US4211279A — Plunger lift system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 253 words

An improved plunger lift system for use in a well having a wellhead, a tubing string disposed within a casing forming an annulus therebetween, lift gas supplied at the well surface, and means for injecting the lift gas from the well surface to within the bore of the tubing string at a location intermediate the ends of the tubing string, and a plunger adapted to reciprocate within the bore of the tubing string to separate lift gas from a liquid slug within the tubing string, wherein the improvement comprises: a. means for catching and holding the plunger within the wellhead after the plunger has completed an upward stroke through the bore of the tubing string; b. a timer controller regulating the interval during which lift gas is injected from the source to the annulus; c. the same timer controller regulating the interval during which the plunger is held within the wellhead; d. motor valve means regulating the flow of lift gas to the annulus; e. the time controller opening and closing the motor valve means; f. the means for catching and holding the plunger further comprising; g. tubular means attached to the wellhead; h. housing means extending radially from the tubular means; i. a piston and operating shaft slidable within the housing means and having a first position holding the plunger within the wellhead; and j. the timer controller directing operating fluid to move the piston to its first position at preselected time intervals after the timer controller opens the motor valve means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 253 words

An improved plunger lift system for use in a well having a wellhead, a tubing string disposed within a casing forming an annulus therebetween, lift gas supplied at the well surface, and means for injecting the lift gas from the well surface to within the bore of the tubing string at a location intermediate the ends of the tubing string, and a plunger adapted to reciprocate within the bore of the tubing string to separate lift gas from a liquid slug within the tubing string, wherein the improvement comprises: a. means for catching and holding the plunger within the wellhead after the plunger has completed an upward stroke through the bore of the tubing string; b. a timer controller regulating the interval during which lift gas is injected from the source to the annulus; c. the same timer controller regulating the interval during which the plunger is held within the wellhead; d. motor valve means regulating the flow of lift gas to the annulus; e. the time controller opening and closing the motor valve means; f. the means for catching and holding the plunger further comprising; g. tubular means attached to the wellhead; h. housing means extending radially from the tubular means; i. a piston and operating shaft slidable within the housing means and having a first position holding the plunger within the wellhead; and j. the timer controller directing operating fluid to move the piston to its first position at preselected time intervals after the timer controller opens the motor valve means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

An improved plunger lift system as defined in claim 1 wherein the operating fluid to move the piston and operating shaft is lift gas.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 173 words

In a plunger lift system for wells having a tubing string extending downward from a wellhead, a plunger catcher and trip assembly, comprising: (a) tubular means adapted for engagement with the wellhead and having a bore aligned with the bore of the tubing string; (b) housing means extending radially from the tubular means; (c) means disposed within the housing means for engaging the plunger when the plunger is within the tubular means; (d) a piston slidably disposed within the housing means; (e) an operating shaft slidably disposed within the housing means and attached to the piston; (f) the operating shaft haviang a sufficient length that one end thereof can contact the engaging means; (g) the operating shaft and piston having a first position in which the one end of the operating shaft contacts the engaging means and holds the engaging means whereby the plunger is trapped and held within the tubular means; (h) means for supplying operating fluid to the housing means to move the piston and operating shaft to the first position.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 173 words

In a plunger lift system for wells having a tubing string extending downward from a wellhead, a plunger catcher and trip assembly, comprising: (a) tubular means adapted for engagement with the wellhead and having a bore aligned with the bore of the tubing string; (b) housing means extending radially from the tubular means; (c) means disposed within the housing means for engaging the plunger when the plunger is within the tubular means; (d) a piston slidably disposed within the housing means; (e) an operating shaft slidably disposed within the housing means and attached to the piston; (f) the operating shaft haviang a sufficient length that one end thereof can contact the engaging means; (g) the operating shaft and piston having a first position in which the one end of the operating shaft contacts the engaging means and holds the engaging means whereby the plunger is trapped and held within the tubular means; (h) means for supplying operating fluid to the housing means to move the piston and operating shaft to the first position.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 141 words

A plunger catcher and trip assembly as defined in claim 3, further comprising: (a) the housing means surrounding an opening in the wall of the tubular means; (b) the engaging means partially projecting into the bore of the tubular means through the opening; and (c) the engaging means holding the plunger within the tubular means when partially projected through the opening. (d) a piston slidably disposed within the housing means; (e) an operating shaft slidably disposed within the housing means and attached to the piston; (f) the operating shaft having a sufficient length that one end thereof can contact the engaging means; (g) the operating shaft and piston having a first position in which the one end of the operating shaft contacts the engaging means and holds the engaging means whereby the plunger is trapped and held within the tubular means;

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 206 words

A plunger catcher and trip assembly, comprising: (a) tubular means adapted for engagement with a wellhead and having a bore which can be aligned with the bore of a tubing string; (b) housing means extending radially from the tubular means; (c) means for engaging a plunger when the plunger is within the tubular means; (d) the tubular means having an opening surrounded by said housing means through which the engaging means can be partially projected into the bore of the tubular means; (e) a piston slidably disposed within the housing means; (f) an operating shaft slidably disposed within the housing means and attached to the piston; (g) the operating shaft having a sufficient length that one end thereof can contact the engaging means and hold the engaging means partially projected through the opening in the tubular means; (h) the operating shaft and piston having a first position in which the one end of the operating shaft contacts the engaging means and holds the engaging means partially extended into the bore of the tubular means whereby the plunger is trapped and held within the tubular means; (i) means for supplying operating fluid to the housing means to move the piston and operating shaft to the first position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 206 words

A plunger catcher and trip assembly, comprising: (a) tubular means adapted for engagement with a wellhead and having a bore which can be aligned with the bore of a tubing string; (b) housing means extending radially from the tubular means; (c) means for engaging a plunger when the plunger is within the tubular means; (d) the tubular means having an opening surrounded by said housing means through which the engaging means can be partially projected into the bore of the tubular means; (e) a piston slidably disposed within the housing means; (f) an operating shaft slidably disposed within the housing means and attached to the piston; (g) the operating shaft having a sufficient length that one end thereof can contact the engaging means and hold the engaging means partially projected through the opening in the tubular means; (h) the operating shaft and piston having a first position in which the one end of the operating shaft contacts the engaging means and holds the engaging means partially extended into the bore of the tubular means whereby the plunger is trapped and held within the tubular means; (i) means for supplying operating fluid to the housing means to move the piston and operating shaft to the first position.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

A plunger catcher and trip assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein the operating fluid which moves the piston is the same fluid that lifts the plunger.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1983-07-08	1984-01-07	1984-07-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1987-07-08	1988-01-07	1988-07-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1991-07-08	1992-01-07	1992-07-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Plunger lift system

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