In one aspect, the present invention provides a plunger for use in a pumping system. The plunger can include a cylindrical plunger body that is adapted to be coupled to a drive rod. The plunger body can define an aperture configured to receive pumped fluids. The aperture can define an inner diameter of the plunger body. The plunger body can include a leading end having a tapered portion configured to direct solids into the aperture. The tapered portion can be tapered from the inner diameter toward an outer diameter of the plunger body to form a tip aligned with the outer diameter. The tapered portion can include two or more different degrees of taper along a length of the tapered portion. The plunger body can further include a rear end coupleable to a traveling valve.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a surface unit for a pumping system. The surface unit may include a conduit that is reciprocatable to pump produced fluid from downwell to the surface unit and a flow line in fluid communication with the conduit such that the produced fluid may be collected from the conduit. The surface unit may also include a pump barrel that separates the conduit from a well tubing and a diluent line in fluid communication with a space between the pump barrel and the well tubing. The diluent line may be sealed from the conduit and the flow line such that a diluent or lubricant may be delivered to the space between the pump barrel and the well tubing via the diluent line without contaminating the produced fluid.

A first sand accumulator may include a housing and an insert within the housing. The insert includes axially aligned outer and inner sleeves. In a first position, the outer and inner sleeves both have large flow ports that align to form a continuous flow path for fluid to flow through the sand accumulator such that a vortex flow forms in the sand accumulator. A second sand accumulator may include a housing disposed in line with a wellbore tubular and an insert disposed inside the housing such that insert forms a continuous end-to-end seal with a section of the wellbore tubular. An inlet section of the insert has an inlet port configured to permit fluid flow such that a vortex flow forms in the inlet section. A method of using a sand accumulator includes introducing process fluid entrained with sand to the sand accumulator.

A first sand accumulator may include a housing and an insert within the housing. The insert includes axially aligned outer and inner sleeves. In a first position, the outer and inner sleeves both have large flow ports that align to form a continuous flow path for fluid to flow through the sand accumulator such that a vortex flow forms in the sand accumulator. A second sand accumulator may include a housing disposed in line with a wellbore tubular and an insert disposed inside the housing such that insert forms a continuous end-to-end seal with a section of the wellbore tubular. An inlet section of the insert has an inlet port configured to permit fluid flow such that a vortex flow forms in the inlet section. A method of using a sand accumulator includes introducing process fluid entrained with sand to the sand accumulator.

A downhole apparatus for collecting solids fallback in the tubing of an oil producing borehole comprises two or more baskets to collect the solids fall back, each basket partially occupying a portion of the inner cross section of the tubing, leaving a portion of the inner cross section of the tubing having an unrestricted flow path. The baskets when considered in plan view along longitudinal axis of the tubing are distributed such that together they cover substantially the whole area of the tubing while leaving an unobstructed non-straight flowpath around the baskets.

A drainage pump assembly includes a drainage pump and an outlet conduit connected to the drainage pump. The drainage pump includes a pump chamber and is configured to pump liquid having solid matter. The outlet conduit includes a sedimentation trap having an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a belly located between the inlet opening and the outlet opening. A first conduit extends between the pump chamber of the drainage pump and the belly of the sedimentation trap. The first conduit includes a non-return valve. The outlet opening of the sedimentation trap is configured to be connected to a second conduit.

A downhole apparatus for collecting solids fallback in the tubing of an oil producing borehole comprises two or more baskets to collect the solids fall back, each basket partially occupying a portion of the inner cross section of the tubing, leaving a portion of the inner cross section of the tubing having an unrestricted flow path. The baskets when considered in plan view along longitudinal axis of the tubing are distributed such that together they cover substantially the whole area of the tubing while leaving an unobstructed non-straight flowpath around the baskets.

A diversion connector is used for a downhole pump having a plunger and a barrel in a well. The diversion connector is useful in a sandy well having particulates. The plunger has an interior and is reciprocated by a rod relative to the barrel. The connector includes one or more bodies, such as a mandrel, attaching the rod to the plunger. The mandrel has a first exterior surface and defines a fluid passage communicating with the interior of the plunger. A sleeve is disposed on the first exterior surface and has an interior surface floating relative to the first exterior surface. The floating sleeve at least partially prevents particulate uphole of the plunger from passing in a gap between the plunger and the barrel.

Apparatus for controlling laser piercing of a remote material (10), which apparatus comprises: at least one piercing laser (1) for emitting laser radiation (2) for piercing the remote material (10), which laser radiation (2) is characterized by a first wavelength (16); a probe laser (3) for emitting a probe signal (4) for monitoring the piercing of the remote material (10); beam delivery optics (5) configured to direct the laser radiation (2) and the probe signal (4) onto the material (10); at least one detector (6) for detecting optical radiation (7) that is emitted or reflected by the material (10) in response to the probe signal (4); and an electronic filter (8) for filtering an electronic signal (9) emitted by the detector (6) in response to the detector (6) detecting the optical radiation (7); and the apparatus being characterized in that the probe laser (3) is configured such that the probe signal (4) is able to be modulated by a modulation signal (13); and the electronic filter (8) comprises a phase sensitive detector (14) which is configured to receive the electronic signal (9) and the modulation signal (13) and to provide phase sensitive detection of the electronic signal (9), which phase sensitive detection is used to improve a signal to noise ratio of an amplitude of the electronic signal (9), thereby enabling detection of a reduction in the amplitude of the electronic signal (9), which reduction is indicative of the laser radiation (2) piercing the remote material (10).

A downhole apparatus for collecting solids fallback in the tubing of an oil producing borehole comprises two or more baskets to collect the solids fall back, each basket partially occupying a portion of the inner cross section of the tubing, leaving a portion of the inner cross section of the tubing having an unrestricted flow path. The baskets when considered in plan view along longitudinal axis of the tubing are distributed such that together they cover substantially the whole area of the tubing while leaving an unobstructed non-straight flowpath around the baskets.