Crude oil hydraulic lift

Abstract

A crude oil lifting system that uses pneumatic and/or hydraulic sources to control vertical operations of a downhole pipe. The lifting system may have a plurality of lifting actuators, a plurality of alignment actuators, and a guiding system. A plurality of hydraulic cylinders may be coupled to an attachment platform that is coupled to a sucker rod. Pressurization and de-pressurization of the hydraulic cylinders causes repeated vertical movement of the sucker rod, thereby retrieving oil or gas from a downhole well. A control system may selectively and individually actuate each hydraulic cylinder and/or pneumatic cylinder based on measurements provided by a plurality of telemetry and/or position sensors. A plurality of permanent or electromagnetic magnets may be utilized to assist in vertical movements of the attachment platform, and a plurality of DC generators may be utilized to generate power from the vertical movement.

1 . An apparatus for actuating a pump rod string in a downhole well, comprising,
 a lifting platform configured to surround the pump rod string;   a pump rod attachment platform coupled to the pump rod string;   a plurality of hydraulic cylinders coupled to the lifting platform and the pump rod attachment platform; and   a plurality of telemetry position sensors configured to measure a vertical position of the pump rod attachment platform,   wherein the plurality of cylinders is configured to be actuated to vertically move the pump rod attachment platform, wherein vertical movement of the pump rod attachment platform is configured to vertically move the pump rod string.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lifting platform comprises a base platform and a plurality of vertical members. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the pump rod string extends upwardly through the base platform. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hydraulic cylinders is configured to slow downward movement of the pump rod attachment platform. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of hydraulic cylinders is configured to be selectively and individually actuated. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of pneumatic cylinders coupled to the lifting platform and the pump rod attachment platform, wherein the plurality of pneumatic cylinders is configured to align the pump rod attachment platform based on measurements from the plurality of telemetry position sensors. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of pneumatic cylinders is configured to produce pressurized air as the pump rod attachment platform is moved vertically downward. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of DC generators configured to generate power based on vertical movement of the pump rod attachment platform. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of DC generators is configured to slow downward movement of the pump rod attachment platform. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of permanent magnets configured to slow downward movement of the pump rod attachment platform. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more alignment rails located in a plurality of vertical members of the lifting platform. 
     
     
         12 . A system for pumping liquid from a well, comprising,
 a well head, a sucker rod, and a downhole pump;   a ground platform configured to surround the sucker rod at the well head;   an attachment platform coupled to the sucker rod;   a plurality of lifting actuators coupled to the attachment platform, wherein the plurality of lifting actuators is configured to vertically reciprocate the attachment platform;   a platform guide system coupled to the attachment platform and the ground platform, wherein the guide system is configured to measure a vertical position of the attachment platform;   a control system configured to individually and selectively actuate each of the plurality of lifting actuators based on measurements by the platform guide system.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the platform guide system comprises a plurality of telemetry position sensors. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the platform guide system comprises a plurality of rails located in vertical members of the ground platform, wherein a portion of the attachment platform is configured to vertically move within the plurality of rails. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the platform guide system comprises a plurality of adjustable vertical stop members configured to control vertical movement of the attachment platform. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of alignment actuators coupled to the attachment platform, wherein the plurality of alignment actuators is configured to align the attachment platform based on measurements by the platform guide system. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a power source, wherein the power source is selected from the group comprising an electric power station, a solar array, a battery source, and an electric grid. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a hydraulic pump and an air compressor.