Pumping system and method for recovering fluid from a well

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pumping system and method for drawing or pumping subsurface fluid (e.g., gas, oil, water, etc.) from a well, particularly a gas well. The pumping system of the present invention includes a pump which displaces fluid in a well into a string of hollow sucker rods during the downward stoke of the pump. The string of hollow sucker rods extends generally to the surface so that the fluids can be directed to collection equipment on the surface.

1 . A pumping system for removing fluids from a well, comprising: 
 a pump having a barrel and having a hollow plunger reciprocatingly disposed within the barrel;    a string of hollow sucker rods having a cavity and extending from the pump to a well head near a surface end of the well;    a hollow adaptor/connector for connecting the hollow plunger to the string of hollow sucker rods, wherein the hollow adaptor/connector provides a continuous opening between the hollow plunger and the string of hollow sucker rods; and    wherein when the hollow plunger is raised on an upstroke of the string of hollow sucker rods, fluid enters the barrel of the pump and wherein when the hollow plunger is lowered on a downstroke of the string of hollow sucker rods, the fluid in the barrel of the pump is displaced into the cavity of the string of hollow sucker rods such that substantially all of the fluid pumped from the well into the barrel of the pump is introduced into the string of hollow sucker rods.    
   
   
       2 . The pumping system of  claim 1  further comprising a seating nipple attached to a lower end of the pump.  
   
   
       3 . The pumping system of  claim 2  further comprising a holddown device for connecting the seating nipple to an inner surface of a well tubing disposed within the well.  
   
   
       4 . The pumping system of  claim 1  wherein the pump is sized to fit with a well tubing of the well, the well tubing having an internal diameter of about 2⅞ inches.  
   
   
       5 . The pumping system of  claim 1  further comprising a stuffing box positioned above the well head, wherein the string of hollow sucker rods reciprocates within the stuffing box.  
   
   
       6 . The pumping system of  claim 5 , wherein the stuffing box comprises an integrated stuffing flow T for allowing for the collection of fluids between a well tubing of the well and the string of hollow sucker rods.  
   
   
       7 . The pumping system of  claim 1  further comprising a flow T connected to the string of hollow sucker rods so that the fluid can be circulated from the string of hollow sucker rods into a separator.  
   
   
       8 . The pumping system of  claim 1  further comprising a polished rod connected to and extending between a flow T or an upper end of the string of hollow sucker rods and a pumping unit.  
   
   
       9 . A method of removing fluids from a well, comprising: 
 providing a pumping system in a well, the pumping system comprising: 
 a pump having a barrel and having a hollow plunger reciprocatingly disposed within the barrel,  
 a string of hollow sucker rods having a cavity and extending from the pump to a well head near a surface end of the well, and  
 a hollow adaptor/connector for connecting the hollow plunger to the string of hollow sucker rods, wherein the hollow adaptor/connector provides a continuous opening between the hollow plunger and the string of hollow sucker rods; and  
   operating the pumping system in the well such that when the hollow plunger is raised on an upstroke of the string of hollow sucker rods, fluid from the well enters the barrel of the pump and when the hollow plunger is lowered on a downstroke of the string of hollow sucker rods, the fluid in the barrel of the pump is displaced into the cavity of the string of hollow sucker rods such that substantially all of the fluid pumped from the well into the barrel of the pump is introduced into the string of hollow sucker rods and is driven via the string of hollow sucker rods into a collection device.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein in the step of operating the pumping system, the collection device is a separator.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein in the step of providing the pumping system, the pumping system further comprises a seating nipple attached to a lower end of the pump.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the pumping system further comprises a holddown device for connecting the seating nipple to an inner surface of a well tubing disposed within the well.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein in the method of providing the pumping system, the pump of the pumping system is sized to fit with a well tubing of the well, the well tubing having an internal diameter of about 2⅞ inches.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein in the method of providing the pumping system, the pumping system further comprises a stuffing box positioned above the well head, whereby the string of hollow sucker rods reciprocates within the stuffing box.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the stuffing box of the pumping system comprises an integrated stuffing flow T for allowing for the collection of fluids between a well tubing of the well and the string of hollow sucker rods.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 9  wherein in the method of providing the pumping system, the pumping system further comprises a flow T connected to the string of hollow sucker rods so that the fluid can be circulated from the string of hollow sucker rods into the collection device.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 9  wherein in the method of providing the pumping system, the pumping system further comprises a polished rod connected to and extending between a flow T or an upper end of the string of hollow sucker rods and a pumping unit.