Fluid well pumping system and method to produce same
An Improved Fluid well pumping system and method to produce the system. According to the system, it relates to ones that provide improved, low cost, efficient and low maintenance pumping systems for obtaining fluid from a source. It is envisioned that the systems will be used for removing oil, water, sludge, gaseous fluids, or leachates from shallow to medium depth wells (0 to 4000 feet depths). However, the invention has application for raising any fluids as needed above ground.
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/261,846 filed Nov. 17, 2009 by Daniel C. Roberts, et al and entitled “Improved Fluid well pumping system and method to produce same”.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThis invention for the Improved Fluid well pumping system is Fluid pumping systems and method to produce the system. According to the present invention, it relates to ones that provide improved, low cost, efficient and low maintenance pumping systems for obtaining fluid from a source. It is envisioned that the systems will be used for removing oil, water, sludge, gaseous fluids, or leachates from shallow to medium dept wells (0 to 4000 feet depths). However, the invention has application for raising any fluids as needed above ground.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCHNone.
SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAMNone.
BACKGROUND Field of Invention and Prior ArtA. Introduction of the Problems Addressed
Prior devices and methods included metallic and other complex fluid pumping systems. One skilled in the art and familiar with such means well appreciates the simplicity and cost effectiveness of this new device presented here. In the other prior art disclosures shown, complex and expensive alternatives are demonstrated. These are not only costly to manufacture but bulky, and difficult to use in the process of pumping fluids.
Conventional systems are known for removing fluid such as water or oil from wells where there is an abundant supply of fluid. However, in shallow locations or locations with a low production volume, these systems may not be cost justified. For example, in oil formations up to 1000 feet deep or more which only produce a few barrels of oil per day, multiple oil wells are often situated close together. Equipment and maintenance costs are often economically prohibitive in shallow wells.
Furthermore, due to pressure, chemical conditions, and sand and grit in most oil wells the equipment is subject to high breakdown rates and requires frequent maintenance, repair or replacement. Consequently, particularly for a shallow, low production situations, there is a need for inexpensive, low maintenance pumping systems that can be efficiently installed and/or removed if necessary. Prior approaches to this type of pumping system have involved complex piping and pumping systems, hydraulics, controls, sensors and electronics normally lowered into the well. This results in complex installation and high costs for installation, maintenance and replacement.
B. Prior Art
One approach to a pumping system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,989 issued to Mason. Mason shows a series of pneumatic displacement chambers connected to an air compressor at the surface of the well, by a single air line. Each chamber is connected to the air line through a motorized valve. A float including a disk shaped magnet, rides up and down in each displacement chamber. When fluid fills the chamber, the float approaches the top and the magnet is detected by a sensor which causes the control system to open the motorized valve connecting the chamber to the air line. Once the motorized valve is open, compressed air forces the fluid into the next chamber, or alternatively, into a holding tank on the surface. As the float approaches the bottom of the chamber, the magnet is detected by a sensor which causes the control system to close the motorized valve connecting the chamber to the air line. The Mason patent additionally teaches that the float be provided with flutes between its lower surface and the internal surface of the chamber to avoid the possibility of the float being used as a valve. The design of the Mason patent is costly and complex, requiring a magnetic sensor system located down hole and a motorized valve in connection with each chamber of the well pump, in addition to other shortcomings.
Another well pump is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,050,854 to Hereford et al. The Hereford patent shows a well pump including chambers that are costly and complex, among other disadvantages.
Earlier versions with some similarities to the currently improved pump are the US patents issued to Marvel et al. hey include U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,838 issued in 2002, U.S. Pat. No. 6,558,128 issued in 2003, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,810,961 issued in 2004. All these described considerably heavier assembles and little use of plastic materials. They were also limited to much shallower wells than the present device shown herein.
There remains a need for a simple, efficient, low cost, low maintenance pumping system that can be installed, repaired and/or removed efficiently and inexpensively in a well. The present invention addresses these needs, among others. As far as known, there is no other Improved Fluid well pumping system at the present time which fully provide these improvements and functional characteristics as the present device. It is believed that this device is made with fewer parts and with improved configurations and physical features to provide more functionality when compared to other currently utilized devices or methods to provide pump liquids and gases as described herein. The particular combinations of materials and features are unique and novel. They are not anticipated by prior art. Likewise unique is the method to secure and process the various parts of the Improved Fluid well pumping system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA Improved Fluid well pumping system items is comprised of a pump assembly (located in the wellbore) and a control system (located on the surface).
