US3678997A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic dewatering of gas wells
Assignee: AMERICA METER Co
•
Filing: 1971-03-31
•
Granted: 1972-07-25
•
Expires: 1991-03-31
Abstract
Abstract An automatic gas well dewatering system which operates to eject water from the well whenever the differential pressure across an orifice plate in the gas discharge line decreases below a predetermined low pressure value. The said dewatering system includes fluid activated control valves disposed in control loop lines to continuously cycle the control valves between open and closed positions. One of the control valves intermittently opens a liquid discharge line connected to a tubing carried in the well casing for discharging liquid from the well. The said dewatering system will continue to cycle and eject water from the well so long as the differential pressure across the orifice plate remains below a predetermined high pressure value.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis M Barchard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:32
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/34; E21B43/12; E21B43/121; E21B43/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
In a gas well having a casing in which liquid collection would interfere with the gas production, the combination of: a. a gas flow line connected to the casing of the well to discharge the gas therefrom, b. an orifice plate in the gas flow line, c. a differential controller operatively connected to the gas line to measure the differential pressure across the orifice plate, d. a tubing supported in the casing and having its lower end open adjacent the bottom of the casing, e. a liquid discharge line connected to the tubing, f. a normally closed dump valve means connected in the liquid discharge line, g. a first control line for pressure fluid, h. a second control line for pressure fluid, i. control means operatively interconnecting the first control line and the second control line to form an operative loop having a predetermined cycling period in which pressure fluid is transmitted alternately in said first control line and said second control line, j. the control means operative responsive the differential controller and being initiated by a first predetermined pressure differential in the gas flow line and terminated by a second predetermined pressure differential in the gas flow line, and k. the dump valve means is connected to one of the control lines to be opened upon pressure fluid being transmitted therein to discharge the liquid in the casing out of the tubing during the cycling period of the said one of the control lines.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
In a gas well having a casing in which liquid collection would interfere with the gas production, the combination of: a. a gas flow line connected to the casing of the well to discharge the gas therefrom, b. an orifice plate in the gas flow line, c. a differential controller operatively connected to the gas line to measure the differential pressure across the orifice plate, d. a tubing supported in the casing and having its lower end open adjacent the bottom of the casing, e. a liquid discharge line connected to the tubing, f. a normally closed dump valve means connected in the liquid discharge line, g. a first control line for pressure fluid, h. a second control line for pressure fluid, i. control means operatively interconnecting the first control line and the second control line to form an operative loop having a predetermined cycling period in which pressure fluid is transmitted alternately in said first control line and said second control line, j. the control means operative responsive the differential controller and being initiated by a first predetermined pressure differential in the gas flow line and terminated by a second predetermined pressure differential in the gas flow line, and k. the dump valve means is connected to one of the control lines to be opened upon pressure fluid being transmitted therein to discharge the liquid in the casing out of the tubing during the cycling period of the said one of the control lines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
The combination claimed in claim 1 wherein: a. the first control line is connected to operate the dump valve means, b. the second control line is connected to the differential controller, and c. the control means including a first control valve means connected in the first control line and operative responsive pressure fluid in the second control line, and a second control valve means connected in the second control line and operative responsive pressure fluid in the first control line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
The combination claimed in claim 2 wherein: a. the first control valve means includes a three-way valve normally closing the first control line and biased open by pressure fluid flowing in the second control line, b. the second control valve means including a three-way valve normally opening the second control line and biased close by pressure fluid flowing in the first control line, and c. the first control line and the second control line successively alternately operative to continuously cycle the dump valve means open and closed during operation of the control means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
The combination claimed in claim 3 wherein: a. the first control line includes a loading means downstream of both the first three-way control valve and dump valve means to delay the operation of the second three-way control valve in the second control line, and b. the first control line includes an unloading means downstream of the loading means to coact with the loading means in removing pressure fluid from the second three-way control valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
The combination claimed in claim 4 wherein: a. the loading means includes an accumulator and adjustable restriction connected upstream of the accumulator to set the operative rate of the second three-way control valve, and b. the unloading means includes an adjustable restriction and check valve connected in a bleed loop line downstream of the accumulator to circulate back into the first control line intermediate the first three-way control valve and the adjustable restriction of the loading means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination claimed in claim 5 wherein: a. each of the three-way control valves includes a bleed line connected to the third leg thereof with the first and second legs thereof connected across the respective first control line and the second control line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
