Downhole pump apparatus having decoupleable isolation plug
A pump apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from downhole wells, having a seating surface adapted to sealingly engage an interior surface of a circumferential seal member situated within production tubing when said pump is in a downhole operative position. An isolation plug is provided, releasably coupled to a lower end of said pump, having sealing means thereon to sealingly engage said interior surface of said circumferential seal member when the isolation plug is linearly positioned within said circumferential seal member and decoupled from the pump assembly, thereby preventing gases and fluids from fluid communication to surface when the pump is raised and removed from the well. A method for sealing a well upon removal of a pump is further disclosed.
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The invention relates to downhole tools for use in pumping oil to surface, and more specifically to a downhole pump apparatus having an isolation plug which allows the well to be temporarily plugged downhole to allow removal of a downhole pump for servicing or replacement, without having to “kill” the well, namely prevent it from flowing, which would otherwise be necessary if a downhole pump was desired to be removed from the well for servicing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ARTIt is a regulatory (to say nothing of a safety) requirement in producing hydrocarbons from producing wells drilled in hydrocarbon formations that when removing a downhole pump for repair or replacement, that pressurized fluids and gases coming from the drilled well, such as sour gases including toxic hydrogen sulphide gas), be isolated from surface to thereby prevent their escape to atmosphere at the surface of the well.
Specifically, downhole pump assemblies typically possess rod seats, which when the pump is installed in the operative position, typically engage circumferential seals within the casing or tubing in which the downhole pump assembly was placed and positioned, thereby preventing pressurized fluids and/or gases from flowing to surface except through the pump and thereby through the production tubing.
However, any raising of the downhole pump in the prior art for the purposes of repair or replacement of the downhole pump necessarily disengages the rod sealing seats, thereby exposing the downhole pressurized fluids and gases to surface.
To avoid this undesirable situation and to avoid communication with surface when a downhole pump assembly is being replaced, in the prior art a well would be effectively “killed” prior to pump removal, typically via pumping downhole viscous fluids to temporarily seal the well prior to BOP installation and the pump being removed.
The procedure of “killing” a well each time to service downhole components is a costly and time-consuming procedure, and further sometimes would be over-effective in that it is difficult and sometimes impossible to then “restore” the well by removing the viscous fluids, with the result in the prior art that some wells were not only temporarily “killed” but unintentionally permanently “killed” or unable to be brought back on-stream as effectively as before.
In heavy oil formations, where the produced oil contains large amounts of abrasive sand, wear on the pumps is extensive. This results in the necessity to frequently replace such pumps. Such, as indicated above, undesirably results in the need in the prior art to “kill” the well, so that pressurized fluids and gases deep in the formation are not otherwise allowed to flow directly to surface.
A real need exists for specialized apparatus and methods for removing worn or defective pumps which avoids the need to first “kill” the well, or alternatively is able to avoid pollution which otherwise results due to release of pressurized oil or gases from within the formation to surface via the open well.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn order to provide certain advantages over the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a downhole tubing apparatus or downhole pump apparatus, as well as a method for removing same from a well, which avoids having to otherwise “kill” the well when a downhole pump is desired to be removed from the well for repair or replacement in order to avoid downhole pressures in a hydrocarbon formation being exposed to surface.
It is a further object of the present invention to allow for casing flow in a production well to be “shut in” without breaking wellhead containment when a downhole pump is desired to be removed from the well for repair or replacement.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a downhole tubing apparatus to save rig time by eliminating time which would otherwise be required to “kill” the well prior to removal of a downhole pump, and to otherwise restore the rig to operation when the downhole pump assembly is reinserted and the well is desired to then be restored and brought back “on-line”.
It is yet a still-further object of the present invention to provide a downhole tubing apparatus which allows unseating of a rod insert pump or other pump regardless of downhole pressures or temperatures.
