Subsurface pumping installation for handling viscous or sand-laden fluids

Claim 2

In a subsurface pumping installation which includes: parallel power and production tubing strings; a pump barrel at the lower end of said power tubing string; sucker rods extending down said power tubing string; a plunger movable up and down within said barrel; means connecting said plunger with said sucker rods; a crossover affording communication between said pump barrel and said production tubing string; said power tubing string being adapted to carry diluent from the surface into a well; means for transmitting at least a portion of the diluent to said barrel beneath said plunger and thence to said crossover; and valves for admitting well fluid to said crossover and discharging it therefrom on opposite movements of said plunger; said production tubing string being adapted to carry a mixture of well fluid and diluent to the surface; the improvement comprising: a landing shoe attached to one of said tubing strings at the lower end thereof; means carried by the other of said tubing strings at the lower end thereof stabbed and locked in said landing shoe; said landing shoe having upper edges which slope downwardly toward the central axis of said other tubing string to guide said last-named means into the landing shoe as said other tubing string is lowered; and tubular means connecting said crossover and said landing shoe.

Claim 3

An improvement as defined in claim 1 in which said landing shoe is attached at one side to the lower end of said power tubing string, and the means stabbed and locked in said landing shoe is carried by the lower end of said production tubing string.

Claim 4

An improvement as defined in claim 1 in which said landing shoe is attached at one side to the lower end of said production tubing string, and the means stabbed and locked in said landing shoe is carried by the lower end of said power tubing string.

Claim 5

An improvement as defined in claim 1 comprising in addition a mixing chamber below said crossover for receiving well fluid, and bypass means through which a portion of the diluent is carried to said mixing chamber to blend with well fluid therein.

Claim 6

An improvement as defined in claim 4 in which bypass means has a diluent-receiving end connected to said landing shoe.

Claim 7

An improvement as defined in claim 4 in which said valves include a suction valve located at the bottom of said crossover between said mixing chamber and said crossover, and a discharge valve located at the top of said crossover between said crossover and said tubular means.

Claim 8

An improvement as defined in claim 4 comprising in addition a metering orifice between said bypass means and said mixing chamber.

Claim 9

An improvement as defined in claim 4 comprising in addition means for forcing the diluent under additional positive pressure through said bypass means into said mixing chamber.

Claim 10

An improvement as defined in claim 8 in which the means for forcing the diluent under pressure includes a packoff for said plunger above said barrel and said bypass means, and a control valve in said bypass means, the diluent being forced on upstrokes of said plunger.

Claim 11

An improvement as defined in claim 8 in which the means for forcing the diluent under pressure includes a second barrel and plunger above said first-named barrel and plunger, said bypass means being connected to said second barrel, the diluent being forced on downstrokes of said plungers.

Claim 12

An inprovement as defined in claim 1 in which the means connecting said plunger with said sucker rods includes a pull tube having a bore communicating with said power tubing string and said plunger has a bore communicating with the bore in said pull tube and comprising in addition a check valve to prevent diluent from backing up through said bores on a downstroke of said plunger.

Claim 13

An improvement as defined in claim 11 in which said plunger has ports affording communication between its bore and said barrel, said plunger having greater clearance with said barrel below said ports than above said ports.

Claim 14

In subsurface pumping installation which includes: parallel power and production tubing strings; a pump barrel at the lower end of said power tubing string; sucker rods extending down said power tubing string; a plunger movable up and down within said barrel; means connecting said plunger with said sucker rods; a crossover affording communication between said pump barrel and said production tubing string; said power tubing string being adapted to carry diluent from the surface into a well; means for transmitting at least a portion of the diluent to said barrel beneath said plunger and thence to said crossover; and valves for admitting well fluid to said crossover and discharging it therefrom on opposite movements of said plunger; said production tubing string being adapted to carry a mixture of well fluid and diluent to the surface; the improvement comprising: a landing shoe attached to one of said tubing strings at the lower end thereof; a mandrel carried by the other of said tubing strings at the lower end thereof and stabbed and locked in said landing shoe; packing rings and lobes on said mandrel; said landing shoe having cutouts for receiving said lobes as said mandrel is stabbed in the landing shoe, and undercut segments circumferentially aligned with said cutouts receiving said lobes on rotation of said mandrel to lock the mandrel in the landing shoe; and tubular means connecting said crossover and said landing shoe.

