US2046769A - Method and equipment for pumping oil - Google Patents

Description

July 7, 1936. c. J. COBERLY 2,046,769

METHOD AND EQUIPMENT FOR PUMPING OIL I Original Filed Jar 1. 51, 1935 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [/v VEN TOR. (7a rence d Coberfy,

July 7, 1936. c. J. COBERLY 2,046,769

' METHOD AND EQUIPMENT FOR PUMPING OIL I v Originl Filed Jan. 51. 195:5 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f/VVE/VTORI C/a re'zce d-Cobe 7-4 Patented July 7, 1936 I i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND EQUIPMENT FOR PUMPING OIL Clarence J. Coberly, Los Angeles, Caliit, assignor to Kobe, Ina, Huntington Park, Caiifl, a corporation of California Application January 31, 1933, Serial N p/654,430

Renewed September 24, 193d 33 @laims. (Cl. 103-46) My invention relates to apparatus for pumping so that the wear on the parts of the fluid operoil from wells in which a fluid operated pump is ated pump engaged by the motivating oil will be p oyed. maintained at a minimum. The invention is of It is an object of my invention to provide a particular value where it employs a liquid oppumping apparatus which will operate with maxerated pump such as disclosed in the copending 5 imum economy for any given lift and which will application of Clarence J. Coberly, Serial No. operate with a minimum of wear in the moving 623,171, filed July 18, 1932, in which the motipump parts. It is recognized that the long used vating oil washes the moving parts of the motor I system of pumping wells by use of reciprocating element and also the piston and cylinder of the pumps operated by strings of sucker rods is very pumping element embodied in such liquid oper- 10 uneconomical due to the elongation and contracated pump. The invention accordingly requires tion of'the sucker rod string during the up and no outside supply of clean oil for the operation down strokes thereof. In my present invention of the pump in the well, but makes use of a por- I employ a fluid operated deep Well pump of the tion of the oil issuing from the production pipe 5 character disclosed in the patent to Ira B..Humof the well, this portion of oil, however, being 315 phreys, No. 1,577,971, issued March 23,, 1926, cleaned and being employed to wash the principal thereby avoiding the use of sucker rods and in moving parts of the pump so .that the wear therethis way materially reducing the power required on will be maintained at a minimum. for the pumping operation. In fluid operated ,In addition to the foregoing, it is to be noted pumps of this character the pumping piston or that the required supply of clean oil for moti- 20 plunger is operated by a fluid actuated motor, such vating and Washing purposes is obtained at subas a reciprocating member having a piston therestantially no cost due to the automatic and selfin which is moved by the pressure of fluid delivcontrolled operation of the filtering device formered to the fluid operated pump from the top of ing part of the invention.

the well through an individual pipe or conduit. Further objects and advantages of the inven- My present invention has for its object to protion will be made evident throughout the followvide a pumping equipment of the above general ing part of the specification.

character having a simple and economical means Referring to the drawings, which are for illuswhereby the production of a. well is conducted to trative purposes only, a suitable storage tank or other means of disposal, Fig. 1 is a vertically sectioned schematic view 30 and a portion of this oil pumped from the well showing a combination of parts whereby my inis diverted through a simple, automatically opervention may be practiced. ating filter means to a pressure pump which feeds Fig. 2 is a cross section on a plane represented the filtered oil to the fluid operated pump in the by the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Well. In my present invention the filtered oil for Fig. 3 is a cross section on a plane represented 35 operation of the fluid operated pump is obtained by the line 33 of Fig. 1.