Accordingly, in a first broad aspect of the present the invention comprises a downhole pump apparatus for preventing gases and fluids within a hydrocarbon formation from having fluid communication to surface upon removal of a downhole pump from within a production well, comprising:
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- a pump assembly having a pump means, further having a seating surface adapted to sealingly engage an interior surface of a circumferential seal member situated within production tubing when said pump assembly is in a downhole operative position;
- an isolation plug, longitudinally spaced apart from said seating surface on said pump assembly, releasably coupled to a lower end of said pump assembly, adapted for linear movement within said production tubing, having sealing means thereon dimensioned to sealingly engage said interior surface of said circumferential seal member when said isolation plug is linearly positioned within said circumferential seal member;
- releasable latch means situated on said lower end of said pump assembly, adapted for releasably de-coupling said isolation plug from said lower end of said pump assembly when said sealing means on said isolation plug sealingly engages said circumferential sealing member;
- wherein said pump assembly when raised from said downhole operative position is adapted to cease sealing engagement between said circumferential seal member and said seating surface and said isolation plug when simultaneously raised is adapted for said sealing means thereon to become sealingly engaged with said circumferential seal member, and said latch means may thereafter be operated to disengage said isolation plug and said isolation plug thereby remains downhole when said remainder of said pump apparatus is raised from within said production well.
In a refinement, when said pump assembly is lowered downhole, the latch assembly is further adapted to become recoupled to said isolation plug in said production well and force said isolation plug downwardly out of sealing engagement with said circumferential seal member and allow said seating surface on said pump assembly to then re-engage in sealing relationship said circumferential seal member.
In a second broad aspect of the present invention, a downhole isolation plug apparatus is provided for preventing a production well from having fluid communication to surface upon removal of a downhole pump or other equipment from said well, comprising:
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- elongate tubing means, having at a distance therealong circumferential seal means;
- an isolation plug adapted for linear movement within said tubing means, having sealing means thereon dimensioned to permit said sealing means thereon to sealingly engage said circumferential seal means when said isolation plug is linearly positioned within said tubing at said distance along an interior of said elongate tubing means;
- a downhole tubing assembly coupleable to said isolation plug, having at an upper end thereof a seating surface adapted to sealingly engage said circumferential seal means when said tubing assembly is in a downhole operative position, and having on a lower mutually opposite end thereof latch means for releasably engaging said isolation plug;
- wherein said downhole tubing assembly, when raised from said downhole operative position, is adapted to cease sealing engagement between said interior circumferential seal means and said seating surface, and said isolation plug when simultaneously raised is adapted for said sealing means thereon to become sealingly engaged with said circumferential seal means, and said latch means may thereafter be operated to disengage said isolation plug and said isolation plug thereby remains downhole when said remainder of said downhole tubing assembly is raised; and
- wherein said downhole tubing assembly when lowered downhole said latch assembly thereon is adapted to engage said isolation plug in said downhole well and force said isolation plug downwardly out of sealing engagement with said circumferential seal means and allow said seating surface on said downhole assembly to then re-engage in sealing relationship said circumferential seal means.
In a further aspect the present invention comprises a downhole pump apparatus for preventing a production well from having fluid communication to surface upon removal of a downhole pump from said well, comprising:
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- elongate tubing means, having at a distance therealong circumferential seal means;
- an isolation plug, having sealing means thereon and dimensioned to permit said sealing means thereon to sealingly engage said circumferential seal means when said isolation plug is linearly positioned within said tubing at said distance along said interior of said tubing means;
- a downhole pump assembly coupleable to said isolation plug, having at an upper end thereof a seating surface adapted to sealingly engage said circumferential seal means when said pump assembly is in a downhole operative position, and having on a lower mutually opposite end thereof latch means for releasably engaging said isolation plug;
- wherein said downhole pump assembly when raised from said downhole operative position is adapted to cease sealing engagement between said circumferential seal means and said seating surface, and said isolation plug when simultaneously raised is adapted for said sealing means thereon to become sealingly engaged with said circumferential seal means, and said latch means may thereafter be operated to disengage said isolation plug and said isolation plug thereby remains downhole when said downhole pump assembly is raised; and
- wherein said downhole pump assembly when lowered downhole said latch assembly thereon is adapted to engage said isolation plug in said downhole well and force said isolation plug downwardly out of sealing engagement with said circumferential seal means.
