Sliding valve downhole pump

Abstract

Downhole pumps for producing hydrocarbons and/or other fluids from a well bore include a barrel having a plunger or plunger valve disposed therein and a stationary valve engaged with the barrel. The valve(s) include(s) an outer housing and an inner piston movable within the outer housing. Responsive to movement of the plunger or plunger valve relative to the barrel, the inner piston(s) is(are) movable between a first position that permits fluid flow through the valve and a second position that prevents fluid flow therethrough.

1 . A downhole pump for producing fluids from a well bore, the pump comprising:
 a stationary valve comprising an outer housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening and an inner piston movable within the outer housing, wherein the inner piston includes a channel extending therethrough;   a barrel engaged with the stationary valve; and   a plunger valve disposed within the barrel and engaged with a connecting rod that extends through a bore in the stationary valve, wherein the plunger valve comprises a plunger housing with an intake opening and an output opening and a plunger piston movable within the plunger housing, wherein the plunger piston includes a plunger channel extending therethrough,   wherein the inner piston is movable between a first position in which the channel is in communication with the inlet opening and the outlet opening to define a fluid pathway and a second position in which the channel is isolated from communication with at least one of the inlet opening and the outlet opening,   and wherein the plunger piston is movable between an open position in which the plunger channel is in communication with the intake opening and the output opening to define a plunger fluid pathway and a closed position in which the plunger channel is isolated from communication with at least one of the intake opening and the output opening.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole pump of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one securing member engaging the connecting rod, the plunger valve, or combinations thereof for retaining the plunger valve in a fixed position relative to the connecting rod. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole pump of  claim 1 , wherein the outer housing of the stationary valve further comprises a securing member for retaining the outer housing of the stationary valve and the barrel in a fixed position for facilitating reciprocation of the plunger valve. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole pump of  claim 1 , further comprising a securing member for retaining the plunger valve in a fixed position for facilitating reciprocation of the barrel. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole pump of  claim 1 , wherein the lower end of the inner piston of the stationary valve comprises a sealing surface for isolating the outlet opening from the channel, the plunger piston comprises a sealing surface for isolating the output opening from the plunger channel, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . A method for producing fluids from a well bore, the method comprising the steps of:
 lowering a downhole pump into the wellbore, wherein the downhole pump comprises a stationary valve engaged with a conduit and a barrel, and a plunger valve within the barrel, wherein the stationary valve comprises a standing housing and a standing piston, and wherein the plunger valve comprises a plunger housing and a plunger piston;   causing movement of the plunger valve in a first direction relative to the barrel, thereby moving the plunger piston into an open position that enables flow of fluid through the plunger valve into the barrel and moving the standing piston into a closed position that prevents flow of fluid from the conduit into the barrel; and   causing upward movement of the plunger valve in a second direction relative to the barrel, thereby moving the plunger piston into a closed position that prevents flow of fluid through the plunger valve and moving the standing position into an open position that enables flow of fluid from the barrel through the stationary valve and into the conduit.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of lowering the downhole pump into the well bore comprises engaging a string of connecting members to the downhole pump and inserting the downhole pump through the conduit by extending successive joints of the string of connecting members into the well bore to position the downhole pump a selected position for production of fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of lowering the downhole pump into the well bore comprises engaging a securing member within the wellbore to retain the standing housing or the plunger housing in a fixed position relative to the conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of causing movement of the plunger valve in the first direction relative to the barrel, the step of causing movement of the plunger valve in the second direction relative to the barrel, or combinations thereof, comprises reciprocating a connecting member engaged with the downhole pump to cause movement of the plunger valve within the barrel, thereby displacing fluid to cause movement of the plunger piston and the standing piston. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of causing movement of the plunger valve in the first direction relative to the barrel, the step of causing movement of the plunger valve in the second direction relative to the barrel, or combinations thereof, comprises reciprocating a connecting member engaged with the downhole pump to cause movement of the barrel about the plunger valve, thereby displacing fluid to cause movement of the plunger piston and the standing piston. 
     
     
         11 . A downhole pump for producing fluid from a well bore, the pump comprising:
 a stationary valve;   a barrel engaged with the stationary valve; and   a plunger disposed within the barrel and engaged with a connecting rod extending through a bore in the stationary valve,   wherein the stationary valve comprises an outer housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening and an inner piston movable within the outer housing, wherein the inner piston includes a channel extending therethrough, and wherein the inner piston is movable between a first position in which the channel is in communication with the inlet opening and the outlet opening to define a fluid pathway and a second position in which the channel is isolated from communication with at least one of the inlet opening and the outlet opening; and   wherein movement of the plunger relative to the barrel causes movement of the inner piston between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         12 . The downhole pump of  claim 11 , wherein the plunger comprises:
 a plunger valve having an outer housing and an inner piston movable within the outer housing, wherein the outer housing comprises a first end having an inlet opening and a second end having an outlet opening, wherein the inner piston comprises an upper end, a lower end, and a channel and a bore extending between the upper end and the lower end, wherein the inner piston is movable between a first position in which the channel is in communication with the inlet opening and the outlet opening to define a fluid pathway and a second position in which the channel is isolated from communication with at least one of the inlet opening and the outlet opening,   wherein downward movement of the plunger relative to the barrel causes movement the inner piston of the plunger valve toward the first position and further causes movement of the inner piston of the stationary valve toward the second position, thereby permitting fluid flow into the barrel through the fluid pathway of the plunger valve while preventing fluid flow through the stationary valve, and   wherein upward movement of the plunger relative to the barrel causes movement of the inner piston of the plunger valve toward the second position and further causes movement of the inner piston of the stationary valve toward the first position, thereby permitting fluid flow from the barrel through the fluid pathway of the stationary valve while preventing fluid flow through the plunger valve.   
     
     
         13 . The downhole pump of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one securing member engaging the connecting rod, the plunger valve, or combinations thereof for retaining the plunger valve in a fixed position relative to the connecting rod. 
     
     
         14 . The downhole pump of  claim 12 , wherein the outer housing of the stationary valve further comprises a securing member for retaining the outer housing of the stationary valve and the barrel in a fixed position for facilitating reciprocation of the plunger valve. 
     
     
         15 . The downhole pump of  claim 12 , further comprising a securing member for retaining the plunger in a fixed position for facilitating reciprocation of the barrel. 
     
     
         16 . The downhole pump of  claim 12 , wherein the lower end of the inner piston of the stationary valve, the lower end of the inner piston of the plunger valve, or combinations thereof, comprise a sealing surface for isolating the outlet opening from the channel. 
     
     
         17 . The downhole pump of  claim 11 , wherein the outer housing of the stationary valve further comprises a side surface having an intake opening, wherein the inner piston further comprises an outer surface having a recession formed therein and in intake channel extending from the recession to the lower end of the inner piston,
 wherein downward movement of the plunger relative to the barrel causes movement of the inner piston within the outer housing to align the recession with the intake opening, thereby defining an intake passage from the intake opening through the intake channel and the inlet opening for permitting flow of fluid into the barrel, and   wherein upward movement of the plunger relative to the barrel causes movement of the inner piston to define an outlet passage from the inlet opening through the channel and the outlet opening for permitting flow of fluid from the barrel through the stationary valve.   
     
     
         18 . The downhole pump of  claim 17 , wherein the lower end of the inner piston comprises a sealing surface for engaging a surface of the second end of the outer housing to isolate the intake channel from the fluid pathway. 
     
     
         19 . The downhole pump of  claim 17 , wherein the upper end of the inner piston comprises a sealing surface for engaging a surface of the first end of the outer housing to isolate the fluid pathway. 
     
     
         20 . The downhole pump of  claim 17 , wherein the second end of the outer housing further comprises a securing member for retaining the outer housing and barrel in a fixed position for facilitating reciprocation of the plunger. 
     
     
         21 . The downhole pump of  claim 17 , further comprising a securing member for retaining the plunger in a fixed position for facilitating reciprocation of the barrel. 
     
     
         22 . A method for producing fluid from a well bore, the method comprising the steps of:
 engaging a valve with a barrel, wherein the valve comprises an outer housing and an inner piston movable within the outer housing, wherein the barrel comprises a plunger disposed therein, and wherein the plunger is engaged with a connecting member that extends through the barrel and valve;   lowering the valve and the barrel through a conduit into the well bore;   engaging the connecting member with a device adapted to impart motion to the connecting member;   imparting motion to the connecting member to cause downward movement of the plunger relative to the barrel, thereby moving the inner piston to a first position that enables flow of fluid through the valve into the barrel; and   imparting motion to the connecting member to cause upward movement of the plunger relative to the barrel, thereby moving the inner piston to a second position that enables flow of fluid from the barrel through the valve to the conduit.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of engaging the valve with the barrel comprises threadably connecting a lower end of the outer housing to an upper end of the barrel. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of lowering the valve and the barrel through the conduit into the well bore comprises extending successive joints of the connecting member into the well bore to position the valve and the barrel at a selected position for production of fluid. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of lowering the valve and the barrel through the conduit into the well bore further comprises engaging a securing member within the wellbore to retain an upper end of the outer housing or the plunger in a fixed position relative to the conduit. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of imparting motion to the connecting member comprises reciprocating the connecting member using the device disposed above the wellbore to cause movement of the plunger within the barrel, thereby displacing fluid to cause movement of the inner piston. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of imparting motion to the connecting member comprises reciprocating the connecting member using the device disposed above the wellbore to cause movement of the barrel about the plunger, thereby causing displacement of fluid to impart movement to the inner piston.