A multistage plunger lift system includes an upper production tubing segment positioned in a wellbore uphole of a lower production tubing segment, with the upper segment having a greater diameter than the lower segment. A lower travelling plunger and an upper traveling plunger are sized and configured to fit and travel within the lower segment and the upper segment, respectively. A plunger lift tool is positioned in the upper segment between the upper plunger and the lower plunger, and includes within its main body a fluid passageway with a one-way valve. A plunger receptacle sleeve at the bottom end of the lift tool receives the lower plunger and includes one or more vents configured to allow fluids to flow around the lower plunger when the lower plunger is received within the plunger receptacle sleeve.

A mechanical rod rotator assembly comprising a mechanical rod rotator and an actuating mechanism for a mechanical pumping rod rotator, wherein the mechanism comprises a connecting arm and a guide member that slidably embraces the pumping rod, in order to allow a pivoting lever that is in connection with said connecting arm, to interact with the internal mechanism of the rod rotator to gradually rotate the pumping rod and thus avoid impartial wear caused by the constant up and down reciprocating movement of the same within the well, being in turn that the mechanism of the invention does not require special tools for its assembly and installation.

A mechanical rod rotator assembly comprising a mechanical rod rotator and an actuating mechanism for a mechanical pumping rod rotator, wherein the mechanism comprises a connecting arm and a guide member that slidably embraces the pumping rod, in order to allow a pivoting lever that is in connection with said connecting arm, to interact with the internal mechanism of the rod rotator to gradually rotate the pumping rod and thus avoid impartial wear caused by the constant up and down reciprocating movement of the same within the well, being in turn that the mechanism of the invention does not require special tools for its assembly and installation.

A plunger assembly includes a cage having a body extending from a first end to a second end, the cage having a bore extending from the first end to the second end and one or more radial openings. The plunger assembly also includes a stinger positioned at least partially within the bore, the stinger being axially movable along an axis aligned with the bore between an open position and a closed position, wherein at least a portion of the stringer blocks at least a portion of the one or more radial openings in the closed position. The plunger assembly further includes a magnetic positioning system configured to hold the stinger in at least one of the open position or the closed position, the magnetic positioning system having one or more magnetic components that interact with at least one magnetic portion of the stinger.

A method of probabilistically estimating a velocity of a plunger of a beam pump may comprise continuously monitoring well acoustics using a plurality of passive acoustic sensors attached to external structures of the beam pump; digitizing outputs of the plurality of passive acoustic sensors and sending the digitized outputs to a computing device for storage and processing; and using the digitized outputs of the plurality of passive acoustic sensors, estimating a probability of the velocity of the plunger using a hidden Markov model (HMM) to represent a probability of a position and the probability of the velocity of the plunger, the HMM comprising a state space model and an observational model.

A method of probabilistically estimating a velocity of a plunger of a beam pump may comprise continuously monitoring well acoustics using a plurality of passive acoustic sensors attached to external structures of the beam pump; digitizing outputs of the plurality of passive acoustic sensors and sending the digitized outputs to a computing device for storage and processing; and using the digitized outputs of the plurality of passive acoustic sensors, estimating a probability of the velocity of the plunger using a hidden Markov model (HMM) to represent a probability of a position and the probability of the velocity of the plunger, the HMM comprising a state space model and an observational model.

A method and apparatus for gas and solids separation from down-hole fluids is disclosed, including particular structural means for forcing the de-gassing of the gaseous liquid, including means for changing the velocity of the gaseous liquid (speed changes on each exit from the tubes owing to the volume difference between the tubes and the chamber), means for changing the direction of the gaseous liquid (owing to the flow changing direction from exiting one set of tubes to travel to the opening to enter the next set of tubes), and means for changing the pressure of the gaseous liquid (owing perhaps in part to evolution of gas upon entering increased volume).

A downhole tool includes a body having a rounded or cylindrical surface, at least one relieved space in the rounded or cylindrical surface, and a protuberance within the relieved space. The downhole tool also has a generally cylindrical retaining ring that surrounds a portion of the body. One or more crimple detents are formed in the retaining ring, each crimple detent comprising a portion of the retaining ring that has been deformed radially inward into an underlying portion of the relieved space such that the deformed material of the retaining ring contacts and deforms an underlying portion of the protuberance in the relieved space, thereby joining the retaining ring to the body.

A water pumping system used for lifting liquids in vertical or near vertical conduits or pipes to a higher elevation at a reduced energy cost. Also, the water pumping system can be used to circulate water between upper and lower elevations to generate hydropower energy at a lower energy cost. The water pumping system includes a water pump, air blowers, an air supply chamber, a lift conduit, a return conduit, a flotation device separation chamber, a plurality of floatation devices, one or more flotation device pushers, a dehydration unit, and two water storage tanks. The lift conduit and return conduit creating a continuous loop in which the flotation devices can circulate and act as a piston in the lifting conduit to elevate the water to higher elevations with reduced energy. The floatation devices include spacer rings and spacer rods. The floatation devices are inserted inside the lift conduit and the return conduit.

A water pumping system used for lifting liquids in vertical or near vertical conduits or pipes to a higher elevation at a reduced energy cost. Also, the water pumping system can be used to circulate water between upper and lower elevations to generate hydropower energy at a lower energy cost. The water pumping system includes a water pump, air blowers, an air supply chamber, a lift conduit, a return conduit, a flotation device separation chamber, a plurality of floatation devices, one or more flotation device pushers, a dehydration unit, and two water storage tanks. The lift conduit and return conduit creating a continuous loop in which the flotation devices can circulate and act as a piston in the lifting conduit to elevate the water to higher elevations with reduced energy. The floatation devices include spacer rings and spacer rods. The floatation devices are inserted inside the lift conduit and the return conduit.