Systems and methods for driving a subterranean pump

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a pump driving unit for driving a subterranean pump. The pump driving unit utilizes a single prime mover and a drive train for actuating multiple components required to drive the subterranean pump. Some implementations of the pump driving unit include phase separation devices, filtering units, and cooling units that may also be actuated by the drive train of the unit. Some implementations of the pump driving unit further include an enclosure and a platform for containing the unit and simplifying on-site installation.

1 . A combination pump driving unit, comprising:
 a drive train having a jack shaft;   a master pulley coupled to the jack shaft;   a prime mover having a first pulley supported by a rotor;   a first belt interconnecting the first pulley and the master pulley;   a first slave pulley coupled to a first portion of the jack shaft;   a second slave pulley coupled to a second portion of the jack shaft;   a hydraulic pump having a second pulley supported by a rotor;   a compressor having a third pulley supported by a rotor;   a second belt interconnecting the second pulley and the first slave pulley;   a third belt interconnecting the third pulley and the second slave pulley, wherein the combination pump driving unit is coupled to a subterranean pump to drive the subterranean pump.   
   
   
       2 . The combination unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a hydraulic line in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump and a hydraulic component of a subterranean pump. 
   
   
       3 . The combination unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a gas line in fluid communication with the compressor and a wellhead. 
   
   
       4 . The combination unit of  claim 3 , further comprising an oil-field separator in fluid communication with the gas line. 
   
   
       5 . The combination unit of  claim 3 , further comprising a filtering unit in fluid communication with the gas line. 
   
   
       6 . The combination unit of  claim 1 , wherein the prime mover is selected from the group consisting of a natural gas engine, a diesel engine, a petrol engine, a gas turbine, a water turbine, and an electric motor. 
   
   
       7 . The combination unit of  claim 3 , further comprising a cooling unit in fluid communication with the gas line. 
   
   
       8 . The combination unit of  claim 1 , further comprising an enclosure. 
   
   
       9 . The combination unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a storage tank in fluid communication with the gas line. 
   
   
       10 . The combination unit of  claim 6 , wherein the electric motor is powered by a battery. 
   
   
       11 . The combination unit of  claim 6 , wherein the electric motor is powered by an alternate power source selected from the group consisting of a hydro-powered generator, a solar-powered generator, a wind-powered generator, and an electrical power line. 
   
   
       12 . A method for driving a subterranean pump, the method comprising:
 providing a pump driving unit having a drive train coupled to a prime mover;   coupling a hydraulic pump to a first portion of the drive train;   coupling a compressor to a second portion of the drive train;   providing fluid communication between the hydraulic pump and the subterranean pump via a hydraulic line;   providing fluid communication between a wellhead and the compressor via a gas line, wherein the subterranean pump is actuated by the hydraulic pump to artificially lift a substance through the wellhead and into the gas line, whereafter the substance is, separated and deposited into a holding tank; and   routing gas to the compressor, wherein the compressor is actuated by the prime mover via the drive train.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the drive train comprises a jack shaft having a plurality of slave pulleys and wherein the hydraulic pump is coupled to the jack shaft via a first slave pulley and the compressor is coupled to the jack shaft via a second slave pulley. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of interposing an oil-field separator between the wellhead and the compressor via the gas line. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of interposing a filtering unit between the well head and the compressor via the gas line. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of collecting the compressed substrate in a storage tank in fluid communication with the compressor. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of interposing a cooling unit between the compressor and the storage tank via the gas line 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of cooling the compressed substrate prior to collecting the compressed substrate in the storage tank. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of coupling the cooling unit to the drive train. 
   
   
       20 . A pump driving unit, comprising:
 a drive train having a jack shaft;   a master pulley coupled to the jack shaft;   a prime mover having a first pulley supported by a rotor;   a first belt interconnecting the first pulley and the master pulley;   a first slave pulley coupled to a first portion of the jack shaft;   a second slave pulley coupled to a second portion of the jack shaft;   a hydraulic pump having a second pulley supported by a rotor;   a compressor having a third pulley supported by a rotor;   a second belt interconnecting the second pulley and the first slave pulley;   a third belt interconnecting the third pulley and the second slave pulley;   a hydraulic line fluidly interconnecting the hydraulic pump and the subterranean pump; and   a gas line fluidly interconnecting a wellhead and the compressor, wherein the hydraulic pump drives the subterranean pump to artificially lift a substance to the wellhead, the substance being separated and routed to at least on of (i) a holding tank and (ii) the compressor.   
   
   
       21 . The pump driving unit of  claim 20 , further comprising components selected from the group consisting of an oil-field separator, a filtering unit, a cooling unit, a generator, a battery, and an alternative power source. 
   
   
       22 . A combination pump driving unit, comprising:
 a prime mover;   a drive train directly coupled to both the prime mover and a plurality of drive components, the plurality of drive components being selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a hydraulic pump; 
 (b) a compressor; 
 (c) a cooling unit; 
 (d) a generator; 
 (e) an alternator; 
 (f) an alternate energy source; 
 (g) an oil-field separator; and 
 (h) a second prime mover 
   wherein the drive train actuates the plurality of drive components to simultaneously drive the down hole pump, recover a lifted substance, and store the lifted substance from a well associated with the down hole pump.   
   
   
       23 . The combination unit of  claim 22 , wherein the compressor is a rotary screw compressor.