Horace Ridgeway Robinson

US Patent:

44495820, May 22, 1984

Filed:

Aug 23, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/410300

Inventors:

Daniel G. Peterson - Los Angeles CA
John W. Erickson - Huntington Beach CA
Horace M. Robinson - Los Angeles CA

Assignee:

Kobe, Inc. - City of Commerce CA

International Classification:

E21B 4300

US Classification:

166 64

Abstract:

A surface power unit for use on a subterranean well generates a series of pulses of pressurized fluid to a downhole pump. A sequencing mechanism connects and disconnects the surface power unit to each of a plurality of downhole pumps in a predetermined order such that a pulse of pressurized fluid is being applied to one or more of the plurality of downhole pumps during a power cycle while each of the other ones of the plurality of downhole pumps is completing its pumping cycle. The number of downhole pumps which can be operated from a single surface power unit is limited by the ratio of the length of the power cycle to the length of the pumping cycle of the downhole pumps. The sequencing means can include a clocking device such as a shift register which generates a sequence of enabling signals to corresponding signal amplifiers for each well. Each amplifier generates an output signal to a solenoid actuated valve having an input connected to a common surface power unit and a fluid output connected to a downhole pump in an associated well. Each of the output lines from the shift register is connected to an input of an AND gate having another input connected to a pressure transducer which senses the end of the return stroke of the surface power unit cylinder.