Abstract: A method for controlling the liquid load size of a plunger lift well during the shut in time of the well to facilitate a controlled plunger rise. Intra-cycle control allows dynamic adjustments within a cycle to keep the plunger running and not stalling out or rising too fast. The method includes the steps of shutting in the well to build up pressure within the well, adjusting a size of a liquid slug within the tubing while the well is shut in, opening a valve to relieve pressure within the well and raise the plunger within the tubing, pushing the liquid slug out of the well with the plunger, and closing the valve wherein the plunger falls within the tubing. The intra-cycle adjustments include reducing the size of the liquid slug for preventing fluid loading and increasing the size of the liquid slug for controlling a rise rate of the plunger.

Abstract: A hydraulic pump is driven by a rotating shaft, driven in turn by a renewable energy source. A hydraulic motor drives a load and a high pressure manifold communicates between the pump, motor and an elastically deformable fluid retaining body. The pressure in the high pressure manifold is measured and the net rate of displacement of working fluid by the hydraulic pump is selected responsive thereto to regulate the torque applied to the rotating shaft. The net rate of displacement of working fluid by the hydraulic motor is selected to smooth the energy flow to the load. The net rate of displacement of working fluid by the hydraulic motor is selected to regulate the pressure in the high pressure manifold to remain within an acceptable pressure range.

Abstract: Complex on-chip interconnect fabrics, particularly those that include point-to-point interconnects and coherent routing networks, can present significant challenges for conventional trace techniques that may be applied in an effort to efficiently provide an external debugger with visibility into on-chip interconnect transactions. Embodiments described herein generate and supply separate in-circuit-trace messages including address messages and data messages, which are sent out (i.e., off-chip) to external debug tools generally without delay and coincident with the distinct, but related, trace events within address and data paths of the interconnect fabric. These separate message instances embed appropriate tag and mark values to allow the message instances to be post-processed and correlated by the external debug tools so as to reconstruct the transaction information for operations performed in the on-chip interconnect.

Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder assembly for a fluid pump including a cylinder, a bearing attached to an approximate first end of the cylinder, a rod slideably mounted within the bearing, and a piston located about an end of the rod in the cylinder opposite the bearing. A central axis of the rod is offset from, and parallel to, a centerline of the cylinder to impede a rotation of the piston about the rod. The hydraulic cylinder assembly further including a hydraulic pump fluidly connected to the cylinder, the pump configured to provide a hydraulic pressure to the cylinder during an up-stroke of the piston and rod and the pump further configured to generate electricity on the down-stroke of the piston and rod.

Abstract: A rod-pumping system is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a downhole pump positioned in a well and coupled to a well string, such as a sucker-rod string. The system also includes a first hydraulic actuator arranged with respect to the well string so as to enable the first hydraulic actuator to move the well string within the well. The first hydraulic actuator is connected in fluid communication with a second hydraulic actuator. A control pump is connected to both the first and second hydraulic actuators to enable the control pump to alternate between pumping control fluid to the first hydraulic actuator to cause the well string to move in a first direction within the well and pumping control fluid to the second hydraulic actuator to cause the well string to move in an opposite, second direction within the well. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydraulic pump for use in driving a load with a control modulation system which modulates a primary control signal in order to accommodate variations in secondary changeable parameters which require control at a higher frequency or have a lower latency.

Abstract: An acoustic fluid machine such as an air compressor comprises an acoustic resonator, a valve device and a piston. Air is sucked into the resonator through the valve device at one end of the resonator. The piston at the other end of the resonator is reciprocated by an actuator to compress the air in the resonator to cause resonance to increase pressure of the air significantly. The inner surface of the resonator is suitably curved to comply with the formula of a half-period cosine function.

Abstract: The wellbore pump of the present invention comprises a plunger having passage means which may be open or closed by a valve operated by a piston which is biased in the open position by a spring of selected strength such that the wellbore pressure may overcome the spring to close the valve when the accumulated hydrostatic pressure reaches a certain value. When the valve closes the reservoir pressure forces the plunger to the surface and causes the accumulated liquids to be pumped out of the wellbore. A stem extending from the top of the piston engages a top plate and causes the valve to open when the plunger reaches the top of the wellbore. Means is provided whereby the valve opens when it reaches the top of the wellbore and a latch may be provided to retain the plunger from returning to the bottom of the well.

