US1927055A - Method of and apparatus for pumping wells with pressure fluid - Google Patents

Description

l. B. WINSOR Sept. 19, 1933.

METHOD OF AND -APIARATUS FOR vPUMPING WELLS WITH PRESSURE FLUID Filed-001.12, 1931 s sheets-sheet 1 Septa 19, 1933. l, B WINSVOR j 1,927,055

` METHOD oF AND APPAATUs FOR PUMPING WELLS WITH PRESSURE ELU-1D Sept. 19, 19335 L B. wlNsoR 1,927,055

.METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PUMPING WELLS WITH PRESSURE FLUID Filed oct. 12, 1951 s sheets-seet s fgg. 10,. Magda.

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 19, 1933 stricts METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FUR P- ING WELLS WlTl-I PRESSURE FLUID Irwin B. Winsor, Tulsa, Okla. Application October 12, 1931. Serial No. 568,344

18 Claims.

My invention relates to a method of and apparatus for pumping oil wells, and more particularly to means for pumping wells with air, gas, or similar iiuid pressure mediums.

Although air motors connected with pumps have already been devised for pumping wells it has been found that such apparatus is unsatisfactory for pumping deep wells, principally for the reason that the pressure head above the motor is too great, and for the additional reason that it is impractical to employ supply and exhaust lines of sumcient length to reach the air motor when located near the bottom of a deep well.

Many types of ow valves have also been provided by means of which liquid in the well is elevated by air flowing under pressure through the valves and aerating the well liquid to raise it to the ground surface.

Various objections however, accompany the latter4 method of flowing wells, chief among them being that in deep wells having low liquid levels, an enormous pressure is required for elevating the liquid and in extreme cases it is impossible to start the flow of liquid through the valves, but instead, the liquid is forced back into the oil sands, thereby permanently decreasing the production of the well. As a consequence of this danger, some State laws prohibit the practice of flowing wells by fluid pressure.

It is the principal object of my invention to combine an air motor-actuated pump and ow valves for pumping wells, thus overcoming the disadvantages of both of the formerly used apparatus and producing a method that will operate successfully in the deepest wells with a minimum amount of air or gas pressure and at a cost far below that of lcommonly practiced methods.

Another object of my. invention is to provide an improved air motor particularly adapted for use in combination with iiow valves for pumping wells.

In accomplishing these and other objects of my invention I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a central section of a well disclosing the arrangement of flow valves in the tubing, and the relative positions of the air motor and packer, the upper and lower sections of the well being shown in parallel transposed relation.

Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view of the well, the air motor and packer being shown in section, portions being eliminated throughout the depth of the well to shorten the illustration.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of the upper portion of the air motor illustrating, particularly, the primary and control valves, piston and portions of the reversing gear.

Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of the lower end of the air motor disclosing the guide or cross head for the reversing mechanism and the coupling for connecting said mechanism to the plunger tube.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 5 5, Fig. 3, illustrating the primary valve and ports controlled thereby.

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 66,1iig. 3, showing the motor means for the primary valve.

Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line '7-7, Fig. 3, showing a lost-motion clutch for the reversing mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a cross section on the f illustrating the cross head and its sliding engagement with a guide rail.

Fig. 9 is an irregular vertical section on the 75. lines 99, Figs.I 3 and`5. y i

Fig. 10 is a view in perspective of the control valve, shifting head and upper end of the reversing rod in' disassembled relation.

Fig. 11' is a view in perspective of the lostmotion clutch and piston in disassembled relation.

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view of the packing element provided with pressure relief valves.

Fig. 13 is a central vertical section of one type of flow valve interposed in well tubing.

Fig. 14 is a central vertical section of the casing head blowout preventer preferably used with my apparatus.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a well hole lined with casing 2 provided with a casing shoe 3 on its lower end seated on cap rock 4, the extreme lower end of the well hole extending downwardly through oil sands 5 and terminating in a shot hole 6.

The upper end of the casing is provided with a casing head 7 having opposed laterally directed inlet conduits 8 leading from a compressor plant (not shown).

A casing head blowout preventer 9, of well known design, is seated in the upper end of the casing head for supporting a string of well tubing 10 and for sealing the upper end of the annular chamber between the well tubing and the casing.

Briefly, the combined apparatus for pumping iiuid from a well hole includes an anchor 11 resting on the bottom of the shot hole 6, a working barrel 12 secured to the upper end of the anchor, 'a liner 13 mounted on the working barrel, a packing element 14 connected with the upper end of the liner, an air motor 15 having its lower end secured in the packer, and flow valves 16 interposed at desired intervals in the well tubing, these several elements to be later more fully described.