with a minimum expenditure of power, and the Fig. 4 is a cross section on a plane represented quantity of oil filtered is automatically controlled by the line 44 of Fig. 1. in accordance with requirements of the pumping In the form of the invention disclosed .in the operation. In my present invention the use of drawings, a fluid operated pump H is employed 40 filtered oil as a motivating medium for the fluid in an oil well 82, such pump being actuated by operated pump maintains the wear on the movfiuid under pressure delivered through a vering parts of the pump at a minimum and also tical pipe l3 called the macaroni, which extends minimizes the wear on the cylinder and piston of downwardly from a head M" placed at the top the pressure pump for forcing the filtered oil down of the well I 2 and is preferably situated within a 45 the well to the fluid actuated pump. production pipe or oil tube IS. The macaroni It is accordingly an object of my invention to I3 is connected to a pressure pump l6 by surface provide an apparatus and method for pumping piping l! which may have a valve l8 therein. The a well in which a portion of the oil issuing from production pipe I5 has its upper end secured to the production pipe leading upwardly from the a fitting 20 of the casinghead 2| with which the 50 pump is diverted at the top of the well and is well I 2 is equipped, this fitting having an outlet 22 employed for motivation of the fluid operated from which piping 23 extends to an oil receptacle pump. It is a. feature of the invention that the 24 forming a part of a filtering device 25. diverted portion of the oil, which contains sand The filtering device 25 is shown with a cylinor other abrasive material, is cleaned or filtered drical shell 3| placed in upright position and hav- 56 ing its upper and lower ends closed by end members 32 and 33 and being divided by an intermediate wall 34 into lower and upper chambers 35 and 36, the lower chamber 35 constituting the oil receptacle 24 in which the natural or dirty oil from the production pipe I5 of the well I2 is received, and from which receptacle such oil is transferred to other receivers or containers, as will be hereinafter described.

In the shell 3| above the dividing wall 34 an opening 31 is formed having a sealing ring 38 mounted therein to receive the leftward end 40 of a horizontal pipe M which is connected to the discharge end 42 of a centrifugal pump 43 having an impeller 44 therein adapted to drive fluid leftwardly through the pump passages 45. The inlet end of the pump is connected to a supporting member 46 of cylindrical form having openings 41 therein communicating with the interior of the chamber 36. The supporting member 46 extends through an opening 48 in the wall of the shell 3| diametrally opposite the opening 31 and through a saddle fitting 50, to be welded to a cover plate 5| adapted to be bolted to the flange 52 of the fitting 50. The plate 5|, the supporting member 46, the pump 43, and the pipe 4I form a simple unit which may be removed from the chamber 36 by detaching the plate 5| from the fitting 50, whereupon the leftward end 40 of the pipe 4| may be pulled from engagement with the ring 38 surrounding the opening 31. From the impeller 44 a shaft 53 extends through a packing means 54 to an electric motor 55 secured to the outer face of the plate 5| by bracket members 56. The packing means 54 is of the ordinary type in which a packing material is compressed around the shaft 53 by use of a gland 51.

A metal wall 58, bent to U-shaped cross section as shown in Fig. 2, is secured by welds to the exterior of the shell 3| to provide a vertical passage 6| connecting at its upper end with the opening 31 and the end 40 of the pipe 4|, and having its lower end communicating with the lower part of the primary chamber 35 through an opening 63 in the shell 3|. The lower end of the wall member 58 is closed by a horizontal plate 64 preferably secured in place by welding, and the upper end of the wall member 58 is provided with a heavy metal ring 65 to which a cover plate 66 may be detachably secured by use of studs or screws 61. A short distance below, the opening 31,

the vertical passage 6| is intercepted by a horizontally disposed dividing wall 68 having an opening 10 therethrough smaller than the opening 1| of the ring 65 at the upper end'of the wall member 58. A ring member 12 is seated in the opening 10 and has a radial flange 13 which engages the upper face of the dividing wall 68. The ring 12 forms part ofa filter element 69 which includes a perforate tube 14 extending downwardly from the ring 12, having its lower end closed by a wall 14a, and having a layer of filter cloth or equivalent material 15 secured thereon by use of a spirally overlapped wire 16. The upper part of the ring 12 is equipped with a diametrally extending bar or spider 11 adapted to be engaged by the lower end of a screw 18 which threads through the cover plate 66 and has the upwardly projecting nut end 80 thereof sealed by means of a threaded cap 8| adapted to be screwed tightly down against a gasket 82 placed around the upwardlyprojecting part of the screw adjacent the outer face of the cover plate 66.

