Methods and apparatus for production of hydrocarbons

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for producing fluids from a well and for controlling the production of fluids from multiple wells, particularly from a remote location. The well is provided with a winch/cable drum having a cable wound thereon with a swabbing tool on the end of the cable. The swabbing tool is initially located in a riser that is mounted to the wellhead and lowered into the well and down through the fluids in the well under control of a programmable logic controller (PLC 95 ). Upon reaching a pre-determined depth, the PLC 95 stops the rotation of the winch/cable drum and then reverses the direction of rotation to retrieve the swabbing tool, thereby lifting the fluids in the well bore up out of the well. Flowline connections, with appropriate valves, are provided in the riser for routing any gas and oil that is lifted from the well into pipelines and on to storage tanks or separators as the swabbing tool is retrieved. The PLC 95 is programmed for manual operation, for independent control of the wellhead apparatus, and/or for operation from a remote location.

1 . An apparatus for producing fluids from a well comprising: 
 a riser attachable to the wellhead of a well;    a winch/cable drum having a cable wound thereon for winding and unwinding from said winch/cable drum by rotating the winch/cable drum, the cable passing through said riser into the well and having a swabbing tool attached to the end thereof;    first and second flowline connections in said riser, each of said flowline connections having a valve therein; and    controls for (a) opening the valve in said first flowline connection upon rotation of said winch/cable drum to wind said cable onto said winch/cable drum to retrieve said swabbing tool from the well and then (b) closing the valve in said first flowline connection and opening the valve in said second flowline connection while retrieving said swabbing tool from the well.    
   
   
       2 - 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A method of producing fluid from a well comprising the steps of: 
 calibrating a well by lowering a swab bar having a swab cup affixed thereto into the fluid in the well to a desired depth and thereafter retrieving the swab bar from the well;    providing a programmable logic controller (PLC) with settings as needed for the PLC to control subsequent lower and retrieve cycles;    running subsequent lower and retrieve cycles under the control of the PLC at selected intervals; and    opening a valve in fluid communication with the well during the retrieval of the swab bar under control of the PLC to collect fluid lifted from the well by the swab cup.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  in which the intervals between cycles are controlled by a timer.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  in which the intervals between cycles are selected by an operator.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the operator is located at a location remote from the well and the PLC is instructed to control cycles by either wireless or cabled communication.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17  in which the intervals between cycles are selected by communication from a second PLC.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the second PLC communicates with multiple PLCs, each PLC controlling the lower and retrieve cycles at respective individual wells.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the lower and retrieve cycles controlled by the second PLC are sequenced.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the PLC is provided with instructions for causing the swab bar to dwell for a selected interval at the desired depth.