Apparatus For Pumping Fluids From A Well

Abstract

An apparatus for pumping fluids from a well having a production tubing extending from a wellhead of the well downhole to a downhole location. A pump having a pump barrel connected to a bottom of the production tubing, and a plunger reciprocable within the pump barrel for lifting fluid from the bottom of the well up through the production tubing and to the wellhead as the plunger upstrokes, and for filling the barrel below the plunger as the plunger upstrokes. A sealed housing attached to the wellhead with the production tubing in fluid communication with the interior of the sealed housing. A cable drum positioned within the interior of the sealed housing. A prime mover operably connected to the cable drum for rotating the cable drum and a cable wound on the cable drum for winding and unwinding by rotating the cable drum. The cable extending downwardly through the production tubing and attached to the plunger. Controls for operating the prime mover for rotating the cable drum to reciprocate the plunger within the pump barrel.

1 . An apparatus for pumping fluids from a well, comprising in combination:
 a production tubing extending from a wellhead of the well downhole to a downhole location;   a pump having a pump barrel connected to a bottom of said production tubing, and a plunger reciprocable within said pump barrel for lifting fluid from the bottom of the well up through said production tubing and to the wellhead as the plunger upstrokes, and for filling the barrel below the plunger as the plunger upstrokes;   a sealed housing, said sealed housing attached to the wellhead with said production tubing in fluid communication with the interior of said sealed housing;   a cable drum positioned within said interior of said sealed housing;   a prime mover operably connected to said cable drum for rotating said cable drum;   a cable wound on said cable drum for winding and unwinding by rotating said cable drum, said cable extending downwardly through said production tubing and attached to said plunger; and   controls for operating said prime mover for rotating said cable drum to reciprocate said plunger within said pump barrel.   
   
   
       2 . (canceled) 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said prime mover is a hydraulic motor. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a flowline connected in fluid communication with said interior of said housing for receiving fluid from said production tubing during reciprocation of said plunger. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said controls include a programmable logic controller programmed for the operation of said prime mover for rotating said cable drum. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising means to determine the angular position of said cable drum and outputting a signal to said programmable logic controller. 
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said production tubing is a continuous, non-segmented length of coiled tubing. 
   
   
       9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cable guide positioned within said sealed housing.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said sealed housing is sealed to a pressure rating higher than the shut-in pressure of the well. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a fluid pressure switch connected to a hydraulic line of said hydraulic motor.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a fluid flow switch connected to said flowline.