The filter element is in the .form of a removable cartridge of a size to pass through the opening 1| of the ring 65 at the upper end of the passage 6|. The pressure of the screw 18 serves to tightly seal the flange 13 of the filter element against the upper face of the dividing wall 68 and in such position that the interior of the tubular member 14 communicates, through the space 83 within the wall member 58 above the dividing wall member 68, with the leftward end 40 of the pipe 4 I, and the exterior of the filter member communicates through the space 84 below the dividing wall 68 with the opening 63 leading into the primary chamber 35.

Within'the shell 3| an overflow or outlet pipe 86 extends from the chamber 35 through the wall .34 and through the chamber 36 to a vertical opening 81 in a fitting 88 secured preferably centrally upon the'upper end wall 32, the wall 34 being sealed around the pipe 86 by simple means, such as a weld 90. The fitting 88 has a bodyportion 9| with a horizontal flange 92 at its upper end to which a plate 93 may be bolted.

Adjacent the opening 81 to which the pipe 86 connects, a vertical passage 94 is formed through the body 9| of the fitting 88. A vertical pipe 96 is disposed in the upper chamber 36 in a position to connect with the lower end of the passage 94, and openings 91 and 98 are provided in the plate 93 in positions to respectively connect to the opening 81 and the passage 94. Welded to the upper face of the plate 93 is a pipe I00 of such diameter that stand pipes IOI and I02 may be extended upwardly therein from the openings 91 and 88 of the plate 93. The fitting 88 is also provided with a discharge outlet I03 which communicates through an opening I04 with the interior of the lower end of the pipe I00. The outlet passage 103 provided by the fitting 88 may be connected to a pipe II2 with other oil transfer pipes, or the pipe I I2 may be directly led to a storage tank I I0. The oil entering the chamber 35 from the production pipe 23, as indicated by the arrow I I3, will form a level- II4 therein above the lower end II5 of the pipe 86, trapping gas in the space II6 above the oil level I I4. As the delivery of oil into the chamber 35 continues, apart of the incoming oil will pass upwardly within the pipe 86 and within the space 84 surrounding the filter element, and as the pressure in the chamber 35 increases, oil will be forced upwardly through the pipe 86 and the stand pipe IOI which connects with the upper end thereof, the overflow from the stand pipe IOI passing. downwardly within the enclosing pipe I00 and thence outwardly through the discharge passage I03 into the pipe II2. At the same timethe difference in pressure existing between the chambers 35 and 36 will cause oil to flow through the filter element 69 and thence, as indicated by arrows II1 and H8, through the horizontal pipe 4|, through the passages 45 and the impeller 44 of the pump, and through the openings 41 in the supporting member 46, into the lower part of the chamber 36 wherein the filtered oil will accumulate until the level I20 thereof reaches a plane above the lower end I 2I of the pipe 96. .The filtered oil may be withdrawn from the chamber 36 through an outlet I22 which may connect through piping I23 with the pressure pump I6 for feeding the fluid operated pumping mechanism in the well, but should there be no withdrawal of oil, the filtered oil will pass upwardly through the pipe 86 and within the stand pipe I02 to the plane A-A of the outlet end I25 of the stand pipe IN. A check valve 95 is placed at or near the upper end of the pipe I02, as shown, to prevent a reverse flow therethrough, thereby preventing contamination of the clean oil in the chamber 36 from such cause.

To prevent a discharge of filtered oil from the chamber 36 through the stand pipe I02, such stand pipe I02 is purposely made slightly longer than the stand pipe I Should the volume oi. gas in the space I26 above the oil level I20 in the chamber 36 be increased sufliciently to drive the oil leve1 I20 down below the lower end of the pipe 96, a portion of the gas will then pass outwardly through the pipe 86 and the stand pipe I02 to the enclosing pipe I00 to be discharged through the outlet passage I03 into the pipe II2. Likewise, an excess of gas accumulating in the space II6 of the lower chamber 35 may force the oil level II4 down below a small opening II9 near the lower end of the pipe 86 to permit a discharge of gas through the pipe 86 and the stand pipe IOI into the enclosing pipe I00. A withdrawal of oil from the chamber 36 through the outlet I22 will immediately result in a drop in the level I20 of the oil in the chamber 36, with a consequent reduction of pressure in the chamber 36 to a value less than the pressure in the chamber 35, whereupon a fiow of oil through the filter medium 69 will start in an attempt to bring the pressures of the chambers 35 and 36 again into static balance.