Claim 15

In subsurface pumping installation which includes: parallel power and production tubing strings; a pump barrel at the lower end of said power tubing string; sucker rods extending down said power tubing string; a plunger movable up and down within said barrel; means connecting said plunger with said sucker rods; a crossover affording communication between said pump barrel and said production tubing string; said power tubing string being adapted to carry diluent from the surface into a well; means for transmitting at least a portion of the diluent to said barrel beneath said plunger and thence to said crossover; and valves for admitting well fluid to said crossover and discharging it therefrom on opposite movements of said plunger; said production tubing string being adapted to carry a mixture of well fluid and diluent to the surface; the improvement comprising: a landing shoe attached to one of said tubing strings at the lower end thereof; a mandrel carried by the other of said tubing strings at the lower end thereof and stabbed and locked in said landing shoe; packing rings and lobes on said mandrel; said landing shoe having cutouts for receiving said lobes as said mandrel is stabbed in the landing shoe, and undercut segments circumferentially aligned with said cutouts receiving said lobes on rotation of said mandrel to lock the mandrel in the landing shoe; and tubular means connecting said crossover and said landing shoe.

Claim 16

In a subsurface pumping installation which includes parallel power and production tubing strings, a pump barrel at the lower end of said power tubing string, sucker rods extending down said power tubing string, a plunger movable up and down within said barrel, means connecting said plunger with said sucker rods, and a crossover affording communication between said pump barrel and said production tubing string, said power tubing string being adapted to carry diluent from the surface into a well, said production tubing string being adapted to carry a mixture of well fluid and diluent to the surface, the improvements comprising: said connecting means and said plunger having a passage for receiving diluent from said power tubing string; said plunger having a segment in its upper portion making close clearance with said barrel and at least one segment below said first-named segment making a greater clearance with said barrel; said plunger having restricted ports affording communication between said passage and its outer circumference in the segment making greater clearance to introduce diluent to said barrel beneath said plunger and exclude well fluid therefrom; means below said barrel for mixing diluent with well fluid; a landing shoe attached to one of said tubing strings at the lower end thereof at a level above said pump barrel; means carried by the other of said tubing strings at the lower end thereof stabbed and locked in said landing shoe; said landing shoe having upper edges which slope downwardly forming the outline of a cone, the apex of which lies on the central axis of the tubing string which carries the means stabbed and locked in said landiing shoe; and a production tubing extension connecting said landing shoe and said crossover.

Claim 17

In a subsurface pumping installation which includes parallel power and production tubing strings, a pump barrel at the lower end of said power tubing string, sucker rods extending down said power tubing string, a plunger movable up and down within said barrel, means connecting said plunger with said sucker rods, and a crossover affording communication between said pump barrel and said production tubing string, said power tubing string being adapted to carry diluent from the surface into a well, said production tubing string being adapted to carry a mixture of well fluid and diluent to the surface, the improvements comprising: said connecting means and said plunger having a passage for receiving diluent from said power tubing string; said plunger having a segment in its upper portion making close clearance with said barrel and at least one segment below said first-named segment making a greater clearance with said barrel; said plunger having restricted ports affording communication between said passage and its outer circumference in the segment making greater clearance to introduce diluent to said barrel beneath said plunger and exclude well fluid therefrom; means below said barrel for mixing diluent with well fluid; a landing shoe attached to one of said tubing strings at the lower end thereof at a level above said pump barrel; means carried by the other of said tubing strings at the lower end thereof stabbed and locked in said landing shoe; said landing shoe having upper edges which slope downwardly forming the outline of a cone, the apex of which lies on the central axis of the tubing string which carries the means stabbed and locked in said landiing shoe; and a production tubing extension connecting said landing shoe and said crossover.

