Fluid circulating method and system for wells

Claim 5

A well flow controlling system for use in operating a well having a U-tube flow path conduit therein, said system including: a flow direction controlling manifold at the surface connected to the upper ends of the U-tube flow path conduit for controlling the direction of flow of fluids into and out of said conduit; a source of supply of fluid to be injected into the well U-tube flow path conduit through the manifold; pump means connected to the source of supply of fluid and to the manifold for pumping fluid from the source of supply to the manifold and therethrough into the U-tube flow path conduit in the well; fluid pressure power operator means connected with said pump means for operating the pump means; means for conducting well fluid from the well through the flow directing manifold to the fluid pressure operator means for actuating said operator means by well fluid pressure to drive the pump means to pump fluid from the source of supply into the U-tube flow path conduit by means of said well fluid pressure to fill the U-tube flow path conduit, manifold and pump means with said fluid; means for closing off the source of supply of fluid from the U-tube flow path conduit, manifold and pump means to provide a closed path in the well through the U-tube flow path conduit, manifold and pump means and for continuing to direct fluids flowing from the well to the operator means for operating said pump means by well fluid pressure to circulate the fluids in the closed flow path of the U-tube flow path conduit, manifold and pump means at the pressure of the fluids in the well; and means for conducting the well fluids passing out of said fluid pressure power operator means after operating the same to a place of disposal.

Claim 6

A well flow controlling system for use in operating a well having a U-tube flow path conduit therein, said system including: a flow direction controlling manifold at the surface connected to the upper ends of the U-tube flow path conduit for controlling the direction of flow of fluids into and out of said conduit; a source of supply of fluid to be injected into the well U-tube flow path conduit through the manifold; pump means connected to the source of supply of fluid and to the manifold for pumping fluid from the source of supply to the manifold and therethrough into the U-tube flow path conduit in the well; fluid pressure power operator means connected with said pump means for operating the pump means; means for conducting well fluid from the well through the flow directing manifold to the fluid pressure operator means for actuating said operator means by well fluid pressure to drive the pump means to pump fluid from the source of supply into the U-tube flow path conduit by means of said well fluid pressure to fill the U-tube flow path conduit, manifold and pump means with said fluid; means for closing off the source of supply of fluid from the U-tube flow path conduit, manifold and pump means to provide a closed path in the well through the U-tube flow path conduit, manifold and pump means and for continuing to direct fluids flowing from the well to the operator means for operating said pump means by well fluid pressure to circulate the fluids in the closed flow path of the U-tube flow path conduit, manifold and pump means at the pressure of the fluids in the well; and means for conducting the well fluids passing out of said fluid pressure power operator means after operating the same to a place of disposal.

Claim 7

A System of the character set forth in claim 3 wherein: said pump means comprises a cylinder having a piston movable therein; an inlet fluid conduit connected with the source of supply of fluid; an outlet conduit from the cylinder to the flow directing manifold for conducting fluids from the cylinder to the flow directing manifold and to the U-tube flow path conduit in the well; and inlet and outlet conduits each having valve means therein controlling the flow of fluids into and out of the cylinder; and said fluid pressure operator means comprises a cylinder having a larger bore than the bore of the cylinder of the pump means; a piston movable in the cylinder of the operator means having an effective area larger than the effective area of the piston of the pump means; means connecting the power operator means piston with the piston of the pump means for driving the pump piston by means of the power operator means piston; means for conducting well fluids from the flow directing manifold connected with the well U-tube flow path conduit into the power operator cylinder for moving the piston therein to drive the pump means piston; and means connected to the cylinder of the power operator means for conducting the well fluids from said cylinder to said means for conducting said well fluids to a place of disposal after the power operator means piston has been actuated by said well fluids.

Claim 8

A system of the character set forth in claim 4 including: auxiliary pump means having auxiliary drive means operatively connected with said operator means for pumping auxiliary operating fluid to said operator means for actuating the piston of said operator means to operate said pump means when the well fluid pressure is insufficient to actuate said operator means.

Claim 9

A well flow controlling system for use in operating a well having a U-tube flow path conduit therein, said system including: a flow direction controlling manifold at the surface connected to the upper ends of the U-tube flow path conduit for controlling the direction of flow of fluids into and out of said conduit; a source of supply of fluid to be injected into the well U-tube flow path conduit through the manifold; pump means connected to the source of supply of fluid and to the manifold for pumping fluid from the source of supply to the manifold and therethrough into the U-tube flow path conduit in the well; fluid pressure power operator means connected with said pump means for operating the pump means; means for conducting well fluid from the well through the flow directing manifold to the fluid pressure operator means for actuating said operator means by well fluid pressure to drive the pump means to pump fluid from the source of supply into the U-tube flow path conduit by means of said well fluid pressure; means for conducting the well fluids passing out of said fluid pressure power operator means after operating the same to a place of disposal; and auxiliary pump means having auxiliary drive means operatively connected with said operator means for pumping auxiliary operating fluid to said operator means for actuating the same to operate said pump means when the well fluid pressure is insufficient to actuate said operator means.

Claim 10

A well flow controlling system for use in operating a well having a U-tube flow path conduit therein, said system including: a flow direction controlling manifold at the surface connected to the upper ends of the U-tube flow path conduit for controlling the direction of flow of fluids into and out of said conduit; a source of supply of fluid to be injected into the well U-tube flow path conduit through the manifold; pump means connected to the source of supply of fluid and to the manifold for pumping fluid from the source of supply to the manifold and therethrough into the U-tube flow path conduit in the well; fluid pressure power operator means connected with said pump means for operating the pump means; means for conducting well fluid from the well through the flow directing manifold to the fluid pressure operator means for actuating said operator means by well fluid pressure to drive the pump means to pump fluid from the source of supply into the U-tube flow path conduit by means of said well fluid pressure; means for conducting the well fluids passing out of said fluid pressure power operator means after operating the same to a place of disposal; and auxiliary pump means having auxiliary drive means operatively connected with said operator means for pumping auxiliary operating fluid to said operator means for actuating the same to operate said pump means when the well fluid pressure is insufficient to actuate said operator means.

Claim 11

A well fluid circulating system for use with a well having conduits therein providing two separate longitudinal flow paths therein connected at their lower ends and having flow openings at their upper ends and providing a U-tube flow path conduit in said well communicating with at least one producing formation at the lower end of said well, said system including: a flow direction controlling manifold connected to each of the flow openings of the U-tube flow path conduit of the well and having means for controlling flow direction into and out of said U-tube flow path conduit; a circulating conductor connected to said manifold for receiving fluids from the U-tube flow path conduit in the well; a pump having a cylinder and a piston movable therein for pumping fluids; a supply conDuctor for conducting fluids to be pumped to the pump; a return conductor connected with the pump and with the manifold for conducting fluids to be pumped into the well from the pump to the manifold for direction into the U-tube flow conduit path in the well; a source of supply of fluid to be pumped into the well; means for disposing of fluids from the well; first valve means connected with the circulating conductor, with the supply conductor, with the source of supply of fluid to be pumped into the well and with the means for disposing of fluids from the well; said first valve means being movable to a first position connecting the supply conductor with one of either the source of supply of fluid to be pumped into the well or the circulating conductor connected with the manifold and connecting the means for disposing of fluids with the other of said source of supply of fluid to be pumped or said circulating conductor not connected with the supply conductor; said first valve means being movable to a second position connecting the other of the source of supply of fluid to be pumped or the circulating conductor with the supply conductor, and connecting the means for disposing of fluids with the one of said source of supply of fluid to be pumped and said circulating conductor not connected with the supply conductor; said first valve means when in one of said positions directing fluid from said source of supply of fluid to be pumped to said pump to be pumped into said well U-tube flow path conduit and when in the other of said positions directing fluid from one flow path of the well U-tube flow path conduit to said pump to be pumped into the other flow path of said well U-tube flow path conduit; a fluid pressure power operator device for operating the pump comprising: a cylinder with a power piston movable therein having a cross-sectional area greater than the cross-sectional area of the pump piston; said power piston being operatively connected with the pump piston for actuating the pump piston; second valve means connected with a pair of separate three-way valve means and with a pair of separate inlet conduits into the cylinder of the fluid pressure power operator device on the opposite sides of the power piston therein; one of said three-way valve means being also connected with said circulating conductor and with a supply line from a separate source of hydraulic fluid pressure, whereby when said one three-way valve means is in a first position well fluids from said circulating conductor are directed through said second valve means to said operator device for actuating the piston therein and said supply line from said source of hydraulic fluid pressure is closed, and when said one three-way valve means is in a second position hydraulic fluid pressure from said supply line from said hydraulic fluid pressure source is directed through said second valve means to said operator device for actuating the piston therein and said connection with said circulating conductor is closed; the other three-way valve means being also connected with said means for disposal of fluids and with a return line to said separate source of hydraulic fluid pressure, and movable to a first position to connect said second valve means with said means for disposal of fluids when said one three-way valve means is positioned to connect said second valve means with said circulating conductor whereby well fluids are directed to said operator device to actuate the power piston to operate the pump to pump fluid into the U-tube flow path conduit, and movable to a second position connecting said second valve means with said return line to said hydraulic fluid pressure source and to close the connection with said means for disposal of fluids when said one three-way valve means is positioned to connect said second valve means with said supply line from said source of hydraulic fluid pressure and said circulating conductor is closed, whereby hydraulic fluid pressure is directed through said second valve means to saiD operator device for actuating the power piston therein for pumping fluid into the U-tube flow path conduit in the well, and well fluids from said U-tube flow path conduit are directed to the means for disposal of fluids; and means connected with said power piston of said operator device for actuating said second valve means between positions connecting said one three-way valve means with said cylinder of said operator device alternately on opposite sides of said power piston in said cylinder in response to reciprocating movement of said power piston.