Since the chambers 35 and 36 both communicate with the delivery pipe I I2 through the enclosing pipe I00, the filtration pressure can never exceed the pressure produced by the static head of oil in the stand pipe IOI, which may be varied in length in accordance with conditions of operation. Ordinarily the height of the ,outlet I25 of the stand pipe IOI above the pipe 23 is established at twenty feet. Accordingly the pressure in the pipe I I2 may vary within wide limits without affecting the pressures controlling the operation of the filter.

The materials filtered from the oil which pass through the filter element, such materials being in this instance silt and sand, accumulate on the outer face thereof, or, in other words, the face thereof presented to the natural or dirty oil, and in more or less time a filter cake is formed which will retard the fiow of oil through the filter element. In my device the filtered oil is periodically impelled in reverse direction through the filter element, or, in other words, in a direction reverse to the arrows I IT, by operation of the centrifugal pump 43, the impeller of which is so placed that when it is rotated in response to operation of the motor 55, clean oil from the chamber 36 will be forced under pressure through the horizontal pipe M in leftward direction and will pass downwardly through the perforate tube 14 of the filter element 69, and then outwardly through the filter material I5, dislodging the accumulated materials or filter cake therefrom, which dislodged materials are washed by the reverse flow of oil through the opening 63 at the lower end of the space 84 into the lower part of the cham- 35 will be materially greater than the pressure in the chamber 36, with the result that the contents of the chamber 36 will be rapidly replenished by the forcing of oil through the cleaned filter element 68.

The lower chamber II6 serves as a settling chamber for sand and water contained in the oil issuing from the pipe 23, and means are provided for removing the settlings from the bottom of the chamber automatically. It will be noted that the lower end II5 of the pipe 86 is near the bottom 83. The opening II9 for escape of 10 gas is relatively small, with the result that the major flow of liquid into the pipe 86 from the chamber H6 is through the lower end II5 of the pipe 66. When there is a surge in the chamber H6 or a reversal of fluid through the filter means 60 due to the operation of the pump 43, oil passes into the lower end II5 of the pipe 86 at high velocity and carries therewith sand and water which has accumulated on the bottom in an area surrounding the lower end I I5 of the 20 pipe 86. By this action the chamber H6 is kept relatively free from settlings, or, in other words, the settlings are not permitted to increase above a small amount.

For controlling the operation of the pump 55, I provide, as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1, a timing device I which is preferably of the electrical type including a synchronous motor I3l and having a switch actuating part I32 adapted to periodically close and open a switch I33 in conductors I34 and I35 which lead from a main switch I36 to the motor 55. The synchronous motor I3I may be energized through conductors I31 and I 38 which are connected to the conductors I34 and I35 at points between the switches- I33 and I36. The timing device I30 is ofadjustable character so that it maybe set to automatically close the switch I 33 for a short period of time, say for instance five or ten seconds, at selected intervals of time such as every five minutes. Observation of the operation of the filtering device will show to an observer the length of time it takes an obstructive filter cake to form on the filter unit 69, and accordingly the timing device I30 may be adjusted to close the switch I33 at intervals a. little shorter than the length of time in which an obstructive filter cake is formed. The timing device I30 will thereafter operate to automatically cause a reversal of liquid flow through the filter unit 68 at such intervals that the filter material will be maintained unobstructed to an extent permitting an ample filtration of clean oil into the chamber 36.

