Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for transferring a reciprocating movement from a machinery arranged at a surface to a device located downhole in a subterranean well, the apparatus comprising: a longitudinal hollow body an upper rod connected to the machinery in one end thereof and to an upper displacement body in another end thereof, a lower displacement body adapted to operate the device, the upper displacement body and the lower displacement body are in communication via a liquid in the longitudinal hollow body, and are movable within the longitudinal hollow body, and wherein the upper displacement body, the lower displacement body and the liquid are configured to reciprocate synchronously relative to the longitudinal hollow body. The invention further relates to a method of producing a wellbore fluid.

Abstract: A modular subsurface lift engine lifts hydrocarbons directly or indirectly from a cased wellbore. The modular subsurface lift engine has a surface drive system with a fluid pump that pumps a lift fluid into an isolated annulus of the cased well bore surrounding subsurface lift engine. A lift capacity of the subsurface lift engine is increased by increasing the number of lift engine modules.

Abstract: A pump has a pump barrel formed from a larger diameter section and a smaller diameter section. Each section has a biased piston moveable within the section and the pistons are connected together to form a variable volume chamber between the pistons. As the connected pistons move toward the larger diameter section, a volume of fluid is moved through an inlet valve into the variable volume chamber of increasing volume. When the pistons are moved toward the smaller diameter section, a differential volume of fluid is discharged from the variable volume chamber of decreasing volume through a discharge valve into a discharge conduit. The pistons are actuated to move within the pump barrel by application and release of pressure at a remote end of the discharge conduit.

Abstract: A reciprocating pump is provided for pumping subterranean fluids containing fine solids to surface. The pump comprises a pump barrel, piston and piston rod. The piston rod is suspended form reciprocating production tubing. The barrel is anchored in the casing of a well. A standing valve is located at the bottom of the barrel. The piston and travelling valve are located at the bottom of the piston rod for minimizing the dead-space between standing and travelling valves. Upper and lower stacks of hydraulic piston seal rings are positioned on the piston above and below the travelling valve for minimizing piston height. Each seal has radially flared lips at its leading edge. The piston spaced grooves formed therein, corresponding to the seal ring flared lips.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting fluids from a reservoir or source to a remote point of use wherein a multiple-chambered slave unit, when hydraulically actuated through a single conduit communicating with a distant master pressure-generating unit, will upon relief of the actuating pressure, contribute to the conduit, fluid aspirated from the source in addition to the original volume of actuating fluid.

Abstract: Oil is recovered from underground formations more efficiently by the use of a subsurface power piston that reciprocates a subsurface pump. A series of connecting rods called sucker rods connects the power piston to the subsurface pump. The subsurface power piston is driven upward by a surface mounted hydraulic actuation system. The power piston and sucker rod travel downward by the force of gravity. The distance between the subsurface pump and power piston is set so the pressure at the depths of the power piston and pump closely counterbalance the weight of the sucker rod string at all positions of stroke with a slight down bias. The free-body piston of the surface actuator acts as a membrane member between the refined oil of the surface actuation system and the fluid being recovered. The pumping action occurs on the downstroke of the subsurface equipment. The pumping speed is automatically and optimally adjusted according to fluid parameters.

Abstract: A downhole well pump system comprises a reciprocating piston pump disposed in a fluid conduit in a wellbore which is filled with a driving fluid having a density preferably greater than the production fluid being pumped. The pump cylinder has a transverse partition and a piston assembly including an elongated piston rod extending through the partition and connected at its opposite ends to spaced apart pistons. The pump pistons and the cylinder partition divide the cylinder into a production fluid intake chamber, a production fluid transfer and delivery chamber, a driving fluid chamber and a second production fluid delivery chamber. Production fluid is conducted to the surface through a production fluid conduit disposed coaxial within the driving fluid conduit.

