Remote sensing of in-ground fluid level apparatus

Abstract

A fluid pump apparatus includes a pump chamber in a wellbore, a drive line capable of transferring a gas pressure to the pump chamber, a control system, an exhaust line, and a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is capable of remotely sensing gas pressure in the exhaust line and providing communication to the control system. The control system is capable of determining when the fluid level in the pump chamber is full or near full based on input from the pressure sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid pump apparatus comprising:
 a. a pump chamber located in a wellbore and having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet port, and at least one gas port, and   b. an exhaust line providing fluidic communication from said gas port to an exhaust chamber located a distance above said pump chamber, and   c. a control system capable of receiving an electrical input, processing said electrical input, and producing an electrical output signal, and   d. a pressure sensor in fluidic communication with the exhaust line and in electrical communication with the control system, and   e. said control system is capable of receiving an electrical input from said pressure sensor, processing said electrical input, and producing an electrical output signal capable of indicating a near full condition in said pump chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid pump apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a. a vacuum device, capable of providing negative pressure gas, in fluidic communication with said exhaust line, and   b. a valve capable of fluidically isolating said exhaust line from said exhaust chamber.   
     
     
         3 . The fluid pump apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a. a compressed gas supply capable of providing positive pressure gas, and   b. a drive line in fluidic communication from said compressed gas supply to said gas port, and   c. a valve capable of fluidically isolating said pressure sensor from said pump chamber, and   d. a valve capable of fluidically isolating said compressed gas supply from said pump chamber.   
     
     
         4 . The fluid pump apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a. a compressed gas supply capable of providing positive pressure gas, and   b. a drive line in fluidic communication from said compressed gas supply to said gas port, and   c. a venturi in fluidic communication with said compressed gas supply and with said exhaust line, and   d. a valve capable of fluidically isolating said venturi from said compressed gas supply, and   e. a valve capable of fluidically isolating said pressure sensor from said pump chamber, and   f. a valve capable of fluidically isolating said compressed gas supply from said pump chamber.   
     
     
         5 . The fluid pump apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a. a normally open check valve including a float, wherein said float is capable of allowing the bi-directional flow of gas and downward flow of liquid, but preventing the upward flow liquid.   
     
     
         6 . The fluid pump apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a. a normally open check valve including a float, wherein said float is capable of allowing the bi-directional flow of gas and downward flow of liquid, but preventing the upward flow of liquid.   
     
     
         7 . The fluid pump apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a. said pressure sensor positioned at least 30.5 m (100 ft.) above said pump chamber.   
     
     
         8 . The fluid pump apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 a. said output signal is capable of communicating with an intermediate device being at least one member of the group consisting of a number, a light, a level, a sound, a haptic response, and a different output signal.   
     
     
         9 . The fluid pump apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein;
 a. said output signal is capable of controlling a valve to enable fluidic communication from said gas supply to said pump chamber.   
     
     
         10 . The fluid pump apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein;
 a. said output signal is capable of controlling a valve to fluidically isolate said exhaust line from said pump chamber.   
     
     
         11 . The fluid pump apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein;
 a. said exhaust chamber being at least one of a tank and atmosphere.   
     
     
         12 . A fluid pump apparatus comprising:
 a. a pump chamber located in a wellbore and having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet port, and a gas port, and   b. an exhaust line providing fluidic communication from said gas port to an exhaust chamber located a distance above said pump chamber, and   c. a control system capable of receiving an electrical input, processing said electrical input, and producing an electrical output signal, and   d. a pressure sensor in fluidic communication with the exhaust line and in electrical communication with the control system, and   e. said pressure sensor capable of providing one or more electrical signals to said controller corresponding to a near full condition in said pump chamber.   
     
     
         13 . The fluid pump apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a. a vacuum device, capable of providing negative pressure gas, in fluidic communication with said exhaust line, and   b. a valve capable of fluidically isolating said exhaust line from said exhaust chamber.   
     
     
         14 . The fluid pump apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a. a compressed gas supply capable of providing positive pressure gas, and   b. a drive line in fluidic communication from said compressed gas supply to said gas port, and   c. a valve capable of fluidically isolating said pressure sensor from said pump chamber, and   d. a valve capable of fluidically isolating said compressed gas supply from said pump chamber.   
     
     
         15 . The fluid pump apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a. a normally open check valve including a float, wherein said float is capable of allowing the bi-directional flow of gas and the downward flow of liquid, but preventing the upward flow of liquid.   
     
     
         16 . The fluid pump apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a. a normally open check valve including a float, wherein said float is capable of allowing the bi-directional flow of gas and the downward flow of liquid, but preventing the upward flow of liquid.   
     
     
         17 . The fluid pump apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 a. said output signal is capable of communicating with an intermediate device being at least one member of the group consisting of a number, a light, a level, a sound, a haptic response, and a different output signal.   
     
     
         18 . The fluid pump apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein:
 a. said exhaust chamber being at least one of a tank and atmosphere.   
     
     
         19 . The fluid pump apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a. a compressed gas supply capable of providing positive pressure gas, and   b. a drive line in fluidic communication from said compressed gas supply to said gas port, and   c. a venturi in fluidic communication with said compressed gas supply and with said exhaust line, and   d. a valve capable of fluidically isolating said venturi from said compressed gas supply, and   e. a valve capable of fluidically isolating said pressure sensor from said pump chamber, and   f. a valve capable of fluidically isolating said compressed gas supply from said pump chamber.   
     
     
         20 . The fluid pump apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a. said pressure sensor positioned at least 30.5 m (100 ft.) above said pump chamber.