Abstract: In a new valve assembly, the coacting abutting surfaces are imperfect due to normal fabrication techniques, and leakage occurs across these surfaces, which allows the control valve assembly to operate for a limited time while the engine parts are new, but continual engagement of the confronting top end of the control valve and stop member eventually become worn and firmly seats the control valve against its stop, and thus leakage across the control valve and stop member is precluded due to this progressive wear, whereupon the engine control valve will remain seated against its respective stop member and operation of the pump assembly is terminated until the malfunction is corrected. Premature stoppage, or stalling, of the top end of the main valve of a hydraulically actuated engine for downhole pumps is overcome in the present apparatus, and this feature is useful in many prior art pump assemblies.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated downhole pump assembly for producing a well is powered by a fluid that is pumped downhole to an engine end thereof. The pump assembly has a pump end which is connected to a source of formation fluid so that the engine end drives the pump end and the pump end lifts produced fluid to the surface of the ground. The pump end has a pump barrel and a pump piston is reciprocatingly received in sealed relationship within the pump barrel. The engine end has an outer engine barrel, and an annular valve element is reciprocatingly received in sealed relationship within the outer barrel. The valve element moves up and down between two positions of operation while an engine piston reciprocates within the annular valve element and in so doing aligns various flow passageways in a manner to alternately apply power fluid to appropriate sides of the piston and valve element to force the engine piston to reciprocate.

Abstract: A downhole jet pump has a nozzle assembly arranged respective to a pump housing whereby the nozzle assembly can be circulated uphole from the pump and circulated back downhole to the pump in order to renew the nozzle assembly. A special packer nose assembly enhances the retrieval and installation of the nozzle assembly within the downhole pump. The nozzle assembly is replaced without having to pull the pump.

Abstract: A downhole hydraulically actuated pump assembly has an engine end and a pump end. A traveling valve assembly is included in both the engine end and the pump end. A discharge guide assembly is interposed between the engine and the pump ends, and thereby enables the connecting rod between the engine and pump ends to be greatly increased in length for a specific size. The traveling valve of the pump end includes a lost motion coupling by which the valve is shifted each stroke of the engine. A formation fluid passageway extends from the lower end of the pump, directly through a rod extension, and into the traveling valve. Accordingly, this novel combination and improvements provide a downhole pump assembly having the maximum diameter engine and pump piston.

Abstract: A downhole pump of the jet type is placed below the fluid level in a wellbore and is used to produce fluid from the wellbore by employment of a power fluid source located above the surface of the ground. The power fluid flows downhole to the pump and through the jet pump assembly to cause a pumping action. The jet pump includes a suction chamber formed about a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly is spaced from a venturi throat. The venturi throat diverges in a direction away from the nozzle. The nozzle is located close to the bottom of the pump adjacent the formation fluid inlet at a position which precludes contamination thereof with debris which may otherwise fall downhole into the nozzle. The power fluid exits from the nozzle and enters the inlet of the venturi, causing produced fluid to be pulled into the throat entrance and mixed with the power fluid.

Abstract: A downhole hydraulically actuated pump has a large diameter power piston and a large diameter production pistion. A traveling valve assembly is located in the power piston and in the production piston, while fluid flow occurs through a hollow connecting rod, thereby providing a downhole pump with a maximum diameter piston assembly at the engine and production ends. A discharge guide conducts spent power fluid from the interior of the hollow connecting rod. Flow of production fluid to the traveling valve assembly of the production piston is provided through a hollow connecting rod extension. In one form of the invention, spent power fluid to which treatment fluid has been added is discharged at the bottom end of the pump assembly, thereby enabling chemical treatment to be carried out at the bottom of the wellbore.

Abstract: A downhole hydraulically actuated pump assembly of either the free or fixed type lifts formation fluid from the bottom of a borehole to the surface of the ground. The downhole pump has a power piston which actuates a production plunger. A valve means is concentrically arranged within the power piston. A stationary, hollow valve control rod extends through the power piston and through the valve means, with a lower marginal end of the control rod terminating within the production plunger. Power fluid flows through the control rod and to the valve means. As the power piston reciprocates within the engine cylinder, means on the control rod actuates the valve means between two alternant positions so that power fluid is applied to the bottom face of the power piston to thereby cause the power piston to reciprocate upward; and thereafter, the control rod causes the valve means to shift to the other position, whereupon spent power fluid is exhausted from the engine cylinder.