In a further refinement of the downhole pump assembly of the present invention, such assembly comprises:
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- elongate tubing means, having at respective distances therealong longitudinally spaced-apart first and second circumferential seal members;
- a downhole pump assembly, having at an upper end thereof a seating surface adapted, when said pump assembly is in a downhole operative position, to sealingly engage an interior surface of said first circumferential seal members;
- an isolation plug, releasably coupleable to a lower end of said downhole pump assembly, having sealing means thereon and dimensioned to permit said sealing means thereon to sealingly engage an interior surface of said second interior circumferential seal member when said downhole pump assembly and seating surface is raised thereby disengaging said seating surface from seating engagement with said first circumferential seal member;
- latch means, situated on a lower end of said downhole pump assembly opposite said upper end thereof, adapted for releasably coupling said isolation plug to said lower end of said downhole pump assembly;
- wherein said downhole pump assembly, when raised from said downhole operative position, is adapted to cease sealing engagement between said interior surface of said first circumferential seal member and said seating surface, and said isolation plug thereon when simultaneously raised is adapted to permit said sealing means thereon to become sealingly engaged with said interior surface of said second circumferential seal member so as to prevent fluid communication from a downhole side of said isolation plug to an uphole side of said isolation plug; and
- wherein said latch means is adapted to permit said isolation plug when sealingly engaging said second sealing means to become uncoupled from said downhole pump assembly so as to permit said isolation plug to thereby remain downhole when said downhole pump assembly is further raised; and
- wherein said downhole pump assembly when lowered downhole is adapted to sealingly re-engage said first circumferential seal member, and said latch assembly thereon is adapted to engage said isolation plug in said downhole well and force said isolation plug downwardly out of sealing engagement with said second circumferential seal member.
In another aspect of the invention, the invention comprises a method for removing a downhole pump assembly from a well which avoids undesirable flow of downhole fluids to surface upon removal of said pump assembly, such method comprising the steps of:
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- (a) providing first and second interior circumferential seal means along an elongate tubing means, at respective spaced-apart longitudinal distances therealong;
- (b) providing a downhole pump assembly, having at an upper end thereof a seating surface;
- (c) providing an isolation plug, releasably coupleable to a lower end of said downhole pump assembly, having sealing means thereon and dimensioned to permit said sealing means thereon to sealingly engage said second interior circumferential seal means when said downhole pump assembly and seating surface is raised thereby disengaging said seating surface from seating engagement with said first circumferential seal;
- (d) providing latch means, situated on a lower end of said downhole pump assembly opposite said upper end thereof, adapted for releasably coupling said isolation plug to said lower end of said downhole pump assembly;
- (e) lowering said pump assembly in a downhole operative position within said well so as to permit said seating surface thereon to sealingly engage said first circumferential seal means;
- (f) raising said downhole pump assembly thereby causing said seating means to cease sealing engagement between said first circumferential seal means and said seating surface, and simultaneously causing said isolation plug thereon to become sealingly engaged with said second circumferential seal means so as to prevent fluid communication from a downhole side of said isolation plug to an uphole side of said isolation plug; and
- (g) causing said latch means to releasably uncouple said isolation plug from said downhole pump assembly so as to permit said isolation plug to thereby remain downhole when said downhole pump assembly is further raised and removed from said well.
In a further refinement of the method of the present invention, such method further comprises the step, after step (g), of lowering said downhole pump assembly within said well so as to permit said seating surface thereon to sealingly re-engage said first circumferential seal means, and simultaneously causing said latch assembly thereon to engage said isolation plug in said downhole well and force said isolation plug downwardly out of sealing engagement with said second circumferential seal means.
Further advantages and permutations and combinations of the invention will now appear from the above and from the following detailed description of the various particular embodiments of the invention taken together with the accompanying drawings, each of which are intended to be non-limiting, in which:
Oil 3 being produced from bottom 10 of well 12 enters pump intake 8 and is pumped upwardly within pump assembly 4 by pump 6 so as to be forced out exit aperture 85 within a top portion of pump assembly 4 directly into production tubing 30 and thereby forced upwardly to surface.
In such operative pumping position as shown in
In the prior art, and as shown in
The present invention is adapted for use in association with any type of downhole pump 6 used in applications shown similar to that shown in
Particularly, the present downhole tubing assembly is adapted for uses such as that shown in
Pumps 6 include electric submersible pumps or progressive cavity pumps, or any type of pump which may require removal for servicing and/or replacement.
