US2131183A - Apparatus for lifting liquids - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 27, 1938.

` F. E. KEY

APPARATUS FOR LIFTING LIQUIDS Filed Ju l`y `5, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 27,` 1938. F. E, KEY' 2,131,183

APPARATUS FOR LIFTING LIQUIDS Filed July 5, 1935 4 sheets-sheet 2 Sept. 27, 1938. F. E. KEY

APPARATUS FOR`LIFTING LIQUIDS Filed July 5, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 defi/Zr' sept.27,193s. man` f 2,131,183

I APPARATUS FORLIFTING LIQUIDS l' Filed July 5, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet .4'

Z Heier/'aff Patented Sept. 27,

UNITI-:DA STATES PATENT omer:

This invention relates to apparatus for lifting liquids by gas pressure and has particular utility in pumping wells and especially oil wells.

An object of this invention is to provide eilicient means for lifting liquids by gas pressure and for elevating liquids a great height by means of comparatively low pressure..

Another object of this invention is to provideV means for lifting liquids by gas pressure which 1 will conserve pressure and obtain maximum work out of the energy required.

Another object is to provide a liquid lifting means utilizing a gas under pressure so arranged and adapted as to conserve the volume of gas required in its operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for elevating liquids which will eillciently lift liquids at a comparatively low rate of flow, whereby, when applied to an oil well, for example,

the well may be pumped continuously and, at the same time, eillciently. By taking the oil from' the well continuously, as fast as it flows in, back pressure is prevented, thus enhancing the production. Also the tendency of sand to plug the well is reduced.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide liquid lifting means suitable for well pumping without the use of moving mechanical means such as sucker rods and piston within the well, to eliminate difllculties which attend such use.

Another object is to provide means for pumping an oil well which will agitate the oil less than conventional methods, to prevent freeing gaseous components. A further object is to provide apparatus for this purpose which may be readily flushed with a solvent to dissolve parallln or gum deposit without pulling the apparatus from the well.

In oil wells, there is usually a quantity of water present and the oil and water stratify, with the oil on top. By conventional methods it is necessary to lift all of the water above the level of the pump inlet before the oil can be reached. By pumping from the top of the liquid body the oil may be evacuated without the use of power to lift the water. An object of this invention is to provide means for pumping a well from the top of the liquid body at a range oi levels.

Other and specific objects will be apparent from the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a'diagram of apparatus embodying and utilizing the invention Fig. 2a is a view showing details of construction of the upper part of a device embodying the invention in a well; Fig. 2b is a view showing details of construction of the lower part of the device and is a continuation of the view shown in Fig. 2a; Fig. 3 is a diagram of a pneumatic system of control including valves and valve operating and timing mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a detail, partly in section of the twoway valves included'in the system showny on Fig. 3

Fig. 5 is a detail, partly in section of pressure regulator valves included in Fig. 3

Fig. 6 is a diagram of a modification in which the well pressure is used to operate the system; and 10 Fig. 7 is a diagram of a further modiilcation in which subatmospheric pressure alone is used.

A plurality of superimposed chambers, I, 2, 3,

4, 5, 6, "I, Il, 9 and I0, are connected alternately to gas pressure lines A and B, the odd numbered 15 chambers being connected with A and the even numbered chambers being connected with B. The bottom chamber I has a port II communieating with a bodyof liquid in which that chamber may be immersed. 'Ihe intermediate and top 20 chambers each has a. tube I2 extending downwardly into and open near the bottom of the next succeeding chamber. A discharge pipe I3 extends downwardly into and opens near the bottom of the top chamber I0, discharging prefer- 25 ably at atmospheric pressure.

Means are provided for producing gas pressures of diiferent magnitude in the lines A and B respectively and for reversing the relationships. That is to say, a superatmospheric pres- 30 sure first may be provided in line A while a subatmospheric pressure is provided in line B. ai'ter which the pressures are reversed in the two lines. Two-way valves I 4 and I5 are provided for the lines A and B, respectively, each opening its line 35 selectively to a line I6, leading to a source of gas pressure and a line I'I leading to a suction device, or through a valve I8 to atmosphere.