Claim 12

A well fluid circulating system for use with a well having conduits therein providing two separate longitudinal flow paths therein connected at their lower ends and having flow openings at their upper ends and providing a U-tube flow path conduit in said well communicating with at least one producing formation at the lower end of said well, said system including: a flow direction controlling manifold connected to each of the flow openings of the U-tube flow path conduit of the well and having means for controlling flow direction into and out of said U-tube flow path conduit; a circulating conductor connected to said manifold for receiving fluids from the U-tube flow path conduit in the well; a pump having a cylinder and a piston movable therein for pumping fluids; a supply conDuctor for conducting fluids to be pumped to the pump; a return conductor connected with the pump and with the manifold for conducting fluids to be pumped into the well from the pump to the manifold for direction into the U-tube flow conduit path in the well; a source of supply of fluid to be pumped into the well; means for disposing of fluids from the well; first valve means connected with the circulating conductor, with the supply conductor, with the source of supply of fluid to be pumped into the well and with the means for disposing of fluids from the well; said first valve means being movable to a first position connecting the supply conductor with one of either the source of supply of fluid to be pumped into the well or the circulating conductor connected with the manifold and connecting the means for disposing of fluids with the other of said source of supply of fluid to be pumped or said circulating conductor not connected with the supply conductor; said first valve means being movable to a second position connecting the other of the source of supply of fluid to be pumped or the circulating conductor with the supply conductor, and connecting the means for disposing of fluids with the one of said source of supply of fluid to be pumped and said circulating conductor not connected with the supply conductor; said first valve means when in one of said positions directing fluid from said source of supply of fluid to be pumped to said pump to be pumped into said well U-tube flow path conduit and when in the other of said positions directing fluid from one flow path of the well U-tube flow path conduit to said pump to be pumped into the other flow path of said well U-tube flow path conduit; a fluid pressure power operator device for operating the pump comprising: a cylinder with a power piston movable therein having a cross-sectional area greater than the cross-sectional area of the pump piston; said power piston being operatively connected with the pump piston for actuating the pump piston; second valve means connected with a pair of separate three-way valve means and with a pair of separate inlet conduits into the cylinder of the fluid pressure power operator device on the opposite sides of the power piston therein; one of said three-way valve means being also connected with said circulating conductor and with a supply line from a separate source of hydraulic fluid pressure, whereby when said one three-way valve means is in a first position well fluids from said circulating conductor are directed through said second valve means to said operator device for actuating the piston therein and said supply line from said source of hydraulic fluid pressure is closed, and when said one three-way valve means is in a second position hydraulic fluid pressure from said supply line from said hydraulic fluid pressure source is directed through said second valve means to said operator device for actuating the piston therein and said connection with said circulating conductor is closed; the other three-way valve means being also connected with said means for disposal of fluids and with a return line to said separate source of hydraulic fluid pressure, and movable to a first position to connect said second valve means with said means for disposal of fluids when said one three-way valve means is positioned to connect said second valve means with said circulating conductor whereby well fluids are directed to said operator device to actuate the power piston to operate the pump to pump fluid into the U-tube flow path conduit, and movable to a second position connecting said second valve means with said return line to said hydraulic fluid pressure source and to close the connection with said means for disposal of fluids when said one three-way valve means is positioned to connect said second valve means with said supply line from said source of hydraulic fluid pressure and said circulating conductor is closed, whereby hydraulic fluid pressure is directed through said second valve means to saiD operator device for actuating the power piston therein for pumping fluid into the U-tube flow path conduit in the well, and well fluids from said U-tube flow path conduit are directed to the means for disposal of fluids; and means connected with said power piston of said operator device for actuating said second valve means between positions connecting said one three-way valve means with said cylinder of said operator device alternately on opposite sides of said power piston in said cylinder in response to reciprocating movement of said power piston.

Claim 15

A system of the character set forth in claim 8 including: means for directing fluids pumped into said one of said conduits and into and from the other of said conduits to said pump means and through said pump means back into said one of said conduits in a closed circuit, whereby fluids may be circulated in said closed circuit to carry on pump down tool operations in said U-tube flow path.

Claim 18

A method of the character set forth in claim 10 including: the additional step of circulating liquids in the U-tube flow conduit in the well in a closed circuit through the pump.

Claim 19

A method of the character set forth in claim 11 including: the additional step of utilizing the circulating fluids in the closed system to carry out through-the-flow-line pump down tool operations in said U-tube flow path conduit.

Claim 20

A method of the character set forth in claim 10 including: the additional step of pumping another fluid into the U-tube flow path conduit to displace the fluid previously pumped into said U-tube flow path conduit.