulically actuated pumping system including a downhole pump, a plurality of tanks adapted to contain power oil for use in actuating said pumping systems, means for sequentially testing the power oil in each of said tanks for an impurity harmful to said pumping systems, first treating means for separating said impurity from said power oil, means for placing the tank in which oil is being tested in fluid communication with said first treating means during at least the period of time in which said testing means detects a predetermined amount of said impurity in the power oil, a plurality of power units for delivering power oil under pressure from said tanks to said pumping systems, each of said power units having a first fluid conduit extending from the outlet thereof and in fluid communication with at least one of said pumping systems and a second fluid conduit extending from the intake thereof and in fluid communication with at least one of said tanks, a normally closed fluid conduit extending from one of said first conduits to another of said first conduits, means responsive to the pressure in said one of said first conduits reaching a predetermined level for opening said normally closed conduit to fluid flow, second treating means for separating said impurity from the oil discharged from at least one of said pumping systems, means for transferring said oil from said second treating means to one of said power-oil tanks, and means for measuring and recording the amount of oil transferred from said second treating means to said one of said power-oil tanks and the amount of impurity separated from said oil.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,171,327 8/1939 Anderson 346-62 2,987,366 6/1961 Meyers 346- 3,002,521 10/1961 Greenlees et al 137115 3,096,641 7/1963 Hubby 73-53 3,113,582 12/1963 Hudson 137115 3,146,786 9/1964 Ishikawa 10342 XR 3,167,949 2/1965 Stenzel et 'al 73-53 OTHER REFERENCES Meyers, Oil and Gas Journal, Oct. 17, 1955, pp. 111- 117.

DAVID SCHONBERG, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A METHOD OF TESTING AND TREATING FLUID IN A PLURALITY OF CONTAINERS, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF SEQUENTIALLY FLOWING FLUID FROM EACH OF SAID CONTAINERS TO A TESTING ZONE FOR AT LEAST A PREDETERMINED TIME PERIOD, FLOWING SAID FLUID FROM SAID TESTING ZONE TO A TREATING ZONE DURING SAID PREDETERMINED TIME PERIOD, CONTINUING TO FLOW FLUID FROM SAID EACH OF SAID CONTAINERS TO SAID TESTING AND TREATING ZONES BEYOND SAID PREDETERMINED TIME PERIOD UPON THE DETECTION OF AT LEAST ONE CHARACTERISTIC OF SAID FLUID AT SAID TESTING ZONE, AND TERMINATING FLUID FLOW FROM SAID EACH OF SAID CONTAINERS TO SAID TESTING AND TREAT-