Well completion and pumping system

Claim 2

In a well for producing petroleum from a petroliferous subterranean formation underlying a non-petroliferous overburden wherein a bore hole extends from the surface through the overburden and into the petroliferous formation and including a casing head at the surface and a production casing in said bore hole extending from the casing head at least substantially through said non-petroliferous overburden, the improvement which comprises: a first conduit suspended concentrically within said production casing and extending from said casing head into said petroliferous formation; a second conduit suspended concentrically within said first conduit and extending from said casing head into said petroliferous formation; a third conduit suspended concentrically within said second conduit and extending from the casing head into said petroliferous formation; a free-type, hydraulic-drive, bottom-hole pump inserted into said third conduit; means for seating said pump at the bottom of said third conduit to provide fluid communication from said third conduit to the power fluid inlet in the hydraulic engine of said pump, to provide fluid communication from the power fluid exhaust of said engine to the annulus between said seconD and third conduits, to provide fluid communication from the well bore below said pump to the inlet of said pump, and to provide fluid communication from the discharge of said pump to the annulus between said first and second conduits; power fluid inlet means in said casing head to provide fluid communication from a power fluid source to said third conduit; power fluid outlet means in said casing head to provide fluid communication from the annulus between said second and third conduits to a power fluid exhaust; produced oil outlet means in said casing head to provide fluid communication from the annulus between said first and second conduits to a produced oil outlet; and a vent means in said casing head to provide a fluid conduit from the annulus between said first conduit and said production casing to a produced gas outlet.

Claim 3

The device defined in claim 1 including a hanger-packer mounted in said well in the annulus between said production casing and said first conduit above said petroliferous formation to support said first conduit and to prevent fluid flow upwardly through said annulus, said hanger-packer including a vent having a valve operable from a remote location and including means to operate said valve from said remote location.

Claim 4

The device defined in claim 1 including a pressure sensor located adjacent to the bottom of said first conduit and including means to transmit a signal from said pressure sensor to a remote location at the surface.

Claim 5

The device defined in claim 1 including a remote-operated valve adjacent to the bottom of said first conduit to prevent the flow of fluids into said pump and upwardly through the annulus between said first and second conduits, and including means to operate said valve from a remote location at the surface.

Claim 6

In a well for producing petroleum from a petroliferous subterranean formation underlying a non-petroliferous overburden wherein a bore hole extends from the surface through the overburden and into the petroliferous formation and including a casing head at the surface, a production casing in said bore hole extending from the casing head at least substantially through said non-petroliferous overburden, and a foraminous tubular member extending from the bottom of said production casing to the bottom of said bore hole, the improvement which comprises: a first casing suspended concentrically within said production casing and extending from said casing head into said petroliferous formation; a second casing suspended concentrically within said first casing and extending from said casing head to a point a short distance above the lower end of said first casing; a tubing string suspended concentrically within said second casing and extending from said casing head to the bottom of said second casing; a free-type, hydraulic-drive, bottom-hole pump inserted into said tubing string; means at the bottom of said tubing string for seating said pump and to provide fluid communication from said tubing string to the power fluid inlet in the hydraulic engine of said pump, to provide fluid communication from the power fluid exhaust of said engine to the annulus between said tubing string and said second casing, to provide fluid communication from the well below said pump to the inlet of said pump, and to provide fluid communication from the discharge of said pump to the annulus between said first and second casing, said pump being housed within said first casing; a pressure sensor located adjacent to the bottom of said first casing and including means to transmit an electrical signal indicative of the bottom-hole pressure to a remote location at the surface; a hydraulically operated safety valve located adjacent to the bottom of said first casing to prevent the flow of fluids into said first casing on closure, and including means to operate said valve from a remote location at the surface; a hanger-packer mounted in the annulus said production casing and saiD first casing above said petroliferous formation to support said first casing and to prevent fluid flow upwardly through said annulus, said hanger-packer including a vent having a hydraulically operated valve and including means to operate said valve from a remote location at the surface; power fluid inlet means in said casing head to provide fluid communication from a power fluid source to said tubing string; power fluid outlet means in said casing head to provide fluid communication from the annulus between said tubing string and said second casing to a power fluid exhaust conduit; produced oil outlet means in said casing head to provide fluid communication from the annulus between said first casing and said second casing to a produced oil outlet conduit; and gas vent means in said casing head to provide a fluid conduit from the annulus between said production casing and said first casing to a produced gas outlet conduit.

Claim 7

In a well for producing petroleum from a petroliferous subterranean formation underlying a non-petroliferous overburden wherein a bore hole extends from the surface through the overburden and into the petroliferous formation and including a casing head at the surface, a production casing in said bore hole extending from the casing head at least substantially through said non-petroliferous overburden, and a foraminous tubular member extending from the bottom of said production casing to the bottom of said bore hole, the improvement which comprises: a first casing suspended concentrically within said production casing and extending from said casing head into said petroliferous formation; a second casing suspended concentrically within said first casing and extending from said casing head to a point a short distance above the lower end of said first casing; a tubing string suspended concentrically within said second casing and extending from said casing head to the bottom of said second casing; a free-type, hydraulic-drive, bottom-hole pump inserted into said tubing string; means at the bottom of said tubing string for seating said pump and to provide fluid communication from said tubing string to the power fluid inlet in the hydraulic engine of said pump, to provide fluid communication from the power fluid exhaust of said engine to the annulus between said tubing string and said second casing, to provide fluid communication from the well below said pump to the inlet of said pump, and to provide fluid communication from the discharge of said pump to the annulus between said first and second casing, said pump being housed within said first casing; a pressure sensor located adjacent to the bottom of said first casing and including means to transmit an electrical signal indicative of the bottom-hole pressure to a remote location at the surface; a hydraulically operated safety valve located adjacent to the bottom of said first casing to prevent the flow of fluids into said first casing on closure, and including means to operate said valve from a remote location at the surface; a hanger-packer mounted in the annulus said production casing and saiD first casing above said petroliferous formation to support said first casing and to prevent fluid flow upwardly through said annulus, said hanger-packer including a vent having a hydraulically operated valve and including means to operate said valve from a remote location at the surface; power fluid inlet means in said casing head to provide fluid communication from a power fluid source to said tubing string; power fluid outlet means in said casing head to provide fluid communication from the annulus between said tubing string and said second casing to a power fluid exhaust conduit; produced oil outlet means in said casing head to provide fluid communication from the annulus between said first casing and said second casing to a produced oil outlet conduit; and gas vent means in said casing head to provide a fluid conduit from the annulus between said production casing and said first casing to a produced gas outlet conduit.