Abstract: An above ground--below ground pump apparatus for use in pumping underground fluids to the ground surface. The pump apparatus includes an above ground pump for alternately propelling fluid into a well casing surrounding the pump apparatus and discharging underground fluid therefrom and a second pump is mounted underground within the well casing at a pre-determined location. The second pump includes alternately movable pistons which draw in fluid from the well casing and discharge the fluid through conduits to the ground surface. An anchoring device is attached to the exterior of the first and second conduits for anchoring the second pump at a pre-determined position within the well casing.

Abstract: A pumping apparatus (10) is disclosed which includes a downhole reservoir unit (20), a pumping unit (18) and a power unit (102). The reservoir unit (20) has a piston assembly (70) with a top piston (72) and a bottom piston (74). A storage chamber (82) is defined between the two pistons (72, 74) which is variable in volume as the piston assembly moves from the rest position to a pumping position where a helical spring (98) is compressed. The piston assembly (70) is moved by fluid in a tubing string (22) through reciprocal motion of a pulser piston (48). As the piston assembly (70) is moved downwardly, fluid from the reservoir passes through a check valve into the storage chamber (82). When the piston assembly (70) is in the pumping position, the pulser piston (48) is retracted and the helical spring (98) drives the piston assembly (70) upward. The volume of the storage chamber (82) decreases and fluid is pumped from the storage chamber through the tubing string to the surface.

Abstract: The downhole pumping member is reciprocated upwardly by pressurizing the column of oil using an above ground pressure actuator. When this occurs, the pumping member draws a charge of oil from the well. Next the column of oil is depressurized, allowing the pumping member to fall under gravity, which in turn forces the charge of oil upwardly toward the surface. The above ground actuator is hydraulically operated using a hydraulic fluid which is maintained separated from the production oil being pumped.

Abstract: An apparatus (3) for pumping fluid from a fluid source (5) to a predetermined location (7) remote from the fluid source. The apparatus (3) comprises an hydraulically operated pump (9) having a fluid pumping chamber and means for storing potential energy. The pump (9) is connected through a control means (19) to the predetermined location (7) upstream and to the source (5) downstream. Control means (19) is also connected to second pumping means (17) and allows spaced pulses of hydraulic pressure to flow from pumping (17) through conduit (15) to pump (9). The hydraulic pulses operate pump (9) to both draw fluid from source (5) into the pumping chamber and to store a portion of the pulse energy. In the period between pulses the stored energy is used to drive pump (9) to supply the drawn fluid to predetermined location (7) and to return a volume of hydraulic fluid equal to that of the actuating hydraulic pulse.

Abstract: A liquid elevating mechanism for use with pumps of the type which produce cyclic pressure waves for transmission through a liquid column to the liquid elevating mechanism for operation thereof. The liquid elevating mechanism is especially configured to utilize the head pressure forces exerted thereon by the liquid column for head pressure counterbalancing purposes.

Abstract: A hydraulic pump jack for hydraulically actuated well pumps of the general type having pistons driven in one direction to lift liquid up a delivery pipe and having the pistons returned to recharge the said pump, comprising a double-acting surface pump with one pump section arranged to communicate with a liquid delivery pipe extending up the well and the other section arranged to communicate with a pump control pipe which also extends up the well, and valve means connected to the said control pipe to open the delivery pipe to allow an outflow of liquid from the delivery pipe during the pressure stroke of the pump section connected to the said control pipe.

Abstract: A sonic pressure wave surface operated pump is provided with a mechanism for controlled movement of a flexible production tube and pumping assembly into and out of contact with a liquid to be pumped and is provided with a sonic pressure wave generator which produces sonic pressure waves of special character in a column of liquid carried in the pump. The sonic pressure waves are transmitted through the flexible production tube by the column of liquid to the pumping assembly for operation thereof and are reflected by the pumping assembly back through the flexible production tube and carry the liquid being pumped in the same direction.

