Gas lift plunger arrangement
First Claim
1. A plunger for moving up and down in a tubing string in a plunger lift system for an oil and gas well, said plunger having a gas seal arrangement comprising:
- an elongated plunger body having an upper end and a lower end, said plunger having a longitudinal axis, with a plurality of circumferentially grooves spaced longitudinally apart on an outer surface of said plunger body;
a longitudinal bore arranged within said plunger, extending from an opening in said lower end of said plunger; and
an arrangement of fluid passageways extending from said bore to said grooves in said outer surface of said plunger body, to permit gas flow therethrough to direct a turbulent flow of fluid about said plunger.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plunger in a plunger lift system in an oil and gas well includes shaped grooves spaced along the plunger body, angled fins or below the grooves, an elongated interior cavity open at the bottom, and passages connecting the interior cavity to the grooves. The shape, sizing and spacing of the grooves improves plunger seal and decreases liquid loss during plunger lift. The flutes or fins spin the plunger to clean the tubing string and prevent the plunger from becoming stuck in the lubricator. The interior cavity lightens the plunger and, in combination with the passages, improves (the seal created by the shaped grooves. A method of controlling fluid flow in a tubing string in the plunger lift system includes the elongated plunger controllably traveling vertically therethrough, including the steps of: arranging an array of side holes through a side wall of the elongated plunger, wherein the side holes create turbulence in gas within the tubing string; and rotating the elongated plunger about a longitudinal axis thereof, as the plunger travels through the tubing string in the plunger lift system.
35 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A plunger for moving up and down in a tubing string in a plunger lift system for an oil and gas well, said plunger having a gas seal arrangement comprising:
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an elongated plunger body having an upper end and a lower end, said plunger having a longitudinal axis, with a plurality of circumferentially grooves spaced longitudinally apart on an outer surface of said plunger body;
a longitudinal bore arranged within said plunger, extending from an opening in said lower end of said plunger; and
an arrangement of fluid passageways extending from said bore to said grooves in said outer surface of said plunger body, to permit gas flow therethrough to direct a turbulent flow of fluid about said plunger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of controlling fluid flow in a tubing string in a plunger lift system of an oil and gas well wherein an elongated plunger controllably travels vertically therethrough, comprising:
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arranging an array of fins on a lower end of said elongated plunger, wherein said fins create turbulence in gas within said tubing string; and
rotating said elongated plunger about a longitudinal axis thereof, as said plunger travels through said tubing string in said plunger lift system. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of controlling fluid flow in a tubing string in a plunger lift system of an oil and gas well wherein an elongated plunger controllably travels vertically therethrough, comprising:
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arranging an array of side holes through a side wall of said elongated plunger, wherein said side holes create turbulence in gas within said tubing string; and
rotating said elongated plunger about a longitudinal axis thereof, as said plunger travels through said tubing string in said plunger lift system. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of cleaning interior walls of a tubing string in a plunger lift system of an oil and gas well wherein an elongated plunger controllably travels vertically therethrough, comprising:
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arranging an array of fins on a lower end of said elongated plunger, wherein said fins have a sharp edge in close proximity to said walls of said tubing string;
rotating said elongated plunger about a longitudinal axis thereof, as said plunger travels through said tubing string in said plunger lift system; and
cleaning said walls of said tubing string by said sharp edges of said fins, as said rotating plunger travels vertically therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification