A modular subsurface lift engine lifts hydrocarbons directly or indirectly from a cased wellbore. The modular subsurface lift engine has a surface drive system with a fluid pump that pumps a lift fluid into an isolated annulus of the cased well bore surrounding subsurface lift engine. A lift capacity of the subsurface lift engine is increased by increasing the number of lift engine modules.

A modular subsurface lift engine lifts hydrocarbons directly or indirectly from a cased wellbore. The modular subsurface lift engine has a surface drive system with a fluid pump that pumps a lift fluid into an isolated annulus of the cased well bore surrounding subsurface lift engine. A lift capacity of the subsurface lift engine is increased by increasing the number of lift engine modules.

A hydrocarbon wellbore production apparatus includes a tailpipe and a control valve connected with the tailpipe. The tailpipe has a fluid inlet receiving well fluids entering the casing from a formation, and a fluid outlet above the fluid inlet to deliver well liquid to a connected pump inlet. The control valve is operable to (i) open when a lower fluid pressure below the flow control valve exceeds an upper fluid pressure above the flow control valve to allow upward flow through the flow control valve, (ii) close when the upper fluid pressure exceeds the lower fluid pressure by an amount which does not exceed a prescribed pressure limit value to hold fluid in the apparatus above the flow control valve, and (iii) open when the upper fluid pressure exceeds the lower fluid pressure by an amount which exceeds the pressure limit value to release excess fluid back down the tailpipe.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a hydraulic pump with gas lock prevention. The pump includes a pump barrel having an intake port and a discharge port and a pump piston movably disposed in the pump barrel. The pump piston divides an inner volume of the pump barrel into a first pump volume connected to the discharge port and a second pump volume connected to the intake port. A pump flow path is formed through the pump piston connecting the first pump volume and the second pump volume. The pump further includes a first valve disposed in the pump flow path in the pump piston. The first valve selectively permits fluid flow from the second pump volume to the first pump volume. The pump further includes a second valve disposed at the discharge port to selectively permit fluid flow out of the first pump volume through the discharge port.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a hydraulic pump with gas lock prevention. The pump includes a pump barrel having an intake port and a discharge port and a pump piston movably disposed in the pump barrel. The pump piston divides an inner volume of the pump barrel into a first pump volume connected to the discharge port and a second pump volume connected to the intake port. A pump flow path is formed through the pump piston connecting the first pump volume and the second pump volume. The pump further includes a first valve disposed in the pump flow path in the pump piston. The first valve selectively permits fluid flow from the second pump volume to the first pump volume. The pump further includes a second valve disposed at the discharge port to selectively permit fluid flow out of the first pump volume through the discharge port.

A hydraulic lift apparatus for operating a downhole pump features a hydraulic linear actuator with a piston longitudinally slidable on a central axis of a rotatable portion of a housing. An anti-rotation rod runs longitudinally through the piston at a position radially offset outwardly from the central axis to prevent rotation between the piston and housing. A stationary motor powers a drive train whose output is connected to the rotatable portion of the housing and centered on the central axis. The actuator is one-way actuator with a hydraulically driven upstroke. A leak detection passage extends through the piston to collect fluid that has leaked across the piston seals and convey it to a leak detection port and associated containment tank. A position sensor for monitoring the piston movement features a sensing rod depending downwardly into a hollow piston shaft carried by the piston and connected to the pump rod.

A hydraulic lift apparatus for operating a downhole pump features a hydraulic linear actuator with a piston longitudinally slidable on a central axis of a rotatable portion of a housing. An anti-rotation rod runs longitudinally through the piston at a position radially offset outwardly from the central axis to prevent rotation between the piston and housing. A stationary motor powers a drive train whose output is connected to the rotatable portion of the housing and centered on the central axis. The actuator is one-way actuator with a hydraulically driven upstroke. A leak detection passage extends through the piston to collect fluid that has leaked across the piston seals and convey it to a leak detection port and associated containment tank. A position sensor for monitoring the piston movement features a sensing rod depending downwardly into a hollow piston shaft carried by the piston and connected to the pump rod.

The present invention discloses groundwater heat transfer system comprising a primary pump suspended in a well and connected to at least one water supply pipe, a heat exchange system being connected to said primary pump via a secondary pump, a return pipe being connected to the heat exchange system and returning water from the heat exchange system to the well, wherein the primary pump provides motive pressure to a primary nozzle of a liquid jet ejector submerged in the well, which entrains filtered groundwater through a secondary nozzle of the liquid jet ejector, wherein the secondary pump, placed after the primary pump and before the heat exchange system, provides the remaining system head.

The present invention discloses groundwater heat transfer system comprising a primary pump suspended in a well and connected to at least one water supply pipe, a heat exchange system being connected to said primary pump via a secondary pump, a return pipe being connected to the heat exchange system and returning water from the heat exchange system to the well, wherein the primary pump provides motive pressure to a primary nozzle of a liquid jet ejector submerged in the well, which entrains filtered groundwater through a secondary nozzle of the liquid jet ejector, wherein the secondary pump, placed after the primary pump and before the heat exchange system, provides the remaining system head.

A hydraulic pumping method for use with a subterranean well can include mounting a hydraulic actuator above a wellhead, the hydraulic actuator and the wellhead being axially aligned with each other and inclined relative to vertical The hydraulic actuator can be unsupported by any substructure or guy wires after the mounting. A hydraulic pumping system for use with a subterranean well can include a hydraulic actuator including a piston that displaces in response to pressure in the actuator, a magnet that displaces with the piston, and a magnetic field sensor that detects a presence of the magnet. The hydraulic actuator may be mounted above a wellhead, with the hydraulic actuator and the wellhead being axially aligned with each other and inclined relative to vertical.