Gas operated pump for hydrocarbon wells
AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.
InventorsWilliam F. Howard, Darren J. Wiltse, William C. Lane
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for improving production from a wellbore are provided. In one embodiment, a downhole pump for use in a wellbore includes a chamber for accumulating formation fluids and a valve assembly for filling and venting gas to and from the chamber. In another embodiment, a gas operated pump for moving wellbore fluids in a wellbore includes a chamber for accumulating wellbore fluids, wherein the chamber in fluid communication with a production tubular and a surface mounted valve assembly in fluid communication with the chamber, wherein the valve assembly adapted to regulate gas flow to or from the chamber. In another embodiment, the valve assembly comprises a removable control valve disposed in a housing.
Claims13
A gas operated pump for lifting fluid from a wellbore to a surface of the earth, comprising:
- a tubular chamber disposed in the wellbore for accumulating the fluid,
- a production tubular for delivering the fluid from the chamber to the surface;
- a first check valve for allowing fluid flow from the wellbore to the chamber;
- a second check valve for allowing fluid flow from the chamber to the production tubular;
- a gas tubular for delivering compressed gas from the surface to the chamber;
- a vent tubular for relieving the gas from the chamber to the surface;
- and
- a valve assembly located at the surface and comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinal bore therethrough;
- a first port formed through the housing and in fluid communication with a gas supply;
- a second port formed through the housing and in fluid communication with the gas tubular;
- a third port formed through the housing and in fluid communication with a vent line;
- and
- a fourth port formed through the housing and in fluid communication with the vent tubular;
- and
- a valve disposed in the housing and operable to alternately provide fluid communication between the first and second ports and the third and fourth ports.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.