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- A. The pump assembly consists of a series of fluid chambers connected by line assemblies and separated at up to 250 ft apart. Each line assembly consists of three internal lines which include one (1) fluid production line and two (2) gas lines. The internal lines are made of a coiled high density polyethylene, which provides durability up to 200° F. and wellbore pressure of 200 psi. The lines are connected to alternate chambers using a closed design that assures no gas/air is released into the wellbore.
- B. The control system consists of a compressor (which generates compressed gas to push the fluids up) and a microprocessor controlled valving system (which directs fluids flow through the pump and into the production facility).
The preferred embodiment of the device is comprised of a durable yet somewhat flexible and non-corrosive material with features and characteristics that permit easy securement of the components of the device.
The pump technology that is being improved consists of
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- NOJAK's artificial lift design technology that deploys a pressure actuated chamber technology to lift hydrocarbons and other fluids (i.e. brines) from the well bore to the surface.
- The design of the NOJAK pump that was developed around the pressure actuated chamber technology and is the first of its kind to be commercialized.
- The NOJAK pump that has the capacity to pump approximately 20 to 180 BPD at a depth of 500 to 4,000 ft.
- Compared to existing artificial lift technologies, the NOJAK pump that differentiates itself by eliminating down hole wear out components/precision parts while requiring minimal maintenance for surface equipment.
- The Department of Energy (“DOE”) has recognized that the NOJAK pump has a “green” alternative to current artificial lift technologies available in the market and has granted approximately $250,000 to further develop the technology.
There are several objects and advantages of the Improved Fluid well pumping system 31. There are currently no known fluid pumping devices of such materials and configuration that are effective at providing the objects of this invention. It is an object of this invention to provide an improved fluid pumping system. It is a further object of this invention to provide a simple, efficient, low-cost, low-maintenance pumping system. It is an object to use new materials that are lighter, less resistive to pumped fluids and less corrosive than those known and used in any similar pump. Such materials and methods to secure are not anticipated by prior art fluid pumping systems or devices. Further objects, features and advantages of the present inventions shall become apparent from the detailed drawings and descriptions provided herein.
The invention presented is the Improved Fluid well pumping system 31. This device relates to a growing need for better means to pump fluids and other materials such as oil, water, sludge, gaseous fluids, or leachates from shallow to medium dept wells (0 to 4000 feet depths). This need is derived from a growing number of abandoned or idled oil and gas wells as well as abandoned or closed landfills and other lands that need a solution to pumping various materials.
The following TABLE A summarizes various advantages and objects of the Improved Fluid well pumping system 31. This list is exemplary and not limiting to the many advantages offered by this new device.
Noteworthy is that other advantages and additional features of the Improved Fluid well pumping system 31 will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the full description of the device. For one skilled in the art of fluid pumping systems and devices, it is readily understood that the features shown in the examples with this system is readily adapted for improvement to other types of mechanisms and devices for use with the pumping of fluids and gases.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate a preferred and alternative embodiments for the Improved Fluid well pumping system 31. The drawings together with the summary description given above and a detailed description given below serve to explain the principles of the special fluid pumping device. It is understood, however, that the device is not limited to only the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
The following list refers to the drawings:
The present invention presented is the Improved Fluid well pumping system 31. This device relates to pump systems that provide improved, low cost, efficient and low maintenance pumping systems for obtaining fluid from a source.
There is shown in
The advantages for the Improved Fluid well pumping system 31 are listed above in the introduction. Succinctly the benefits for the device are:
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- Provides Maintenance free pumping
- Increases depth capability
- Increases flow capacities
- Reduces environmental risks
- Provides efficient continuous operation
- Improves overall system efficiency
- Simplifies and improves installation
The preferred embodiment of the device 31 is comprised of a pump assembly (located in the wellbore) and a control system (located on the surface).
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- A. The pump assembly consists of a series of fluid chambers connected by line assemblies and separated at up to 250 ft apart. Each line assembly consists of three internal lines which include one (1) fluid production line and two (2) gas lines. The internal lines are made of a coiled high density polyethylene, which provides durability up to 200° F. and wellbore pressure of 200 psi. The lines are connected to alternate chambers using a closed design that assures no gas/air is released into the wellbore.
