Top Hold Down Rod Pump with Hydraulically Activated Drain and Method of Use

Abstract

The present invention relates to a top hold-down pump having a barrel drain operatively connected to the pump beneath a seating nipple. The design of the pump provides specific advantages over past systems by improving the efficiency of re-setting the barrel drain and the required work over costs after the drain has been activated.

1 ) In a top hold-down pump for pumping fluids from a well to the surface through production tubing, the top hold-down pump having an upper end for sealing engagement with a seating nipple within the production tubing and a positive displacement pumping system operatively retained within a barrel for allowing fluid within the barrel to be displaced to the surface by a reciprocating or rotating rod operatively connected to the positive displacement pumping system, the improvement comprising a barrel drain between the upper end and the lower end for draining fluid from the production tubing to the exterior of the barrel beneath the seating nipple. 
   
   
       2 ) A top hold-down pump comprising:
 a barrel having a top section for sealing engagement with a seating nipple within the production tubing and a bottom section operatively retaining positive displacement pumping equipment;   a barrel drain operatively connected to the barrel between the top section and the bottom section for releasing hydrostatic fluid pressure from the production tubing to the exterior of the barrel beneath the seating nipple.   
   
   
       3 ) A top hold-down pump as in  claim 2  wherein the barrel drain includes at least one barrel drain port and a barrel sleeve operatively retaining a drain sleeve between a closed position where the at least one barrel drain port is closed and an open position where the at least one barrel drain port is open, the drain sleeve and barrel sleeve retaining a shear pin for holding the drain sleeve in the closed position wherein an increase in hydraulic pressure on the interior of the barrel drain will cause the shear pin to shear at a threshold pressure causing the drain sleeve to move to the open position. 
   
   
       4 ) A top hold-down pump as in  claim 2  wherein the barrel drain includes at least one barrel drain port for operatively retaining a corresponding rupture disk for scaling the at least one drain port and rupturing at a threshold pressure to open the at least one barrel drain port. 
   
   
       5 ) A top hold-down pump as in  claim 2  wherein the barrel drain includes a precision slot having a specific thickness. 
   
   
       6 ) A top hold-down pump as in  claim 2  where the top hold-down pump is a reciprocating rod pump. 
   
   
       7 ) A top hold-down pump as in  claim 2  where the top hold-down pump is a progressive cavity pump. 
   
   
       8 ) A top hold-down pump as in  claim 2  further comprising a secondary check valve operatively connected to the barrel between the barrel drain and the bottom section. 
   
   
       9 ) A method of releasing hydrostatic pressure in production tubing in a well having a lop hold-down pump as described in  claim 2 , comprising the step of:
 applying a hydraulic pressure to the interior of the production tubing at sufficient pressure to open the barrel drain to permit fluid within the production tubing to flow to an annular space between the barrel and production tubing beneath the seating nipple.   
   
   
       10 ) A top hold-down pump drain for operative connection to a top hold-down pump barrel secured within a hold-down seating nipple within production tubing, the top hold-down pump drain for operative connection to the pump barrel between the hold-down seating nipple and positive displacement pumping equipment retained within the pump barrel, the top hold-down pump drain for releasing hydrostatic fluid pressure from the production tubing and interior of the pump barrel to the exterior of the pump barrel beneath the hold-down seating nipple. 
   
   
       11 ) A top hold-down pump system comprising:
 a barrel having a top section for sealing engagement with a seating nipple within the production tubing and a bottom section operatively retaining positive displacement pumping equipment, wherein the bottom section extends beneath the seating nipple within the production tubing;   a barrel drain operatively connected to the barrel between the top section and the bottom section for releasing hydrostatic fluid pressure from the production tubing to the exterior of the barrel beneath the seating nipple above a threshold pressure; and,   at least one production tubing opening operatively connected to the production tubing beneath the seating nipple and adjacent the barrel drain for allowing fluid flow between the annular space between the barrel and production tubing.