Abstract: A method and apparatus to optimize and control the production of an oil well which is being artificially produced by gas-lift techniques. The invention is suitable for use with either continuous or intermittent gas-lift operation and can be used with a combination of both. The temperature of the fluid at the wellhead is sensed and used to determine the injection parameter values to optimize well production. In one embodiment, a process control unit is programmed according to the inventive method to interpret the temperature data and to control the gas control valve to optimize production.

Abstract: A system for converting a constant pressure head of water into compressed air which may be utilized to transfer the potential energy of the pressure head to remote work sites.

Abstract: An improved arrangement for feeding a cool liquid into a pressure vessel and mixing the fed liquid with hot liquid contained therein includes a flow-shielding ejector thermal sleeve disposed partially within an inlet nozzle and surrounding a supply line through which the main feed flow is conducted to a sparger outlet port in the vessel. The sleeve is spaced radially inwardly from the inner surface of the nozzle to define a generally annular flow-through space therebetween. Cool leakage liquid flow is confined within the sleeve and ejected by the main feed flow from an ejector chamber formed around the port by a downstream portion of the sleeve. The ejective action of the main flow exiting the port additionally draws an insulating flow of hot liquid from the vessel sequentially upstream through the flow-through space, into the interior of the upstream portion of the sleeve, and downstream with the confined cool leakage flow, thereby substantially reducing cracking of the nozzle.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for flowing fluid from a plurality of interconnected wells wherein a pressurized lift gas is injected into a well thereby actuating a pumping unit located in the well. Upon actuation, at least a portion of the partially expended lift gas is injected into an adjacent well whereby this adjacent well is pre-pressurized prior to it being fully pressurized by lift gas for actuation. This pre-pressurizing decreases the fully pressurized gas needed to actuate the second well.

Abstract: An improved arrangement for feeding a cool liquid into a pressure vessel and mixing the fed liquid with hot vessel-contained liquid includes an ejector thermal sleeve within an inlet nozzle. An upstream portion of the sleeve sealed to the nozzle surrounds a supply line through which a main feed flow is conducted to a sparger outlet port in the vessel. Cool leakage liquid flow is confined within the sleeve and ejected from an ejector chamber formed around the port by a downstream portion of the sleeve. The leakage liquid is ejected by and with the main feed flow away from the nozzle whereby thermal cycling and cracking thereof are substantially reduced.

Abstract: An arrangement for hydraulically conveying solids of different specific weights in form of slurries has at least two elongated chambers the effective length of each of which may be varied in dependence on the specific weight of the solid component of the slurry supplied to the respective chambers. The slurry is cyclically fed into the chambers at substantially atmospheric pressure, and when the respective chamber is full pressurized hydraulic fluid, such as water, is utilized for discharging the slurry from the full chamber into a discharge conduit. The arrangement includes a device which measures the specific weight of the solid component and varies the length of the respective chamber in dependence on the measured specific weight. A plurality of valves controls the admission of the slurry and of the pressurized hydraulic fluid into the respective chambers so that, when one of the chambers is being filled with slurry, another chamber is discharged into the discharge conduit.

Abstract: A predetermined pressure ratio is maintained between a foreline and a load port of a vacuum diffusion pump including a bath of oil that is vaporized by a heater. A property of the pump is sensed to derive a signal indicative of the pressure ratio. The signal is compared with a set point value to derive an error signal that controls the amount of power continuously supplied by the heater to the oil bath. The sensed property can be the RMS power supplied by the heater, the heat supplied to the bath, or the density of vaporized fluid in the pump.

Abstract: A method for transferring a liquid, particularly liquid metal, from a supply to a receiver. The transfer is carried out by means of at least one suction pump located in the receiver. The outlet of the pump is covered by the liquid being pumped. A buffer zone in shape of a two phase liquid/gas zone is established and maintained between the pump and the supply and liquid from the supply is supplied to the gas phase portion of the buffer zone by discharging the liquid from liquid phase portion of the buffer zone by means of said pump. Precaution is taken that the pump outlet is covered by liquid at all times.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for automatically measuring and controlling the instantaneous flow rate of a liquid in a piping system by varying the speed of a centrifugal pump in response to a flow rate signal determined indirectly by sampling two flow-related parameters associated with the pump and pump motor and then converting in an on-line computer the two measurements to the corresponding unique flow rate value by the use of previously determined mathematical relationships stored in the computer. The mathematical relationships are derived from data correlating flow rate with the two flow-related variables, which data is taken with a flow meter and control valve temporarily installed in the piping system during the "shake-down" testing of the piping system. A third flow-related variable is sampled, a pair of flow rate values determined, and an alarm activated in response to the difference between the values to provide the additional feature of pump mechanical performance monitoring.