In the initial starting of the pumping apparatus, clean oil must be supplied to fill the macaroni I3, and if the quantity, of clean oil contained in the chamber 36 of the filtering device 25 is not suflicient for this purpose, oil from an external source may be forced into the lower chamber 35, and for this purpose I have shown piping I40 leading from the storage tank IIO to the pipe 23. In the piping I40 a small rotary or centrifugal circulating pump I4I, operated by a motor I42, may be inserted, so that by opening a valve I44 in the pipe I40, the pump -I4I may be operated to first fill the production pipe I5 above the fluid operated pump II and then force oil into the chamber 35 under such pressure that this oil will rise within the stand pipe IN and will also pass through the filter unit 68 into the chamber 70 36. After a sufilcient quantity of filtered oil has been obtained in this manner to fill the macaroni. I3 and the pipe II through use of a by-pass I 46 having a valve I51 therein, and to fill the lower portion of the chamber 36, the pump I may be shut down and the valve I closed, whereupon the pump 16 may be operated by means of a power source such as a motor I48 to force oil through the pipe I! and the macaroni l3 to actuate the fluid operated pump II which will then force a flow of oil upwardly through the production pipe I5 and the pipe 23 into the lower chamber 35. A portion of the oil entering the chamber 35 will rise through the-stand pipe NH and pass through the outlet I03 and the transfer pipe 2 into the reservoir or tank H0, and a portion of the oil controlled in quantity by the capacity of the pressure pump IE will pass through the filter unit 69 into the chamber 36 of the filtering device 25.

In my invention I have accordingly provided a pumping system in which the oil flowing from the production pipe of the well is conducted through prescribed channels, and a quantity of this oil, controlled by the operation or needs of the pressure pump l 6, is diverted through a. filter and subsequently used in cleaned condition to operate the fluid actuated pump in the well. The necessity for an outside source of clean oil or a large storage tank therefore is entirely avoided, and no more of the oil issuing from the well is filtered than is actually required for the operation of the pump in the well.

Although I have herein' shown and described my invention in simple and practical form, it is recognized that certain parts or elements thereof are representative of other parts, elements, or mechanisms which may be used in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially the same results; therefore, it.is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Pumping equipment of the character described, including: a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluid operated pump; prcduc icn piping extending from said fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped fluid therefrom; a filter having its inlet connected to an intermediate part of said production piping so as to receive a portion of the pumped fluid from said production piping; and means connecting the outlet of said filter to the intake of said force pump.

2. Pumping cquipment of the character described, including: a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pres sum from said farce pump to said fluid operated pump; production piping extending from aid fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped fluid therefrom; and a filter connected between an intermediate part of said production piping and the intake of said force pump to divert and filter a portion of the flow of the pumped fluid from said production piping and convey said portion to said intake of said force pump.

3. Pumping equipment of the character described, including: a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluid operated pump; production piping extending from said fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped fluid therefrom; a filter connected between said production piping and the intake of said force pump to permit a filtered flow of the pumped fluid from said production piping to said intake of said force pump; and means .for producing a substantially constant pressure in said production piping to positively force a portion of the pumped fluid through said filter.

4. Pumping equipment of the character described, including: a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluid operated pump; production piping extending from said fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped fluid therefrom; a filter connected between said prcduction piping and the intake of said force pump to permit a filtered flow of the pumped fluid from said production piping to said intake of said force pump, there being a stand pipe in said production piping to produce a static head in the pumped fluid at the inlet of said filter; and pipe means extending from the outlet part of said filter to a point in said production piping beyond the upper end of said stand pipe.

5. Pumping cquipment of the character de scribed, including: a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluid operated pump; production piping extending from said flud opeatz-zd pump for conducting the pumped fluid thercfromf a filter connected between said prcduction piping and the intake of said force pump to permit a filtered flow of the pumped fluid from said production piping to said intake cf said force pump, there being a stand pipe in said production piping to produce a static head in the pumped fluid at the inlet of said filter; and a second stand pipe extending upwardly from the outlet part of said filter to a point at least as high as the outlet of said first-named stand pipe.

6. Pumping equipment of the character described, including: a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a natural fluid; a force pump;

means connecting said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluid operated pump; production piping extending from said fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped fluid therefrom; a filter connected between said prcduction piping and the intake of said force pump to permit a filered flow of the pumped fluid from said production piping to said intake of said force pump, there being a stand pipe in said production piping to produce a static head in the pumped fluid at the inlet of said filter; and a second stand pipe extending upwardly from the outlet part of said filter to a point at least as high as the outlet of said first-named stand pipe, the outlet of said second stand pipe being connected to said production piping.

