Method and apparatus for venting gas through a downhole pump assembly

Claim 2

In a fluid operated pump assembly having an engine which actuates a pump means and with the assembly being located downhole within a borehole, with the pump assembly being connected to the borehole by a packer means, the method of venting gas while producing the well comprising the steps of: 1. pumping power fluid through a conduit to the engine to cause the engine to actuate the pump means; 2. flowing fluid from a fluid producing formation to the pump means so as to enable the pump means to lift the fluid through another conduit towards the surface of the borehole; 3. venting gas from the formation towards the surface of the borehole by permitting the gas located below the packer to flow through a passageway formed within the pump assembly.

Claim 3

flowing fluid from a fluid producing formation to the pump means so as to enable the pump means to lift the fluid through another conduit towards the surface of the borehole;

Claim 4

flowing fluid from a fluid producing formation to the pump means so as to enable the pump means to lift the fluid through another conduit towards the surface of the borehole;

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein step (3) is carried out by the following steps:

Claim 6

venting gas from the formation towards the surface of the borehole by permitting the gas located below the packer to flow through a passageway formed within the pump assembly.

Claim 7

venting gas from the formation towards the surface of the borehole by permitting the gas located below the packer to flow through a passageway formed within the pump assembly.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 wherein step (3) is carried out by forming a passageway through a piston of the pump and a piston of the engine and through the connecting rod located therebetween; flow connecting the lower extremity of the passageway to an area below the packer and flow connecting the upper extremity of the passageway to a gas collection means located above the surface of the ground.

Claim 9

The method of claim 3 and further including the step of flowing gas, power oil, and produced oil along three different flow paths formed within a borehole casing.

Claim 10

forming a vent passageway through a pump piston, through a connecting rod attached between the pump piston and an engine piston, through a valve control rod, and from the valve control rod into a conduit means which extends to the surface above the borehole;

Claim 11

forming a vent passageway through a pump piston, through a connecting rod attached between the pump piston and an engine piston, through a valve control rod, and from the valve control rod into a conduit means which extends to the surface above the borehole;

Claim 12

flow connecting the passageway of the pump piston to an area underlying packer and in communication with the borehole annulus so as to permit gas which accumulates below the packer to flow to the passageway of the pump piston.

Claim 13

flow connecting the passageway of the pump piston to an area underlying packer and in communication with the borehole annulus so as to permit gas which accumulates below the packer to flow to the passageway of the pump piston.

Claim 14

In a fluid operated pump assembly for operation downhole in a borehole and adapted to receive power fluid from the surface of the ground while venting gas from a fluid producing formation and pumping produced fluid to the surface of the ground along with the spent power fluid, the improvement comprising: said pump assembly adapted to be attached to the borehole by a packer means so as to enable the lower extremity of the assembly to be placed in contact with gas and liquid which flows into the borehole from the producing formation, with the gas accumulating under the packer means; said pump assembly including a valve means, an engine means, and a pump means with said valve means receiving the power fluid from the surface of the earth so as to actuate said engine which in turn reciprocates said pump means; a piston in said engine means, a piston in said pump means; said engine and pump pistons being connected together by a connecting rod; a lower rod depending from said pump piston in opposed relationship with respect to said connecting rod; a valve control rod depending from said engine piston in opposed relationship with respect to said connecting rod; means forming a vent passageway through said control rod, through said engine piston, through said connecting rod, through said pump piston, and through said lower rod; means connecting one end of said vent passageway to an area which is in flow communication with gas produced by the formation so as to enable gas to flow thereinto; means connecting the remaining end of said vent passageway to the surface of the ground so as to effect the stated function of venting gas from a fluid producing formation.

Claim 15

In a fluid operated pump assembly for operation downhole in a borehole and adapted to receive power fluid from the surface of the ground while venting gas from a fluid producing formation and pumping produced fluid to the surface of the ground along with the spent power fluid, the improvement comprising: said pump assembly adapted to be attached to the borehole by a packer means so as to enable the lower extremity of the assembly to be placed in contact with gas and liquid which flows into the borehole from the producing formation, with the gas accumulating under the packer means; said pump assembly including a valve means, an engine means, and a pump means with said valve means receiving the power fluid from the surface of the earth so as to actuate said engine which in turn reciprocates said pump means; a piston in said engine means, a piston in said pump means; said engine and pump pistons being connected together by a connecting rod; a lower rod depending from said pump piston in opposed relationship with respect to said connecting rod; a valve control rod depending from said engine piston in opposed relationship with respect to said connecting rod; means forming a vent passageway through said control rod, through said engine piston, through said connecting rod, through said pump piston, and through said lower rod; means connecting one end of said vent passageway to an area which is in flow communication with gas produced by the formation so as to enable gas to flow thereinto; means connecting the remaining end of said vent passageway to the surface of the ground so as to effect the stated function of venting gas from a fluid producing formation.

Claim 16

The pump assembly of claim 5 and further including an extended sleeve, said lower rod having a lower marginal end portion thereof received within said extended sleeve; said sleeve having means by which one terminal end thereof is in communication with a lower adapter; means forming a gas flow passageway through said adapter so as to place the lower extremity of the sleeve in communication with the borehole; said pump means having an intake and an outlet; said lower adapter having a liquid passageway, the inlet of which is disposed below said gas inlet, and with an outlet thereof being in communication with said pump intake.

Claim 17

The pump assembly of claim 5 and further including an upper adapter, said adapter having a power oil inlet, a gas passageway, and a central passageway; said central passageway adapted to receive said valve control rod therein so as to enable gas to be vented from said control rod, through said central passageway, and to the surface of the ground while power oil flows through said power oil inlet about said valve control rod, and to said valve assembly.

Claim 18

The pump assembly of claim 5, and further including a lower crossover affixed to the lower extremity of said pump means; a sleeve depending from said pump means and received within said crossover; means forming a gas flow passageway through said crossover and into communication with said sleeve; means forming a liquid flow path through said crossover and into communication with said pump; with the last named passageway having an inlet which underlies the inlet of the gas flow passageway; said lower rod having a lower marginal end portion thereof reciprocatingly received within said sleeve; said gas flow passAgeway and said sleeve forming a portion of said vent passageway.

Claim 19

A pump assembly for producing gas free liquid from a borehole; said assembly including means forming an engine and a pump; said pump having a piston which is connected to said engine by a connecting rod; means associated with said pump assembly and said borehole for enabling gas to separate from fluid to be pumped; means forming a passageway from the separated gas, through said pump piston, through said connecting rod, through said engine, and to the surface of the ground; means forming a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet for said pump to enable liquid to be pumped from the bottom of the borehole to the surface of the earth along one flow path while gas is vented from the bottom of the borehole to the surface of the earth along another flow path.

Claim 20

A pump assembly for producing gas free liquid from a borehole; said assembly including means forming an engine and a pump; said pump having a piston which is connected to said engine by a connecting rod; means associated with said pump assembly and said borehole for enabling gas to separate from fluid to be pumped; means forming a passageway from the separated gas, through said pump piston, through said connecting rod, through said engine, and to the surface of the ground; means forming a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet for said pump to enable liquid to be pumped from the bottom of the borehole to the surface of the earth along one flow path while gas is vented from the bottom of the borehole to the surface of the earth along another flow path.

Claim 21

The pump assembly of claim 9 wherein the liquid is separated from the gas by an area at least partially defined by a packer means which attaches the pump to the borehole wall; said liquid inlet underlying said gas inlet and said gas inlet underlying said packer means.