Method and apparatus for controlling production of fluids from a well

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said method further comprises the step of connecting a drain to said vessel for transporting liquid therefrom substantially simultaneously with the step of closing said bypass valve.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein said method further comprises the step of maintaining said bypass valve in a closed condition regardless of the level of liquid in said vessel.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein said method further comprises the step of: connecting the inlet of a compressor to said gas conduit; monitoring gas pressure in said vessel; starting said compressor when said gas pressure rises above a preselected pressure; and stopping said compressor when said gas pressure falls below a preselected pressure.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 wherein said method further comprises the step of disabling said compressor when the liquid in said vessel rises above a second preselected level, said second preselected liquid level being less than said first-mentioned preselected liquid level.

Claim 9

The method of claim 6 wherein the step of increasing the gas pressure in said vessel when said liquid rises above a preselected level comprises the step of restricting said gas conduit.

Claim 10

The method of claim 6 wherein the step of increasing the gas pressure in said vessel when said liquid rises above a preselected level comprises the step of increasing the gas pressure in said vessel by an amount sufficient to boost vessel fluid into said emergency conduit.

Claim 11

The method of claim 6 wherein said method further comprises the steps of: monitoring gas pressure in said vessel; applying a pressure lower than that in said vessel to said gas conduit when said vessel gas pressure rises above a first preselected pressure; and removing said lower pressure when said vessel gas pressure falls below a second preselected pressure.

Claim 12

The method of claim 9 wherein said method further includes the step of preventing said lower pressure from being applied to said gas conduit when said liquid rises above a preselected level.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for increasing the gas pressure in said vessel responsive to said liquid rising above a preselected level comprises a valve in said gas conduit.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said apparatus further comprises: a compressor having an inlet and outlet, said compressor inlet being connected to said gas conduit; and means for monitoring gas pressure in said vessel, said gas pressure monitoring means being operatively connected to said compressor and including means for starting said compressor when said gas pressure rises above a preselected pressure and means for stopping said compressor when said gas pressure falls below a preselected pressure.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said apparatus further includes means for disabling said compressor when the liquid in said vessel rises above a second preselected level, said second preselected level being less than said first-mentioned liquid level, said disabling means being operatively connected to said means for monitoring the level of liquid in said vessel.

Claim 18

Apparatus for controlling production of fluids from a well of the type having produced fluids introduced into a vessel in which the fluids separate into gas and liquid phases, said vessel having a gas conduit for transporting gas therefrom, an emergency conduit for transporting liquid from said vessel, and a liquid conduit for transporting liquid therefrom, said gas conduit having a pressure control valve therein for controlling gas pressure in said vessel, said apparatus comprising: a bypass conduit having a first end connected upstream from said pressure control valve and a second end connected downstream from said pressure control valve; a bypass valve received in said bypass conduit for selectively permitting or prohibiting flow in said bypass conduit; an emergency valve received in said emergency conduit for selectively permitting or prohibiting flow in said emergency conduit; means for monitoring the level of liquid in said vessel; and control means for substantially simultaneously closing said bypass valve and opening said emergency valve responsive to a rise of liquid in said vessel above a preselected level, said control means being operatively connected to said monitoring means.

Claim 19

Apparatus for controlling production of fluids from a well of the type having produced fluids introduced into a vessel in which the fluids separate into gas and liquid phases, said vessel having a gas conduit for transporting gas therefrom, an emergency conduit for transporting liquid from said vessel, and a liquid conduit for transporting liquid therefrom, said gas conduit having a pressure control valve therein for controlling gas pressure in said vessel, said apparatus comprising: a bypass conduit having a first end connected upstream from said pressure control valve and a second end connected downstream from said pressure control valve; a bypass valve received in said bypass conduit for selectively permitting or prohibiting flow in said bypass conduit; an emergency valve received in said emergency conduit for selectively permitting or prohibiting flow in said emergency conduit; means for monitoring the level of liquid in said vessel; and control means for substantially simultaneously closing said bypass valve and opening said emergency valve responsive to a rise of liquid in said vessel above a preselected level, said control means being operatively connected to said monitoring means.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said apparatus further includes a compressor having the inlet thereof connected to said bypass conduit downstream from said bypass valve and the outlet thereof connected to said gas conduit downstream from the junction of said bypass conduit with said gas conduit.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said apparatus further includes means for activating said compressor when the gas pressure in said vessel falls within a preselected range.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said apparatus further includes means for disabling said compressor when the level of liquid in said vessel rises above a preselected level.