The combination claimed in claim 1 wherein: a. a shut-off differential controller operatively connected to the gas line to measure a substantial zero differential pressure across the orifice plate, and b. the shut-off differential controller operatively connected to the control means to effect closing of the dump valve means whereby gas flow will not be discharged from the dump valve means during shut-in conditions of the gas well.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination claimed in claim 7 wherein: a. a shut-off valve means is connected in one of the control lines in a normally open position and connected to be closed by operation of the shut-off differential controller upon the differential pressure across said orifice plate reaching substantially zero.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination claimed in claim 7 wherein: a. a third control line connected between the shut-off differential controller and the dump valve means, whereby on operation of the shut-off differential controller, the dump valve means is locked in the closed position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
174 words
In a gas flowing well having a casing in which liquid collection therein interferes with the gas production of the well, the combination of: a. a gas discharge line connected to the casing, b. a differential controller including an orifice plate connected into the gas discharge line to measure the differential pressure across the orifice plate, c. a control device operative responsive the differential controller sensing a differential pressure within a predetermined range of gas flow pressure in the gas discharge line, d. the control device including control loop lines having fluid actuated control means therein to continuously cycle said control loop lines open and close for predetermined cycle periods during operation of the control device, e. a tubing connected into the casing with an open lower end positioned adjacent the bottom of the casing, and a normally closed outer end, and f. one of the fluid actuated control means connected into the tubing intermittently to open said outer end thereof for discharging liquid for predetermined cycle periods during operation of the control device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
174 words
In a gas flowing well having a casing in which liquid collection therein interferes with the gas production of the well, the combination of: a. a gas discharge line connected to the casing, b. a differential controller including an orifice plate connected into the gas discharge line to measure the differential pressure across the orifice plate, c. a control device operative responsive the differential controller sensing a differential pressure within a predetermined range of gas flow pressure in the gas discharge line, d. the control device including control loop lines having fluid actuated control means therein to continuously cycle said control loop lines open and close for predetermined cycle periods during operation of the control device, e. a tubing connected into the casing with an open lower end positioned adjacent the bottom of the casing, and a normally closed outer end, and f. one of the fluid actuated control means connected into the tubing intermittently to open said outer end thereof for discharging liquid for predetermined cycle periods during operation of the control device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
The combination claimed in claim 10 wherein: a. a second differential controller means to sense the differential pressure across the orifice plate, and b. the second differential controller means is connected in the control device to become operative upon the said differential pressure reaching substantially zero to operate the control device to Prevent the said outer end of the tubing from opening.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
159 words
The combination claimed in claim 10 wherein: a. the control loop lines includes a control line connected to the differential controller, and a recycle line connected to a source of pressure fluid and having two branches, b. the control means includes a plurality of valve means, having fluid actuations; one connected in the control line normally in open position, one connected in the recycle line normally in closed position, and one connected in the tubing normally in closed position, and c. the control line is connected to the actuator of the recycle line valve to open said valve upon being actuated responsive the differential controller, whereby pressure fluid is transmitted in the recycle line to the actuators of the control line valve to close the same, and the tubing to open the same, thus causing a shut down of the recycle line valve and a continuous cycling of the liquid discharge so long as the differential controller is operative.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination claimed in claim 12 wherein: a. loading means is connected in the recycle line to extend the transmission period of the pressure fluid to the actuator of the control line valve to delay the closing thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination claimed in claim 13 wherein: a. the last mentioned means including an accumulator and an adjustable restriction delivery pressure fluid thereto, and b. unloading means is connected in the recycle line including an adjustable restriction and a check valve to direct flow of pressure fluid out from the actuator of the control line valve to speed-up the unloading thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination claimed in claim 14 wherein: a. the control line valve is a three-way valve with two legs connecting the control line normally open and the third leg defining a bleed line, and b. the recycle line valve is a three-way valve with two legs connecting the recycle line normally closed and the third leg defining a bleed line.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
79 words
The combination claimed in claim 15 wherein: a. each of the three-way valves in the respective control line and the recycle line having an open position which connects the opposite loop of said lines and closes the bleed line, and a closed position which shuts off the leg on the side of said lines, transmitting the pressure fluid and connects the leg on the side of line communicating with the actuator of the respective valves to the bleed line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-25 | 1976-01-24 | 1976-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-25 | 1980-01-24 | 1980-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-25 | 1984-01-24 | 1984-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |