Abstract: A composite plug for sealing a well includes a mandrel having an internal bore, the mandrel having a first end and a second end, opposite to the first end, and the bore extending from the first end to the second end; plural elements distributed along the mandrel in a given order and configured to seal the well; and a bypass mechanism, different from the bore, built into the composite plug and configured to allow a controlled leak of a fluid from the well, past the composite plug.

Abstract: A novel aerator for use inside a well casing in conjunction with a submersible pump, the aerator comprising a check-valve with a nozzle for spraying a portion of a water supply that is being pumped by the pump. The spray is directed towards the well water within the well casing and is calibrated to provide enough agitation to promote the evolution of dissolved gases in the water both as it is sprayed and also as the spray contacts the surface of the well water. The check-valve is calibrated to operate at a pressure threshold to ensure that spraying occurs only when the pump is running.

Abstract: An elongated plunger arrangement for moving up and down in a tubing string and a plunger lift system for an oil well and a gas well, the plunger having an upper portion, an intermediate portion and a lower portion, all of the portions having an elongated longitudinally directed bore or cavity therewithin, the plunger also having a direction accelerating arrangement therewithin, the direction accelerating arrangement comprising an elongated acceleration inducing valve containing shift rod extending through the elongated bore, wherein the shift rod is longer than the elongated plunger.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reducing the occurrences of lateral wellbores being occluded by fines such as sand and silt. More specifically, the invention relates to discharging a portion of the output of an electrical submersible pump through nozzles that pass through the sidewalls of tubing, the tubing being located in the lateral wellbore.

Abstract: A plunger in a plunger lift system in an oil and gas well includes shaped grooves spaced along the plunger body, angled fins or below the grooves, an elongated interior cavity open at the bottom, and passages connecting the interior cavity to the grooves. The shape, sizing and spacing of the grooves improves plunger seal and decreases liquid loss during plunger lift. The flutes or fins spin the plunger to clean the tubing string and prevent the plunger from becoming stuck in the lubricator. The interior cavity lightens the plunger and, in combination with the passages, improves the seal created by the shaped grooves.

Abstract: A plunger in a plunger lift system in an oil and gas well includes shaped grooves spaced along the plunger body, angled fins or below the grooves, an elongated interior cavity open at the bottom, and passages connecting the interior cavity to the grooves. The shape, sizing and spacing of the grooves improves plunger seal and decreases liquid loss during plunger lift. The flutes or fins spin the plunger to clean the tubing string and prevent the plunger from becoming stuck in the lubricator. The interior cavity lightens the plunger and, in combination with the passages, improves the seal created by the shaped grooves.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a downhole pump assembly having a housing, a standing valve located near the lower end of the housing, a plunger disposed in the chamber of the housing below the upper and lower internal shoulders thereof and adapted for reciprocating movement through at least a portion of the chamber of the housing, and a traveling valve located in the plunger. A pull rod has one end connected to the plunger and an opposite end connected to a sucker rod string to affect reciprocating movement of the plunger. A sliding valve is positioned in a chamber of the housing between an upper internal shoulder and an internal shoulder.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating contaminated groundwater in low permeability ground formations is provided having a groundwater intake region at the bottom of the well and a groundwater expulsion region above the bottom of the well and a means for moving the water therebetween.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a submersible pumping system for pumping wellbore fluids. The submersible pumping system includes a rotatable shaft and a mechanical seal that substantially surrounds the shaft. The mechanical seal prevents the flow of wellbore fluid along the shaft and includes a spring, a spring retainer and a runner. The spring surrounds the shaft and provides an axial force along the shaft. The spring retainer is affixed to the shaft and includes a detent to hold the spring. The runner is in interlocking engagement with the spring retainer and accommodates the spring. The interlocking engagement causes the runner to rotate within the spring retainer while permitting axial movement of the shaft relative to the runner.

Abstract: A pumping assembly for use on an offshore drilling platform. The pumping assembly includes a vertical pump designed for mounting on the deck of an offshore drilling platform. The pump is a vertical pump that includes a fluid intake, a fluid discharge, a rotatable shaft, and a fluid driving mechanism to draw fluid into the fluid intake and to discharge fluid through the fluid discharge. A seal is mounted about the rotatable shaft to prevent leaking of the pumped fluid along the rotatable shaft. Additionally, a power source is coupled to the rotatable shaft to power the vertical pump. The fluid discharge is oriented to discharge fluid in a direction generally axially aligned with the rotatable axis to limit transverse forces on the seal.