Abstract: A double acting hydraulically actuated pump and engine valve assembly for use downhole in a borehole for producing fossil fuel therefrom. High pressure hydraulic power fluid is forced downhole to a special control valve means located between opposed engine pistons. The valve means causes the power fluid to apply an alternating force to confronting faces of the pistons, while the opposed faces of the spaced apart pistons serve to pump and force production fluid to flow from a production zone, upward to the surface. The pump assembly can be used in combination with existing bottom hole assemblies, fixed or free type, already installed downhole in the wellbore.

Abstract: An improved seal assembly for sealing the annulus between a free-type downhole hydraulically actuated pump and the pump cavity within which the pump is telescopingly received downhole in a borehole. A connector body is affixed to the upper end of the pump, and a packer nose assembly is affixed to the upper end of the connector body. The connector body has a circumferentially extending groove formed thereabout, and a flow passageway wherein the connector body interconnects the interior of the hollow connector body to the inner wall surface of the groove. A resilient seal is received within the groove. The seal is quadrangular in cross-section.

Abstract: A check valve assembly for use as intake and discharge valves for pumps. The assembly includes a valve element made into a square configuration, the corners of which are slidably received in indexed relationship within radially spaced, longitudinally extending grooves formed into opposed, interior, peripheral wall surfaces of the pump housing and made complementary respective to the marginal area represented by the corners of the valve element. This configuration of the valve components prevents axial rotation of the valve element, and forms four radially spaced crescent shaped inlet and outlet passageways between each of the valve elements and the pump housing. An intake cage is axially spaced in opposed relationship respective to an exhaust cage by a valve plate, with the intake cage, exhaust cage, valve plate, intake and exhaust valve elements being concentrically arranged respective to one another.

Abstract: A packer nose assembly for pumping downhole equipment of the free type into and out of a tubing string located within a borehole. The assembly includes a mandrel having a lower end portion attachable to the downhole equipment and an upper end portion terminating in the form of a fishing neck. One or more packers are slidably received in a telescoping manner upon the mandrel and fixed in spaced-apart relationship respective to one another by spaced sleeves which are likewise slidably received upon the mandrel. Each packer is cylindrical in form and includes a resilient cup member which is affixed to the mandrel by a mount member. A marginal end of the cup is in the form of a lip which circumferentially extends about the mandrel and is biased into sealed engagement with the tubing wall. A marginal end of the mount member is in the form of a skirt which protects the cup member from damage.

Abstract: A packer nose assembly for a downhole, hydraulically actuated pump of the free-type. The packer nose assembly is connected to the upper end of the pump device, and includes a packer apparatus interposed between the pump and a pair of seal cups. The seal cups are identical in construction and inverted respective to one another. The seal cups and the packer device are of annular construction and are telescopingly received in axially aligned relationship upon a mandrel. The mandrel is attached to the upper end of the pump. The cups enable the entire pump assembly to be pumped into and out of a borehole. The pump is circulated downhole through a power oil tubing string where the inlet end of the pump is seated against a conventional seating shoe. Thereafter, power fluid flows down the tubing and into the upper end of the mandrel, and through the central passageway of the mandrel to the valve assembly of the pump engine.

Abstract: A downhole pump of the jet type for use in a borehole in order to produce fluid from the wellbore by employment of a power fluid source located above the surface of the ground. The power fluid flows through the jet pump assembly to cause a pumping action. The jet pump includes a suction chamber formed about a nozzle assembly. The nozzle is spaced from a venturi throat. The venturi throat diverges in a direction away from the nozzle. A deflector device is arranged concentrically with the nozzle and venturi. One end of the deflector is supported by the pump body, and a reduced convergent marginal free end is received within the divergent venturi throat, thereby forming an annulus between the throat and the deflector. The annular area increases in a downstream direction respective to the nozzle. The power fluid exits from the nozzle and enters the inlet of the venturi, causing produced fluid to be pulled into the throat entrance.

Abstract: A kelly bushing guard which encapsulates the rotating parts of a rotary table of a rotary drilling rig. The guard includes a shoe which rests on the fixed floor area of the table. The rotating center is located inwardly of the shoe. A bearing member has a fixed housing and a rotating center member. The fixed housing is attached to the shoe by a circumferentially extending wall member while the center member rotates with and slidably receives the kelly therethrough.The kelly can be lifted from the kelly bushing carrying the guard therewith so that the floor is unobstructed and the inner slip bowl is free to receive a set of slips or the like.

Abstract: A downhole, hydraulically-actuated pump of the free type which is sealingly received within a cavity in such a manner that a plurality of spaced-apart annular chambers are formed. The chambers are used in conjunction with other passageways to control flow of fluid to and from the pump and the surface of the ground. This flow system provides a closed circuit for the power fluid going to and from the engine. The power fluid to the engine end flows down the tubing string within which the pump assembly is located and to which the cavity is connected. A second conduit conducts spent power fluid from the pump assembly back uphole to the surface of the ground, thereby providing a closed circuit for the flow of power fluid to and from the pump assembly. A third conduit extends from the cavity, back up to the surface of the ground, so that produced fluid from the pump end is forced to the surface of the ground.

Abstract: A packer nose assembly for pumping downhole equipment of the free type into and out of boreholes. The assembly includes a mandrel having a lower end portion attachable to the downhole equipment and an upper end portion terminating in the form of a fishing neck. One or more packers are slidably received in a telescoping manner upon the mandrel and anchored into position by spaced sleeves which are likewise slidably received upon the mandrel. The packer is cylindrical in form and includes a plurality of spaced fins formed about the exterior thereof with each fin being circumferentially disposed about and radiating from the body portion. The fins taper in thickness in an outward direction from the body portion.

Abstract: A downhole, hydraulically actuated pump assembly, having an engine reciprocatingly connected to a production pump. Power fluid is conducted downhole to the engine of the pump assembly, while production fluid and spent power fluid is conducted uphole to the surface of the ground.The pump assembly includes a housing within which spaced, axially aligned, cylindrical chambers reciprocatingly receive spaced engine and pump pistons which are connected together in a manner to enable the engine to reciprocate the production pump.A mechanically actuated valve assembly is contained within the engine piston and is arranged respective to various different flow passageways so that flow of power fluid through the engine forces the engine piston to reciprocate.The valve assembly includes a control rod and a valve element concentrically arranged respective to one another and to the engine piston. The valve element is reciprocated respective to the engine piston in response to reciprocation of the control rod.

Abstract: A subsurface hydraulically powered pump assembly having a reciprocating pump end, a reciprocating engine end, a valve assembly for controlling the flow of power fluid to and from the engine, and a jet-type pump incorporated therewith which utilizes either the spent power fluid, or alternatively, utilizes fresh power fluid in boosting the action of the reciprocating pump. The invention comprehends utilizing the jet action to supplement the engine action at either the pump suction or the pump exhaust, thereby enabling a considerable variation in the size of the pump and engine piston, and furthermore enabling a conventional downhole reciprocating pump to move an increased volume of fluid to a greater height.

Abstract: A jet pump for use downhole in a borehole for producing fluid from the wellbore by employment of a power fluid supplied from the surface of the ground. The power fluid flows through the jet pump assembly to cause a pumping action. The jet pump includes a suction chamber formed about a nozzle. The nozzle is spaced from a venturi throat. The venturi throat diverges in a direction away from the nozzle. A deflecter has one end supported by the pump body and a reduced convergent marginal free end which is received within the divergent throat thereby forming an annulus between the throat and the deflecter. The annular area increases in an outward direction respective to the nozzle. The power fluid exits from the nozzle and enters the inlet of the venturi causing produced fluid to be pulled into the throat entrance. The mixed fluids continue to flow through the throat and about the deflecter and out of the venturi as the fluids are forced to continue through the pump and then to the surface of the earth.

Abstract: An aircraft which includes a lower main support structure to which there is attached wings, empennage, and a cabin section. The cabin section is positioned forwardly of the empennage and is supported in overlying relationship respective to the lower main support structure and to the wings attached thereto. The cabin section has a deck attached to an upper platform of the main support structure in such a manner that the cabin section can be moved horizontally and forwardly respective to the platform. A plurality of fasteners are arranged to affix the cabin section to the main support structure. Some of the fasteners are in the form of releasable bolts and other of the fasteners are in the form of shear bolts which attach the platform and deck together. Accordingly, should the aircraft impact against an object with sufficient force, some of the fasteners are released to enable the cabin section to separate from the remainder of the aircraft and to continue to travel away therefrom.