The configuration shown in
Disadvantageously, as shown in
Even more disadvantageously with regard to this apparatus and method in the prior art of
As well, as shown in
This prior art configuration shown in
Disadvantageously with regard to the prior art configuration of
Moreover, as shown in
In order to overcome the problems of the prior art designs and methods, in a first broad embodiment of the invention shown in
Pump apparatus 100 comprises a pump assembly 4 having a pump 6, in a “bottom down” configuration, where pump 6 is situated above a sealing surface 18 on a hold-down member 16. Sealing surface 18, when pump apparatus 100 is in the downhole operative position shown in
An isolation plug 40 is provided, releasably coupled (in the manner further explained below) to a lower end 45 of pump assembly 4, having a seals 42 thereon dimensioned so as to sealingly engage circumferential seal 22 on seating nipple 20 when isolation plug 40 is linearly positioned within circumferential seal 22.
Releasable latch means/member 50 is situated on lower end 45 of pump assembly 4, and is adapted for releasably coupling and de-coupling isolation plug 40 from lower end 45 of pump assembly 4 in the manner further elaborated and explained on below.
Latch member 50 is provided to releasably couple isolation plug 40 to pump assembly 4. Latch member 50 may comprise and operate similar to various “on/off” tools used in the industry, wherein in one particular “on/off” tool configuration a protruding nub is releasably insertable into a helical slot milled into an exterior surface of the latch member 50 which forms part of a “J” slot. By a well operator lowering latch member 50 onto a component to which it is desired to become releasably coupled (in this case isolation plug 40), much like the rotary motion imparted to a child's toy top when a downward motion is imparted, engagement of a protruding lug with a milled helical groove which is part of a milled “j” slot on respectively latch member 50 and coupled component (isolation plug 40), when downward force is applied, causes relative rotation of each component relative to the other and thus movement of the lug within the “j” slot portion of the milled “j” slot to thereby couple latch member 50 to coupled component (isolation plug 40). To release latch member 50 from releasable securement to isolation plug 40 after the pump assembly 4 and coupled isolation plug 40 have been raised so that the isolation plug 40 is located with seating nipples 20, 20b, a well operator momentarily reverses the direction of movement of the pump assembly 4 from up to down, thereby again forcing latch member 50 downwardly against the then-immobile isolation plug 40, and this time due to the action of lug within helical grooves a reverse direction of rotation of the latch member 50 relative to the isolation plug 40 is imparted, thereby removing the lug from within the “J” slot and permitting disengagement of the isolation plug 40 from latch member 50, to thereby decouple latch member 50 from isolation plug 40.
In a preferred embodiment, however, latch member 50 of the present invention comprises a plurality of resiliently flexible, hooked “fingers” 52, adapted to releasably encircle and grasp a protruding bulbous spherical knob 60 on said isolation plug 40 which extends upwardly therefrom as shown in
This invention is not limited to the particular preferred embodiment of the latch member 50 discussed above, and other similar latch mechanisms will now be apparent and/or known to persons of skill in the art, and are included as a means of operating this invention. The invention is not to be considered to be limited to the latch member 50 of the preferred embodiment shown in
Specifically, when pump 6 is desired to be serviced or replaced, pump assembly 4 is first raised from the operative position shown in
Latch member 50 is then operated, in the manner described above, to decouple isolation plug 40 from pump assembly 4. Thereafter, pump assembly 4 may advantageously then be raised to surface as shown in FIG. 4D—all downhole pressurized gases and liquids being prevented from passage to surface as a result of the sealing engagement of seal 42 on isolation plug 40 and circumferential seal 22 on seating nipple 20.
Advantageously, when a new or re-serviced pump 6 and pump assembly 4 is desired to be re-inserted downhole, the latch member 50 at a lower end of pump assembly 4 may be lowered in production tubing 30 and lowered onto bulbous spherical knob 60 on isolation plug 40, in a reversal of the procedure shown in
In this embodiment of the invention shown in
Forming part of pump assembly 4 is a hold-down member 18, having a seating surface 18 thereon. Seating surface 18 is adapted to sealingly engage first circumferential seal 22a on sealing nipple 20a when pump apparatus 100 is in operative pumping position, as shown in
Isolation plug 40 is releasably coupled to a lower end 45 of pump assembly 4, isolation plug 40 having seals 42 thereon which are adapted to sealingly engage circumferential seal 22b when pump assembly 4 is raised from operative position to the position shown in
Latch member 50 is provided as described above, to allow isolation plug 40 to be releasably coupled thereto and thus releasably coupled to pump assembly 4.