The anchor 11 resting on the bottom oi the 115 well is of common construction having fluid inlet ports 17, and the working barrel 12 secured to the upper end of the anchor may also contain any of the well known types of pump plungers and valves. 120

The liner 13, secured to the upper end of the working barrel by a coupling 18, is of a length determined by the extent of the open hole, or distance from the cap rock to the bottom of the well.

The packer 14 disclosed in the drawings, is shown merely for the purpose of illustration as it will be apparent that the purpose of this element is to seal the lower end of the annular chamber between the casing and tubing from the upper end, and any type of packer accomplishing this purpose would be satisfactory. However, it is desirable to separate the upper and lower ends of the packer by.' a partition 19 and to seal the sliding travel of l plunger tube 20 through the partition by packing 21 urged into sealing engagement with the tube by a gland 22, said plunger tube leading to the pump plunger (not shown) in the working barrel.

Relief valves 23 are preferably provided in the lower end of the packer housing, and similar valves 24 are also employed for normally closing ports 25 formed in the partition 19, the purpose of the relief valves 23 and 24 being to permit escape of accumulated rock and gas pressure from below the packer into the well tubing for assisting in elevating iiuid from the well.

Resilient sealing rings 26, surrounding the packer, are urged by wedge rings 27 into engagement with the well casing upon telescoping movement of the packer as in ordinary practice.

Mounted on a reduced externally threaded neck 29 formed on the upper end of the packer is a swedge coupling 30 having an internally threaded upper end 32 for receiving the lower end of the air motor unit 15.

As will be apparent, the air motor is provided for actuating the plunger tube to reciprocate the pump plunger in the working barrel for elevating oil from the lower end of the hole, and includes lower and upper housing sections 33 and 34 respectively, joined by a coupling head 35. The reciprocation of the pump plunger in the working barrel is eiected by air or other fluid under pressure directed against opposite faces of a piston 36, slidably mounted in the cylindrical section 34, and in order to operably connect the piston with the plunger tube, a tubular connecting rod 37 is provided, having an upper end threaded in an internally threaded lower socket 38 of the piston. The rod 37 extends slidably through a concentric bore 39 formed in the coupling head 35 and is sealed in its sliding travel through the head by packing 40 urged into sealing engagement with the rod by a gland 41.

The lower end of the rod is threaded for an extended distance to adjustably receive a cross head or guide 42 threaded on the rod and secured in adjusted position thereon by lock nuts 43 and 44 bearing against opposite faces of the guide. Threaded on the extreme lower end of the rod is a coupling 45 having a relatively large lower socket 46 internally threaded throughout a greater portion of its depth for receiving the neck 47 of a cooperating member 48, the upper end of the reduced neck being spaced from the base of the socket and serving as a seat for a valve 49 normally closing a concentric passage 50 of the member 48.

The lower end of the member 48 is threadedly connected with the upper end of the plunger tube 20 as indicated at 52, and liquid elevated through `the liner and plunger tube is discharged through lateral ports 53 in the coupling 45 after unseating the valve 49.

As will be later apparent, it is necessary to prevent rotation of the piston 36 in its reciprocating travel, and for this reason a guide rail 54 is secured in the section 33 preferably by lateral lugs 55 inserted in openings 56 provided in the wall of the section 33, and a cooperating slot 57 is formed in the cross head for slidably receiving the guide rail.

Having described the piston and its operable connection with a pump plunger, the mechanism for effecting actuation of the piston and for alternately delivering a fluid pressure medium to opposite faces of the piston will now be described in detail.

Mounted on the upper end of the housing section 34 is a motor head 58 having a reduced externally threaded neck 59 engaging the internally threaded upper end of the section 34, and the upper end of the motor head is internally threaded, as indicated at 60, for receiving the reduced end 61 of a wedge coupling 62 having threaded connection with the lower end of the string of well tubing 10.

Provided in the head 58 are parallel upper, intermediate and lower transverse, cylindrical bores 63, 64 and 65 respectively, the upper bore communicating through a central exhaust port 66 with the well tubing.

An internally threaded extension 67, concentrically aligning with the exhaust port, is adapted to receive the lower end of a nozzle 68 having lateral outlet ports 69 adjacent its upper end, the extreme upper end being closed by a plug 70 preferably secured to the nozzle by a cross pin 71. The exhaust port 66 is of less diameter than the threaded extension to form an lupwardly facing shoulder 72 tapered to provide a seat for a valve 73 normally resting on the seat and limited in its opening movement by a cross bar 74 secured to the lower end of the nozzle and adapted to engage an upper projection 75 formed on the valve.

The upper and intermediate bores are connected by a central opening 7 6, and the intermediate and lower bores are similarly connected by a port 77 of less area` than the port 76, these latter bores being further connected at their opposite ends by inclined ports 78 and 79 for a purpose presently described.

Each end of bores 63, 64 and 65 are threaded for receiving plug screws 80, 81 and 82 respectively, the plug screws and 81 having sockets 83 to receive a suitable tool for threading the screws into and out of the bores. While the screws 81 are imperforate, the screws 80 are provided with a plurality of ports 84 to admit the iluid pressure medium into the bore 63. The plug screws 82 are preferably provided with heads 85 for the application of a wrench to insert the plugs into the bore 65,` and these plugs are also provided with ports 86 to communicate the bore 65 with the fluid pressure medium'surrounding the motor head.

Provided in the upper bore 63 near each end thereof are respective series of vertically aligning openings 87 and 88, the openings 87 adjacent one end communicating with a vertical channel 89 opening through the lower end of the motor head for leading the fluid pressure medium into engagement with the upper face of the piston. 36.

Communicating with the series of ports 88 adjacent the opposite end of the bore 63 is a channel 90 having a lateral outlet 91 for directing the fluid pressure medium to the lower face of the piston by means of a conduit 92 communicating with the lateral outlet and with a channel 93 formed in the coupling head 35 and opening to the upper end of said head. v

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the iluid pressure medium surrounding `the motor head is free to enter both the upper and lower bores and to ow from the Aupper bore into communication with opposite faces of the piston.

In order to alternately cover and uncover the ports 87 and 88 adjacent the opposite ends of the bore 63, a primary valve 94 is slidably mounted in the upper bore and is provided with a reduced intermediate portion 95 to form an exhaust chamber 96 around the valve for communicating with the exhaust port 66.

The primary valve is permanently connected by a link 97 with a motor means 98 slidably mounted in the bore 64, said motor means being preferably of a shape identical to the primary valve so that an annular exhaust chamber 99 is also pro-Y vided around the motor means intermediate its end.

It now be observed that the pressure medium is free to enter the bore 65 through the ports 86 of the plugs 85 and to flow through ports 'I8 and '19 to opposite ends of the motor Vmeans for shifting the primary valve to cover or uncover the ports 87 and 88 leading respectively to the channels 89 and 90.

In order to direct the ilow of the uid pressure medium to the desired end of the motor means, a control valve 100 is slidably mounted in the lower bore 65 and is adapted to cover the port 78 while the port 79 is uncovered, or vice versa. By providing a flattened or recessed face 101 on the upper side of the control valve intermediate its ends, the exhaust end of the motor means, determined by the position of the control valve, is enabled to communicate through either the port '78 or 'i9 with the exhaust opening 77.

- Shifting of the control valve will, therefore, control now of fluid to the motorv means, thereby indirectly controlling actuation of the primary valve, and such shiftingmeans is obtained in response to reciprocation of the piston as will now be described.

Formed in the lower side of the control valve is a notch 103 terminating in a central slot 104 of increased depth, the notch 103 being adapted to receive a cylindrical head 105 formed on the upper end of a shifting head 106, whereas the slot 104 receives a pintle 107 provided eccentrically on the cylindrical head so that rotation of the shifting head will reciprocate the control valve in its bore.

The shifting head 106 extends downwardly through a bushing 108 threaded upwardly into the motory head, and packing 109 seated in a A socket 110 of the head is urged into sealing engagement with the motor and shifting heads by a gland 111. On its lower end the shifting head is provided with a socket 112, preferably square in cross-section, for seating the upper end of a reversing or shifting rod 113, complementary in cross section to the socket 112, and xed to said head by a cross pin 114 or the like.

Referring now again to the piston 36, attention is directed to a socket 115 formed in the upper end of the piston for receiving a cam 116 having a square opening 117 for slidably receiving the shifting rod. A cooperating clutch member 118 is threaded into the socket 115 and is provided with an outwardly directed flange 119 for stop engagement with the upper end of the piston. As particularly disclosed in Figs. 7 and 1l of the drawings, the cam member includes a wing 120 having opposite stop faces 121 and 122 for respectively engaging the faces 123 and 124 of an arcuate lug 125 formed on the lower face of the cooperating member 118. As a result, the cam 116 is free to rotate through an arc of 'approximately 160, but is limited at each end of its travel by stop engagement with the faces of the lug 125.