7. Pumping equipment of the character descr bed, including: a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluid operated pump; production piping extending from said fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped from the outlet part of said filter to a point at least as high as the outlet of said first-named stand pipe, the outlet of said second stand pipe being connected to said production piping and means automatically operating to reverse the fluid flow through said filter from the outlet thereof to the inlet thereof to remove the filter cake.

8. Pumping equipment of the character described, including: a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluid operated pump; production piping extending from said I fluid operated pump for conducting the pumpedfluid therefrom; a filter connected between said production piping andthe intake of said force pump to permit a filtered flow of the pumped fluid from said prodhction piping to said intake of said force pump; and means automatically operating to reverse the fluid flow through said filter from the outlet pipe thereof to the inlet thereof to remove the filter cake.

9. Pumping equipment of the character described, including: a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a natural ,fluid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluid operated pump; production piping extending from said fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped fluid therefrom, said production piping including a stand pipe for producing a. static head in the pumped fluid; walls forming a primary chamber connected to said production piping ahead of said stand pipe; walls forming a secondary chamber connected to said primary chamber; a filter between said chambers; means connecting said secondary chamber with the intake of said force pump; and a second stand pipe extending from said secondary chamber to a point above the outlet of said first-named stand pipe. I 10. Pumping equipment of the character described, including: a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluid operated pump; production piping extending from said fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped fluid therefrom, said production piping including a stand pipe for producing a static head in the pumped fluid; walls forming a primary chamber connected to said production piping ahead of said stand pipe; walls forming a secondary chamber connected to said primary chamber; a filter between said chambers; means connecting said secondary chamber with the intake of said force pump; and a second stand pipe extending from said secondary chamber to -a point above the outlet of said first-named stand pipe, the outlet of said second stand pipe'being connected to said production piping at a point beyond the outlet of said first'named stand pipe.

l1. Pumping equipment of the character described, including: a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluid operated pump; production piping extending from said fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped fluid therefrom, said production piping including a stand pipe for producing a static head in the pumped fluid; walls forming a primary, chamber connected to said production piping ahead of said stand pipe; walls forming a secondary chamber connected to said primary chamber; a filter between said chambers; means connecting said secondary chamber with the intake of said force pump; a second stand pipe extending from said secondarychamber to a point above the out- -let of said first-named stand pipe, the outlet of said second stand pipe being connected to said production piping at a point beyond the outlet of said first-named stand pipe; and means automatically operating to reverse the flow of fluid through said filter from said secondary chamber to said primary chamber at intervals to clean the same.

12. Pumping equipment of the character described, including: a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a natural fiuid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluid operated pump; production piping extending from said fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped fluid therefrom, said production piping including a stand pipe for producing a static headin the pumped fluid; walls forming aprimary chamber connected to said production piping ahead of said stand pipe; walls forming a secondary chamber connected to said primary chamber; a filter between said chambers; means connecting said secondary chamber with the intake of said force pump; a second stand pipe extending from said secondary chamber to a point above the outlet of said first-named stand pipe; and means for forcing fluid flhm a source other than said well through said fllter into said secondary chamber to; supply a quantity of filtered fluid for the starting of said pumping equipment.

13. A method of pumping a well by use of a fluid operated pump in the well, which pump discharges a production fiow of fluid through a production pipe and is connected through a pressure pipe with a force pump situated at the top of the well, comprising: creating a positive pressure in said production flow of fluid at a selected point in said production pipe; diverting a portion of said production flow of fluid and filtering the same; and pumping the filtered fluid to said fluid operated pump to actuate the same.

14. A method of pumping a well by use of a fluid operated pump in the well, which pump production pipe and is connected through a pressure pipe with a force pump situated at the top of the well, comprising: passing said production flow of fluid through an upright path so as to statically produce a positive pressure in said production flow of fluid at a selected point in said production pipe; diverting a portion of said production flow of fluid through a separate path and filtering the same as it passes through said separate path and pumping the filtered fluid to said fluid operated pump to actuate the same.

15. A method of pumping a well byuse of a fluid operated pump in thewell, which pump discharges a production flow of fluid through a under pressure to said fluid operated pump to actuate the same.

16. A method of pumping a well by use of a fluid operated pump in the well, which pump discharges a production flow of fluid through a production pipe and is connected through a pressure pipe with a force pump situated at the top of the well, comprising: forming two upright paths of flow for said production flow of fluid, said paths being connected at their lower and upper ends, the second of said paths having its upper end above the upper end of the first of said paths; filtering the portion of the production flow of fluid which passes into the second of said paths, at a point near the lower end of said second path; and drawing filtered fluid from said second path and delivering such filtered fluid under; pressure to said fluid operated pump to actuate the same.

17. A method of pumping a well by use of a fluid operated pump in the well, which pump discharges a production flow' of fluid through a production pipe and is connected through a pressure pipe with a force pump situated at the top of the well, comprising: creating a positive pressure in said production flow of fluid at a selected point in said production pipe; diverting a portion of said production flow of fluid and filtering the same; pumping the filtered fluid to said fluid operated pump to actuate the same; and periodically reversing the flow of fluid through said filter to clean the same 18. Pumping equipment of the character described, including: a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluid operated pump; production piping extending from said, fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped fluid therefrom, said production piping including a stand pipe for producing a static head in the pumped fluid; walls forming a primary chamberconnected to said production piping ahead of said stand pipe; walls forming a secondary chamber connected to said primary chamber; a filter between said chambers; and means connecting said secondary chamber with the intake of said force pump.

19. Pumping equipment of the character described, including: a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluid operated pump; production piping extending from said fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped fluid therefrom, said production piping'including a stand pipe for producing a static head in the pumped fluid; a filter having its inlet connected to the lower end of said stand pipe so as to receive fluid under pressure therefrom; and means connecting the outlet of said filter with the intake of said force pump.

20. Pumping equipment of the character described, including: a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a' natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting'said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluid operated pump; production piping extending from said fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped fluid therefrom; a filter having its inlet connected to an intermediate part of said production piping so as to receive a portion of the pumped fluid from said production piping; a gas outlet means connected to the outlet of said filter; and means connecting the outlet of said filter to the intake of said force pump.

21. Pumping equipment of the character described, including: a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluid operated pump; production piping extending from said fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped fluid therefrom; a filter having its inlet connected to an intermediate part of said production piping so as to receive a portion of the pumped fluid from said production piping; a gas outlet means connected to the outlet of said filter;- flow controlling means for said gas outlet means; and means connecting the outlet of said filter to the intake of said force pump.

22. Pumping equipment of the character described, including: a fluid operated pump dis-- posed to pump a natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump to said fluid pump; production piping extending from said fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped fluid therefrom; a filter connected between said production piping and the intake of said force pump to permit a filtered flow of the pumped fluid from said production piping to said intake of said force pump, there being a stand pipe in said production piping to produce a static head in the pumped fluid at the inlet of said filter; a gas outlet connected to the outlet part of said filter; and flow controlling means for said gas outlet.

23. Pumping equipment of the character described, including: a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluid operated pump; production piping extending from said fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped fluid therefrom; a fllter connected between said production piping and'the intake of said force pump topermit afiltered flow of the pumped fluid from said production piping to said intake of said force pump,

there being a stand pipe in said production piping to produce a static head in the pumped fluid at the inlet of said filter; a gas outlet connected to the outlet part of said filter. said gas outlet having its outer end connected to said stand pipe; and flow controlling means for said gas outlet.

24. Pumping equipment of the character described, including: a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluid operated pump; production piping extending from said fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped fluid therefrom; and a fllter connected between said production plp'ng and the intake of said force 7 Pump; production piping extending 2,046,789 pump to permit a filtered flow of the pumped fluid from said production piping to said intake of said force pump, there being a stand pipe in said production piping to produce a static head in the pumped fluid atthe inlet of said filter.