- B. The control system consists of a compressor (which generates compressed gas to push the fluids up) and a microprocessor controlled valving system (which directs fluids flow through the pump and into the production facility).
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the Improved Fluid well pumping system 31. The drawings together with the summary description given above and a detailed description given below serve to explain the principles of the Improved Fluid well pumping system 31A. It is understood, however, that the device 31A is not limited to only the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
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- i. The pump assembly consists of a series of fluid chambers connected by line assemblies and separated at 250 ft apart.
- ii. The control system consists of a compressor (which generates compressed gas to push the fluids up) and a microprocessor controlled valving system (which directs fluids flow through the pump and into the production facility).
- Each line assembly consists of three internal lines which include one (1) fluid production line and two (2) gas lines. The internal lines are made of a coiled high density polyethylene, which provides durability up to 200° F. and wellbore pressure of 200 psi.
- The lines are connected to alternate chambers using a closed design that assures no gas/air is released into the wellbore.
Bottom manifold 40 is comprised of several features including, but not limited to the Bottom manifold's Apertures or through openings 41 for gas lines 415, Float seat 42, and Check valve (spherical ball) seat 43. The whole component 40 is molded from Pex, high strength composite materials or other durable and non corrosive materials.
All of the details mentioned here are exemplary and not limiting. Other components specific to describing the new Improved Fluid well pumping system 31A may be added as a person having ordinary skill in the field of fluid pump systems and the like well appreciates.
OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTThe preferred embodiment of the Improved Fluid well pumping system 31A has been described in detail above. The manner of how the device operates is described below. A person having ordinary skill in the field of fluid pump systems will note that the description above and the operation described here must be taken together to fully illustrate the concept of the special device 31.
Typically, a NOJAK installation in a 1,000-ft well will require compressed air/gas flow rates of about 30 to 50 cfm. When pressure is applied (from the compressor) to the uppermost fluid chamber, the fluid is forced up through the uppermost line assembly into the flow line at the surface to the production facility.
Stage 1:
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- The fluid inlet (filter screen) and the bottom fluid chamber of the NOJAK system are set to operate below the pumping fluid level of the well. This stage fills using bottom hole pressure as an internal check valve prevents fluid from draining out of the chamber back into the well bore.
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- Via the internal control lines, a gas compressor (at the surface) first applies gas at a pre-set pressure (170 psi) to the odd numbered chambers and vents the pressure from the even-numbered chambers. The gas flows through the gas line within the line assembly and is released at the control panel above ground level to be exhausted or re-circulated.
- The pressurized gas in the odd chambers displaces the fluid, causing it to flow to the even chambers directly above them, with check valves preventing any downward flow. The control panel directs pressurized gas/air to the top of even-numbered chambers, and simultaneously vents the pressure on odd-numbered chambers, causing fluid to rise from the even chambers to the odd chambers above them.
- The lowest fluid chamber empties and vents. The combination of gravity and reservoir pressure from the well cause more fluid to flow back into this chamber preparatory to repeat the process. Fluid reaching the surface flows into the production facility.
Step 1: Fluid Entry Flow Path—Fluids from the bottom chamber flow into the chamber above past the bottom check ball causing the float to rise with the fluid level until it seals at the top manifold.
In the Fluid Movement Schematic 78Step 2: Gas Flow Path—Gas pressure from the surface is injected into the chamber causing the fluid to flow out.
In the Fluid Exit Schematic 79Step 3: Fluid Exit Flow Path—The bottom check ball seats causing the fluid to flow through the product line then through the line assembly into the next higher chamber. The float seats at the bottom of the chamber to cut off fluid flow.
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- The installation of the NOJAK pumping system is a simple operation that does not require the connection of rods and tubing using a conventional pulling unit.
- The NOJAK system is installed using a vehicle that has a powered spool and a crane. The line assemblies are loaded onto the spool and the crane is used to raise and lower the chambers.
- The pumps are installed in the following steps:
- 1. The lowest chamber is lowered into the well and attached to the line assembly. It is stabilized by an attached ballast weight.
- 2. A cable grip is attached to connect the support cable to the pump chamber and a chamber is attached at the end of a line assembly.
- 3. The process is repeated until all of the chambers and line assemblies have been placed in the well.
- 4. The system is then landed into the well head using standard well head components using either a mandrel or slips type tubing hanger.
Virtually all of these attachments are accomplished by means of fusion welding. Normal mechanical fasteners and redundant sealing is avoided. The ends of the Pex and polyethylene are first heated by a hot plate (heated surface) to each of the ends of the components being fuse. The plate(s) are removed and next these ends are brought together and pressure fitted. The seal is permitted to cool. The polyethylene is a crystalline material. As the junction of the two ends cool, the new joint re-crystallizes to a state like the original base materials. The process eliminates fasteners, uses a process familiar to target customer base, is stronger than base material and improves the seal. The installation sketches are: the Pump system being installed with service truck 86, connecting the chamber to line assembly 87, and top of ground transition from pump system to well head 88.
The Company's initiatives in creating an all plastic pump fit in with its long term strategy of being known as a solutions provider in the oil and gas market. NOJAK has recently developed and tested a next generation pump which replaces all metal components with a high-grade polyethylene—resulting in reduced manufacturing costs of >50% and an improved depth and pumping capacity of >40%.
With the above description or the product device and method to produce, it is to be understood that the Improved Fluid well pumping system 31A is not to be limited to only the disclosed embodiment. The described features of the special device 31 are intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the description.
Claims
1. A fluid well pumping system, comprising: Wherein essentially all the component parts of the product line assembly are fabricated with a composite material and result in a lightweight, higher capacity and non-corrosive pump system when compared to prior art lift systems and the microprocessor directs fluids flow through the pump and into the production facility.
- (a) a product line assembly adapted for positioning in a well casing as a unit, the product line assembly comprising (1) a first product tube including a passage for moving fluid therethrough, and a first gas line and a second gas line in the passage; and (2) a fluid reservoir adapted for positioning in a well casing as a unit, the fluid reservoir including a reservoir housing defining a chamber for storage of fluid and including a float in the chamber, a top manifold at a top end of the reservoir housing and a bottom manifold at a bottom end of the reservoir housing, the fluid reservoir including a third gas line, a fourth gas line and a product line extending between the top and bottom manifolds, the product line assembly engageable to the top manifold of the reservoir housing with the first gas line in fluid communication with the third gas line,
- the second gas line in fluid communication with said fourth gas line, and the passage of said product tube in fluid communication with the product line; and
- (b) a control system comprising a compressor and a microprocessor controlled valving system
2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the composite material is a PEX polyethylene.
3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the internal lines are made of a coiled high density polyethylene, which provides durability up to 200° F. and wellbore pressure of 200 psi.
4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the lines are connected to alternate chambers using a closed design that assures no gas/air is released into the wellbore.
5. A fluid well pumping system, comprising: Wherein essentially all the component parts of the product line assembly are fabricated with a composite material and result in a lightweight, higher capacity and non-corrosive pump system when compared to prior art lift systems and the microprocessor directs fluids flow through the pump and into the production facility.
- (a) a product line assembly adapted for positioning in a well casing as a unit, the product line assembly comprising (1) a first product tube including a passage for moving fluid therethrough, and a first gas line and a second gas line in the passage; and (2) a fluid reservoir adapted for positioning in a well casing as a unit, the fluid reservoir including a reservoir housing defining a chamber for storage of fluid and including a float in the chamber, a top manifold at a top end of the reservoir housing and a bottom manifold at a bottom end of the reservoir housing, the fluid reservoir including a third gas line, a fourth gas line and a product line extending between the top and bottom manifolds, the product line assembly engageable to the top manifold of the reservoir housing with the first gas line in fluid communication with the third gas line, the second gas line in fluid communication with said fourth gas line, and the passage of said product tube in fluid communication with the product line; (3) an elongated and slotted filter comprised of a composite material; and
- (b) a control system comprising a compressor and a microprocessor controlled valving system
6. The device according to claim 5 wherein the composite material is a PEX polyethylene.
7. The device according to claim 5 wherein the internal lines are made of a coiled high density polyethylene, which provides durability up to 200° F. and wellbore pressure of 200 psi.
8. The device according to claim 5 wherein the lines are connected to alternate chambers using a closed design that assures no gas/air is released into the wellbore.
9. The device according to claim 5 wherein the filter is made of a high density polyethylene, which provides durability up to 200° F. and wellbore pressure of 200 psi.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 16, 2010
Publication Date: May 19, 2011
Inventors: Daniel C. Roberts (Pendleton, IN), G Ronald Stoughton (Anderson, IN), James R. Wetzel (Anderson, IN)
Application Number: 12/947,380