, Provided in the rod are spaced twisted portions 126 and 127 so that reciprocation of the piston in its cylinder will oscillate the shifting rod by means of the cam and clutch member to reverse the position of the control valve, thereby controlling actuation of the primary valve as will be presently more fully described.

Since the motor` head and piston interrupt the passage through the tubing, it is necessary to bypass the liquid around these elements and this is accomplished by providing a pair of bypass conduits 128 and connecting their respective lower and upper ends to the cylindrical section 15 adjacent the nipple 35 and to the swedge nipple 62, the section 33 and swedgenipple having respective ports 130 and 131 for communicating with the opposite ends of the conduit. The bypass conduits are preferably flattened to decrease the cross-sectional area of the pumping apparatus to adapt it for use in small casing commonly used near the lower end of deep wells.

One or more relief valves 132 having lateral openings 133 are preferably xed in the side wall of the lower section 33 near the outlet 130 so that 105 when fluid under pressure is forced through the casing head into the chamber between the tubing and casing, the liquid which may be present in said chamber above the packer, will force these valves open and pass therethrough into the well tubing. The relief valves are preferably of circular cross section and consequently occupy only a small portion of the cross sectional area of the chamber between the cylinder 33 and rod 3'? to permit passage of pumped fluid around the relief valves through the ports 130 and into the bypass conduits..

Interposed at spaced intervals in the well tubing are nipples 134 provided with ow valves 16 having a valve 135 for closing the port 136, it being apparent that any of the many well known types of flow valves may be employed in this particular location for aerating'the liquid which is initially elevated by the pump from the lower end of the well as long as the pump is submerged.

The blowout preventer 9 is also of well known design including a sealing ring 137 mounted between lower and upper retaining rings 138 and 139 and having a lip 140 adapted to be forced against the well tubing by fluid under pressure in the casing. Slips 141 mounted in a bowl 142 vseated on the upper ring 139 serve to partially support the well tubing and pumping mechanism, the anchor usually resting on the bottom of the well, thus carrying a portion lof the load.

Assuming pumping apparatus to be constructed and assembled as described and to be lowered into a well, the operation thereof would be as follows: A pressure medium, such as compressed air or gas, is directed through the inlet lines 8 into the annular chamberbetween the well casing and tubing. The air motor is designed to operate under lower pressures than the flow valvesfand the pressure medium, after building up suilciently in the chamber above the packer, will enter the motor head and come into contact with either the upper or lower face of the piston 36 depending upon the position of the control valve.

Assuming the position of the control valve to "be that disclosed in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the

pressure medium will flow through ports 84 and 87 and through channel 89 into the cylinder 34 above the piston, thereby forcing the piston downwardly together with the pump plunger connected therewith.

As the piston travels over Athe lower twisted portion 127 of the reversing rod, the position of the control valve is reversed which accordingly admits pressure medium to the opposite end of the motor means, thereby also reversing the position of the primary valve and admitting pressure medium into the chamber below the piston I through the port 88, channel 90, conduit 92 and port 93.- Thereupon the piston, carrying the pump plunger, moves upwardly in its cylinder. The cam 116 is free to idle over the lower twisted portion, but upon engaging the upper twisted portion 126 it returns the reversing rod to its former position, thereby again communicating the upper face of the piston with the pressure medium.

It will be noted that upon each reversal of the control and primary valves, the exhaust pressure is free to iiow through the ports 77, 76 and 66 'and exhaust chambers 99 and 96, and after opening the valve 73, can escape through the lateral ports of the nozzle member into the tubing.

Responsive to reciprocation of the piston and coincident movement ofthe pump plunger, liquid will be elevated from the bottom of the well through the packer into the lower section 33 of the motor housing and pass therefrom through the bypass conduits into the tubing.

Although for comparatively shallow wells, such equipment would be sufficient for moving the liquid through the` tubing out of the well, it would be inadequate for pumping deep wells, and it is for this purpose that the iiow valves adapted to operate under greater pressures than the mo'- tor', are provided for elevating the liquid throughout the remainder of its travel from the well by aerating the liquid in a manner well known to those acquainted with the present art. g

With the present combination it is, therefore, possibe to obviate the use of sucker rods with their incident breakage and expense for pumping deep wells having very low liquid levels. It should also be noted that by flowing a well without the use of a pump, the water in the Well remains behind while the oil is removed, whereas, by the use of my invention, the water cannot accumulate at the well bottom but is elevated by the pump together with the oil.

