Backflush filter system for downhole pumps
AssigneeStren Company
InventorKenneth J. Schmitt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A well rod pump having a filter system to remove particulate material from the fluids produced from the well and an automatic back flush system using pumped fluid to flush particulate material from the filter system in response to increased pressure differential across the filter system, including a rod moved by a piston to open the valves of the pump, and a time delay connected to continue to hold the valves open for a period sufficient to allow back flushed particles to settle in the well. Well treatment chemicals may be injected into the well with the back flushing fluid.
Claims12
A filter assembly configured and arranged for filtering particulate matter from well fluid to be pumped by a downhole pump in a well, said pump including an inlet valve, including:
- a filter member positioned to filter particulate material from well fluid before the well fluid enters the pump,
- an actuator operable in response to a pressure differential across the filter member resulting from a preselected level of particulate loading of the filter member, to engage said valve to open it to allow well fluid to flow from the pump through said filter member in a direction to dislodge particulate matter from said filter member,
- said actuator including a reference cell which controls the time during which well fluid flows in such direction.
A filter assembly configured and arranged for filtering particulate matter from well fluid to be pumped by a downhole pump in a well, including:
- a filter member positioned to filter particulate material from well fluid before the well fluid enters the pump,
- an actuator located within said well and operable in response to a preselected level of particulate loading of the filter member, positioned to allow well fluid in the well above the filter member to flow through said filter member in a direction to dislodge particulate matter from said filter member, and
- a timer engaging said actuator to control the amount of time the well fluid flows in said direction.
An oil well pumping system comprising
- a downhole pump having an elongate pump barrel open at its lower end with a standing valve positioned to dose said opening to prevent flow downwardly therethrough, and a plunger in said barrel, said plunger having a traveling valve therein and being reciprocable in said barrel to pump well fluids from said barrel;
- an annular filter suspended below said pump to filter particulate matter from the oil well fluids, with the exterior of the filter being exposed to well fluids in the oil well and the interior of said filter being in communication with the lower opening of said barrel to conduct well fluids which pass through said filter from the oil well to the lower opening of the barrel;
- an actuator, actuable in response to a preselected level of particulate loading of the filter, positioned to allow well fluids above the filter to flow through said filter in a direction to dislodge particulate matter;
- and
- a timer engaging said actuator to control the amount of time the well fluid flows in said direction.
A method for filtering particulate matter from well fluid being pumped from an oil well by a downhole pump, comprising
- operating a downhole pump to cause well fluid to flow from a lower location in a well bore to a higher location in a well bore,
- causing said well fluid to flow through a filter while flowing from said lower location to said higher location so that the filter becomes loaded with particulate matter, creating a differential pressure across the filter,
- causing the well fluid to flow downwardly from said higher location to said lower location through the filter, in response to a preselected differential pressure across the filter acting on an actuator member within said well, and
- terminating the downward flow of the well fluid upon the expiration of a preselected time.
A method for pumping well fluids from an oil well comprising:
- installing in the oil well a downhole pump having an elongate pump barrel open at its lower end with a standing valve positioned to close said opening to prevent flow downwardly therethrough, and a plunger in said barrel, said plunger having a traveling valve therein and being reciprocable in said barrel to pump well fluids from said barrel;
- suspending beneath the pump an annular filter to filter particulate matter from the oil well fluids, with the exterior of the filter being exposed to well fluids in the oil well containing particulate matter and the interior of said filter being in communication with the lower opening of said barrel to conduct well fluids which pass through said filter from the oil well to the lower opening of the barrel;
- operating said pump to pump well fluids from the well bore through said filter, whereby particulate matter loads the filter to a preselected level;
- in response to said preselected level of particulate loading of the filter, causing well fluids above the filter to flow through said filter in a direction to dislodge particulate matter;
- and
- in response to the expiration of a preselected of time terminating the flow of well fluids in said direction.
A method for treating a well with chemicals comprising
- operating a downhole pump to cause well fluid to flow from a lower location in a well bore to a higher location in a well bore,
- causing said well fluid to flow through a filter while flowing from said lower location to said higher location so that the filter becomes loaded with particulate matter, creating a differential pressure across the filter,
- causing the well fluid to flow downwardly from said higher location to said lower location through the filter, in response to a preselected differential pressure across the filter acting on an actuator member within said well, and
- injecting a well treatment chemical into the downwardly flowing well fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.