Winched rod pump apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method for pumping fluids with a winched rod pumping apparatus for imparting reciprocating substantially vertical motion to a rod of a sucker-rod pump. A winched rod pumping apparatus, includes a motor driven winch drum and cable mechanical actuator arrangement. The winch drum and cable mechanical actuator arrangement includes a substantially vertically moveable member attached to the rod of the sucker-rod pump. The vertical moveable member is coupled to one end of the cable and the other end of the cable is coupled to the winch drum. The winch drum is configured to rotate in one direction to index the rod in a vertical up direction and to index the rod in a vertical down direction, with the winch drum completing at least one full rotation and the rod completing one cycle. The rod cycle is in relation to a pumping cycle for the down hole pump.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A winch rod pumping apparatus to impart reciprocating vertical motion to a rod of a sucker-rod pump having a pump stroke, with the rod coupled to a rod string of a well, the apparatus comprising:
 a vertical moving member coupled to the rod;   a cable having two ends with one end coupled to the vertical moving member; and   a motor coupled to a winch drum with one end of the cable operatively coupled to the winch drum, the winch drum configured to rotate in one direction to index the rod in a vertical up direction and to index the rod in a vertical down direction, with the winch drum completing at least one full rotation and the rod completing one cycle.   
     
     
         2 . The winch rod pumping apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a motor drive and controller coupled to the motor for operating the motor in a substantially constant input power operational mode.   
     
     
         3 . The winch rod pumping apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inertial flywheel coupled to the winch drum, with the inertial flywheel configured to store kinetic energy from the winch drum during a portion of the winch drum rotation and to impart the stored energy to the winch drum during another portion of the winch drum rotation.   
     
     
         4 . The winch rod pumping apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical reversal mechanism coupled to the winch drum with the mechanical reversal mechanism configured to allow the winch drum to continue moving in one direction during both the vertical up and vertical down direction of the rod. 
     
     
         5 . The winch rod pumping apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second cable having two ends with one end coupled to the winch drum and the other end coupled to the vertical moving member with each cable end coupled to the vertical moving member proximate an end of the vertical moving member. 
     
     
         6 . The winch rod pumping apparatus of  claim 1  or  claim 5 , with each cable including two separate portions, with each portion composed of one of a metal wire, a synthetic fiber, and a combination of metal wire and synthetic fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The winch rod pumping apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising the winch drum includes a drum portion defining circumferential channel, with each channel configured to receive the cable as the winch drum rotates about a winch drum axis. 
     
     
         8 . The winch rod pumping apparatus of  claim 7 , with each drum portion including a cable clamp configured to engage the one end of the cable, with the cable clamp configured to rotate within a socket defined in the drum portion, along an axis parallel to the winch drum axis. 
     
     
         9 . The winch rod pumping apparatus of  claim 7 , including at least one additional drum portion for each cable coupled to the winch drum. 
     
     
         10 . The winch rod pumping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the winch drum is configured to complete at least one additional rotation during the one cycle of the rod. 
     
     
         11 . A method to impart reciprocating vertical motion to a sucker rod pump at a well head, with the pump including a pump rod, the method comprising:
 coupling a vertical moving member to the pump rod;   installing a motor and gear box on a support structure proximate the well head;   coupling a winch drum to the gear box;   mounting a pulley to the support structure and aligning the pulley with the winch drum;   coupling one end of a cable to the vertical moving member and another end of the cable operatively to the winch drum; and   configuring the winch drum to rotate in one direction to index the pump rod in a vertical up direction and to index the pump rod in a vertical down direction, with the winch drum completing at least one full rotation and the pump rod completing a cycle.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 configuring the winch drum to store kinetic energy of the down-stroke of the pump rod in an inertial flywheel coupled to the winch drum and using the stored energy during the following up-stroke of the pump rod cycle.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 coupling a second winch drum to the gear box;   coupling a second pulley to the support structure and aligning the pulley with the winch drum a spaced distance from the other pulley; and   coupling a second cable to the second winch drum and the vertical moving member.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  or  claim 12 , with each cable including two separate portions, with each portion composed of one of a metal wire, a synthetic fiber, and a combination of metal wire and synthetic wire.