The present invention, therefore, gratly reduces the cost of removing oil from wells and also eliminates the objectionable features accompanying the use of either the flowing or pumping methods for elevating well liquids.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In well pumping apparatus, the combination oi' a discharge line, a pump in the lower end of the well for initially elevatinglliquid in said line,

a Huid-pressure motor including a piston operably connected with said pump, means for admitting pressure medium alternately to opposite ends of saidl piston for reciprocating the piston,

and pressure-actuated flow valves in said discharge line above the pump for admitting pressure medium to the line for continuing elevation of said liquid from the well.

2. In well pumping apparatus, the combination of a discharge line, a pump in the lower end of the well for initially elevating liquid in said line,

agences a fluid-pressure motor including a reciprocable piston operably connected with said pump, means responsive to reciprocation of the piston for admitting pressure medium alternately to opposite ends of said piston, and pressure-actuated ow valves in said discharge line above the pump for admitting pressure medium to the line for continuing elevation of said liquid from the well.

3. In well pumping. apparatus, the combination of a discharge line, a pump in the lower end of the well for initially elevating liquid in said line, a fluid-pressure motor including a piston operably connected with said pump, means for admitting pressure medium alternately to opposite ends of the piston for reciprocating the piston, means for bypassing liquid from the pump around said motor into the discharge line, and pressure-actuated ilow valves in said discharge line above the pump for admitting pressure medium to thelline for continuing elevation of said liquid from the well.

4. In fluid pressure-actuated well pumping apparatus, the combination of a discharge line spaced from the wall of the Well to form an annular chamber around said line, a packer engaging, the wall and said line for dividing the chamber into lower and upper portions to prevent exertion of fluid pressure on the Well liquid in said lower portion, a pump interposed in the line below said packer for elevating the well liquid to a point' above the packer, means for actuating the pump, pressure-responsive means for admitting liquid from the chamber above said packer into said discharge 4line, and pressure-actuated iiow valves in the discharge line above the packer for admitting pressure medium to the line for continuing elevation of said liquid from the well.

5. In well pumping apparatus, the combination of a discharge line spaced from the wall of the well to form an annular chamber around said line, a packer engaging the wall and said line for dividing the chamber into lower and upper portions, means for delivering a pressure medium into the upper chamber, a pump interposed in the line below said packer for elevating the well liquid, to a point above the packer, a fluid-pressure motor operably connected with the pump having inlet ports communicating with the upper chamber, and pressure-actuated iow valves in the discharge line above the packer for admitting pressure medium to the line for continuing elevation of said liquid from the well.

6. In well pumping apparatus, the combination of a discharge line spaced from the wall of the well to form an annular chamber around said line, a packer engaging the wall and said line for dividing the chamber into upper and lower portions, means for delivering a pressure medium into the upper chamber, a pump interposed in the line below said packer for elevating the well liquid 135 to a point above the packer, a fluid-pressure motor operably connected with the pump having inlet ports communicating with the upper chamber and exhaust ports communicating with the discharge line, and pressure-actuated ow valves M0 in the discharge line'above the packer for admitting pressure medium to the line for continuing elevation of said liquid from the well.

7. In well pumping apparatus, the combination of a discharge line spaced from the wall of the Well to form an annular chamber around said line, a packer engaging the wall and said line for dividing the chamber into upper and lower portions, means fordelvering a pressure :medium into the upper chamber, a pump interposed in motor operably connected sure medium to the line for continuing the line below said packer for elevating the well liquid to a point above the packer, a fluid-pressure with the pump including a housing having a primary valve chamber communicating directly with the upper chamber, and pressure-actuated iow valves in the discharge line above the packer for admitting preselevation of said liquid from the well.

8. In well pumping apparatus, the combination of a discharge line spaced from the wall of the well to form an annular chamber around said line, a packer engaging thel wall and said line for dividing the chamber into upper and lower portions, -means for delivering a pressure medium into the upper chamber, a pump interposed in the line below said packer for elevating the well liquid to a point above the packer, a fluid-pressure motor operably connected with the pump including a housing ,having primary and control valve chambers communicating independently with said upper chamber, and pressure-actuated flow valves in the discharge line above the packer for admitting pressure medium to the line for continuing elevation of said liquid from the well.

9. In well pumping apparatus, the .combination of 'a discharge line, a pump in the lower end of the well for initially elevating liquid in said line, means for delivering a pressure medium into the well, a fluid-pressure motor submerged in said medium and including a piston operably connected with said pump, means for bypassing liquid from the pump around said motor into the discharge line, and pressure-actuated flow valves in saiddischarge line above the pump for admitting pressure medium to the line for continuing elevation of said liquid from the well.

10. The method of pumping liquid 'from a well including introducing uid pressure medium into the well, alternately directing quantities of said pressure medium to opposite sides of a motor piston in response to reciprocation of thepiston to actuate a pump to effect initial elevation of the liquid, and admittingnother quantities of said medium into the column of liquid initially elev vated in response to movement of the piston.

11. Well pumping apparatus including in combination with a well hole, means for delivering uid under pressure into the well hole, a discharge line extended into the well hole, a motor operable by said uid, a pump operable by said motor, for initially elevating oil in the discharge line, and means controlling admission `of some 'of' said pressure uid into a column of liquid initially elevated in said line in response to operation of said motor. V

12. Well pumping apparatus including in combination with a well hole, a discharge line extended to near the bottom of the hole, means for supplying fluid pressure medium to the well hole, a pump at the lower end of the discharge line vfor initially elevating liquid in the line, means pressure medium foractuating supply of said responsive to such said pump, and means controlling pressure medium to the discharge line above the pump for aerating liquid initially elevated in the line by said pump.

13. Well pumping apparatus including in combination with a well hole, a discharge line extended to near the bottom of the hole, a pump at the lower end of the discharge line for initially elevating liquid in said line, a fluid pressure motor operably connected with said pump, pres-` sure actuated flow valves in said discharge line above the pump, and a common source of supply of fluid pressure medium for operating said motor to initially elevate liquid in the discharge line and aerating said liquid in the line.

14. Well pumping apparatus including in combination with a well hole, a discharge line extending to near the bottom of the hole, means for supplying uid pressure medium to the well hole, a pump at the lower end of the discharge line for' initially elevating liquid in said line, a fluid pressure motor` in the line and operably connected with said pump, means for by-passing liquid around the motor, and pressure actuated valves in the discharge line above the motor controlling admission of pressure medium to the line for aerating liquid -initially elevated in the line by said pump.

15. Well pumping apparatus including in combination with a well hole, a discharge line extending into the hole, means for delivering fluid pressure medium into the hole exteriorly of the discharge line, a packer' around the discharge line near the bottom of the well hole for separating the pressure medium and well uid, a pump on the discharge line below the packer, means responsive to the fluid pressure medium for actuating the pump, and means in the discharge line above the packer controlling supply of pressure medium to liquid initially elevated in said line by said pump.

16. Well pumping apparatus including in com# bination with a well hole, a discharge line extended to near the bottom of said hole, a packer surrounding the discharge line near the bottom of the hole and forming separate upper andlower annular ,chambers in the hole, a' pump in the lower annular chamber for elevating liquid in the line, a fluid pressure motor operably connected with said pump, pressure actuated flow valves in the line above the packer, and means for supplying fluid pressure medium to the motor and through said valves for initially elevating uid in the line and subsequently aerating liquid in the line.

17. Well pumping apparatus including in combination with a well hole, a discharge line extending into the well hole, a pump at the lower end of the discharge line for initially elevating liquid in said line, a fluid pressure motor operably connected with said pump, means for supplying fluid pressure medium to the well for operation o f said motor, pressure actuated valves in the discharge line above the pump operable at higher pressure than that required for operation of the motor to admit pressure medium to the line for aerating liquid initially elevated in the line by said pump, and means for supplying pressure medium to the well forv operation of the pump and supply of said medium to the line.

18. Pumping 4apparatus including in combination with a Well hole, a discharge line extended to near the bottom of said hole, a packer surrounding the discharge line near the bottom of the well and forming upper and lower annular chambers in the well, a pump in the discharge line below the packer for initially elevating the liquid in the line, pressure actuated means for operating said pump, pressure actuated valves in the discharge line above the packer for admitting pressure mediuml to upper annular chamber, means for supplying pressure medium to the well for operation of the pumpoperating means and supply to the discharge line, and a gas line leading from the lower annular chamber through the packer to the discharge line.

IRWIN B. WINSOR.

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