Abstract: A vacuum control system is disclosed consisting of a pedal actuated valve connected between a source of air under pressure and a Venturi tube where the valve and the Venturi tube are enclosed within a base and a treadle member pivotally mounted on the base for actuating the valve. The Venturi tube has a port in which a vacuum is created upon actuation of the valve to its open position. Air ejected from the Venturi may be noiselessly diffused by porous filler material disposed adjacent the output side of the Venturi. Further, the ejected air is directed away from the foot and leg of the operator by enlarging the clearance between the forward edges of the treadle member and base while decreasing the clearance between the rear edges thereof when the treadle member is depressed to actuate the system.

Abstract: A novel method for compressing mixed gas consisting of combustible gas and air without risk of explosion of the mixed gas is described herein. In the novel method, the mixed gas is compressed under coexistence of non-combustible liquid such as water. In one preferred embodiment, a water-sealed compressor as represented by a Nash pump is used for compressing the mixed gas, and water contained in the compressed mixed gas is separated and fed back to the water-sealed compressor to assure existence of sealing water in the compressor.

Abstract: A method of achieving gas induced production of liquid from wells wherein the wells have a production tubing string extending to a production formation wherein such wells may have insufficient gas production for achieving continuous production of liquids from such wells. The method includes establishing a liquid accumulation chamber being located downstream of a gas accumulation chamber and being in communication with the tubing string, while the gas accumulation chamber is in communication with the production formation. Liquid from the production formation is produced by maintaining a condition of predetermined low flow of gas and liquid produced from the production formation. The method includes accumulating a predetermined quantity of liquid within the liquid accumulation chamber during the predetermined low flow condition, while simultaneously accumulating a quantity of gas within the gas accumulation chamber.

Abstract: A system utilizing intermittent build-up and bleeding of gas pressure in the annulus between the casing and tubing in an oil well with an inert gas interface between the gas and the producing fluid. The well is equipped with a down hole packer, inlet aperture above the packer through the tubing, and check valves above and below the packer and aperture. The system is sequentially operated by successively injecting the gas into the annulus forcing oil fluids through the aperture and up the tubing, and then bleeding the gas pressure, allowing the fluid to pass back into the annulus to the extent of the bottom hole pressure, while maintaining the necessary pressure on the formation. The cross section of the tubing is substantially smaller than the cross section of the annulus volume, thus a multiplying occurs in lifting the fluid in the tubing.

Abstract: In a first step, a mixture of nodular sediments and sea water is collected by dredging along the sea bed and lifted into the separation compartment of an underwater control and storage station connected by tubing to a carrier ship. A volume of air corresponding to the pressure of the compartment at the immersion depth is sucked from the mixture and re-injected into the dredging tube by means of a booster compressor. In a second step, the nodules separated from the air are sucked to the surface and then collected.

Abstract: One liquid is pumped to a higher elevation by another liquid. In a first stage, the pumping liquid is withdrawn from a chamber and the liquid to be pumped is thereby raised and drawn into the chamber by a siphon effect. In a second stage, the pumped liquid is forced out of the chamber and to a higher elevation by re-entry of the pumping liquid into the chamber.

Abstract: Liquid is pumped from a relatively small submerged tank in pumping cycles by discharging a gas at relatively high pressure from a relatively large tank into the submerged tank. When the submerged tank is emptied of liquid, the high pressure gas which fills it is reclaimed by exhausting the same into a second relatively large tank maintained at low pressure. Gas is reclaimed into the second large tank after the next and each subsequent pumping cycle until the resulting pressure differential impedes further transfer. Tanks filled with reclaimed gas are connected to the inlet of the air compressor to reduce the pressure thereacross and lessen the power required to compress the gas required for the pumping.

Abstract: Purging passages are machined or cast into the casing of a liquid ring compressor through which soluble or nonsoluble contaminants which may be present in the liquid ring may be removed from the compressor. These passages in single lobe pumps are located in the outer peripheral zones of the casing approximately 240.degree. from the pump land in the direction of rotation of the rotor in the area of the drive and idle ends of the rotor.