Abstract: A gas pump system for producing a well has production tubing, a chamber to collect liquid from the well, a check valve to allow well liquids to flow into the chamber and to check flow out of the chamber, a dip tube in communication with the production tubing and the chamber, a check valve to allow liquid to flow up the dip tube into the production tubing and to check liquid flowing down the dip tube, a gas supply line to convey gas into the chamber, a hydraulic valve controlling flow through the gas supply line, a gas vent line to vent gas from the chamber, a hydraulic valve controlling flow through the gas vent line, a control line communicating with one or both of the gas supply valve and the gas vent valve, and a shut-off valve in the well controlling flow through the control line.

Abstract: A gas lift system for oil and gas wells has a gas pump. The gas pump comprises production tubing, a chamber, a dip tube, check valves, a gas supply line and control valve, a gas vent line and control valve, and a fluid control line. Liquid is pumped to the surface by allowing it to collect in the chamber and then forcing it out of the chamber with high-pressure gas. The gas supply and vent valves preferably are controlled by a single pressure control line. The system preferably included retrievable valves that may be installed through the production tubing to provide a life-of-the-well gas lift system.

Abstract: A method of unloading and producing liquids from a well uses a plurality of gas injection valves installed on a production tubing. The injection valves are controlled by pressure signals transmitted through a single fluid control line. A first pressure signal is applied to the control line to open the plurality of injection valves. Gas is pumped into the annulus at an injection pressure until a first pressure drop occurs in the injection pressure, the first pressure drop being indicative of gas flowing through a first, upper one of the injection valves. Pumping of gas is continued until a second pressure drop occurs in the injection pressure, the second pressure drop being indicative of gas flowing through a second, lower one of the injection valves. A second, lower pressure signal then is applied to close the first injection valve while leaving the second injection valve open.

Abstract: A gas control valve has a valve housing, a gas flowpath, a piston, a valve seat, a valve body, an actuating chamber, and a stack of Belleville washers. The valve housing has a gas inlet, a gas outlet, and a control fluid inlet. The gas flowpath runs from the gas inlet to the gas outlet. The piston reciprocates away from and towards a normal position. The valve body is coupled to the piston and is adapted to selectively seat on the valve seat to open and shut the gas flowpath. The actuating chamber communicates with the control fluid inlet. The washer stack is under compression to bias the piston in the normal position. The piston is responsive to fluid pressure in the actuating chamber and the washer stack so that the valve may be selectively opened and closed by sequentially increasing and decreasing pressure in the actuating chamber.

Abstract: Pivot valves have a valve seat and a valve closure mounted for pivoting movement through a closure chamber in a passage. The pivot valves may be selectively set in a check mode and an open mode. Flapper valves have a hydrofoil extending from a flapper. Valve assemblies comprise the pivot valves and flapper valves and have an open condition, a check condition, and a shut-off condition.

Abstract: Frac pumps have a fluid end and a fluid end block. The fluid end block has a plunger cylinder having a primary axis, a suction bore having a primary axis, a discharge bore, and a pump chamber. The pump chamber is defined by the intersection of the plunger cylinder, the suction bore, and the discharge bore. The fluid end block has a cylindrical portion extending along the primary axis of the suction bore. The cylindrical portion has a diameter greater than the diameter of the plunger cylinder. The pump chamber also has a ridge that extends radially inward from the walls of the pump chamber in a plane normal to the suction bore primary axis.

Abstract: Dual path control fittings have a fitting body and a cylindrical plunger. The fitting body has a cylindrical bore, a first conduit, and a second conduit. The cylindrical bore provides a first inlet and an opening. The first conduit provides a second inlet. The second conduit provides an outlet. The cylindrical plunger is mounted for reciprocation in the bore and has a first conduit and a second conduit. The first conduit extends from one end of the plunger to a port on the circumference of the plunger. The second conduit extends transversely across the plunger. The plunger has a first position in which the port is aligned with the second fitting body conduit to provide a first path and a second position in which the plunger second conduit is aligned with the fitting body first and second conduits to provide a second path.

Abstract: A rotatable flanged component is adapted for assembly into a flow line of a high-pressure fluid transportation system. The rotatable flanged component comprises a body and a conduit. The body has at least two ends. The conduit extends between the ends. The rotatable component also has a flange and a union face at each of the ends. The flanges and union faces are adapted to provide a flange union between the component and other flowline components at each the body end. At least one of the flanges is a rotatable flange. The rotatable flange has a central opening and a plurality of holes. The holes are adapted to accommodate threaded connectors for loading the flange with an axial force. The flange is mounted on the body end through the central opening for rotation and for transmission of the axial force to the body end.

Abstract: A missile flow line is assembled in a frac manifold to manifold the discharge from a plurality of pumps. The missile comprises at least two junction fittings joined by a flange union to at least one spooled pipe to form a conduit. The junction fittings comprise a fitting body having a primary bore and at least two feed bores. The primary bore extends axially through the body between primary union faces adapted for connection to a flowline component by a flange union. The feed bores extend radially through the body from a feed union face to an intersection with the primary bore. The feed union faces are adapted for connection to pump discharge lines by a flange union. The intersections of the feed bores with the primary bore are offset axially from each other along the primary bore.

Abstract: Missiles for frac manifolds manifold the discharge from a plurality of pumps. The missile comprises a missile body and inlet assemblies. The missile body has a straight primary bore and a plurality of feed bores. The primary bore extends axially through the missile body. The feed bores extend radially through the missile body and define a socket. An inlet assembly is associated with each feed bore. The inlet assembly comprises a nipple and a collar. The nipple has a bore extending axially between a spigot and a union end. The nipple is connected to the collar. The spigot is received in the socket of the feed bore. The union end is adapted for connection to a flowline component. The collar comprises mating parts releasably coupled together around the missile body. The nipple is thereby releasably coupled to the missile body by coupling the collar to the missile body.

Abstract: A gas lift system for oil and gas wells has a gas pump. The gas pump comprises production tubing, a chamber, a dip tube, check valves, a gas supply line and control valve, a gas vent line and control valve, and a fluid control line. Liquid is pumped to the surface by allowing it to collect in the chamber and then forcing it out of the chamber with high-pressure gas. The gas supply and vent valves preferably are controlled by a single pressure control line. The system preferably included retrievable valves that may be installed through the production tubing to provide a life-of-the-well gas lift system.

Abstract: A rotatable flanged component is adapted for assembly into a flow line of a high-pressure fluid transportation system. The rotatable flanged component comprises a body and a conduit. The body has at least two ends. The conduit extends between the ends. The rotatable component also has a flange and a union face at each of the ends. The flanges and union faces are adapted to provide a flange union between the component and other flowline components at each the body end. At least one of the flanges is a rotatable flange. The rotatable flange has a central opening and a plurality of holes. The holes are adapted to accommodate threaded connectors for loading the flange with an axial force. The flange is mounted on the body end through the central opening for rotation and for transmission of the axial force to the body end.

Abstract: Missile flow lines are incorporated into frac manifolds, especially trailered or skidded frac manifolds. The missiles manifold the discharge from a plurality of pumps and comprise at least two junction fittings joined by spooled pipe. The junction fittings comprise a body having a primary bore and at least two feed bores. The intersections of the feed bores with the primary bore are offset axially from each other along the primary bore. The junction fittings are joined by flange unions to at least one spooled pipe such a that the junction fittings and spooled pipe form a conduit including the primary bores. A discharge line from a pump may be joined to each feed union face of the junction fittings by a flange union. Thus, the discharge from the pumps may be manifolded into the conduit.

Abstract: Flowline junction fittings are assembled to missiles of frac manifolds. The fittings have a body with a primary bore, at least four secondary bores, and a tertiary bore. The bores extend from union faces adapted for connection to flowline components by a flange union. The tertiary bore intersects with the primary bore at an angle of approximately 90°. Goat head fittings are assembled to well heads. The goat heads have a body with a primary bore and at least four secondary bores. The bores extend from union faces adapted for connection to flowline components by a flange union. The intersections between the secondary bores and the primary bore have an interior angle of substantially less than 90°.

Abstract: Missile flow lines are incorporated into frac manifolds, especially trailered or skidded frac manifolds. The missiles manifold the discharge from a plurality of pumps and comprise at least two junction fittings joined by spooled pipe. The junction fittings comprise a body having a primary bore and at least two feed bores. The intersections of the feed bores with the primary bore are offset axially from each other along the primary bore. The junction fittings are joined by flange unions to at least one spooled pipe such that the junction fittings and spooled pipe form a conduit including the primary bores. A discharge line from a pump may be joined to each feed union face of the junction fittings by a flange union. Thus, the discharge from the pumps may be manifolded into the conduit.

Abstract: Flowline components are assembled into high-pressure fluid transportation systems by a flange union. The flowline component comprises a body defining a substantially cylindrical central conduit. The conduit extends between first and second flat union faces and is adapted to conduct fluids through the body. The union faces are adapted to provide a mating surface for a flange union between the component and another flowline component. Accordingly, the union faces have a plurality of holes adapted to accommodate threaded connectors for forming the flange union. The holes are arranged in a defined array extending angularly around the conduit. Importantly, the array of holes on the first union face and the array of holes on the second union face are offset angularly relative to each other by an angle ?. It will be appreciated that such components may allow changes in the direction of a flow line.

Abstract: Pressure relief valves may be tapped into flow lines. The pressure relief valves are normally shut and are adapted to open at a threshold pressure in the flow line. The valves comprise a body which is adapted to allow the valve to be tapped into the flow line. A passage is defined in the body. The passage provides a valve inlet and a valve outlet. The inlet is in fluid communication with the flow line. A sacrificial closure is disposed in the passage and blocks flow through the passage. The closure is exposed to fluid pressure in the flow line. The valve also comprises means for compromising the sacrificial closure in response to detection of the threshold pressure in the flow line. The integrity of the closure will be compromised such that fluid from the flow line may flow through the passage and out the valve outlet.

Abstract: Pressure relief valves may be tapped into high-pressure flow lines. The pressure relief valve is normally shut and is adapted to open at a threshold fluid pressure. It comprises a body, a passage, a valve seat, a ball, and a linear actuator. The passage is defined in the body and has a valve inlet and a valve outlet. The valve seat is in the passage. The ball is adapted to engage the valve seat to block flow through the passage. The linear actuator is mounted for linear movement in response to detection of the threshold pressure a from a normally extended position to a retracted position. In the extended position the ball engages the valve seat to close the passage, thereby shutting the valve. In the retracted position the ball can be flushed out of the valve by fluid flowing through the passage, thereby opening the valve.

Abstract: Missile flow lines are incorporated into frac manifolds, especially trailered or skidded frac manifolds. The missiles manifold the discharge from a plurality of pumps and comprise at least two junction fittings joined by spooled pipe. The junction fittings comprise a body having a primary bore and at least two feed bores. The intersections of the feed bores with the primary bore are offset axially from each other along the primary bore. The junction fittings are joined by flange unions to at least one spooled pipe such that the junction fittings and spooled pipe form a conduit including the primary bores. A discharge line from a pump may be joined to each feed union face of the junction fittings by a flange union. Thus, the discharge from the pumps may be manifolded into the conduit.

Abstract: Flowline components are assembled into high-pressure fluid transportation systems by a flange union. The flowline component comprises a body defining a substantially cylindrical central conduit. The conduit extends between first and second flat union faces and is adapted to conduct fluids through the body. The union faces are adapted to provide a mating surface for a flange union between the component and another flowline component. Accordingly, the union faces have a plurality of holes adapted to accommodate threaded connectors for forming the flange union. The holes are arranged in a defined array extending angularly around the conduit. Importantly, the array of holes on the first union face and the array of holes on the second union face are offset angularly relative to each other by an angle ?. It will be appreciated that such components may allow changes in the direction of a flow line.