Apparatus for remotely detecting fluid reservoir levels in fluid and gas well

• US 6,895,816 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2003
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Foy Streetman
• Original Assignee: Foy Streetman
• Inventors: Streetman, Foy
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON, KATINA M
• Application Number:
  US10/454,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20040244480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 732/90.V, 342/124, 367/140, 340/621
• US Class Current: 73/305
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/061 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/30 by floats
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3012 Common actuator for control valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3018 From above liquid level

Abstract

An apparatus for detecting fluid levels in an oil and gas well environment and transmitting a signal to a remote site when sensing that the level has reached a predetermined amount.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting fluid level in a container disposed at a well and transmitting a signal to a remote site when sensing that the level has reached a predetermined amount, the apparatus including:

a separator operably disposed at the well for receiving fluid and gas therein and equipped for separating said fluids and gas;

a storage container having a valve opening;

a fluids transfer conduit interconnecting said separator and said storage container in a manner to transfer said fluid from said separator to said storage container;

a gas pressure supply conduit communicably connected to said valve opening for supplying gas pressure at a predetermined amount;

a float actuated valve operably disposed inside said container in a manner to permit opening of said valve opening when fluid level reaches a predetermined level in said storage container by virtue of said float valve being actuated due to the fluid level exceeding said predetermined level and when dropping below said predetermined level, said valve opening is closed by said float actuated valve preventing gas from said gas pressure supply conduit from passing thereby;

a pneumatic pressure sensor operably connected to said gas pressure supply conduit for sensing when pressure drops within said gas pressure supply conduit below said predetermined amount due to said float actuated valve being actuated by said fluid to open said valve opening; and

a transmitting device operatively connected to said pressure sensor and capable of transmitting a signal to a remote site indicative of said storage container being full and requiring service when said pressure sensor senses said pressure drop.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, which further includes a remotely located receiving device for receives said transmitted signal and displays said signal in a manner such that an operator can attend to said service.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, said valve opening is in an upper portion of said container.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gas pressure in said gas pressure supply conduit is insufficient without said fluid reaching said predetermined level to actuate said float actuated valve to open said valve opening.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, which further includes a secondary container operably disposed about said storage container, a secondary conduit connecting to said gas pressure supply conduit and having an end extending into said secondary container and having a valve opening, and a secondary float actuated valve operably disposed in said secondary container in a manner to permit opening of said valve opening on said secondary conduit when fluid level reaches a predetermined level in said secondary container by virtue of said float actuated valve being actuated due to fluid level exceeding said predetermined level and when dropping below said predetermined level, said valve opening is closed by said secondary float actuated valve preventing gas from said gas pressure supply conduit from passing thereby, and wherein said pneumatic pressure sensor senses when pressure drops within said gas pressure supply conduit below said predetermined amount due to said secondary float actuated valve being actuated by said fluid to open said valve opening in said secondary container.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gas pressure supply conduit connects to said separator to receive gas therefrom.