Automatic plunger

Abstract

A downhole apparatus having an upper well stop disposed at the surface of a well and a lower well stop disposed in the well. The apparatus further includes a plunger disposed within the well, wherein the plunger has a first sleeve having an outer diameter and a ball valve disposed on the first sleeve, wherein the ball valve is configured to rotate between an open and a closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A downhole apparatus comprising:
 an outer sleeve comprising an inner diameter having a first plurality of teeth; and   an inner sleeve comprising an outer diameter having a second plurality of teeth that correspond to the first plurality of teeth, and a ball valve configured to rotate between an open position and a closed position as the first plurality of teeth engages the second plurality of teeth.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inner sleeve moves longitudinally within the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein longitudinal movement of the inner sleeve rotates the ball valve between the open and the closed positions. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a spring and a rod disposed between the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the spring is disposed substantially around the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of teeth is disposed on a gear. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein rotation of the gear rotates the ball valve between the open and closed position. 
     
     
         8 . A downhole apparatus comprising:
 an upper well stop disposed at the surface of a well;   a lower well stop disposed in the well; and   a plunger disposed within the well; the plunger comprising:   a first sleeve comprising an outer diameter, and   a ball valve disposed on the first sleeve, wherein the ball valve is configured to rotate between an open and a closed position.   
     
     
         9 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a spring disposed around the upper well stop. 
     
     
         10 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a second spring disposed around the lower well stop. 
     
     
         11 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein contact between the plunger and the lower well stop rotates the ball valve into the closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein contact between the plunger and the upper well stop rotates the ball valve into the open position. 
     
     
         13 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the plunger further comprises a spring in contact with the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the spring biases the ball valve in the open position. 
     
     
         15 . A method of producing a well comprising:
 moving a plunger comprising a ball valve axially downward within a wellbore;   contacting the plunger with a bottom well stop disposed within the wellbore, wherein the contact between the plunger and the bottom well stop rotates the ball valve into a closed position;   moving the plunger axially upward within the wellbore; and   contacting the plunger with a top well stop disposed within the wellbore, wherein the contact between the plunger and the upper well stop rotates the ball valve into an open position.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein rotating the ball valve into the closed position comprises sealing substantially the inside of the plunger. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein rotating the ball valve into the opened position comprises opening substantially the inside of the plunger allowing fluid flow there through. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the plunger is a single body apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein contacting the plunger with the bottom well stop translates an inner sleeve of the plunger axially upward and the axial movement of the inner sleeve rotates the ball valve into the closed position. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein contacting the plunger with the bottom well stop electromagnetically rotates the ball valve into the closed position.