Gas operated pump for hydrocarbon wells

A pump system for use in a wellbore, comprising:

• a high pressure gas source;
• a gas operated pump for use in the wellbore, the gas operated pump including:
• two or more chambers for the accumulation of formation fluids;
• and
• two or more removable one-way valves for controlling flow of formation fluid in and out of the two or more chambers;
• a control mechanism in fluid communication with the high pressure gas source, wherein the control mechanism utilizes the high pressure gas source to send a signal to actuate the gas operated pump;
• a valve assembly in direct fluid communication with the high pressure gas source for filling and venting the two or more chambers with high pressure gas;
• and
• a pilot valve operatively attached to the valve assembly for receiving a signal from the control mechanism and sending a signal to the valve assembly.

A downhole pump for use in a wellbore, comprising:

• two or more chambers for the accumulation of formation fluids;
• a valve assembly for filling and venting gas to and from the two or more chambers;
• a fluid passageway for connecting the two or more chambers to a production tube;
• and
• a velocity reduction device operatively attached to a vent tube at an upper end of the valve assembly.

A method for improving production in a wellbore, comprising:

• inserting a gas operated pump into a lower wellbore, the gas operated pump including:
• two or more chambers for the accumulation of formation fluids;
• a valve assembly for filling and venting gas to and from the two or more chambers;
• and
• one or more removable one-way valves for controlling flow of the formation fluid in and out of the one or more chambers;
• activating the gas operated pump;
• cycling the gas operated pump to urge wellbore fluid out of the wellbore;
• placing a fluid conduit at the lower end of the gas operated pump, the fluid conduit extending from a heel to a toe of the lower wellbore;
• and
• inserting a deployable cartridge into the production tubing to close the flow of formation fluid in the heel of the lower well, thereby allowing production only from the toe of the lower well.

A method for improving production in a wellbore, comprising:

• inserting a gas operated pump into a lower wellbore, the gas operated pump is connected to a collection system and the gas operated pump comprises:
• two or more chambers for the accumulation of formation fluids;
• a valve assembly for filling and venting gas to and from the two or more chambers;
• and
• one or more removable one-way valves for controlling flow of the formation fluid in and out of the one or more chambers;
• activating the gas operated pump;
• cycling the gas operated pump to urge wellbore fluid out of the wellbore;
• and
• collecting vented gas emitted by the gas operated pump into the collection system and transporting the gas to a steam generator to create steam.

A downhole pump assembly for use in a wellbore, comprising

• one or more chambers for the accumulation of formation fluids;
• a valve assembly for filling and venting gas to and from the one or more chambers;
• one or more removable one-way valves for controlling flow of formation fluid in and out of the one or more chambers;
• and
• at least one fluid conduit connectable to the one or more chambers, the at least one fluid conduit permitting flow of formation fluid from a heel and a toe of the wellbore, whereby the at least one fluid conduit is capable of receiving a deployable cartridge constructed and arranged to close the flow of formation fluid from the heel and/or the toe of the wellbore.