25. Pumping equipment of the character described, including: a fluidoperated pump disposed to pump a natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting said'force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluid operated pump; production piping extending from said fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped fluid therefrom; walls forming a primary chamber connected to said production piping so as toreceive a flow of fluid therefrom; walls forming a secondary chamber; a filter connecting said chambers, there being means for producing a gas receiving space in each of saidchambers; means for reversing the flow of fluid through said filter from said secondary chamber to said primary chamber; and means connecting said secondary chamber with said force pump.

26.-Pumping equipment of the character described, including: a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to -said fluid operated pump; production piping extending from said fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped fluid therefrom; walls forming a primary chamber connected to said production piping so as to receive a flow of fluid therefrom; walls forming a secondary chamber; a filter connecting said chambers, there being means for producing a gas receiving space in each of said chambers; means for reversing the flow of fluid through said filter from said secondary chamber to said primary chamber; means connecting said secondary chamber with said force pump; and means discharging excess gas from said secondary chamber.

27. Pumping equipment of the character described, including: a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluid perated om said fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped fluid therefrom; and treating means connected between an intermediate portion of said production piping and the intake of. said force pump,

said treating means diverting a portion of said fluid and delivering to said force pump treated fluid to be delivered by said force pump to said fluid opera-ted pump, said treating means being adapted to. remove an undesirable substance from said fluid delivered to said force pump.

28. Pumping equipment of the character described, including: a fluid operated pump disposedto pump a natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump to said fluid operated pump for conveying fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluidoperated pump; production piping extending from said fluid operated pump for conducting the pumped fluid therefrom; means for diverting a part of the pumped flow of fluid from an intermediate part of said production piping to said force pump; and means forming a part of said diverting means for treating said diverted flow of fluid, said means being adapted to remove an undesirable substance from said diverted flow of fluid.

29. A method of pumping a well by use of a fluid operated pump in the well, which pump discharges a production flow of fluid through a production pipe to a suitable means of. disposal and is connected through a pressure pipe with a force pump situated at the top of the well, comprising: diverting a portion of said production flow from said production pipe; treating said diverted portion of said production flow of fluid, after it is diverted, to remove foreign substances there-' from; and pumping the treated fluid to said fluid operated pump to actuate the same.

30. A method of pumping a well by use of a fluid operated pump in the well, which pump discharges a production flow of fluid through a production pipe and is connected through a pressure pipe with a force pump situated at the top of the well, comprising: passing said production flow of fluid "hrough an upright path so as to statically produce a positive pressure in said production flow of fluid at a selected point-in said production pipe; diverting a portion of said production flow of fluid and then treating the same to remove foreign substances therefrom; and pumping the treated fluid to said fluid operated pump to actuate the same. Y

31. A method of pumping a well by use of a fluid operated pump in the well, which pump discharges a production flow of fluid through a production pipe and is connected through a pressure pipe with a force pump situated at the top of the well, comprising: passing said production flow of fluid through an upright path so as .to statically produce a positive pressure in said production flow of fluid at a selected point in said production pipe; diverting a portion of said production flow of fluid under pressure of said static headand thentreating the same; finally pumping the treated fluid to said fluid operated pump to actuate the same.

32. Pumping equipment of the character described, including; a fluid operated pump disposed to pump a natural fluid; a force pump; means connecting said force pump ,to said fluid operated pump to convey fluid under pressure from said force pump to said fluid operated pump; production piping extending from said fluid operated pump for conducting'the pumped fluid therefrom to a point of disposal; means forming a passage from an intermediate portion of said production piping to the intake of said force pump, for diverting a portion of the flow of V pumped fluid from said production piping; and

means disposed in said passage operative to 'remove unwanted substances from said diverted pipewitha-force pump situated at the top of the well, comprising: diverting a portion of said production flow of fluid; filtering said portion of said production flow of fluid so as to remove an un-' desirable substance therefrom; and delivering at least a part of said filtered portion of said flow of fluid to the inlet of said force pump so that said I force pump may deliver said filtered fluid to said fluid operated pump.

CLARENCE J. COBERLY.

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