The method for removing the pump apparatus of
Upon further raising of pump assembly 4, due to protruding lip 90 on isolation plug 40 contacting lower edge of seating nipple 20b and being thereby prevented from further upward movement, flexible fingers 52 and hook edges 55 thereon encircling bulbous spherical knob 60 on isolation plug 40 are caused to resiliently spread or flex, thereby causing latch member 50 to be decoupled from engagement with isolation plug 40, as shown in
Conversely, when lowering a new or serviced pump 6 back into well 12 and production tubing 30, the reverse series of steps is followed, namely the steps illustrated in the sequence of
Specifically, pump assembly 4 is lowered in production tubing 30, so that seating surface on hold-down member 16 sealingly re-engages and contacts first circumferential seal 22a on first seating nipple 20a. Latch member 50 is forced downwardly on isolation plug 40, moving it downwardly and out of sealing engagement with seating nipple 20b, until further downward movement of isolation plug 40 is arrested due to isolation plug 40 contacting “stop” member 72, whereupon resilient flexing of flexible fingers 52 and hook edges 55 on latch member 50 permits fingers 52 and hook edges 55 to then surround bulbous knob 60 and thereby re-couple latch member 50 to isolation plug 40.
By isolation plug 40 having been moved out of sealing engagement with second seating nipple 20b, oil 3 is then permitted access to pump inlet/intake 8 and may then be pumped to surface.
The foregoing description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Specifically, various modifications to those embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular, such as by use of the article “a” or “an” is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more”. In addition, where reference to “fluid” is made, such term is considered meaning all liquids and gases having fluid properties.
Moreover, no element of any of the claims appended to this application is to be construed under the provisions of 35 USC §112, sixth paragraph, unless the claim element is expressly recited using the exact phrase “means for” or “step for”.
For a complete definition of the invention and its intended scope, reference is to be made to the summary of the invention and the appended claims read together with and considered with the disclosure and drawings herein.
Claims
1. A downhole pump apparatus for preventing gases and fluids within a hydrocarbon formation from having fluid communication to surface upon removal of a downhole pump from within a production well, comprising:
- a pump assembly having a pump means, further having a seating surface adapted to sealingly engage an interior surface of a circumferential seal member situated within production tubing when said pump assembly is in a downhole operative position;
- an isolation plug, longitudinally spaced apart from said seating surface on said pump assembly, and releasably coupled to a lower end of said pump assembly, adapted for linear movement within said production tubing, having sealing means thereon dimensioned to sealingly engage said interior surface of said circumferential seal member when said isolation plug is linearly positioned within said circumferential seal member;
- releasable latch means situated on said lower end of said pump assembly, adapted for releasably de-coupling said isolation plug from said lower end of said pump assembly when said sealing means on said isolation plug sealingly engages said circumferential sealing member; wherein said pump assembly when raised from said downhole operative position is adapted to cease sealing engagement between said circumferential seal member and said seating surface, and said isolation plug when simultaneously raised is adapted for said sealing means thereon to become sealingly engaged with said circumferential seal member, and said latch means may thereafter be operated to disengage said isolation plug and said isolation plug thereby remains downhole when said remainder of said pump apparatus is further raised from within said production well.
2. The downhole pump apparatus as claimed in claim 1,
- wherein said latch assembly thereon, when said pump assembly is lowered downhole, is adapted to engage said isolation plug in said production well and force said isolation plug downwardly out of sealing engagement with said circumferential seal member and allow said seating surface on said pump assembly to then re-engage in sealing relationship said circumferential seal member.
3. A downhole pump apparatus for preventing a production well from having fluid communication to surface upon removal of a downhole pump from said well, comprising:
- elongate tubing means, having at a distance therealong an interior circumferential seal member;
- an isolation plug, having sealing means thereon and dimensioned to permit said sealing means thereon to sealingly engage said interior circumferential seal means when said isolation plug is linearly positioned within said tubing at said distance along an interior of said elongate tubing means;
- a downhole pump assembly coupleable to said isolation plug, having at an upper end thereof a seating surface adapted to sealingly engage said circumferential seal member when said pump assembly is in a downhole operative position, and having on a lower mutually opposite end thereof latch member for releasably engaging said isolation plug;
- wherein said downhole pump assembly when raised from said downhole operative position is adapted to cease sealing engagement between said interior circumferential seal means and said seating surface, and said isolation plug when simultaneously raised is adapted for said sealing means thereon to become sealingly engaged with said circumferential seal means, and said latch means may thereafter be operated to disengage said isolation plug and said isolation plug thereby remains downhole when said downhole pump assembly is raised; and
- wherein said downhole pump assembly when lowered downhole said latch assembly thereon is adapted to engage said isolation plug in said downhole well and force said isolation plug downwardly out of sealing engagement with said circumferential seal means.
