US454432A - Jacob heed - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. HEBD. MEANS POR AND METHOD OP BLOWING OPP FLUIDS PROM OIL 0R GAS WELLS. 110.454,432. Patented June 16,1891.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB HEED, OF ARNESVILLE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANCIS lV. IIIBBARD, OF SAME PLACE.

MEANS FOR AND METHOD OF RLOWING OFF FLUlDS FROM OIL OR GAS WELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 454,432, dated June 16, 1891.

Application led February 19, 1891. Serial No. 382,022. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern: be screwed up or down. The upper part o f Beit known that I, JACOB IIEED, of Barnespipe D is provided with a nozzle and stopl ville, in the county of Belmont and State of cock (l, so that the escape of lluid or gases Ohio, have invented certain new and useful therethrough can be regulated or out off. 55 5 Improvements in Means for and Method of Now when fluid collects in the well to such Blowing Off Fluids from Oil or Gas lVells; and depth as may impair the gas yield thereof pipe Ido hereby declare that the followingis afull, D is adjusted until the perforated end of clear, and exact description thereof, reference moutl1-picceE is afew inches below the surface being had to the accompanying drawings,and of the fluid. Then cock d is opened and the 6o 1o to the letters of reference marked thereon, gasinthecasingseekingtoescapethroughpipe which form part of this specification, in D necessarily forces the iiuidinto mouth-piece which, the drawing represents in vertical sec- E through the perforations therein, creating tion my improved means for clearing gas or aviolent ebullition of the fluids and gases in oil wells of fluids. the mouth-piece and pipe and driving the 65 15 My invention has especial reference to fluid up through pipeD out of the well. The means for removing` fluids from gas-wells or fluid, being thus mixed with the gas in pipe oil-Wells wherein a natural gas-pressure ex- D, is expanded in bulk and lightened, and ists by utilizing this natural pressure of gas thus is more easily forced out with comparain connection with simple mechanical means tively little pressure of gas. As the fluid is 7o zo to flow the iluid or drive it from the well, as withdrawn in this manner, the attendant will be clearly understood from the following, lowers pipe D, so as to keep piece E always description and claims. Y a few inches only below the surface of the In the drawing, A indicates the casin g of fluid, and by this means the entire volume of the well; B, the casing-head secured gas fluid can be driven out and the gas or oil 75 2 5 tightly thereto; C, the gas-discharge pipe; S, bearing strata uncovered.

the gas or oil veins, from which the gases es- It will be observed that by my invention capeinto the casing. Along with the gases thus the casingdoes not have to be uncovered,no escaping into the casing, water, petroleum, pumps are used, and I simply utilize the natuand other fluids generally enter and gradural pressure of the gases to flow the oil. It 8o 3o ally collect therein. In gas-wells the fluid is essential, however, that the mouthpiece as it collects shuts off the inflow of gas, thus be kept near the surface of the fluid. The diminishing thc yield of the well, and it is operator can tell at once if the fluid falls benecessary to remove the fluid. Through the low the mouthpiece, for the fluid would cease casing-head I3, I insert a pipe D, which plays flowing', and then he lowers the pipe until the 85 35 through a suitable stuffingebox in the head, gasilied fluid is again blowing out. If the or is so connected thereto that, while the pipe end of pipe be too much below the surface, can be raised or lowered vertically through the gas cannot escape into the mouth-piece, the head, the gas in the casing cannot escape and .hence the flow will stop. The gases ristherefrombeslde the pipe. The pipeD may ing through the fluid in the well naturally 9o 4o be made in sections, so that it can be adj usted expand as they near the surface thereof, so to various depths in the well, according to the that the upper portion of the fluid is more height of the fluid therein, and on the lower expanded, and is consequently lighter in proend of this pipe is secured a tubular mouthportion to its bulk, than its lower portion.

piece E, of larger diameter than the pipe and Again, the confined gases above the fluid 95 45 having a series of lateral perforations e e in naturally permeate the surface part thereof,

its lower end, as indicated in the drawing. so that if any outlet be provided near the sur- Pipe D may be raised or lowered by any suitface of the fluid the gases seek such outlet, able means, (not shown), such as a bull-wheel and in their course carry portions of the fluid or crane and derrick, or it may be screwinto the pipe. I take advantage of these roo 5o threaded, and the opening in the casing-head natural conditions and properties of the exmay be similarly threaded, so that pipe D may panded fluid and gases and provide an outlet Wfor the light-estrportions thereof by adjusting n end of flow-pipe is kept the less will be the exterior pressure necessary to raise the fluid therein. If the end of piperbe submerged so far below thesurface that the gas cannot escape into it with the fluid, it is apparent that the fluid will not flow or be forced out, except by an immense gas-pressure, and in deep wells this pressure is not attainable, because the pressure must be sufficient to'lift a column of fluid in the pipe bodily. Hence resort has been had to Various appliances and methods for raising the fluid, such as pumps for lifting the oil directJ or by artificially increasing the pressure of gas Vby forcing Yair into the easing above the fluid, and by ejecting air and steam directly into the flow-pipe, all of which require costly apparatus for operating them and are generally inefficient. By my invention a low pressure of gas will effect the flowing of the fiuid, andI have actually cleared a well of fifteen feet of water by proceeding in the manner above stated.

The enlarged mouthpiece E constitutes an aerating or expansion chamber for the fluid. The oil is forced therein through the perforations in the wall thereof by the gases, and in passing through the perforations is divided into minute streams and broken up, and thereby gases liberated and the body of fluid inthe chamber and entering therein is frothed or bubbled and expanded by the gases, and thus lightened in specific gravity and the more readily raised and ejected through the pipe. The escape of the expanded oil from the mouth-piece into the pipe being much less.

in area than the oil and gas entrances into the mouth-piece, the oil is more forcibly carried upwardY through the pipe than it would be if it were equal in diameter to the mouthpiece.

I am aware, in addition to what has been above stated, that packing has been placed around the exit-pipe at different heights in the well, so as to confine the gases nearer the oil-bearing strata, and that the gases and air have been ejected into the stand-pipe at various points, so as to expand the oil therein and assist in raising it therethrough; but I do not claim, broadly, the feature of expanding the oil. My invention relates more especially to the fact that by my apparatus or peculiar manipulation of the stand-pipe itself, so as to maintain its lower end j ust below the surface of the fluid,I without the employment of any auxiliary or supplemental ejectors, condensers, or force pipes or valves am enabled effectively to flow the well or drain it; and therefore,

Having described my invention, what I claim as new is* 1. The herein-described means for removingrfluids from oil or gas wells by the action of and in conjunction with the combined gases therein, consisting of a single verticallyadjustable flow pipe having an enlarged mouth-piece on its lower end and so adj usted, substantially in the manner described, that said mouth-piece shall be always keptnear the surface of the liuid,whereby an ebullition of the fluid and gases in the mouth-piece is produced and the fluid raised in the pipe, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the casing andthe gas-tight casing head for confining gases therein with a vertically-adj ustable pipe playing through said casing, having a stop-cock on its outerV end and an enlarged tubular and perforated mouthpiece on its lower end, whereby said mouth-piece maybe always kept near the surface of the fluid, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as dc-` scribed.

3. The method of raising fluid in gas or oil wells, consisting in confining the gases in the well abovethe fluid, then adjusting the flow-pipe in the well so that its lower end enters the upper or lighter surface portion of the fluid, and then shifting said pipe according to and with the variations in level of the fluid, so that the lower end of said pipe shall be always kept justbelow and near to the surface thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB HEED.

Witnesses:

CHARLEs T. HUNT, VILLIAM H. BROWN.

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