Abstract: A variable volume single tube surface operated pump including a piston reciprocally mounted in a cylinder for alternately opening and closing a liquid delivery port formed in the sidewall of the cylinder and for generating a sonic pressure wave by impacting a column of liquid in a metallic tube extending from the cylinder to a remote pumping mechanism located in communication with the liquid to be pumped. The piston is especially configured with a central recess in the face thereof so that the sonic pressure waves generated thereby will pass through a sonic inductor and move downwardly toward the pumping mechanism in a spiral-like motion against the inner wall of the metallic tube and enter into a sonic intensifier chamber where they are reflected off the pumping mechanism into a central column which travels back toward the cylinder and causes the liquid to be pumped to move in that same direction.

Abstract: A single tube surface operated pump including a piston reciprocally mounted in a cylinder for alternately opening and closing a liquid delivery port formed in the side of the cylinder and for generating a sonic pressure wave by impacting a column of liquid contained in a metallic tube extending from the cylinder to a remote pumping mechanism located in communication with the liquid to be pumped. The piston is especially configured with a central recess in the face thereof so that the sonic pressure waves generated thereby will pass through a sonic pressure wave swirl chamber and move toward the pumping mechanism in a spiral-like motion against the inner wall of the metallic tube and enter into a sonic intensifier chamber where they are reflected off the pumping mechanism into a central column which travels back toward the cylinder and causes the fluid to be pumped to move in that same direction.

Abstract: A sonic pressure wave surface operated pump for use in pumping liquid from low production wells. The pump includes an aboveground generator which produces sonic pressure waves of special character in a liquid column. The sonic pressure waves are transmitted by the liquid column through a normally closed liquid discharge unit to a subterranean pumping assembly which is operated by the waves to draw the liquid into the pumping assembly and build the hydrostatic pressure thereof to a point where the liquid discharge unit will move to its open position which allows the sonic pressure waves which are reflected by the subterranean pumping assembly to carry the liquid to the surface.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for pumping fluid from a subterranean well through a tubing string. A pressure actuated subsurface pump and a surface unit are in fluid communication with opposite ends of the tubing string. The surface unit cyclically applies pressure to the fluid in the tubing string to actuate the subsurface pump and cause a radial expansion of the tubing such that potential energy is stored in the tubing string. Each time the surface unit removes the applied pressure, the stored potential energy is released to the surface unit which converts the potential energy into kinetic energy for use in the next pumping cycle.

Abstract: A pressure actuated, rodless pump for pumping fluid preferably from a well through a tubing string comprises a chamber and a check valved movable piston which define a pump cavity, the chamber having a check valved outlet to the tubing string on the cavity side of the piston and a fluid inlet on the other side of the piston. The piston is connected to a spring assembly by a pull rod. The spring assembly includes a cylinder having an elastomeric bladder separating a gas filled chamber from an upper fluid chamber which is separated from a lower fluid chamber by a wall having a fluid passageway formed therein. The lower fluid chamber encloses a stationary piston and both the lower and upper fluid chambers are in fluid communication with the tubing string through a charge valve.

Abstract: A single tube surface operated pump including a piston reciprocally mounted in a cylinder for alternately opening and closing a lateral fluid delivery port and for generating a sonic pressure wave by impacting a column of fluid in a metallic tube extending from the cylinder to a remote pumping mechanism located in communication with the fluid to be pumped. The piston is especially configured with a central recess in the face thereof so that the sonic pressure waves generated thereby will pass through a sonic nozzle and move downwardly toward the pumping mechanism in a spiral-like motion against the inner wall of the metallic tube and enter into a sonic intensifier chamber and are reflected off the pumping mechanism into a central column which travels back toward the cylinder and causes the fluid to be pumped to move in that same direction.

Abstract: A deep well pump system incorporating a sub-surface pump unit and a surface power unit with a fluid column formed therebetween. The pump unit incorporates a counterbalance means that is specifically illustrated as a collapsible volume chamber operably engaged with a pump piston to cause a fluid pumping linear movement of the piston responsive to the selective contraction and expansion of the collapsible volume chamber. The power unit, in the charging stroke thereof, pressurizes the fluid column by the introduction of a volume therein sufficient to contract the collapsible volume chamber, with a subsequent pressure buildup effecting discharge of additional fluid from the power unit with less valving than the prior art pumps.