Down-hole hydrocarbon collector

Claim 2

A low-viscosity hydrocarbon collector comprising: a support structure; an endless belt for absorbing low-viscosity hydrocarbons from a body of liquid; means for driving said belt through said body of liquid, said driving means comprising; a first roller engaging said belt in a manner which squeezes said belt to remove hydrocarbons therefrom, said first roller being rotatably connected to said support structure; and means for feeding said belt to said first roller from above a point of initial engagement between said belt and said first roller, said feeding means being connected to said support structure and engaging said belt in a manner which minimizes premature removal of low-viscosity hydrocarbons from said belt; means for collecting low-viscosity hydrocarbons which are removed from said belt, said collecting means being mounted to said support structure, said support structure configured to fit within a well bore.

Claim 3

The low-viscosity hydrocarbon collector of claim 1 wherein said feeding means comprises a second roller rotatably connected to said support structure.

Claim 4

The low-viscosity hydrocarbon collector of claim 2 further comprising: a third roller rotatably connected to said support structure, said belt being directed between said first and third rollers; and means for biasing said first and third rollers toward one another to squeeze said belt therebetween.

Claim 5

The low-viscosity hydrocarbon collector of claim 3 wherein the axis of said third roller lies in a common vertical plane with the axis of said first and second rollers.

Claim 6

The low-viscosity hydrocarbon collector of claim 2 wherein said belt is directed in a linear path from said second roller to said first roller in a manner such that said linear path has a positive angle of descent relative to the horizontal.

Claim 7

The low-viscosity hydrocarbon collector of claim 2 wherein the rotational axis of said first roller lies in a vertical plane common with the rotational axis of said second roller.

Claim 8

The low-viscosity hydrocarbon collector of claim 1 wherein said belt comprises: a first layer comprising a medium for preferentially absorbing low-viscosity hydrocarbons; a second layer having properties such that substantially all the force for lifting said belt from said body to said feeding means is transmitted through said second layer rather than through said first layer, said first layer being bonded to said second layer, and said second layer engaging said feeding means in a manner such that said second layer is positioned between said first layer and the surface of said feeding means.

Claim 9

The low-viscosity hydrocarbon collector of claim 7 wherein said first layer is engaged by said first roller in a manner such that said first layer is positioned between said first roller and said second layer to enable squeezing of said first layer.

Claim 10

The low-viscosity hydrocarbon collector of claim 2 wherein the surface of said second roller has features for minimizing squeezing of said belt.

Claim 11

The low-viscosity hydrocarbon collector of claim 1 wherein said feeding means comprises a second roller having transverse grooves on the surface thereof.

Claim 12

The low-viscosity hydrocarbon collector of claim 1 further comprising means for pumping the collected low-viscosity hydrocarbons to a location outside said well bore.

Claim 13

The low-viscosity hydrocarbon collector of claim 1 wherein said collecting means further comprises means for separating low-viscosity hydrocarbons from other undesirable liquids collected therein.

Claim 14

The low-viscosity hydrocarbon collector of claim 1 wherein said collecting means comprises a receptacle having a first outlet and a second outlet, said first outlet being positioned at an elevation above said second outlet for directing low-viscosity hydrocarbons to a pump chamber.

Claim 15

The low-viscosity hydrocarbon collector of claim 13 further comprising: a valve for opening and closing said second outlet; and a specific gravity float connected to said valve for opening said valve when undesirable liquid in said receptacle reaches a certain level, said certain level being beneath the elevation of said first opening.

Claim 16

A low-viscosity hydrocarbon collector comprising: a support structure configured to fit within a well bore; an endless belt for absorbing low-viscosity hydrocarbons from a body of liquid; means for collecting low-viscosity hydrocarbons which are removed from said belt, said collecting means being mounted to said support structure; means for pumping collected low-viscosity hydrocarbons to a location outside said well bore; means for driving said belt through said body of liquid, said driving means comprising; a motor; a first roller engaging said belt in a manner which squeezes said belt to remove hydrocarbons therefrom, said first roller being rotatably connected to said support structure; and a common drive shaft for driving said pumping means and said belt, said drive shaft being operatively connected between said motor and said pumping means and between said motor and said first roller; means for feeding said belt to said first roller from above a point of initial engagement between said belt and said fist roller, said feeding means being connected to said support structure and engaging said belt in a manner which minimizes premature removal of low-viscosity hydrocarbons from said belt.

Claim 17

A low-viscosity hydrocarbon collector comprising: a support structure configured to fit within a well bore; an endless belt for absorbing low-viscosity hydrocarbons from a body of liquid; means for collecting low-viscosity hydrocarbons which are removed from said belt, said collecting means being mounted to said support structure; means for pumping collected low-viscosity hydrocarbons to a location outside said well bore; means for driving said belt through said body of liquid, said driving means comprising; a motor; a first roller engaging said belt in a manner which squeezes said belt to remove hydrocarbons therefrom, said first roller being rotatably connected to said support structure; and a common drive shaft for driving said pumping means and said belt, said drive shaft being operatively connected between said motor and said pumping means and between said motor and said first roller; means for feeding said belt to said first roller from above a point of initial engagement between said belt and said fist roller, said feeding means being connected to said support structure and engaging said belt in a manner which minimizes premature removal of low-viscosity hydrocarbons from said belt.

Claim 18

A low-viscosity hydrocarbon collector of claim 15 wherein said drive shaft is parallel to the rotational axis of said first roller.

Claim 19

The low-viscosity hydrocarbon collector of claim 16 wherein said motor has a longitudinal axis and said motor is mounted to said support structure in an orientation such that the axis of said motor is vertical and is parallel to the central axis of said pumping means which is comprised of a piston pump.