Abstract: A well water recirculation valve comprising an in-line check valve and a calibrated orifice through the body of the check valve. The orifice communicates through the body of the check valve into an unchecked end thereof. In use in a water well having a submersed pump, the recirculation valve is spliced into a well pipe at a location below the top of a well but above an average static water level in that well. The recirculation valve of the present invention recirculates a portion of the water pumped through the well pipe back into the well for preventing a stagnation of a head portion of that well.

Abstract: A valve assembly for draining water from a well pipe to facilitate the flushing of the pipe or to reduce its weight when removing the pipe from the well without separating the components of the pumping system which are all securely connected. The valve assembly is positioned in an axial line just above the down hole pipe. The assembly includes a short pipe section having drainage ports. A tight fitting sleeve circumscribes the pipe section. The sleeve is spring biased continually urging the sleeve in a downward or closed position. A means is provided that is connected to the sleeve and extends upwardly to the surface where it may be accessed to manually open and close the ports.

Abstract: A hollow T-shaped fitting is provided including a vertically straight first leg open at its upper and lower ends and a second horizontal lateral leg opening into and outwardly away from an intermediate height portion of the first leg. The outer end of the second leg may be supported from and open laterally into the lower end of a deep well delivery pipe extending upwardly from the deep well pump and a seal defining tubular sleeve valve member is slidingly telescoped in the first leg and spans across the end of the second leg opening into the first leg. The upper end of the sleeve valve member projects above the upper end of the first leg and is equipped with an end cap downwardly abuttingly engageable with the upper end of the first leg. The end cap is centrally apertured and a strong elongated flexible pull member passes downwardly through the cap and the sleeve valve member and has its lower end anchored relative to the pump assembly of the associated well.

Abstract: A reciprocating type oil well pump. It employs modifications of standard pump structure in order to obtain a reverse flow pulse during each pumping cycle. The pump barrel has a port near the upper end of the stroke, and the traveling valve is spring loaded against a desired pressure. The piston closes the port during the lower portion of the stroke.

Abstract: Set out herein is a seal arrangement for sealing an oil well rod string below ground surface. More specifically a polished cylinder is inserted into the casing of an oil well and is supported at the well head by a flange radially extending from the upper end thereof. Received in the cylinder is a piston assembly connected at the upper surface to a flexible string or chain articulated by a pump and supporting at the lower surface a polished rod sealably extending through a lower seal fitting received in the bottom end of the polished cylinder. The cavity formed between the piston and the polished cylinder is aspirated into the well casing through a one-way check valve on the upward stroke of the piston and any oil residue that may pass through the lower sealing assembly is forced back into the well casing by another check valve opened during the downward piston stroke.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for positioning a selected liquid at the bottom of a well, such as an oil well, while having in the well at least a string of tubing, a rod pump, a string of rods, and a standing valve, without disturbing the rods, pump, tubing or standing valve. A bypass conduit is connected through the wall of the tubing at a point above the pump and is carried down, outside the tubing to a point below the conventional mud anchor, into the inlet of an overpressure valve. The outlet of the valve empties into the well annulus. If the normal pressure at the bottom of the tubing due to the head of liquid in the tubing is P, the overpressure valve is set to open at a pressure of P+P1, where P1 is a selected valve, such as say 100 psi. At the surface, means are provided to close off the top of the tubing. Means are provided to inject the selected liquid into the top of the tubing at a selected pressure P2 above atmospheric, where P2 may be say 150 psi.

Abstract: Set out herein is a seal arrangement for sealing an oil well rod string below ground surface. More specifically a polished cylinder is inserted into the casing of an oil well and is supported at the well head by a flange radially extending from the upper end thereof. Received in the cylinder is a piston assembly connected at the upper surface to a flexible string or chain articulated by a pump and supporting at the lower surface a polished rod sealably extending through a lower seal fitting received in the bottom end of the polished cylinder. The cavity formed between the piston and the polished cylinder is asperated through a one-way check valve on the upward stroke of the piston and any oil residue that may pass through the lower sealing assembly is forced back into the well casing by another check valve opened during the downward piston stroke.