Downhole gas separator

Claim 2

A tool for separating gas and water in a natural gas well, comprising: a body defining an upper chamber, a lower chamber and a channel interconnecting the upper and lower chambers and having a fishing head at its upper end; a member in the lower chamber of the body having a density less than the water in the gas well; a downwardly facing seal surface formed on the body about the channel, the member floating upwardly directly against the seal surface to seal the channel from the lower chamber when the level of water exceeds a predetermined height and floating downwardly away from the seal surface to release the seal, permitting gas to flow from the lower chamber to the upper chamber through the channel when the level of water decreases below the predetermined height.

Claim 3

A tool for separating gas and water in a natural gas well, comprising: a body defining an upper chamber, a lower chamber and a channel interconnecting the upper and lower chambers; a member in the lower chamber of the body having a density less than the water in the gas well; a seal surface formed on the body about the channel, the member floating against the seal surface to seal the channel from the lower chamber when the level of water exceeds a predetermined height and floating away from the seal surface to release the seal, permitting gas to flow from the lower chamber to the upper chamber through the channel when the level of water decreases below the predetermined height, said member being a plurality of balls having a density less than that of the water within the well, the balls stacked vertically so that the uppermost ball moves into contact with the seal surface on the body.

Claim 4

A tool for separating gas and water in a natural gas well, comprising: a body defining an upper chamber, a lower chamber and a channel interconnecting the upper and lower chambers; a member in the lower chamber of the body having a density less than the water in the gas well; a seal surface formed on the body about the channel, the member floating against the seal surface to seal the channel from the lower chamber when the level of water exceeds a predetermined height and floating away from the seal surface to release the seal, permitting gas to flow from the lower chamber to the upper chamber through the channel when the level of water decreases below the predetermined height, said member being a plurality of balls having a density less than that of the water within the well, the balls stacked vertically so that the uppermost ball moves into contact with the seal surface on the body.

Claim 5

A tool for separating gas and water in a natural gas well, comprising: a body defining an upper chamber, a lower chamber and a channel interconnecting the upper and lower chambers; a member in the lower chamber of the body having a density less than the water in the gas well; a seal surface formed on the body about the channel, the member floating against the seal surface to seal the channel from the lower chamber when the level of water exceeds a predetermined height and floating away from the seal surface to release the seal, permitting gas to flow from the lower chamber to the upper chamber through the channel when the level of water decreases below the predetermined height; a pressure sensitive valve having a plunger and a ball mounted on the plunger, a member mounted in the tool having an orifice therethrough and defining a seal surface about the orifice, said valve being sensitive to pressure, pressure below a certain value causing the plunger to urge the ball into sealing engagement with the seal surface about the orifice, pressure at a second higher pressure level causing the ball to move out of sealing engagement with the seal surface about the orifice.

Claim 6

A tool for separating gas and water in a natural gas well, comprising: a body defining an upper chamber, a lower chamber and a channel interconnecting the upper and lower chambers; a member in the lower chamber of the body having a density less than the water in the gas well; a seal surface formed on the body about the channel, the member floating against the seal surface to seal the channel from the lower chamber when the level of water exceeds a predetermined height and floating away from the seal surface to release the seal, permitting gas to flow from the lower chamber to the upper chamber through the channel when the level of water decreases below the predetermined height; a pressure sensitive valve having a plunger and a ball mounted on the plunger, a member mounted in the tool having an orifice therethrough and defining a seal surface about the orifice, said valve being sensitive to pressure, pressure below a certain value causing the plunger to urge the ball into sealing engagement with the seal surface about the orifice, pressure at a second higher pressure level causing the ball to move out of sealing engagement with the seal surface about the orifice.

Claim 7

The tool of claim 3 wherein the member is magnetized about the orifice, the ball being formed of a material attracted by the magnetism into sealing engagement with the seal surface about the orifice.

