SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ARTIFICIALLY LIFTING A PRODUCT FROM A WELL

• US 20110268586A1
• Filed: 04/07/2011
• Published: 11/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sooner B & B Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sooner B & B Incorporated
• Inventors: Crosby, Curtis, Rogers, Tracy, Montoya, Matt
• Application Number:
  US13/081,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20110268586A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/53
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 47/02 the driving mechanisms being situated at ground level F04B47/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 47/04 the driving means incorporating fluid means
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 47/12 having free plunger lifting the fluid to the surface

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a pump driving unit for driving an above ground pump. The pump driving unit utilizes a single prime mover and a drive train for actuating multiple components required to drive the above ground pump. Some implementations of the pump driving unit include phase separation devices, filtering units, and cooling units that may also be actuated by the drive train of the unit. Some implementations of the pump driving unit further include an enclosure and a platform for containing the unit and simplifying on-site installation.

Claims

1. A pump driving system, comprising:

a direct drive pump driving unit comprising a prime mover having a rotating shaft operably coupled to a first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump;

a pumping unit remotely located from the direct drive remote pump driving unit, a hydraulic motor of the pumping unit being hydraulically coupled to the first hydraulic pump, the hydraulic motor of the pumping unit further being operably coupled to an artificial lift whereby the hydraulic motor of the pumping unit drives the artificial lift;

a processing unit remotely located from the direct drive remote pump driving unit and from the pumping unit, a hydraulic motor of the cooling unit further being operably coupled to a compressor of the cooling unit, wherein a lifted material from the pumping unit is process through the cooling unit prior to being stored.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a hydraulic line hydraulically coupling the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor of the pumping unit and the hydraulic motor of the processing unit, respectively.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a gas line in fluid communication with the compressor and a wellhead.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising an oil-field separator in fluid communication with the gas line.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising an inlet scrubber in fluid communication with the gas line.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the prime mover is selected from the group consisting of a natural gas engine, a diesel engine, a petrol engine, a gas turbine, a water turbine, and an electric motor.

7. The system of claim 3, further comprising a cooling unit in fluid communication with the gas line.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure surrounding at least one of the direct drive pump driving unit, the pumping unit, and the processing unit.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pipeline in fluid communication with the gas line.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the electric motor is powered by a battery.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the electric motor is powered by an alternate power source selected from the group consisting of a hydro-powered generator, a solar-powered generator, a wind-powered generator, a geothermal powered generator, and an electrical power line.

12. A method for driving an above ground pump, the method comprising:

providing a direct drive pump driving unit comprising a prime mover having a rotating shaft operably coupled to a first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump;

operably coupling the first hydraulic pump to a hydraulic motor of a remotely located pumping unit, wherein the prime mover drives the hydraulic motor of the remotely located pumping unit via the first hydraulic pump to artificially lift a product from a well;

operably coupling the second hydraulic pump to a hydraulic motor of a remotely located processing unit, wherein the prime mover drives the hydraulic motor of the remotely located processing unit via the second hydraulic pump, and wherein the hydraulic motor of the remotely located processing unit drives a compressor of the processing unit to compress the lifted product from the well;

providing fluid communication between the well and the compressor via a gas line, wherein the pumping unit is actuated by the prime mover via the first hydraulic pump to artificially lift the product from the well and into the gas line, whereafter the product is compressed by compressor, the compressor being actuated by the prime mover via the second hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor of the remotely located processing unit.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

hydraulically coupling the first hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor of the remotely located pumping unit via a first hydraulic line; and

hydraulically coupling the second hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor of the remotely located processing unit via a second hydraulic line.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of interposing an inlet scrubber between the well and the compressor via the gas line.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of interposing an outlet scrubber between the compressor and the pipeline via the gas line.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of collecting the compressed product in at least one of a storage tank and a pipeline in fluid communication with the compressor.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of cooling the compressed product prior to collecting the compressed product in at least one of the storage tank and the pipeline.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the compressor is at least one of a rotary screw compressor, a vain compressor, and a reciprocating compressor.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the pumping unit is at least one of an above-ground pumping unit and a subterranean pumping unit.

20. A modular pumping unit, comprising:

a direct drive pump driving unit comprising a prime mover having an extended rotating shaft operably coupled to a first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump;

a pumping unit remotely located from the direct drive pump driving unit, a hydraulic motor of the pumping unit being hydraulically coupled to the first hydraulic pump, the hydraulic motor of the pumping unit being hydraulically coupled to the first hydraulic pump, the hydraulic motor of the pumping unit further being operably coupled to an artificial lift whereby the hydraulic motor of the pumping unit drives the artificial lift to lift a product from a well.

21. The modular pumping unit of claim 20, further comprising a processing unit remotely located from the direct drive pump driving unit and further remotely located from the pumping unit, wherein the processing unit comprises a hydraulic motor that is operably coupled to the second hydraulic pump, wherein the hydraulic motor of the processing unit drives at least one component selected from the group consisting of a compressor, an oil-field separator, an inlet scrubber, an outlet scrubber, a filtering unit, a cooling unit, a generator, a battery, and an alternative power source.

22. The modular pumping unit of claim 20, wherein the artificial lift is at least one of an above ground pump and a subterranean pump.

23. The modular pumping unit of claim 21, further comprising a gas line fluidly interconnecting the well and the compressor, wherein the first hydraulic pump drives the hydraulic motor of the artificial lift to artificially lift the product from the well, through the gas line, and to the compressor fluidly coupled thereto.