Claim 18

In a subsurface pumping installation which includes parallel power and production tubing strings, a pump barrel at the lower end of said power tubing string, sucker rods extending down said power tubing string, a plunger movable up and down within said barrel, means connecting said plunger with said sucker rods, and a crossover affording communication between said pump barrel and said production tubing string, said power tubing string being adapted to carry diluent from the surface into a well, said production tubing string being adapted to carry a mixture of well fluid and diluent to the surface, the improvements comprising: said connecting means and said plunger having a passage for receiving diluent from said power tubing string; said plunger having a segment in its upper portion making close clearance with said barrel and at least one segment below said first-named segment making a greater clearance with said barrel; said plunger having restricted ports affording communication between said passage and its outer circumference in the segment making greater clearance to introduce diluent to said barrel beneath said plunger and exclude well fluid therefrom; means below said barrel for mixing diluent with well fluid; a landing shoe attached to one of said tubing strings at the lower end thereof at a level aove said pump barrel; a mandrel attached to the other of said tubing strings at the lower end thereof stabbed and locked in said landing shoe; packing rings and lobes on said mandrel; said landing shoe having cutouts for receiving said lobes as said mandrel is stabbed in the landing shoe and undercut segments circumferentially aligned with said cutouts receiving said lobes on rotation of said mandrel to lock the mandrel in the landing shoe; and a production tubing extension connecting said landing shoe and said crossover.

Claim 19

In a subsurface pumping installation which includes parallel power and production tubing strings, a pump barrel at the lower end of said power tubing string, sucker rods extending down said power tubing string, a plunger movable up and down within said barrel, means connecting said plunger with said sucker rods, and a crossover affording communication between said pump barrel and said production tubing string, said power tubing string being adapted to carry diluent from the surface into a well, said production tubing string being adapted to carry a mixture of well fluid and diluent to the surface, the improvements comprising: said connecting means and said plunger having a passage for receiving diluent from said power tubing string; said plunger having a segment in its upper portion making close clearance with said barrel and at least one segment below said first-named segment making a greater clearance with said barrel; said plunger having restricted ports affording communication between said passage and its outer circumference in the segment making greater clearance to introduce diluent to said barrel beneath said plunger and exclude well fluid therefrom; means below said barrel for mixing diluent with well fluid; a landing shoe attached to one of said tubing strings at the lower end thereof at a level aove said pump barrel; a mandrel attached to the other of said tubing strings at the lower end thereof stabbed and locked in said landing shoe; packing rings and lobes on said mandrel; said landing shoe having cutouts for receiving said lobes as said mandrel is stabbed in the landing shoe and undercut segments circumferentially aligned with said cutouts receiving said lobes on rotation of said mandrel to lock the mandrel in the landing shoe; and a production tubing extension connecting said landing shoe and said crossover.

Claim 20

In a subsurface pumping installation which includes parallel power and production tubing strings, a pump barrel at the lower end of said power tubing string, sucker rods extending down said power tubing string, a plunger movable up and down within said barrel, means connecting said plunger with said sucker rods, and a crossover affording communication between said pump barrel and said production tubing string, said power tubing string being adapted to carry diluent from the surface into a well, said production tubing string being adapted to carry a mixture of well fluid and diluent to the surface, the improvement comprising: means for transmitting at least a portion of the diluent to said pump barrel beneath said plunger; means below said plunger for mixing diluent and well fluid; a landing shoe connected with one of said tubing strings and receiving the lower end of the other of said tubing strings; said landing shoe having upper edges which slope downwardly forming the outline of a cone, the apex of which lies on the central axis of the tubing string received therein.

Claim 21

In a subsurface pumping installation which includes parallel power and production tubing strings, a pump barrel at the lower end of said power tubing string, sucker rods extending down said power tubing string, a plunger movable up and down within said barrel, means connecting said plunger with said sucker rods, and a crossover affording communication between said pump barrel and said production tubing string, said power tubing string being adapted to carry diluent from the surface into a well, said production tubing string being adapted to carry a mixture of well fluid and diluent to the surface, the improvement comprising: means for transmitting at least a portion of the diluent to said pump barrel beneath said plunger; means below said plunger for mixing diluent and well fluid; a landing shoe connected with one of said tubing strings and receiving the lower end of the other of said tubing strings; said landing shoe having upper edges which slope downwardly forming the outline of a cone, the apex of which lies on the central axis of the tubing string received therein.