Plunger with multiple jackets

A plunger for use in a gas/fluid lift system in downhole tubulars producing fluids and/or gases under variable pressures, comprising:

• a first body and a second body slidingly engageable within the tubulars and capable of movement up and down said tubulars, said first and second body each having a top end and a bottom end, and an inner core within each said body for internal sealing;
• a connector disposed between said first and second bodies and joining said bodies, said connector having first and second ends, said first end attached to the bottom end of the first body and said second end attached to the top end of the second body;
• an external sealing means having an outer side and an inner side mounted about each said core radially expandable to seal against the interior of said tubulars;
• an internal sealing means disposed between or on each said core and/or the inner side of each said external sealing means;
• a flow path for fluids and/or gases between each said core and the inner side of each said external sealing means;
• said internal and external sealing means retarding the upward flow of fluids and/or gases and causing an increase in fluid and gas pressure below the plunger which elevates the plunger and the accumulated well fluids to the surface when the pressure inside the tubulars above the plunger is reduced.

A plunger for use in a gas/fluid lift system in downhole tubulars in wells producing fluids and/or gases under variable pressures, comprising:

• a body slidingly engageable within the tubulars and capable of movement up and down said tubulars, said body having a top end and a bottom end, and an elongated inner core within the body for internal sealing;
• at least two separate flexible jackets having an outer side and inner side, formed by a plurality of segments mounted about said core, each of said segments having a convex outer surface and an inner surface, first and second sides, and top and bottom ends;
• retaining rings located between the jacket assemblies, at the top end of the first jacket assembly, and at the bottom end of the second jacket assembly, said retaining rings limiting the outward radial movement of the segments;
• a flow path for fluids and/or gases between said core and the inner side of each said jacket;
• each said jacket having an inner side providing an internal seal, and an outer side being radially expandable to provide an external seal against the interior of said tubulars, wherein each of said internal and external seals retards the upward flow of fluids and/or gases which thereby increases pressure below the plunger to thereby move the plunger and accumulated well fluids upwardly to the surface when the pressure inside the tubulars above the plunger is reduced.

A plunger for use in a gas/fluid lift system in tubulars in wells producing both fluids and gases under variable pressure, comprising:

• a body that is slidingly engageable and which gravitates within the tubulars, said body having a top end, and a bottom end, and an elongated internal core within the body for internal sealing;
• at least two separate external sealing means mounted around said core having an outer side and inner side, radially expandable to seal against the interior of said tubulars;
• an internal sealing means disposed between or on each said core and/or the inner side of each said external sealing means;
• retaining means for each external sealing means, the retaining means being located between each external sealing means, at the top end of the first external sealing means, and at the bottom end of the second external sealing means, said retaining means limiting the outward radial movement of said external sealing means;
• a flow path for fluids and/or gases between each said core and the inner side of each said external sealing means;
• said internal and external sealing means retarding the upward flow of fluids and/or gases and causing an increase in fluid and gas pressure below the plunger which elevates the plunger and the accumulated well fluids to the surface when the pressure inside the tubulars above the plunger is reduced.