Claim 8

A tool for separating gas and water in a natural gas well, comprising: a body defining an upper chamber, a lower chamber and a channel interconnecting the upper and lower chambers; a member in the lower chamber of the body having a density less than the water in the gas well; a seal surface formed on the body about the channel, the member floating against the seal surface to seal the channel from the lower chamber when the level of water exceeds a predetermined height and floating away from the seal surface to release the seal, permitting gas to flow from the lower chamber to the upper chamber through the channel when the level of water decreases below the predetermined height, the member having an irregular exterior surface to form an imperfect seal against the seal surface when the level of water exceeds a predetermined height to assure the member will float away from the seal surface when the level of water decreases below the predetermined height.

Claim 9

A tool for separating gas and water in a natural gas well, comprising: a body defining an upper chamber, a lower chamber and a channel interconnecting the upper and lower chambers; a member in the lower chamber of the body having a density less than the water in the gas well; a seal surface formed on the body about the channel, the member floating against the seal surface to seal the channel from the lower chamber when the level of water exceeds a predetermined height and floating away from the seal surface to release the seal, permitting gas to flow from the lower chamber to the upper chamber through the channel when the level of water decreases below the predetermined height, the member having an irregular exterior surface to form an imperfect seal against the seal surface when the level of water exceeds a predetermined height to assure the member will float away from the seal surface when the level of water decreases below the predetermined height.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for delaying the return includes a chamber formed between the body and said valve carrier, the valve carrier forming a piston with openings therethrough which divides the chamber into first and second portions, a fluid filling the chamber and a flap valve covering at least one of the openings to prevent fluid flow through the covered opening in one direction of movement of the valve carrier relative to the body.

Claim 13

A tool for separating gas and water in a natural gas well, comprising: a body defining an upper chamber, a lower chamber and a channel interconnecting the upper and lower chambers; a member in the lower chamber of the body having a density less than the water in the gas well; a seal surface formed on the body about the channel, the member floating against the seal surface to seal the channel from the lower chamber when the level of water exceeds a predetermined height and floating away from the seal surface to release the seal, permitting gas to flow from the lower chamber to the upper chamber through the channel when the level of water decreases below the predetermined height; a second body having a second member, the second member having a housing and a valve carrier movable within the housing, the second member defining a closed volume between the housing and a portion of the valve carrier, a constant pressure being maintained within the volume, the housing defining a second seal surface and a carrier mounting a valve member for engaging the second seal surface, the passage of gas through the channel acting on a portion of the valve carrier to move the valve carrier and valve member away from the second seal surface to move the valve member out of sealing engagement with the second seal surface to allow gas to pass through the second member until the gas pressure is reduced, and means for delaying the return of the valve carrier and the valve member into engagement with the second seal surface to prevent valve chatter.

Claim 14

A tool for separating gas and water in a natural gas well, comprising: a body defining an upper chamber, a lower chamber and a channel interconnecting the upper and lower chambers; a member in the lower chamber of the body having a density less than the water in the gas well; a seal surface formed on the body about the channel, the member floating against the seal surface to seal the channel from the lower chamber when the level of water exceeds a predetermined height and floating away from the seal surface to release the seal, permitting gas to flow from the lower chamber to the upper chamber through the channel when the level of water decreases below the predetermined height; a second body having a second member, the second member having a housing and a valve carrier movable within the housing, the second member defining a closed volume between the housing and a portion of the valve carrier, a constant pressure being maintained within the volume, the housing defining a second seal surface and a carrier mounting a valve member for engaging the second seal surface, the passage of gas through the channel acting on a portion of the valve carrier to move the valve carrier and valve member away from the second seal surface to move the valve member out of sealing engagement with the second seal surface to allow gas to pass through the second member until the gas pressure is reduced, and means for delaying the return of the valve carrier and the valve member into engagement with the second seal surface to prevent valve chatter.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for delaying the return includes a cavity formed between the housing and said valve carrier, the valve carrier forming a piston with openings therethrough which divides the cavity into first and second portions, a fluid filling the cavity and a flat valve covering at least one of the openings to prevent fluid flow through the covered opening in one direction of movement of the valve carrier relative the housing.