4. The downhole pump apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a stop member within said production tubing proximate a bottom of said production well, against which the isolation plug may abut, to allow said latch means when lowered onto said isolation plug to be forceably coupled to said isolation plug.
5. A downhole pump apparatus for preventing a production well from having fluid communication to surface upon removal of a downhole pump from said well, comprising:
- elongate tubing means, having at respective distances therealong longitudinally spaced-apart first and second circumferential seal members;
- a downhole pump assembly, having a seating surface adapted when said pump assembly is in a downhole operative position to sealingly engage and interior surface of said first circumferential seal member;
- an isolation plug, releasably coupleable to a lower end of said downhole pump assembly, having sealing means thereon and dimensioned to permit said sealing means thereon to sealingly engage an interior surface of said said second circumferential seal member when said downhole pump assembly and seating surface is raised thereby disengaging said seating surface from seating engagement with said first circumferential seal member;
- latch means, situated on a lower end of said downhole pump assembly opposite said upper end thereof, adapted for releasably coupling said isolation plug to said lower end of said downhole pump assembly;
- wherein said downhole pump assembly, when raised from said downhole operative position, is adapted to cease sealing engagement between said first circumferential seal member and said seating surface, and said isolation plug thereon when simultaneously raised is adapted to permit said sealing means thereon to become sealingly engaged with said second circumferential seal member as to prevent fluid communication from a downhole side of said isolation plug to an uphole side of said isolation plug; and
- wherein said latch means is adapted to permit said isolation plug when sealingly engaging said second sealing means to become uncoupled from said downhole pump assembly so as to permit said isolation plug to thereby remain downhole when said downhole pump assembly is further raised; and
- wherein said downhole pump assembly when lowered downhole is adapted to sealingly re-engage said first circumferential seal member, and said latch assembly thereon is adapted to engage said isolation plug in said downhole well and force said isolation plug downwardly out of sealing engagement with said second circumferential seal member.
6. A method for removing a downhole pump assembly from a well which avoids undesirable flow of downhole fluids to surface upon removal of said pump assembly, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing first and second interior circumferential seal means along an elongate tubing means, at respective spaced-apart longitudinal distances therealong;
- (b) providing a downhole pump assembly, having at an upper end thereof a seating surface;
- (c) providing an isolation plug, releasably coupleable to a lower end of said downhole pump assembly, having sealing means thereon and dimensioned to permit said sealing means thereon to sealingly engage said second interior circumferential seal means when said downhole pump assembly and seating surface is raised thereby disengaging said seating surface from seating engagement with said first circumferential seal;
- (d) providing latch means, situated on a lower end of said downhole pump assembly opposite said upper end thereof, adapted for releasably coupling said isolation plug to said lower end of said downhole pump assembly;
- (e) lowering said pump assembly in a downhole operative position within said well so as to permit said seating surface thereon to sealingly engage said first circumferential seal means;
- (f) raising said downhole pump assembly thereby causing said seating means to cease sealing engagement between said first circumferential seal means and said seating surface, and simultaneously causing said isolation plug thereon to become sealingly engaged with said second circumferential seal means so as to prevent fluid communication from a downhole side of said isolation plug to an uphole side of said isolation plug; and
- (g) causing said latch means to releasably uncouple said isolation plug from said downhole pump assembly so as to permit said isolation plug to thereby remain downhole when said downhole pump assembly is further raised and removed from said well.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the steps, after step (g), of:
- lowering said downhole pump assembly within said well so as to permit said seating surface thereon to sealingly re-engage said first circumferential seal means and simultaneously causing said latch assembly thereon to engage said isolation plug in said downhole well; and
- forcing said isolation plug downwardly out of sealing engagement with said second circumferential seal means.
Type: Application
Filed: May 17, 2011
Publication Date: Nov 22, 2012
Applicant: Oil Rebel Innovations Ltd. (Lloydminster)
Inventors: Peter Steven David KRAWIEC (Bonnyville), Gregg J. LACUSTA (Lloydminster)
Application Number: 13/109,810
International Classification: E21B 23/00 (20060101); E21B 33/12 (20060101);