Jet pump supercharging of oil field plunger pump

Claim 2

In an apparatus for pumping liquids from a well of the type comprising a positive displacement pump including a working barrel having a suction end and a discharge end and including a plunger slidably positioned for reciprocating motion within the working barrel, in operation the positive displacement pump drawing liquid into the working barrel through the suction end on an intake stroke of the plunger in which the plunger is moved axially within the working barrel in a first direction, the improvement which comprises: a jet pump connected to the suction end of the working barrel for supercharging the positive displacement pump to boost fluid pressure in the working barrel on the intake stroke of the plunger; the jet pump being positioned to draw liquid from the well and to discharge this liquid into the suction end of the working barrel; and means for stopping and starting flow of power fluid to the jet pump in timed relationship with the reciprocating motion of the pump plunger.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 including conduit means for connecting the jet pump in fluid communication with a source of power fluid.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the jet pump comprises: a housing having a hollow chamber therein which chamber is connected in fluid communication with the suction end of the working barrel; and a nozzle head connected to the housing and positioned to direct a stream of power fluid into the hollow chamber.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the housing is provided with an annular passageway surrounding the hollow chamber, the annular passageway being connected in fluid communication with the conduit means and with the nozzle head intermediate said conduit means and nozzle head, whereby in operation power fluid passing from the conduit means to the nozzle head passes through the annular passage before reaching the nozzle head.

Claim 6

Apparatus for pumping produced fluid out of a well comprising: a sucker rod pump positioned in the well adjacent a producing formation; the sucker rod pump comprising a working barrel with a suction end; a string of steel rods for driving the sucker rod pump connected to the sucker rod pump and extending from the sucker rod pump to the earth surface; means for imparting reciprocating movement to the string of rods to drive the sucker rod pump; a housing defining a hollow chamber connected to the working barrel suction end, the housing having therein an opening spaced from the working barrel suction end for admitting produced well fluid into the hollow chamber, the housing also defining a narrowed throat of selected minimum diameter in the hollow chamber adjacent the housing opening; a nozzle head operatively connected to the housing and positioned to direct a stream of high pressure power liquid into the hollow chamber through the narrowed throat, the nozzle head having an internal diameter less than the minimum diameter of the throat; a power liquid control valve positioned in the conduit means; and control valve drive means for opening and closing the control valve connected to the control valve and to the means for imparting reciprocating movement to the string of rods; wherein, in operation, a stream of high pressure liquid is passed through the nozzle head into the hollow chamber drawing produced well fluid into the hollow chamber through the housing opening by suction and wherein the sucker rod pump draws fluid from the follow chamber and pumps this fluid from the well.

Claim 7

Apparatus for pumping produced fluid out of a well comprising: a sucker rod pump positioned in the well adjacent a producing formation; the sucker rod pump comprising a working barrel with a suction end; a string of steel rods for driving the sucker rod pump connected to the sucker rod pump and extending from the sucker rod pump to the earth surface; means for imparting reciprocating movement to the string of rods to drive the sucker rod pump; a housing defining a hollow chamber connected to the working barrel suction end, the housing having therein an opening spaced from the working barrel suction end for admitting produced well fluid into the hollow chamber, the housing also defining a narrowed throat of selected minimum diameter in the hollow chamber adjacent the housing opening; a nozzle head operatively connected to the housing and positioned to direct a stream of high pressure power liquid into the hollow chamber through the narrowed throat, the nozzle head having an internal diameter less than the minimum diameter of the throat; a power liquid control valve positioned in the conduit means; and control valve drive means for opening and closing the control valve connected to the control valve and to the means for imparting reciprocating movement to the string of rods; wherein, in operation, a stream of high pressure liquid is passed through the nozzle head into the hollow chamber drawing produced well fluid into the hollow chamber through the housing opening by suction and wherein the sucker rod pump draws fluid from the follow chamber and pumps this fluid from the well.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the conduit means for connecting the nozzle head with a source of power liquid comprises an annular passageway within the housing sUrrounding the hollow chamber.