Swab pumping assembly for use with an oil well

Abstract

A swab pumping assembly for use with a casing of a wellbore has a base suitable for positioning at a location adjacent to the wellbore, a reel rotatably positioned on the base, a motor operatively connected to the reel so as to rotate the reel, a line wrapped around the reel and having a portion extending outwardly therefrom, a shaft connected to the line and suitable for movement in the wellbore as the line plays out or plays in, and at least one swab cup affixed to the shaft. The swab cup has a peripheral edge suitable for bearing against an inner wall of the casing.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A swab pumping assembly for use with a casing of a wellbore, the swab pumping assembly comprising:
 a base suitable for positioning at a location adjacent to the wellbore;   a reel rotatably positioned on said base;   a motor operatively coupled to said reel, said motor suitable for rotating said reel;   a line wrapped around said reel and having a portion extending outwardly therefrom, said motor cooperative with said reel so as to play out or play in said line;   a shaft connected to said line, said shaft suitable for movement in the wellbore as said line plays out or plays in; and   at least one swab cup affixed to said shaft, the swab cup having a peripheral edge suitable for bearing against an inner wall of the casing.   
     
     
         2 . The swab pumping assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a boom having an upper end positioned above the wellbore; and   a sheave rotatably mounted at said upper end of said boom, said line extending over said sheave such that said portion of said line extends directly downwardly into the wellbore.   
     
     
         3 . The swab pumping assembly of  claim 2 , said boom having a lower end affixed to said base, said reel positioned adjacent said lower end of said boom. 
     
     
         4 . The swab pumping assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a timer cooperative with said motor so as to selectively play out and play in said line.   
     
     
         5 . The swab pumping assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a gearbox cooperative between said motor and said reel, said timer and said gearbox suitable for controlling a speed and a frequency and a swabbing depth of the swab cup.   
     
     
         6 . The swab pumping assembly of  claim 1 , said swab cup having a flexible peripheral edge extending upwardly from said shaft. 
     
     
         7 . A method for removing oil from within a casing of a well, the method comprising:
 lowering a swab cup within the casing to a location below an oil-producing formation such that a peripheral edge of said swab cup bears against an inner wall of the casing;   allowing oil to accumulate within the casing above said swab cup;   lifting said swab cup upwardly through the casing so as to cause the accumulated oil to rise toward a surface location; and   discharging the accumulated oil at the surface location.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 affixing said swab cup to a line; and   extending said line and said swab cup downwardly into said casing.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 extending said line over a sheave;   securing a portion of said line around a reel;   connecting motor to said reel; and   driving said motor so as to cause said reel to play out said line therefrom such that said line and said swab cup lower in said casing.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , the step of driving comprising:
 selectively actuating said motor so as to lower the swab cup after a desired period of time.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 selectively actuating said motor so as to cause said reel to play in so as to raise said swab cup in said casing after a desired period of time.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , the step of affixing comprising:
 attaching said swab cup to a shaft such that the peripheral edge of said swab cup extends upwardly; and   connecting an upper end of said shaft to said line.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 connecting a gearbox between said motor and said reel.   
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 a wellbore having a casing therein, said casing having an inner wall;   a swab cup positioned in said casing so as to have a peripheral edge flexibly bearing against said inner wall of said casing;   a line connected to said swab cup and extending upwardly through said wellbore and outwardly therefrom;   a reel connected to said line; and   a motor drivingly connected to said reel so as to cause said line to play out and to play in from said reel.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , said swab cup movable downwardly in said casing as said line is played out by said reel, said swab cup movable upwardly in said casing as said line is played in by said reel. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a base positioned adjacent to an upper end of said wellbore;   a boom extending upwardly from said base, said boom having an upper end positioned above and generally axially aligned with said wellbore; and   a sheave rotatably mounted to an upper end of said boom, said line extending over said sheave.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , said reel rotatably mounted upon said base, said reel positioned away from said wellbore. 
     
     
         18 . The multilayer article of claim system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a timer cooperative with said motor so as to selectively activate said motor so as to play out or play in the line.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a gearbox cooperative with said motor and said reel so as to control a torque applied by said motor to said reel.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , said peripheral edge of said swab cup extending angularly upwardly.