Abstract: The wellbore pump of the present invention comprises a plunger having passage means which may be open or closed by a valve operated by a piston which is biased in the open position by a spring of selected strength such that the wellbore pressure may overcome the spring to close the valve when the accumulated hydrostatic pressure reaches a certain value. When the valve closes the reservoir pressure forces the plunger to the surface and causes the accumulated liquids to be pumped out of the wellbore. A stem extending from the top of the piston engages a top plate and causes the valve to open when the plunger reaches the top of the wellbore. Means is provided whereby the valve opens when it reaches the top of the wellbore and a latch may be provided to retain the plunger from returning to the bottom of the well.

Abstract: An improved, unattended, liquid pumping device for oil and gas wells featuring a bellows controlled flow valve that opens and closes at preset pressures. Additionally a well head receiver design that releases shut in production gas below the pumping device and provides a positive pressure differential across the pumping device prior to valve opening.

Abstract: Method for operating a well installation utilizing a chamber in operative association with plunger lift to carry out deliquidfication. Injection gas may be employed for plunger lift in a manner wherein the injection channel is isolated from the primary annulus of the well adjacent the casing. Gas is produced through that primary annulus.

Abstract: The wellbore pump of the present invention comprises a plunger having passage means which may be open or closed by a valve operated by a piston which is biased in the open position by a spring of selected strength such that the wellbore pressure may overcome the spring to close the valve when the accumulated hydrostatic pressure reaches a certain value. When the valve closes the reservoir pressure forces the plunger to the surface and causes the accumulated liquids to be pumped out of the wellbore. A stem extending from the top of the piston engages a top plate and causes the valve to open when the plunger reaches the top of the wellbore. Means is provided whereby the valve opens when it reaches the top of the wellbore and a latch may be provided to retain the plunger from returning to the bottom of the well.

Abstract: A wellbore pump comprises a plunger having a passage which may be open or closed by a valve operated by a piston which is biased in the open position by a spring of selected strength such that the wellbore pressure may overcome the spring to close the valve when the accumulated hydrostatic pressure reaches a certain value. When the valve closes the reservoir pressure forces the plunger to the surface and causes the accumulated liquids to be pumped out of the wellbore.

Abstract: An electrically-operated sealed compressor includes a cylinder, a cylinder head mounted on the cylinder and having a suction chamber and first and second discharge chambers, a piston accommodated in the cylinder, and a valve mechanism. The valve mechanism includes a suction muffler and a valve plate having at least one suction port, first and second discharge ports, and first and second pass holes. The first discharge port and the first pass hole communicate with the first discharge chamber, while the second discharge port and the second pass hole communicate with the second discharge chamber. The valve mechanism also includes first and second discharge valves mounted on the valve plate and accommodated in the first and second discharge chambers, respectively, a suction reed having a reed valve for selectively opening and closing the suction port, a discharge gasket for sealing the valve plate and the cylinder head, and a discharge muffler.

Abstract: A process for producing sintered parts with high wear resistance and good dynamic strength properties from formed bodies, which have been pressed as green parts from a completely-alloyed air-hardened heat-treatment steel powder with a carbon content of at least 0.3% added in the form of graphite. The process includes sintering the parts under protective gas at a sintering temperature of at least 1000.degree. C. and subsequent cooling. The sintered parts are cooled immediately after sintering from the sintering temperature to a first holding temperature in the range of Ar.sub.3 to a maximum of 150.degree. C. above Ar.sub.3 and are held for a first holding period of 5 to 25 minutes at this temperature (austenitizing phase). Immediately after this, the sintered parts are cooled in accelerated fashion to a second holding temperature by convective gas cooling and are held at this temperature for a second holding period.

Abstract: An improved pump tool (10, 110, 200) is provided for lifting oil from within a casing 18 of a well. The gas in the well provides the lifting action. The pump tool includes a body (22) which is preferably formed of ABS plastic. The body defines an upper chamber (24) and a lower chamber (26) which is connected through a hydrostatically operated valve (44). The plastic body weighs less, is chemically resistant and reduces the risk of spark and explosion.

Abstract: An oil well swabbing device having a pressure activated valve for use in closing a fluid passage therein when the swabbing device is submerged under liquid in a well casing corresponding to a predetermined valve closing pressure; the pressure-activated valve comprising a pressure collapsible bladder such as a bellows or diaphragm, a valve and seat interposed in the fluid passage, and an actuator rod connecting the valve to the pressure collapsible bladder such that the valve is closed when the bladder is collapsed to a degree corresponding to the predetermined valve closing pressure. Improved speed brakes, catchers, and position indicators for oil well swabbing devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: Wellhead apparatus as set forth for installation on a producing gas well which has a certain measure of condensate therein. The device includes an alignment tube which is precisely constructed for easy transition from the tubing string. That connects to a master valve which connects to a tee thereabove. A lateral flow line connected with a gas valve regulates gas produced from the well. The master valve is just below the tee, and the tee extends upwardly into a lubricator extension tube. The two are connected together by a lubricator extension union sub which utilizes a lock nut engaging a pair of matching shoulders. A method of timed production is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus (42, 72) for filling a hose (36) with water (12) and simultaneously for expelling air from the hose while connected to the vacuum side of a pump (20) in preparation for cleaning debris from a swimming pool (10) without loss of the prime in the pump comprises a housing (44, 74) submergeable in the water and having a pair of chambers (46, 48 & 76, 78) respectively having inlets (58, 80) and outlets (64, 86), with the inlets being open to the water and the outlets being coupled respectively to the pump and to the hose. Impellers (54, 100 & 56, 102) respectively in their chambers are coupled together by a shaft (52, 98) in which a first of the impellers (54, 100) is driven by a second of the impellers (56, 102) when water is drawn by the pump past the second of the impellers. In one embodiment, elbow conduit (110) can be slid from a first position where water purges air from the hose to a second position where the hose is used to clean debris from the swimming pool.

Abstract: An intermittent well controller is disclosed. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the controller, in conjunction with sensors indicative of well conditions, controls the delivery of lifting gas to the well. The controller is intended to be installed at a remote location where the equipment is normally provided with no commercially available electrical power and is battery operated. The battery operated controller is normally switched off nearly all the time. Moreover, the controller incorporates a battery sensitive indicator which signals an alarm in the event that terminal voltage of the battery cells drops below a specified level to provide a warning for service personnel on their next trip to the well that the batteries should be replaced. Further, the device utilizes a computer with a memory not subject to erasure when the equipment is switched off. The device is cycled on for a short interval of time, typically just a few microseconds. The duty cycle is thereby far less than 1%.

Abstract: An apparatus for retrieving oil from a producing zone after the bottom hole pressure has decreased to such an extent that artificial lift is required for production. An accumulator is positioned in the area of the casing where oil accumulates with the uppermost portion being vented to atmosphere to allow oil flow therein. A floating piston-type device may be located immediately above the accumulator with a bypass from the accumulator to the top of the floating piston. Pressure is subsequently applied through the vent line to the accumulator to force oil from the accumulator through a stinger tube above the floating piston and subsequently raise the oil and floating piston to the surface. Without the piston, a stinger tube and standing valve may be used to accumulate oil in the production tubing.

Abstract: An apparatus for retrieving oil from a producing zone after the bottom hole pressure has decreased to such an extent that artificial lift is required for production. An accumulator is provided by casing sealed off with a packer, or an accumulation chamber located in the area of the casing where oil accumulates. The uppermost portion of the accumulator is vented to atmosphere to allow oil flow therein. A floating piston-type device may be located immediately above the accumulator with a bypass from the accumulator to the top of the floating piston. Pressure is subsequently applied through the vent line to the accumulator to force oil from the accumulator through a stinger tube above the floating piston and subsequently raise the oil and floating piston to the surface. Without the piston, a stinger tube and standing valve may be used to accumulate oil in the production tubing. The vent line may be located inside the production line with the upper casing being used as a pressure storage tank.