Preferably, means is provided for connecting the lines A and B, illustrated diagrammatically 40 as a valve I9.

'I'he valves I4, I5 and I9 may be operated by timing mechanism, to produce successive cycles, each comprising the following phases: I. In which the valve II is operated to openk and then v4,5 to close the line A to pressure, while the valve I5 opens and then closes the line B to suction; II. In' which the valve I9 connects and then disconnectsL the lines A and B III. In which for a period, thellne B is open to pressure and the line A is open 50 to suction; and IV. In which the lines A and B' are again connected.

'Ihe result of the operation is that liquid will be lifted simultaneously from alternate chambers into the complementary chambers respectively. 55

The ports II and the tubes I2 are provided with check valves 20 to prevent back ow.

'I'he tube I3 is provided with a float valve 2I, the details of which are shown in Fig. 2a. This valve is' so constructed as to prevent the gas un- 60 der pressure from blowing by after the top chamber-has been drained below the bottom of the tube I3.

The foregoing is a brief description of the.

embodiment as speciflcially shown in the drawings, while the essential features of the invention are included in the appended claims. The following supplemental description will assist in understanding and practicing the invention.

The superimposed chambers I to Ill, may be of a number and construction to suit the purposeto which they may be applied. For example, when used in a well they may be of ordinary tubing 22, oi a size which enables them to be inserted readily in a well casing 23.

The diameter of the chambers,` of course, may be varied to suit requirements. The length will depend upon the depth of the liquid in which the line of chambers may be immersed and the pressure to be used. If chambers 100 feet in length are used, making a total maximum lift of nearly 200 feet from the bottom of one chamber to the top of the next, a diilerential pressure of approximately 100 pounds per square inch is required. o

The pressure line I6, connectible selectively with the lines A and B, taps a source of pressure, such as a storage tank 24, supplied by a c'ompressor P, while the line |1 may be connected with the intake of the compressor, or open to atmosphere, as indicated by the valve |8.

The closed circuit, using-pressure on one side and suction on the other, has advantages and especially in pumping oil. It conserves power and also conserves, whenessential, the gas used in the system. In pumping oil a gas other than air should be used, otherwise an explosive mixture will result and present ahazard. Thus, if a gas having an intrinsic value is employed, the closed system results in conserving the gas.-l

The valve I9, or equivalent means for connecting the lines A and B, is provided also as a measure of economy and not of necessity, since the chambers may be exhausted directly to atmosphere by the valves I4 and I5. But whether air or another gas is used, energy is conserved by first equalizing the pressure in the lines A and B by their connection, rather than exhausting the pressure in the line at the end of a pressure i phase.

Details of a typical installation of those parts of the apparatus inserted in a well are shown in Fig. 2a and 2b. The construction is such that the device may be readily assembled and placed in the well. The chambers are formed of tubing 22 connected by suitable fittings 26 to which are attached plates 21 separating the chambers, later described in more detail. The lines A and B are contained within the tubing and open to the appropriate chambers.

A iltting 26 is secured to the bottom of the tube forming the chamber I. It is internally threaded at both ends and has a conical seat 28 to receive an annular block 29, which is bored to form the port and which supports a housing 30 for a check valve: 20. The block 29 is held on its seat by a jam nut 3| having external threads to engage corresponding internal threads on the fitting 26. A strainer 32 may be supported by the iitting 26 as shown.

The plates 21 separating the chambers are conical in form to fit on conical seats 28 in the ttings 26. Each is secured in position by a jam nut 3|. Each of the plates 21 is bored and threaded to receive and support a tube I2 which opens into the chamber above the plate and extends downwardly into the chamber below the plate. The plate 21 forming the top-wall of the' chamber is bored and'threaded to receive the lower end of the line A in such'a manner that the line is open into the chamber I, and the plate forming the top wall of the chamber2 likethe second this opening isprovided by means' of a fitting 34 on the appropriate line and having a port 35 in its wall situated at the upper end of the chamber.

A housing 38 for a check valve 20 is threaded on the end of each of the pipes I2.

The casing head includes a block 31 in which the top of the tubing 22 is threaded and thereby supported. The block 31 rests upon an annular ilange 38 threaded to the casing 23. A cap 4|) engages an annular surface on the top of thev block 31 and the block 31, flange 38 and cap 40 are held together by bolts 4| to seal the casing. The cap is bored and threaded to support the discharge tube I3 which extends downwardly into the top chamber and also the pipe |3a forming a part of the discharge conduit and leading to storage. 'I'he cap 40 is also bored to pass the lines A and B, which are packed with glands 33.

The float valve 2| on the bottom of the tube I3, as specifically shown, includes an annular seat 4| with portsv 42 opening into the tube I3 from the vtop chamber I0. A valve member 43 carried by a sleeve 44, to which is secured a float 45, is adapted to reciprocate vertically on the tube I3 and when the level of liquid in the4 chamber I0 fallsbelow a predetermined level to cover and close the ports 42. A collar 46 is secured to the pipe I3 to limit the uppermost position of the sleeve 44. It will be understood that the chamber I8 will empty before the other chambers because the liquid needy be forced to only approximately the top of this chamber, while with the other chambers the maximum lift, from the bottom of one chamber to the top-of the next, is nearly twice as great. The timing of the cycles and the pressure will be arranged so that the other chambers will not be emptied to a point below the bottom of the respective pipes I2. Thus, with the iloat valve 2|, andthe timing and pressure properly arranged, no gas in the system need be lost except through absorption.

Valve and timing mechanism for operating the system may be of widelydifferent forms. VThe timing system may be operated mechanically, electrically, or pneumatically, as desired and as most convenient. A preferred system of pneumatically operated valves is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3. The system illustrated in that iigure'operates to produce the four-phase cycle heretofore described. The lines A and B may be connectedV by means equivalent to that of the single valve I9 but arranged in such a way that the entirecycle may be controlled by two lines. The valves I4 and`|5 are adapted to open the lines A and B respectively, either to `line I6, connected with the pressure tank 24, or to a common line 41 which may be connected by valves 48 and 49. in parallel, to the line I1 vso leading to a suction receiver 66.

The valves I4 and I6 are as shown in Fig. 4. Each valve includes a lower seat 62 and an upper seat 63 for valve members 64 and 66 respectively, both carried by a stem I6 secured to a4 flexible diaphragm 61 and normally held in upper position by a spring 66. The arrangement is such that in the absence of pressure on the diaphragm l1 the upper valve member 66 will seat closing the line I6, and lower valve member 64 will open the line 41. Pressure upon the diaphragm 61 will depress the valve stem and seat the valve member 64, thus closing the line 41 and opening the line I6.

The construction ot the valves 46 and 49 is shown in detail in Fig. 5. Each includes valve members 69 carried by a stem 60 normally heldin uppermost or closed position by a spring 6I and adapted to be pressed downwardly to open position by pressure upon a diaphragm 62.

The valves I4 and 46 are controlled by a single line 63 and the valves I6 and 49 are controlled by a single line 64. The lines 69 and 64 are connected to and controlled by a timing device 66. This device is one available commercially and need not be described in detail. It consists essentially of a clock mechanism rotating a pair of cams, operating valves respectively which are adapted to introduce pressure into the lines 64 and 64.

The pressure for the timing mechanism 66 is received from a line 66, connected to the pressure tank 24 and having therein a illter 61 and a regulating valve 66. The illter may be of known commercial construction and the regulating valve 68 may be also of known commercial construction, preferably adapted to supply pressure at approximately 20 pounds per square inch. It will now be understood that the construction and arrangement of the valves I4 and I6, as controlled by the mechanism 6I, is such that with pressure on their respective diaphragms they will open their line, A or B, to the pressure line I6 and upon release from pressure they will open their lines to the common line 41, which may also be connected through either oi the valves 46 and 49 to the suction line il.

The timing mechanism is arranged to produce a cycle containing the tour phases as previously described but which may be described more in detail in connection with the speciilc mechanism, as follows:

Phase I.-Pressure is placedon the line 69 and is released on the line 64; valve I4 thereby opens line A to line I6; valve I5 opens line B to line 41, which is opened by valve 48 to suction line I1, While valve 491s closed; and, therefore, the line A is open to pressure, and the line B is open to suction.

Phase IL Pressure is released on line 63 while it remains released on line 64, thus both lines A and B are open only to line 41 while the valves 48 and- 49 are both closed and the lines A and B are thereby connected.

Phase IIL-Pressure is introduced into line 64 while pressure remains released in line 63; the

line A thereby remains open to line 41, which through valve 49 is open to suction line I1, valve 48 being closed, and the valve I6 opens line B to pressure in line I6; and, therefore, the line A is open to suction and the line B open to pressure.

Phase IV.Pre,ssure is released on both control lines 63 and 64, thereby connecting lines A connection with Phase each operated by a It will be understood that the cycle lIust 'Iiediaphragm device 6I constructed and arranged 3 andBthroughline 41 aspreviouslydescribedin II scribed will be repeated in succession under the control of the timing mechanism 6l.

To provide pumping from the top of the liquid body. ports 69 and check valves 16 may be provided in some or all of the chambers, ifsuction is not put on the chambers, that is, if superatmospheric pressure is used on onel side.- of the system and atmospheric pressure is used on the other side. These ports permit lifting of liquid from their levels rather than from the bottom oi' the well. or the level'oi' the port II. As speciacally illustrated in Fig. 1, ports 69` are provided in the chambers I, I and l. 'I'hey function in the manner presently described. Assuming that there are ten chambers each 100 i'eet long, the device will reach to a depth of 1000 feet with the port II at that level and in the absence oi the ports 69 liquid would be pumpedfrom that point.

y Assuming that oil is standing in the well casing at approximately the 500 foot level as indicated by the line marked Liquid level with 200 feet of oil leaving 300 feet of water above the port II, oil will i'iow through the port 69 in the chamber 6 until it nlls the chamber, in the absence of pres-- sure in the line A, and the chamber 6 will be illled very quickly. 'I'he flow will be at a much more rapid rate than ilow upwardly through the pipe I2, which extends into the chamber 4, under influence of pressure in the line B. If the chain'-4 ber 4 is illled with water and the chamber l is being filled through its port 69 with oil.- there will be la relatively small ilow of water from the chamber 4 into the chamber 6. The proportion depends, oi course, upon the head pressure ci the liquid in the well, the amount o! pressure exerted through the pipe B and the relative size oi' the openings in the pipe I2 and the portY 69. Under ordinary circumstances these factors will be so proportioned that `only a small amount of water will be lifted with the oil.

If the uid line in the well drops below the port 69 in the chamber 6 the maior portion of the liquid lifted then will be that which enters the system through the port 69 in the chamber 3.-

course, a small percentage of liquid from thel lower chambers as suggested. It will be obvious,

of course, that' ports 69 may be placed in the other chambers when necessary or desirable. The advantages in the use 'oi' the intermediate ports 69, in connection with pumping oil wells, will be obvious. Where there is water in the well the oil will rise to the top and form a layer from which layer the lifting may be accomplished. It will be unnecessary to exhaust the water in the well in order to raise the oil and only a small amount of water will be pumped incidentally with the oil.- The system will accommodate itself to a range of levels, with the major portion of the liquid comprising that flowing through the highest immersed port 69. While advantages result from the use of the ports 69 and valves 16, their use will not be indicated universally, and especially where suction is employed on one side of the system. Accordingly the use of these members is optional.

A pressure relief valve PR shown in Fig. 1', in connection with the tank 24, may be provided especially where the closed system is used in pumping oil wells. Where suction is used volatile compounds in the well may 'increase the pressure in the system, ii not relieved, beyond the desired range.

Frequently,f an cil weil will have a pressure sufilcient to operate this system, while insuillcient to ilow the well by conventional methods. Fig. 6 illustrates an application of the system to utilize the well pressure as a source of energy. 'I'he pipe I6 in this case is connected with the well casing at the caprlll by aline 1I. 'I'he valves Il and I5 may be operated as previously described. In this case there is no necessity for connecting the two lines A and B. When operated as shown in this ligure one of the lines A or B willbe connected with the gas pressure in the well while the other line will be open to atmosphere. i

As shown in Fig. 7, the system may be operated with atmospheric pressure on one side and with suction on the other. In that case the chambers i to l0 will be relatively short and suction will be applied intermittently also to the dischargepipe I3. As shown in the ldiagram this is accomplished by connecting a chamber 12 withthe pipe I3 and connecting the line A with the chamber 12 by a line 13. A check valve 14 covers a port 15 in the chamber 12, whereby the chamber may empty by gravity at atmospheric pressure when atmospheric pressure is restored in line A. In

this embodiment a check valve a instead of aV liquid in the bottom chamber i above the level in V the well, and the chamber need not be fully immersed. In order to provide complete immersion of the bottom chamber l, it may be shorter than the others, if its diameter is increased to provide the same capacity.

The device should be primed by filling alternate chambers and the process may then be initiated. A line 16 connectible With the line A by a valve 11, Fig. 1, is provided for priming the system through the line A.

Pressure through the line A will force the liquid from the odd numbered chambers to the even numbered chambers, respectively, then pressure will be applied through the line B to the even numbered chambers. 'I'hus the liquid is raised step by step causing an intermittent iiow through the discharge pipe I3.`

Pumping equipment for ,oil wells is subject to deposits of parailn or gum, requiring the'equipment to be removed from the well for cleaning. With equipment embodying this invention a solvent for the deposit may be introduced through the priming pipe 16 and the apparatus thus cleaned in a simple and economical manner.

Various advantages of the specific steps have been pointed out in the foregoing description, and especially that in connection with the use of the suction line and the equalization of pressure between the two lines A and B .between principal phases in the cycles.

As clearly indicated in the foregoing specication, parts of the invention may be used without the whole and various changes may be made in the details of construction. within the scope of the appended claims, withoutdeparting from the spirit of this invention. In fact, apparatus difiering very widely may be employed in practicing the method while retaining many of its advantages.

I claim: V

1. In apparatus of the characterl described, including an upper and a lower tubular. chamber adapted to be-inserted in a well and a plurality of vertical tubes inside said chambers, a cylindrical connecting member having, its ends threaded respectively to the adjacent ends of the chambers, a conical seat .intermediate said threaded connections, a rigid conical wall member on said seat, a jamb nut threaded interiorly in said connecting member and positioned to hold said wall member on said seat, orifices in said wall member, and means for anchoring said'tubes to said wall. .y

2. In apparatus of the characterA described the combination comprising a pair oi' tubular members adapted to be connected end to end and inserted in awell, a tube extending longitudinally f and positioned to hold said wall member on saidseat.

, 3. In apparatus of the character described the combination comprising a pair of tubular members adapted to be connected end to end and inserted in a well, and means to form a connection for said tubular members and to form a Wall dividing said members into separate chambers respectively including a thimble having its ends threaded respectively to the adjacent ends of the tubular members, a conical seat in the thimble intermediate said threaded connections, a rigid conical wall member on said seat, and a jamb nut threaded interiorly in said thimble and positioned to hold saidwall member on said seat.

4. In apparatus of the character described the combination comprising a pair oftubular members adapted to be connected end to end and inserted in a well, a tube extending through one oi said tubular members and adapted to open into the other tubular member, and means to form a connection for said tubular members and to form a wall dividing said members into separate chambers respectively including a thimble having its ends threaded respectively to the adjacent ends of the tubular members, a conical seat in the thimble intermediate Asaid threaded connections, a rigid conical Wall member on said seat and having an orice threaded to receive an end of said tube, and a jamb nut threaded interiorly in said connecting member and positioned to hold said wall member in said seat.

FREDERICK E. KEY.

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