Gas-Driven Pumping Device and a Method for Downhole Pumping of a Liquid in a Well
First Claim
1. A gas-driven pumping device for pumping a liquid from at least one liquid source in a well and onto at least one receiving region for the liquid, the liquid source having a pressure (Psource) and the receiving region having a pressure (Preceiving), in which the pumping device is located in the well, wherein the pumping device comprises at least one pressure manipulation chamber extending in the longitudinal direction of the well and including a lower chamber portion and an upper chamber portion;
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at least one liquid supply channel connecting the pressure manipulation chamber to said liquid source, the liquid supply channel including at least one first check valve for allowing liquid flow only to the pressure manipulation chamber;
at least one liquid discharge channel connecting the lower chamber portion of the pressure manipulation chamber to said liquid receiving region, the liquid discharge channel including at least one second check valve for allowing liquid flow only from the pressure manipulation chamber;
at least one gas supply channel connecting the pressure manipulation chamber to at least one gas source containing a pressurized manipulation gas, the gas supply channel including at least one first control valve structured for selective introduction of manipulation gas into the pressure manipulation chamber, and also for regulation of the pressure (Pchamber) of the gas therein; and
at least one gas discharge channel leading out of the upper chamber portion of the pressure manipulation chamber, the gas discharge channel including at least one second control valve structured for selective discharge of manipulation gas from the pressure manipulation chamber, and also for regulation of the pressure (Pchamber) of the gas therein;
whereby the pumping device is structured so as to be able to direct manipulation gas out of the pressure manipulation chamber and also lower the gas pressure (Pchamber) therein to a lower pressure (Plower) at which a resulting pressure difference (Psource-Plower) will drive the liquid from the liquid source and into the pressure manipulation chamber via the liquid supply channel;
whereby the pumping device also is structured so as to then be able to direct manipulation gas into the pressure manipulation chamber and increase the gas pressure (Pchamber) therein to an upper pressure (Pupper) at which a resulting pressure difference (Pupper-Preceiving) will drive the liquid from the pressure manipulation chamber and onwards to the receiving region via said liquid discharge channel; and
whereby the pumping device is structured so as to be able to alternately lower and increase the gas pressure (Pchamber) in the pressure manipulation chamber, the course of which represents one operating cycle, thereby being able to pump liquid from the liquid source and onwards to the receiving region via the pressure manipulation chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gas-driven pumping device and a method for downhole pumping of a liquid from at least one liquid source in a well and onto at least one receiving region for the liquid. The pumping device comprises a pressure manipulation chamber having a lower chamber portion and an upper chamber portion, wherein the pressure manipulation chamber is connected in a flow-communicating manner to
- a liquid supply channel;
- a liquid discharge channel;
- a gas supply channel; and
- a gas discharge channel. By alternately lowering and increasing the gas pressure (Pchamber), liquid is pumped from the liquid source and onwards to the receiving region via the pressure manipulation chamber.
24 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A gas-driven pumping device for pumping a liquid from at least one liquid source in a well and onto at least one receiving region for the liquid, the liquid source having a pressure (Psource) and the receiving region having a pressure (Preceiving), in which the pumping device is located in the well, wherein the pumping device comprises at least one pressure manipulation chamber extending in the longitudinal direction of the well and including a lower chamber portion and an upper chamber portion;
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wherein said pressure manipulation chamber is connected in a flow-communicating manner to the following channels; at least one liquid supply channel connecting the pressure manipulation chamber to said liquid source, the liquid supply channel including at least one first check valve for allowing liquid flow only to the pressure manipulation chamber; at least one liquid discharge channel connecting the lower chamber portion of the pressure manipulation chamber to said liquid receiving region, the liquid discharge channel including at least one second check valve for allowing liquid flow only from the pressure manipulation chamber; at least one gas supply channel connecting the pressure manipulation chamber to at least one gas source containing a pressurized manipulation gas, the gas supply channel including at least one first control valve structured for selective introduction of manipulation gas into the pressure manipulation chamber, and also for regulation of the pressure (Pchamber) of the gas therein; and at least one gas discharge channel leading out of the upper chamber portion of the pressure manipulation chamber, the gas discharge channel including at least one second control valve structured for selective discharge of manipulation gas from the pressure manipulation chamber, and also for regulation of the pressure (Pchamber) of the gas therein; whereby the pumping device is structured so as to be able to direct manipulation gas out of the pressure manipulation chamber and also lower the gas pressure (Pchamber) therein to a lower pressure (Plower) at which a resulting pressure difference (Psource-Plower) will drive the liquid from the liquid source and into the pressure manipulation chamber via the liquid supply channel; whereby the pumping device also is structured so as to then be able to direct manipulation gas into the pressure manipulation chamber and increase the gas pressure (Pchamber) therein to an upper pressure (Pupper) at which a resulting pressure difference (Pupper-Preceiving) will drive the liquid from the pressure manipulation chamber and onwards to the receiving region via said liquid discharge channel; and whereby the pumping device is structured so as to be able to alternately lower and increase the gas pressure (Pchamber) in the pressure manipulation chamber, the course of which represents one operating cycle, thereby being able to pump liquid from the liquid source and onwards to the receiving region via the pressure manipulation chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of pumping a liquid from at least one liquid source in a well and onto at least one receiving region for the liquid, the liquid source having a pressure (Psource) and the receiving region having a pressure (Preceiving), wherein the method comprises:
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locating at least one gas-driven pumping device in the well, wherein the pumping device comprises at least one pressure manipulation chamber extending in the longitudinal direction of the well and including a lower chamber portion and an upper chamber portion, and wherein said pressure manipulation chamber is connected in a flow-communicating manner to the following channels; at least one liquid supply channel connecting the pressure manipulation chamber to said liquid source, the liquid supply channel including at least one first check valve for allowing liquid flow only to the pressure manipulation chamber; at least one liquid discharge channel connecting the lower chamber portion of the pressure manipulation chamber to said liquid receiving region, the liquid discharge channel including at least one second check valve for allowing liquid flow only from the pressure manipulation chamber; at least one gas supply channel connecting the pressure manipulation chamber to at least one gas source containing a pressurized manipulation gas, the gas supply channel including at least one first control valve structured for selective introduction of manipulation gas into the pressure manipulation chamber, and also for regulation of the pressure (Pchamber) of the gas therein; and at least one gas discharge channel leading out of the upper chamber portion of the pressure manipulation chamber, the gas discharge channel including at least one second control valve structured for selective discharge of manipulation gas from the pressure manipulation chamber, and also for regulation of the pressure (Pchamber) of the gas therein; and wherein the method further comprises the following steps; (A) directing manipulation gas out of the pressure manipulation chamber and also lowering the gas pressure (Pchamber) therein to a lower pressure (Plower) at which a resulting pressure difference (Psource-Plower) drives the liquid from the liquid source and into the pressure manipulation chamber via the liquid supply channel; (B) filling the liquid up to an upper liquid level in the pressure manipulation chamber; (C) directing manipulation gas into the pressure manipulation chamber and increasing the gas pressure (Pchamber) therein to an upper pressure (Pupper) at which a resulting pressure difference (Pupper-Preceiving) drives the liquid from the pressure manipulation chamber and onwards to the receiving region via said liquid discharge channel; (D) driving the liquid down to a lower liquid level in the pressure manipulation chamber; and (E) repeating steps (A)-(D), the course of which represents one operating cycle, thereby maintaining the pumping of liquid from the liquid source and onwards to the receiving region via the pressure manipulation chamber. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification