Equipment for measuring the yield of oil wells

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for the continuous and reliable measurement of the yield of oil wells. The fluid from the well, consisting of mixture of oil and gas, is directed into a two-phase separator having separate outlets for gas and liquid. Within the separator, or in direct communication therewith, is a combined liquid level and pressure regulator, which comprises a float supported by the liquid, and upper and lower pressure-compensated slide valves directly mechanically connected to the float and movable vertically therewith, simultaneously progressively closing one outlet while progressively opening the other. Downstream of the pressure-compensated slide valves there are separate yield-measuring devices for the oil and gas output, and further downstream is a mixture, where the components are recombined and thoroughly mixed. A water content meter can also be provided in the flow path for the separated liquid. The mechanism is extremely simplified and economical to install, yet is highly reliable for extended unsupervised service in the field, independent of electrical requirements.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.